Peter has been encouraging Christians to realize that despite how the world may treat us, because of our faith in Christ, we should rejoice that we have the opportunity to represent Him and that in our rejoicing we may show how God is at work in and through us for His good pleasure.

Attitude is everything when we encounter various trials in this life because it shows how we can depend on and trust in the faithfulness of our loving God and Savior. As we come before Him in trust it's amazing how He can fill us with His Spirit and lift us up or take us through.

God wants the world to see that faithful loving attitude in our lives as we look beyond the circumstance and look to Him seeking to please Him instead of wanting to please self in a self-pity mode. When we take the latter attitude there's nothing lovely the world sees and wants to have.

They simply see what the rest of the world has and that is a lack of hope and joy because they have no assurance that what lies beyond tomorrow will be any better. In Christ we have the assurance of eternal life and the assurance that Christ is with us today. And that is where we derive our joy if we're willing to trust and abide in the One who's given us this life.

Peter was giving these Christians the hope that despite the fact that they may have to suffer for their faith they are not forgotten or abandoned by God. Just the opposite is true. 1PE 4:14 "If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."

But Peter also wants us to understand that God doesn't smile on sinful behavior. 1PE4:15 "If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler."

Many of these people prior to coming to Christ had sordid past's. In fact, the apostle Paul made mention of this in his letter to the Corinthians. 1CO 6:9 "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

As new creatures in Christ we are no longer to be driven by the old nature which manifested itself in some of these ways which Paul mentions. If we do and we suffer for it we deserve to suffer the consequences and God will not be pleased. This is Peter's point.

16 "However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." To suffer as a Christian means to suffer for the name of Christ or as the result of faithfully representing Christ.

The NIV takes the last part of verse 16 and puts the emphasis on praising God that you bear His name under trials. Though this is a truth of God's word the more literal translation here in Peter would give the sense of actively glorifying God with your actions before the world in that situation.

The NAS puts it "but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God." The sense here is to show your praise in obedience despite the trial.

This next verse is rather interesting. 1PE 4:17 "For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?"

Here again Peter is making a contrast between believers and unbelievers and how God is actively involved with both groups as He holds both groups accountable to Him.

On the one hand judgment begins with us in the Body of Christ and then from there it will come against the world at large. Most translations use the English word "with" when they translate "For it is time for judgment to begin "with" the family (household) of God. The Greek word for with is apo and it literally translates "from".

In fact there is an English version of the Bible called "A literal translation of the Bible, LTB for short and it reads, "Because the time has come to begin the judgment from the house of God." Keep in mind that Peter is a Jew and much of his background takes into account the Jewish Scriptures which we know as the O.T.

The imagery here in first Peter takes from two O.T. books. Ezekial chapter 9 and Malachi chapter 3. In both of those sections God is dealing specifically with the nation of Israel. And in both cases God comes to Israel and promises that He will destroy those who disobey and rebel but that all who would repent and turn to Him will be blessed.

In Ezekial 9, Ezekial sees in a vision avenging angels sent from God to destroy those who rebelled. And in verse 6 of Ezekial 9 it reads. "and you shall start from My sanctuary (or House in the LXX)). So they started with the elders who were before the Temple."

The phrase "from My house" in the Septuagint is the same phrase Peter uses when he says "Because the time has come to begin the judgment FROM THE HOUSE OF GOD."

God is ever in the process of acting as a refiner of precious metals as He refines His people and desires to conform them into His image. But notice where He starts. He starts with the elders who were before the Temple. The leaders of Israel were more responsible for leading the nation and so God begins with them.

In fact in Malachi we see this imagery of God being the refiner. MAL 3:2 "But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap.
3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,
4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.
5 "So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.
6 "I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed."

God has always desired a people to represent Him in a way that brings glory to His name. He knows we have a tendency to go our own way and so in His grace and mercy He refines us and changes our hearts to show forth His working in our lives. And so it's necessary to begin judgment from the house of God where God dwells with His people.

Peter isn't saying that God is judging in the sense of condemning. The word judge here in our text is krimain the Greek, and Dr. Grudem makes the point that "this word for judgment does not necessarily mean condemnation (which would be katakrima) but is a broader term which can refer to a judgment which results in good and bad evaluations, a judgment which may issue in approval or discipline as well as condemnation......

....... The picture is that God has begun judging within the church, and will later move outward to judge those outside the church. This refining fire of judgment is leaving no one untouched, but Christians are being purified and strengthened by it -- sins are being eliminated and trust in God and holiness of life are growing."

We see this attitude from God in the N.T. in many different places where He loves His people enough to make judgments based on their behavior, not for the sake of condemning, because remember, in Christ there is no condemnation. Our guilt for sin was paid for with Christ taking our penalty and nailing it to the cross and then gloriously raising from the dead defeating sin and death.

You and I are truly forgiven of our sin, but the Spirit's work of sanctifying us, so that we may represent our God in this world, is continually taking place. And don't think for a moment that God somehow looks the other way when we decide to rebel.

You only need go to the 7 churches of Revelation. REV 2:1 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:
2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."

God was making it clear that He was not only aware of what the Ephesian church was doing but that He was going to intervene if necessary to make sure they stayed faithful, and if they didn't He was willing to take their lampstand away, which means He will take the light of His grace from them and give it to another who would be faithful to do His work.

And even there in Revelation notice who Christ addresses. He starts by saying, "To the angel of the church in Ephesus..." The word angel can be translated messenger. God is addressing His messenger in Ephesus who is to bring the truth of His word and that would be the Pastor and the elders.

Again, the leadership is held accountable by God and so God starts judgment from the House of God so that those who dwell with God, and in whom God dwells, will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the specific purpose of shining for Him.

Sometimes that judgment will take on a disciplinary action in the lives of God's people as we saw in Revelation. But even there it was because God loved them as He loves us.

The writer of Hebrews puts it this way. HEB 12:5 "And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." (Prov. 3:11,12)
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"

None of us like discipline. But without it we would be like that proverbial prodigal son who wanders away. And yet even then God is able to draw us back, but not without changing the heart which sometimes is a hard lesson to learn.

What Peter is saying is meant to encourage his readers because some of what they were experiencing was a refining process God was using to build them up not tear them down, and in the process of explaining this Peter adds that it's better to be judged by God as one of His people, which will bring you forth as gold refined by fire, rather than to receive judgment from God as an unbeliever which does result in condemnation if they do not repent and turn to Christ.

That's why Peter asks the question in verse 17 "For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Of course the outcome is what Malachi speaks of in MAL 3:5 "So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty."

In other words all people being described here, both inside and outside the church, who have not placed their faith in Christ and whose lives demonstrate that they do not fear God by desiring to please Him.

Judgment begins from the house of God and there will be those who will find that that judgment will be condemnation. MAT 7:19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'
23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

Jesus is speaking of those religious people inside the church. But these are people who are paying lip service to Christ while their hearts want nothing to do with the reality of living for Christ. Now I don't mean to scare anyone here this morning by suggesting that we can't know for certain if we have salvation.

In fact, if these words of Jesus cause you to stop and consider, "Lord could I be one of those who fall into that category?", that's a good indication that you do belong to God and have a heart to follow Him. Yeah, you may have lapses, as we all do at times, but your heart will always feel the pain of displeasing God and wanting to get right with Him.

It's when you don't care about the things of God and you don't care when you sin and you don't care to grow in Christ that you should be concerned. These are the people whom Peter refers to when he says at the end of verse 17 ...."those who do not obey the gospel of God?"

Dr. Hiebert points out, "The character of such people is described by their continuing activity. They do not obey, are continually refusing to obey the gospel of truth, not merely do not believe the gospel. Mounce observes, The truth of the gospel is not at issue. People either reject the truth or obey the truth. They do not decide on its truthfulness."

He continues to comment on the phrase "Gospel of God" ...."The Gospel of God marks the depth of their guilt. "Of God," stresses that the good news they rejected by its very nature is God's, sent by Him as His authoritative message of salvation to mankind. In their response to the gospel lies the stark contrast between them and the readers who accepted that message and rejoiced in God's salvation amid their sufferings."

But, you know, even those who have continued to disobey the message of the gospel, it still continues to go forth that they might repent and obey by believing on Jesus Christ that they may have this forgiveness and eternal life. God's grace is still extended even in the midst of their sin.

ROM 5:20 "The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Peter wanted these Christians to know that they may have had to suffer for their faith in Christ but it's nothing in comparison to the suffering there is for eternity outside of Christ. And so he says in 1PE 4:18 And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" (Prov. 11:31)

Here Peter is not suggesting that our salvation is hard in the sense that it's difficult to work our way to heaven (no it's not difficult, it's impossible). Rather, he means that there are difficulties in this life in Christ despite the fact that we have the assurance of our salvation and despite the fact that we are the children of God.

Paul puts it into context when he describes this walk with Christ which sometimes is very hard because we are Christians. ACT 14:19 "Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.
20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.
21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,
22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

This is what Peter is talking about. He's saying that we need to be prepared to stand up for Christ when the world wants to knock us down. And if we get knocked down God is able and willing to pick us back up. But we need to be willing to get up as we rely on His grace and strength.

And I know that sometimes we would prefer to stay down for the count and say I don't want to go on. But that still small voice from the One who loved us so much that He died for us, cries out, "Follow me". And we look up and take His hand and we get up and follow because we know that we love Him because He first loved us.

And though there may be difficult times in life as we follow Christ it can't compare to the joy set before us and the satisfaction of being able to represent the living God in this world knowing that this world needs to see the love of Christ in our lives. That's why Paul got up and went back to Lystra. He loved God enough to love those people with the truth.

Because you see, Paul knew what Peter writes, which is a quote from PRO 11:31 "If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!"

Paul knew what he deserved from God and yet he received mercy instead. He knew what all men deserve from God and so he labored for Christ to bring this message of mercy. On Wednesday evening the men are studying First Timothy and this last week we caught a glimpse into Paul's motivation for serving Christ.

He said in 1TI 1:12 "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst.
16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."

When we consider what we have been given in Christ it should cause our hearts to soar, even during those times when this life in Christ seems difficult. And this is why Peter ends this section the way he does because he knows how hard it can be at times.

1PE 4:19 "So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good."

Peter doesn't want us suffering for sinful behavior, but he assumes that we may have to suffer according to God's will for following Christ. But in those times he says commit yourself to your faithful Creator.

The word "commit", which is also translated "entrust" in the Greek, is paratithesthai and it's a technical word as William Barclay points out, for depositing money with a trusted friend; to give to someone that which is very important for safe-keeping.

And what Peter wants to bring to the forefront is you can trust your Creator who gave His only begotten Son to secure your salvation. You can trust Him with your eternal life and you can trust Him to be with you in this life and be your Protector and Provider.

Yes, this life will at times be difficult and yes if you will follow the Lord there may be times of testing but it's all used by God for His glory to mold us in a way that allows Christ to be seen in us as we have the privilege of being His ambassador.

But I'll tell you when do love Christ and you do follow Him, the times of testing can still be times of experiencing the joy of your salvation, as during those times He often draws even closer with His loving arms to comfort if we won't push Him away.

And that's why Peter ends with the words "doing what is right." We can't use the excuse that life is too difficult and therefore we won't do what is right. Doing right may not be the same for one person as it is for anther in terms of serving Christ, but it's exactly the same in one sense.

All of us are still called to trust our God. All of us are still called to love God above all and all of us are called to follow Christ. If we will do this the right thing will be God's thing according to His will.

William Barclay puts it this way, "If a man entrusts himself to God, God will not fail him. If such a trust is sacred to men, how much more is it sacred to God? This is the very word used by Jesus, when he says, Father into Your hands I commit My Spirit (Luk.23:46). Jesus unhesitatingly entrusted His life to God, certain that He would not fail Him -- and so may we. The old advice is still good advice -- trust God and do what is right."