Work Shop Suffering and Glory

The fourth chapter of the Book of First Peter has as its theme salvation by means of the fiery trials of the judgment of God on our personality. The chapter begins by exhorting us to arm ourselves with a mind to suffer, because suffering in the flesh purges sin from us. "The righteous are saved with difficulty," Peter maintains. This is referring to the fact that we have to endure fiery trials if we are to escape the bondages of sin and self-will. We know that suffering produces perseverance in us, and persevering during the trials of the Christian discipleship results in our being made perfect, lacking nothing that pertains to salvation.

The Apostle Paul claims that we must suffer if we are to rule. The reason for this is as follows: through suffering, God conquers the rebellion that is in us. The original sin came into existence when Satan rebelled against the Father. God will never accept rebellion against His will on the part of any creature, angelic or human. Therefore those who would rule under God must suffer every kind of trial, pain, prison, frustration, irritation, until there is no flaw in their stern obedience to the Father.

We must live in the power of Christ's resurrection, and through this power share in the sufferings of Christ, being conformed to His death on the cross. The Lord Jesus Christ has been with God from eternity. Yet, Christ learned obedience in the earth through the things He suffered here. The level of obedience required of those who would govern in God's Kingdom can be attained only through suffering Therefore let us profit from our suffering, as Jesus did, patiently committing ourselves to God as we are denied the things, circumstances, and relationships we desire intensely. When we have suffered according to His will He shall give us the desires of our heart and add no sorrow with them.

Primary Scriptures

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (Philippians 3:10 )

Trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. (I Peter 1:11)

Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. (I Peter 4:1,2)

Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. (James 5:10)

Essential Points of Emphasis

The last days will be characterized by a great deal of deception. There is only one action that we can take that will guard against deception: denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following the Lord Jesus each day.

Suggested References

Dying in the Lord; Learning Obedience Through Suffering; Witnesses, Kings, Deliverers, Servants

Follow up Activities

Answer Review Questions for this topic. 11

List additional Scriptures which support this concept.

Summarize this topic in your own words in one paragraph.

Back to Work Shop