Creator's Protection Guaranteed Amidst Suffering (1Peter 4:17-19)

CREATOR’S PROTECTION GUARANTEED AMIDST SUFFERING (1Peter 4:17-19):

After reminding the elect about sufferings as Christians and encouraging them not to be devastated because of sufferings, Peter affirms the difficulty of living a Christian life though it is worthier, peaceful, and joyful. God is always righteous and there is no partiality amongst His creations, Peter writes that the time of Judgment is ready to begin at the household of God. Peter writes the letter during A.D. 60’s when there were a lot of tribulations and Jerusalem was about to be destroyed. Jerusalem was considered to be the most honorable place for Jewish believers and Peter would have probably written that the Judgment will begin at the household of God. Another reason could be God’s grace was tasted by the believers first and they are supposed to be salt and light wherever they are, especially among those who hadn’t known God, So Peter would have mentioned it. There is Judgment both for the believers and unbelievers, but the anxiousness of Peter is that if the Judgment starts with the believers who are expected to be heirs of God, what will be the outcome of those who had to deny God’s glory and His grace by not obeying the Gospel of God.

Everyone who had experienced and come into the knowledge of God by accepting and believing God is not guaranteed to be saved all throughout their life. Believers have the responsibility to fight with their good faith and complete the race of their salvation by leading a righteous, worthier life filled with good works. If the believer doesn’t lead a Godly life, he really doesn’t know the true God and the purpose of His redemption, as he needed to know and be.  So, Peter writes the believers with strong acclamation and interrogation that if the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become to the ungodly and the sinner because usually, the ungodly and sinners lead a life full of selfish ambition or vain deceit.

Though there is a lot of meaning, purpose, and the difference in the Christian life as a believer in the most trustworthy and Sovereign God, it is much difficult to endure the sufferings for the truth and leading a righteous life in the fallen world. The Spiritual Growth of the believer may not be always upward, there will be instances when the believers may fall into the temptations and there will be times of reconciliation with God again with genuine bitterness for falling towards Sin and open heart not to do it again. Even Peter had experienced the inconsistency as a believer in Christ. Therefore Peter says the believers that those who suffer according to the will of God, need to entrust their souls to the righteous and faithful creator for He never ignores the believer while doing Good. Sufferings may be from an external thing which is due to the influence of others for many reasons and Sufferings may also from inside due to the temptations and inner weaknesses. While doing good, God is faithful in loving and protecting His children from outer and inner sufferings.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection

1.      Where does the Judgment begin as Peter mentions?

2.      What do you mean by the ‘household of God’?

3.      What was the question that Peter raises because Judgment begins at the household of God? Why?

4.      Justify whether the beginning of the Judgment at the household of God is genuine?

5.      What is mentioned about righteous people? Why?

6.      What will become of the ungodly and the sinner?

7.      Is it easy to continue in righteousness? Why?

8.      What the believers who suffer according to God’s will supposed to do?

9.      What does ‘entrust the souls’ mean?

10.  How we can suffer according to God’s will?