1 PETER 4 (NOTES OF A READING)
[p. 268] 1 PETER 4 (NOTES OF A READING)
CAC It would be well to read the whole epistle in the light of verse 12: “Beloved, take not as strange the fire of persecution which has taken place amongst you for your trial, as if a strange thing was happening to you”. That is to say, we should bear in mind that it was written to saints who had been undergoing persecution of a very severe form.
Ques Does it not seem to show the spirit of the remnant of Israel that will go through the fiery trial, and come out through it into the kingdom, and would not the saints taste of it as faithful to the Lord?
CAC It is not to be accounted strange if they do.
Rem We are inclined to forget in an easy path that the true character of the dispensation is one of fiery trial and martyrdom.
CAC One can understand the word of God comes with peculiar force and comfort to those actually suffering persecution, those who went through the fire.
Ques Would not the thought of being sharers in the sufferings of Christ be a great consolation? It is a great honour.
CAC Yes. And this is not such suffering as the world is passing through now. There is no special fire of persecution at the present time, nothing of this extreme character, but it is normal to saints to share in the sufferings of Christ, and as saints are faithful there will be some kind of persecution, maybe of a mild character.
Rem It is wonderful to think of the Spirit of God resting upon such. I was thinking of Daniel’s companions in the fiery furnace; there was a fourth in the fire, with them in it.
CAC Why should the Spirit be spoken of under this peculiar title, “The Spirit of glory”?
[p. 269] Rem Has not the suffering glory in view, as in verse 13? “But as ye have share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice, that in the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exultation”. Also in chapter 1: 11 it speaks of “the sufferings which belonged to Christ, and the glories after these”.
CAC It is not that glory at all.
Rem It is wonderful that the early disciples counted it an honour to suffer for His sake.
CAC Yes, and the Lord Himself said, “Now is the Son of man glorified”, referring to His sufferings.
Rem “And God is glorified in him” (John 13: 31).
CAC Yes.
Rem “The Spirit of glory” rested upon Stephen.
CAC Yes, I was just thinking of Stephen in that connection. Well, he was morally glorified; never was any man more glorified than Stephen, in the face of the greatest persecution and enmity. He was really clothed with glory, was he not?
Rem It was reflected in his countenance.
CAC Yes.
Ques Would you say a word on the thought of the revelation of His glory; it has a special position in Scripture, has it not? It is not only that the glory has been, but there is the revelation of it in a day to come. Peter has it in his heart.
CAC The one who suffers most for God is the one whose glory will shine greatest in that day. There are two kinds of reproaches, are there not? We may be reproached because we are not like Christ. Well, there is no honour in that!
Ques Does it not suppose that we should be reproached now, and moving in relation to His name brings it?
CAC Yes, that is a kind of reproach that is an honour. We see how ready the world is to reproach the inconsistencies of Christians if not like Christ, while in others they will pass unnoticed. We have to see to it that we do not come [p. 270] under that sort of reproach.
Rem The Lord could say, “The reproaches of them that reproach thee have fallen upon me” (Psalm 69: 9).
CAC Yes, if people reproach us it should be because we are exhibiting features of Christ, and that is an honour. The reproach of the Christ is greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. It is suffering as a Christian that is the test. We are not to be ashamed, but to glorify God.
Ques “In this name” (verse 16) would be the name of a Christian?
CAC Yes.
Rem In Hebrews it says of Moses, “Esteeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt” (chapter 11: 26).
CAC Yes, it shows that the reproach of the Christ was a thing that extended backwards. It was long before He came into the world.
Rem It was in relation to the people of God.
CAC Yes, that is it. He might have been a very great man in Egypt, but he turned away from that and identified himself with many suffering slaves really, and the Spirit of God credits him with “esteeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt”.
Rem “For he had respect to the recompense”, it says.
Rem The word “reproach” is used differently in the reproach of Egypt (Joshua 5: 9).
CAC Well, it is a reproach before God if we bear the reproach of Egypt. For Christians to be worldly is a reproach under the eye of God, but the reproach of Christ is an honour.
Rem To refuse to take up arms for your country is a reproach.
CAC Quite so, but it is a reproach upon a Christian if he is prepared to identify himself with what is of the world. Some great general just lately said that ‘the knowledge of Christ had been a great help to him in his army career’.
[p. 271] What do you think of that?
Rem Well, we know what he meant, but it is a great incongruity. In his life as a soldier he had found the great comfort of it. Such believers think of themselves as helped in their individual careers. Cornelius was a soldier; we are not told whether he gave it up after.
CAC He had not been baptised.
Rem It would appear that as far as he was a God-fearing man, he was supported in a measure.
CAC That will be always so as walking in the fear of God; but it would hardly be right to think that Christ would help him in his army career. We recall the officer who could not carry his sword any longer. He was crossing a bridge and he threw it down into the river. That is how Christ helped him.
Rem The government of God uses a faithful man for the deliverance of His people or of a nation.
CAC You would not expect, nor preach, that the support of Christ would bring a man to honour in the world, would you? The support of Christ would help him to take the path of reproach and suffering. That is what this led Peter to.
Now how does this connect with judgment beginning at the “house of God”?
Rem The rendering seems to be, “From the house of God”. Judgment is the way God purifies His people. God is after securing what is precious to Himself. It is a question of the righteous being secured, and that is difficult, but I thought the element of judgment comes in. In connection with Babylon it says, “God has judged your judgment upon her” (Revelation 18: 20). It says of saints at the end of the Psalms that it is an honour placed upon them to execute judgment: “To execute vengeance against the nations, and punishment among the peoples” (Psalm 149: 7).
Ques What have you to say about that?
CAC Oh, I was anxious to learn.
[p. 272] Ques There is a reference to Ezekiel 9: 6. Are we to understand that the judgment of God is going on?
CAC Is not the thought that God begins to judge what is nearest to Himself? That is the first thing to come under God’s judgment.
Ques Why does that come in, what is the connection?
CAC That was what I was wanting to know.
Ques Is not the revelation of the glory of Christ connected with His sufferings? Will not the day of Christ’s glory be ushered in by this period of judgment, and all who are purified share with Him?
Ques Would Ananias and Sapphira illustrate it?
CAC I should think so. God is not going to pass over anything that is wrong in those near Him. He said to Israel, “Therefore will I visit upon you all your iniquities” (Amos 3: 2).
Rem It will be a terrible period, as we see in the minor prophets.
CAC Is it that Peter would recognise that in the suffering that comes upon as Christians, involving very severe trial, there may be an element of God’s judgment? That is, God is using this fiery trial to burn up the dross that is in His people.
Rem It says, “Many shall be purified, and be made white, and be refined” (Daniel 12: 10).
CAC I think Peter had something of that in his mind. We must not think that all trial and pressure is of the devil, for God may be in it, judging something in us not according to His mind, and we should be prepared to submit to the solemn dealings of God with us, committing the keeping of our souls “to a faithful Creator”. God will be faithful to His creatures. He may have to scrutinise and judge many things in ourselves that are not in the Spirit of Christ, but it is all in His faithful love, and we may trust Him to be faithful; and it is all with a view to salvation. But it is rather remarkable after speaking of the sufferings of the saints for Christ’s name,
[p. 273] He should bring in judgment beginning at “the house of God”. It is a thing to ponder — why He brings in there two things which on the face of it do not seem to have much in common.
Rem It says, “Commit their souls in well-doing”.
CAC Our exercise is to be going on with what is right and pleasing to God, and accepting any trial that may come as God’s way of purifying us.
Rem It is our souls He is after.
Ques So is the suffering in the way verse 19 speaks of it more governmental under the hand of God, not persecution?
CAC Yes, I think the general thought is, it is a time of suffering for any who confess Christ’s name, and there is God’s judgment in searching out what is not suitable in His saints. There may be things in those near to Him which He cannot put up with. Those in His house are close to Him, and He says, ‘I must scrutinise you and bring to light that in you which I have to deal with’. “Wherefore also let them who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing to a faithful Creator”.