The cross and suffering

In the previous articles we have examined two of the great 'cross-texts' in 1 Peter, and seen how they are intended not only to teach about Christ's death as redemptive fact, but as the place where Christians find the pattern for godly living.

In chapter 1 verses 18-19, the cross is seen as the great incentive to holiness. In chapter 2 verses 18-25 it is the great incentive to patience when experiencing injustice. Now in chapter 3 verse 18 the cross is presented as the great source of encouragement in all of our sufferings.

Most of us are probably accustomed to speaking of John 3.16 as 'the gospel in a nutshell', but a little reflection will show that this verse in 1 Peter has an equal claim to that title. In these few words we see the purpose, means, result and finality of the cross all clearly and succinctly stated. 'For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive through the Spirit' (1 Peter 3.18).

But this very usefulness could again prevent us from appreciating the practical intention of this verse. It begins with 'For', which establishes its intimate link to the instructions of the previous verse. And the purpose of that verse is clear. Peter is encouraging these Christians in their suffering. He started this theme back in 3.13 where he began to instruct them in the various ways in which they are to respond to the difficulties they face. But now he assures them that their suffering is, even when totally undeserved, worthwhile. In fact, this 17th verse claims that though this might be the most painful and perplexing kind of suffering, if it is God's will it is actually the noblest kind to be called on to endure. Certainly it is far better than suffering as a consequence of evil or folly (see 2.19-20 for a parallel).

A good thing?

But that is an assertion that needs to be explained. How can unjust suffering be, by any reckoning, 'better'? Suffering that comes as a result of wrongdoing is at least logical, but how can suffering for good be seen in any way as a good thing?

Peter's primary intention in this 18th verse is to answer this question. Here he shows that it is the cross that makes sense of what otherwise could appear to be completely senseless. Here is the most unjust suffering that anyone has ever faced. But what was the end result? It was great blessing! Christ's death was clearly 'unjust'. He died 'for sins' - none of which were his own. He died 'the righteous for the unrighteous'. But from this apparent travesty great things came. And the point Peter appears to be making here is that Christians can also expect to share these same blessings as they patiently endure their suffering. These great things were not merely the results of Christ's suffering, but can flow from theirs as well.

There are two blessings that Peter emphasises in this verse. In the first place was the blessing of salvation - sinners were brought to God. In the second place was the blessing of 'glory' - Christ was 'made alive' and, as verse 22 then declares, was exalted to the place of all authority.

Our salvation

It seems strange, first of all, to speak of a Christian's suffering resulting in their salvation. Indeed, if this was understood in a way that assumed a parallel to that of the salvation coming from Christ's suffering then it would not only be strange, but wholly blasphemous. But salvation need not be taken in only that way, and in this letter Peter speaks of salvation in other ways. For instance, in 1.9 he speaks of salvation in the widest sense - the believer's ultimate acquittal before God in the Day of Judgement. There the thought is that the Christians can rejoice in all of their trials because the purifying and refining effect of those trials is ensuring that they receive 'the salvation of their souls'. It is not that their salvation is perennially in doubt, but that it is by the means of suffering that their faith is kept alive and strong until the very end.

But there is another sense in which Peter speaks of salvation, and on this occasion very directly links it with their willingness to suffer for good as Christ did. It is in 4.1 where, after the very complex elaboration of 3.20ff (for an interpretation of these verses, consult the commentators!), he returns to the main theme of the section. And he encourages these Christians further with the understanding that their willingness to endure unjust suffering proves that their sin has been dealt with. Literally, they are 'done with sin' or, as the AV translates more literally, and more forcefully; they have 'ceased from sin'. This cannot mean that those who suffer even for good no longer ever sin - it must mean that their willingness to endure suffering for Christ is the proof and confirmation that their old slavery to sin has been decisively broken. Indeed, 4.2 indicates this, where Peter speaks of the whole new direction in life that has been brought about.

So we see that there is a genuine link between the result of Christ's suffering and the result of Christians' willingness to suffer in the same way. They both result in salvation. The salvation that Christ effected was once for all and unique, but believers are also 'saved' as they follow the pattern he set. They are refined and purified, and the reality of their faith in Christ is indisputably confirmed.

Our glory

But it is not only the blessing of salvation that Christians share as they suffer with Christ. Peter implies here that they can also expect to share a resultant glory. 3.18 declares that Christ's suffering was followed by glory - specifically the glory of his resurrection. 3.22 then continues to state that that was, in turn, followed by the glory of ascension and universal reign. The rest of the letter makes clear that for believers there is also great glory to come as a result of their trials.

Peter first makes this clear in 1.7, when he speaks of believers receiving 'praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed'. But it is in 4.12 that he explains this in greatest detail. In these verses there are three 'glories' in particular that believers share as a result of suffering for Christ.

In the first place, they receive the glory of being identified with Christ. As they suffer for good, they align themselves with their Saviour. In fact, Peter declares that it is actually Christ's sufferings in which they are participating (4.13)! It is not merely that they imitate him. It is that, being united with him, they share in the very sufferings that he endured.

Secondly, Peter says that they experience the glory of the presence of the Holy Spirit (4.14). The Holy Spirit is, of course, always dwelling in the believer. But Peter seems to be speaking here of a particular fullness of the Spirit that is the privilege of those who are faithfully identifying themselves with Christ at great cost. This was certainly Peter's own experience in the early days of his encounters with the enemies of the gospel (e.g. Acts 4.8,31), and it would be very reasonable to see him encouraging the believers with that same possibility here.

And thirdly, there is the glory of having full confidence in the prospect of the Lord's return. In 4.13b Peter speaks of the possibility of these Christians being 'overjoyed when Christ's glory is revealed'. The person who has stood faithfully in the fire of persecution need not dread the Lord's return, nor fear his standing on that day. He can claim the promise that if he endures suffering for Christ's sake, he will also one day share his glory (2 Timothy 2.12).

There is, therefore, a glory to come for the believer who perseveres in suffering for good. It is not an identical glory to that experienced by Christ, though the New Testament does also make clear that we share even in Christ's resurrection, ascension and reign! But it is real nevertheless, and just as Christ endured because of 'the joy that was set before Him' (Hebrews12.2) so we are being urged to press on because of the great things God has promised to those who persevere.

The heat of the fire

There are, therefore, these twin blessings that the Christian can expect to be theirs as they determine to stand firm and suffer even for doing good. In human terms the cross was a tragedy, but it became a place of great blessing for Christ. The person who has been united with Christ by faith has the guarantee that they will share in those very things.

Of course, saying these words is much easier than believing them or putting them into practice! In the heat of the fire of suffering it is very hard for us to be objective about what God is doing. As with the Psalmist and other suffering people in the Scriptures, it is the injustice that fills our vision, and God's inactivity seems more obvious than any good he is doing on our behalf.

But the recipients of Peter's letter are to be a model for us. Even as he writes to exhort them to remain faithful, he acknowledges real signs of faithfulness among them already. They already know what it is to 'greatly rejoice', even though they are experiencing 'grief in all kinds of trials' (1.6).

The rest of this letter makes clear that these are not 'super-Christians'. Like us, they are ordinary people, beset by weaknesses and temptations just as we are. But by God's grace they have been able to view their situation with the eye of faith, and this has given them the courage and hope to endure through the cross.

Colin Tamplin's last study in 1 Peter

A good thing?

Our salvation

Our glory

The heat of the fire

Colin Tamplin

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