1 Peter

1 Peter 4: Christ suffered and God is faithful

Begin in prayer

Before you read 1 Peter 4, please bring your family's troubles to the faithful Creator. Ask Him to show us why those who suffer for Christ can entrust their souls to Him and keep doing good.

But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come out like gold.

Job 23:10

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that Christ suffered for His people, and that You are a faithful Creator. Help us to trust You and to be more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Christ's suffering gives believers a new resolve to spend the rest of their lives doing God's will. Former companions speak evil when these believers refuse the sinful excesses they once shared, yet the slanderers must answer to the Judge. With the end near, Peter calls the church to sober prayer, earnest love and service that glorifies God through Jesus. Trials test them, and sharing Christ's sufferings gives them reason to rejoice at His coming glory. They must suffer for His name with honor, while refusing the crimes and meddling that deserve punishment. Judgment begins with God's household, so Peter asks what awaits those who disobey the gospel and directs sufferers to their faithful Creator.

As you read 1 Peter 4, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God is a faithful Creator, so those who suffer for Christ can entrust their souls to Him.

Peter's readers once lived as the Gentiles around them did, in drunken binges and the worship of idols (verse 3). When they stopped, their old friends thought it strange and spoke evil of them (verse 4). So Peter tells them not to think it strange when a fiery trial comes to test them (verse 12). Christ suffered in the flesh first, and those who share His sufferings will rejoice when His glory is revealed (verses 1 and 13). To entrust something is to hand it over to someone for safe keeping. Peter tells sufferers to hand over their souls to God as “a faithful Creator,” because the One who made them will keep them. This trust is never careless, for judgment begins with God's household, and Peter asks what awaits those who disobey the Good News. So they keep doing good, and they rest their souls in the hands of the God who made them.

How does 1 Peter 4 show us that God is a faithful Creator, so those who suffer for Christ can entrust their souls to Him?

Christ suffered in the flesh, so His people live for God's will.

Christ's suffering arms His people with His resolve, so their remaining lives serve God's will. Peter says the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. Their past included lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings and abominable idolatries. Former companions blaspheme them for refusing these sins, and must answer to the Judge of the living and the dead. The gospel reached believers who have since died, and human judgment against them did not end their life with God.

The end is near, so God's people pray and love one another.

The near end calls believers to sound minds, self-control and sober prayer. Earnest love covers many sins by forgiving offenses and refusing to spread them. Believers welcome guests without grumbling and use their gifts with the words and strength God supplies. Their service brings glory to God through Jesus Christ.

Suffering for the name of Christ is a blessing.

Sharing Christ's sufferings now leads to rejoicing when His glory is revealed. Those insulted for His name are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on them. On the opponents' part He is blasphemed, while His people glorify Him. Murder, theft, evil doing and meddling in other people's matters deserve no praise. A person who suffers as a Christian should glorify God without shame.

God's people entrust their souls to a faithful Creator.

Judgment begins with the household of God (verse 17). Peter asks what will happen to those who do not obey the Good News. If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner (verse 18)? Those who suffer according to God’s will do good and entrust their souls to Him (verse 19). He is a faithful Creator.

Memorise

Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.

1 Peter 4:19

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, have I trusted my soul to Jesus, and do I go to Him in trouble?

Peter tells sufferers to entrust their souls to God as “a faithful Creator.” Their trials are real, and judgment begins with God's household. Then he asks, “what will happen to those who don’t obey the Good News of God?” Those words leave no room to treat sin as a small thing.

The Christ whose name brings suffering to His people has already suffered for their sins. He died in His people's place, bearing their guilt and the judgment they deserved. The sacrifice is complete, with nothing left for another offering to supply. God raised this Savior from the dead, and His glory will be revealed. No slanderer can overturn what He has done.

Please come to Christ while this gospel is being preached to you. Turn from your sin and trust Him. He forgives the sinner who places his soul in His care. Then keep doing good, even when it costs you, and look to the faithful Creator whose hands hold the life of His people.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Christ suffered for His people, and that God is a faithful Creator. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Please also let your children see you keep doing good in hard times, and trust your soul to God.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for Christ, who suffered for His people, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy,

Jude 24

Lord Jesus, thank You that You suffered for Your people. Thank You that God is a faithful Creator. Please help us to turn from sin and trust You, and teach us to give our souls into Your hands. Amen.