“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” 1 Peter 4:12-19
In 1 Peter 4:12-19, we see again the believer’s mystical PARTICIPATION in God’s re-enactment today of the cross (sufferings of Christ, the Head, and His Body, the church). “Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.” (v13) This is not just you alone suffering like He did. It is He Himself suffering and you in it and going through it with Him.
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthian 1:9
We “fellowship” – fellowship means relate to, identify with, get to know Him – through/by sharing with Him in this mystical re-enactment of His suffering, death, burial, and resurrection going on today. See Romans 6:3-5 and Philippians 3:10.
Colossians 1:24 says “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church.”
2 Corinthians 1:5 says “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.”
This is the “mystery” of which Paul wrote. See Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3 (especially v 19); and Colossians 1:27. The western mind has trouble comprehending this fact.
The Mystery (sacred secret now revealed by Paul – Ephesian 3:5-6 – is that Christ and His history (His story) are both in us and around us. This is because He is in us and we are in Him. The greatest words in the Bible are “in Christ.” He, through His Holy Ghost, indwells us. His Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:19) in us lives through us manifesting His love, glory, and virtue to the world. We experience our death with Him within our own heart (2 Corinthians 4:10). This means we die to sin and self and are simultaneously within raised to walk in newness of life (New Man or New Creation). See Romans 6:4-5. He increases and we, the old ego self, decrease (John 3:30). This death within us (2 Corinthians 4:12) is aided by our environment. We are handed over into His suffering and death in our circumstances (2 Corinthians 4:11). This is because He and His story are also in our environment. We are enveloped and environed by Christ and His story.
When we are raised from the dead with Him, it happens both in our heart AND in our circumstances (our finances, job, health, relationships, marriage, etc.). When we give up control (die), God takes control (resurrection). As the saying goes, “Let go and let God.” This requires faith. This is real faith. Believing that God raises the dead makes us willing to die to self in the present moment (2 Corinthians 4:14-15). This is to cast yourself to the wind, the wind of His Spirit, no longer relying on or anchored in self (Acts 27:40-41).
As we learn to yield – to and go with the flow of all this – we are changed and sanctified progressively, being conformed to the image of our LORD Jesus (Romans. 8:28-29). Romans 6:7 tells us that “He that is dead is freed from sin.” We don’t overcome sin by DOING. We overcome by suffering and DYING … (Romans. 6:7; 8:36-37). This is a daily humbling or sinking down into Christ’s death, not water – into the “baptism that now saves us” daily. By His wounds we (our souls) are healed (1 Peter 2:24). Christ suffered that we should walk in His footsteps (1 Peter 2:21). Notice, we are not to step into footprints left by Him but to walk with Him. This means His prints and ours are one. We are to walk in His footsteps.
Applying all this to 1 Peter 4:14, “If ye be reproached (re-enactment of His death circumstances) for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory (resurrection) and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” This is symbolized by the type of Jesus’ baptism in water. He sank down (death) and then coming up the Spirit dove rested on Him (resurrection).
1 Peter 4:17-19 sets forth the principle that we must suffer and die Christ’s (good) death now or die Satan’s (bad) death later. We must judge ourselves now or God will judge us later (1 Corinthians 11:31-32). These verses speak of loss of salvation for believers (“the righteous”- see v18) in the church who fail to yield to (“obey the gospel”), which is God’s purging process and die to self. And if this judgment begins with the righteous in the house of God, those outside (unbelievers) of His house (Christ’s house) have no hope at all.
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