“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”

Click here to watch the video of this message

Revelation chapters 2 and 3 are Christ’s letter to the seven churches in Asia through Apostle John. At that time, the author of this book, the Apostle John was preaching the gospel when he was arrested by Roman Emperor Domitian. He was sent to the island of Patmos and forced to do hard labor. He went to a cave and prayed. There he saw a vision and wrote the Book of Revelation. So this book is the prison Epistle of the Apostle John. Here the seven churches were actual churches. However, these seven churches represent the Church of the entire world. We want to think about this passage in Revelation 2 in two parts: First, (2:1-7), The Lord’s letter to the church in Ephesus. Second (8-17), the Lord’s letters to the churches in Smyrna and Pergamum. As we study this passage, I pray that we may restore our first love for our Lord.
I. Christ’s letter to the church in Ephesus (1-7)

What kind of city was Ephesus? Ephesus was the largest port city of Asia Minor. It was the trading and business center of Asia Minor. The temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, (Acts 19:35) was there. The people practiced Emperor worship and magic. So, Ephesus was a city of idol worship, hedonism and corruption. What did Christ look to the church in Ephesus? Look at verse 1. “These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.” Jesus is “he who holds the seven stars in his right hand” (1b). Jesus appeared to the churches as the Sovereign Lord. Christ rules over his church and the saints with love and power. How did he commend the church in Ephesus?

Verse 2a says, “I know your deeds, your hard work.” Christ acknowledged their deeds of faith. In the church of Ephesus, there were many acts of faith done by first generation Christians. He also commended their perseverance (2c). In 1 Thessalonians 1:3, Apostle Paul said that we persevere because of hope. The reason we can persevere in spite of many temptations and hardships is because of our hope in Jesus’ second coming. This postmodern atmosphere is like that of Sodom and Gomorrah. The secret of overcoming this atmosphere is to hold on to the hope of Jesus’ second coming. Jesus commended the church in Ephesus for not tolerating false apostles (2d, 3, 6). Our community must be a community of love. At the same time, we must guard against bad influence from false apostles who hinder and destroy the Christian community. We should not follow evil trends of the time. At that time, false apostles (Nicolaitans) spread gnosticism and hedonism.This hindered gospel faith. However, the church in Ephesus exposed them and warned against their false teachings.

How did Christ rebuke the church in Ephesus? Look at verse 4. “Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken your first love.” Then, what does it mean that they have forsaken their first love?

First, they have forsaken their first love for God. They say the first love is pure and sincere. This is not the humanistic “eros” love. The Ephesian Christian community’s love for Jesus was greater than that of today Christian community. Although they were gentiles, they experienced greater love of Christ through the Apostle Paul’s sincere Bible study and they became men and women of God. They had kept this great love of Jesus in their hearts. It was their first love. How did we experience our first love? 1 John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” When we know and experience Jesus Christ who laid down his life for us on the cross, we can have his burning love in us. How can we express our first love to Jesus? We also should lay down our lives for our brothers. (1 Jn 3:16b). Because of their fervent love for Jesus, they took care of God’s flock. Because of their fervent love for Jesus, they endured hardships.

In Mark 12:29-31, a teacher of the law came to Jesus and asked about the greatest commandment. Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” At that time, Pharisees kept all the laws meticulously. Even though they said that they loved God and prayed regularly and praised God, the temperature of their love toward God was cold, and their hearts were far from God. Jesus said, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Mark 7:6). In the West, people love others and sometimes even their spouses with their lips only. Their hearts are far from true love. So they divorce easily. We should love God not only with our lips, but with our hearts. When we sin, we must repent with contrite hearts and tears like King David. Then we can restore our love relationship with God. Jesus told us to love God with all our soul and with all our strength. When we love our 1:1 Bible students or coworkers, we can sacrifice time, money and pride for them. Moreover, when we love God, we should not spare our soul and our strength, not even our lives. Maybe we can love God once, but it is not easy for us to love God with all our soul continually for our lifetime. We have to make a daily decision to do so.

Second, to forsake one’s first love means to forsake God’s commandments. To love God is the first commandment. To love one’s neighbor as one’s self is the second commandment. (Mark 12:31). Jesus taught us that the first commandment demands a love relationship with God and the second demands a love relationship with our neighbors “Love your neighbor as yourself”. We think we work hard for God, sacrificing our bodies and our time. However, we love ourselves more than anything else. Even when we make some sacrifices, it is our instinct to ultimately desire to keep our bodies whole and improve them. Jesus taught us to love others genuinely and secretly, and as consistently as we love ourselves. Jesus acknowledged that we love ourselves. In reality, those who mistreat themselves cannot love their neighbors. Only those who love and appreciate themselves are able to love others in the right way. How did Jesus teach us to love our neighbors? “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). As Jesus says in this verse, we must do to others what we would have them do to us. Jesus said to Peter, “Do you truly love me more than these?” Then Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” (Jn 21:15) When I experienced Jesus’ love at first, Jesus told me to feed God’s flock of sheep with this love. In my early medical school days, because of my first love for Jesus, I invited all of my classmates to group Bible study. I divided them into 4 groups and taught them the word of God. Why do we have to love God with all our heart and soul?

First, because God is our Creator, and we are His creation. (Gen. 1:1) God is the origin of all things. He is our Creator. As children obey and love their parents, we must love our God with all our hearts because He is our Maker.

Second, because God is our Savior. (Jn 3:16). God sent his one and only Son Jesus to us when we were doomed to perish because of our sins. Jesus died on the cross to save us from sin and destruction. Moreover, He freed us from the power of death, which makes our lives miserable. Therefore, it is natural for saved sinners to love God with all their hearts and minds.

Third, because we live a happy and fruitful life when we love God with all our hearts. When God created man, he was very happy. God blessed man and gave him a mission to be fruitful, increase in number and fill the earth. (Gen. 1:28). God gave man a mission to bear abundant fruit. When we love God with all our hearts and make a deep love relationship with God, we become happy and bear abundant fruit (John 15:5).

What life direction did God give the Ephesus Christians? Look at verse 5, “Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” In order to recover one’s first love, one should realize how and why one has fallen from it. So, Jesus says, “Repent and do the things you did at first!” (5a). He means that they should restore their first love. This means they should restore their first love for their neighbors. What was the reason the Ephesus church lost her first burning love?

First, because the love between brothers grew cold in the course of exposing and punishing false teachers in the church. In the beginning, the church in Ephesus had a burning love toward God. (Acts 20:36-37). However, this love grew cold when arguments and division grew among Christians.

Second, because they did not renew it everyday. 5a says, “Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” It is not easy to remember continually. We should renew everyday to remember always. It is just like the saying: “Out of sight, out of mind.” As we feed a fire charcoal in order to maintain the fire, our love can cool down unless we fan it into fire everyday. Likewise, we should renew our burning love for Jesus everyday through God’s word. Otherwise, our love for him will gradually cool down and become cold. Jesus said, “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place” (5c). This means that Jesus, who is the head of the church, will leave the church. I experienced the burning love of Jesus on the cross when I first studied the Bible. I was willing to give my life for Jesus. When I gave up my career as a physician in order to be a UBF staff, my love for Jesus was strongest. But as time passed by, my love for Jesus grew cold. Whenever I repented and newly meditated on the love of Jesus on the cross, the temperature of my love again rose–sometimes from 70 degrees to 140 degrees

When I see myself, I am like the church in Ephesus. I too have forsaken my first love. I must repent and meditate on the love of Jesus and accept his love and restore my love again up to 212 degrees F. The Lord rebuked the church in Laodicea, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other. So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor old–I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:15,16) There is a movie titled, “Hot is Better.” Our Lord also likes “hot”. Is your faith lukewarm? If so, the Lord will spit you out of his mouth. Even if you are so hot to burn his tongue, he would like it. What was the conclusion of Jesus’ letter to the Ephesian church? Look at verse 7. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Jesus promised to give the tree of life which is in paradise to those who overcome by faith.

II. Letters to the churches in Smyrna and Pergamum (8-17)

Verses 8-11 are the letter to the church in Smyrna. Smyrna was a port city located in the north of Ephesus. It was protected by the Roman Empire because of a pledge of loyalty to Rome. So the place became the central location of emperor worship. Jesus did not rebuke this church, but only encouraged and commended them. Jesus appeared in a resurrection body to the church in Smyrna. They had struggled to keep their faith in the midst of afflictions and poverty(8). Jesus comforted them saying, “I know your afflictions and your poverty” (9a). Jesus told them that they were rich even though they were financially poor (9b). Jesus acknowledged their faithfulness and blessed their future. In Smyrna, there were many Jewish immigrants. So the place had very strong Jewish traditions and ideas. Many Jewish people persecuted Christians. In the midst of persecution, what direction did Jesus give to the Christians? Look at verse 10c. “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” What does it mean to be faithful to the point of death?

First, it means to be faithful even with a few things. In Jesus’ parable of the talents (Mt 25:14-30), the master recognized the two servants who doubled their talents from five and two talents to ten and four talents. “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” If the servant who had received one talent worked and brought one more talent, he would have received the same recognition. In order to be a good and faithful servant, we have to be faithful even with a few things.

Second, it means to be faithful to the end. Even Judas Iscariot was faithful for the first two years. He faithfully served Jesus as the treasurer. But in his third year, he was not faithful and he betrayed Jesus.

Third, it means to be faithful even in adverse circumstances. Polycarp, the disciple of Apostle John, the Overseer of the Smyrna church was arrested because he didn’t worship the Roman Emperor as God. He was about to be burned in the Smyrna amphitheater in AD 155. An executor asked him. “I will let you free if you confess the Emperor as God and deny Christ now.” But Polycarp answered, “I served Christ as my king for 86 years. Christ never disowned me once. How can I disown him now?” He thanked God that he could become a martyr, and sang hymns while he was burning to death. He is a good example of being faithful to the point of death. Some of us have faithfully served God for the last 30 years or 50 years or for a lifetime. I pray that we can be faithful to the point of death.

Verses 12-17 are the letter to the church in Pergamum. What kind of place was Pergamum? It was located 60 miles north of Smyrna. It was the capital city of the Seleucid Dynasty right after the fall of Greece. In 133 BC as Syria merged with the Roman Empire, Pergamum played the role of the capital city of Asia. So, Pergamum was a center of religion and culture. There were Caesar’s temple, Serapeum temple, the temple of Zeus and Dionysius and it was famous for hospitals and medical libraries. It was the city of idol worship. What did Jesus look like to the church in Pergamum? “These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword (12)” Jesus came as a judge to the Pergamum church where there was immense confusion. The city of Pergamum was a city of confusion, idol worship, corruption and pleasure seeking. Christ encouraged his servants who kept their faith in that atmosphere. Look at verse 13. “I know where you live–where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city–where Satan lives.” Antipas was martyred in Pergamum. Because of his good influence, Pergamum Christians kept their faith in the midst of extreme persecution. How did Christ rebuke the church in Pergamum? Look at verse 14.”Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: you have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.”

Though most Pergamum Christians were sincere in their faith, some followed Balaam’s teaching. Balaam tempted the Israelites to worship idols and indulge in immorality in the desert of Siddim. Even though he couldn’t directly curse the Israelites, because of his love of money, he tempted the Israelites to worship idols and practice adultery with Moabite women (Numbers 22-25, 31:8, 16). As a result, 24,000 Israelites were killed by God.

According to verse 15, Nicolaitan teaching was same as that of Balaam. Nicolaitan means ’swallowing the people’. This means that they swallowed the people with corrupted and immoral teaching. They claimed that the time of law was over, and people should live without the law. So they promoted lawlessness. They taught that believers could indulge in unlimited physical pleasure since they were already forgiven. Such teaching is comparable to hedonism in our time. Our times are badly influenced by hedonism, materialism and idol worship like Sodom and Gomorrah. As described in the later part of Romans 1 (Ro1:26-31), the world has become full of shameful homo-sexuality, every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity, envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. Love grew cold and people became lawless (Matthew 24:12).

We also live in a flood of bad influences. Even in America, which is known as a Christian country, in 2 states including Massachusetts, which is known as a most intellectual state, gay marriage is legally approved. In America, the divorce rate has reached 60%. Ironically, the divorce rate among American Christians is almost the same. This shows that Christians are being influenced by the world; they are not positively influencing the society. The bad influence of the world corrupts the church. The church in America must expose evil and keep genuine gospel faith like the church in Ephesus. How then may we not be tempted by Balaam’s teaching? First, we have to repent everyday and keep gospel faith (16). Second, we must study God’s word with an absolute attitude and live according to its teaching.

In conclusion, We have to repent and restore our first love everyday. We have to meditate on the love of Jesus on the cross and restore our burning love for Jesus. And we must love our neighbors as ourselves.

“But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

In chapter 3, Peter reminded us that Christ died for our sins, rose again, and ascended into heaven. Now he sits at God’s right hand–with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. As his disciples, we are called to follow his example of suffering and glory. In chapter 4, Peter helps us to participate in Christ’s sufferings. In verses 1-6, he teaches us a right attitude toward suffering. In verses 7-11, he exhorts us to love one another and bring glory to God, for the end is near. Finally, in verses 12-19, he encourages us to rejoice as we participate in the sufferings of Christ.

I. A right attitude toward suffering for Christ (1-6)

As human beings, we do not like to suffer and we don’t want to die. Sometimes, even to hear the word “suffering” makes us shiver. However, everyone who follows Christ will suffer, though we really don’t want to. Peter deeply understood this problem. Once when Jesus foretold his own suffering and death, Peter rebuked him. Then Jesus rebuked Peter in a way that he did not forget (Mk 8:31-33). Since then Peter learned the secret to overcoming sufferings, and he passed it on to us: We must accept suffering with a right attitude. That means we must arm ourselves with the attitude of Christ, and we must decide to die to sin and obey the will of God.

First, arm yourselves with the same attitude (1-2). Look at verse 1. “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.” As we study the gospels we can see how Christ suffered in his body, especially during the time of his passion. Christ was beaten so severely that Isaiah describes him as “marred beyond human likeness” (Isa 52:14). Christ was flogged with a whip of leather strands embedded with metal spurs that ripped his flesh. Christ was fastened to a cross, having long iron nails driven through his hands and feet. His physical suffering was immense; his suffering of soul was even greater. Finally he died on the cross. What was his attitude? Let’s recap some of his words. When arrested, Jesus was in command. As he said, “I am he,” his arrestors drew back and fell to the ground (Jn 18:6). When condemned to death, he boldly declared that he was going to the right hand of God and would come on the clouds of heaven (Mk 14:62). On the cross, he prayed for sinners, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk 23:34a). When he died, he said in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Lk 23:46). A hardened Roman centurion was so impressed that he fell to his knees and said, “Surely, this man was the Son of God” (Mk 15:39). Jesus revealed the hope of glory with his Father, assurance of God’s final victory, and forgiving love.

How could Jesus have such an attitude? According to the gospels, one reason was his Gethsemane prayer. In his flesh, Jesus did not want to face this ordeal. But he prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Lk 22:42). Jesus prayed this way until his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Jesus prayed this way until he was fully prepared to take his cup of suffering and death. We can arm ourselves with the attitude of Christ through prayer. When we confront suffering the first thing we must do is pray. Many of us know this, but we do not always practice it. Instead, our first reaction is to sleep a little more, or try to think our way out of the problem, or enlist the help of others. Victory in suffering comes through prayer. So let’s learn to pray first, like Jesus.

The last part of verse 1 says, “…he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.” This does not mean that if we experience one week of back pain for Jesus we emerge totally sanctified. Then what does it mean? In a word, as we prayerfully endure sufferings, our sanctification accelerates. When Christ died for our sins, he died once for all, and made complete atonement for our sins. The moment we believe in Jesus we are justified as children of God, who gives us victory over sin (Ro 6:5-7). However, the process of appropriating this victory may take time, largely because we are slow to renounce our sins. The more we die to our sinful nature and allow Christ to live in us, the more tangble our victory over sin becomes. This process is accelerated through suffering because pain causes us to focus on what is most important, which is freedom from sinful desires.

Look at verse 2. “As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.” Sinful desires die and holy desires grow in our hearts. Consider St. Augustine. Before conversion he was a careless pleasure-seeker, who fathered an illegitimate child. Christ changed him. He abhored his sinful life and renounced it. He devoted himself to rigorous divine discipline, through which he grew as a great shepherd for early Christians; he developed much of our Christian theology. Sufferings produce godly character (Ro 5:3-5). So let’s embrace them positively.

Second, we must decide to do the will of God (3-6). Look at verse 3. “For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do–living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.” We have sinned enough! We must overcome deception that sentimentalizes our past sinful lives. Sometimes we are like the Israelites in the wilderness. They had been liberated from terrible slavery to Pharaoh in Egypt. However, when facing hardship, they actually longed to return to slavery. They fantasized about sitting around pots of meat (Ex 16:3). They had been slaves, not aristocrats! It was irrational sentimentality. Likewise, one young man indulged in drunkenness. As a result, he behaved foolishly and vomited. The next day he had a splitting headache and was useless. He fell behind in his classwork. Instead of repenting, he persuaded himself that it had been fun. This is irrational sentimentality. People live this way because they are under the power of death. They say, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” However, we Christians admit that living in sin brings misery and pain. We hate sin, realizing that Christ died to save us from it. We must pursue union with Christ in his death, and live a holy life, seeking to do the will of God.

The will of God is good, pleasing and perfect (Ro 12:2). Obedience to the will of God produces good fruit and true accomplishment. It gives a deep and abiding joy that has no regrets, and it leads to eternal life (1 Jn 2:17). There is a young couple who plan to marry this year. As we have studied the word of God, the Spirit revealed God’s good will for them. This has brought deep joy, superior to any cheap thrill of the world. When we obey the will of God, we have real joy and true life. People of the world do not understand. Rather, convicted of sin, they become abusive. They may seem powerful. But more powerful is Almighty God, who is ready to judge the living and the dead (5). Those who live for sinful pleasures are facing judgment and eternal condemnation. But those who accept the gospel live forever with God (6). So let’s decide to die to our sin and to do the will of God.

II. The end is near: Love one another and glorify God (7-11)

In this part Peter gives a further reason why we should have a right attitude toward suffering, and he tells us practically how we can obey the will of God. Look at verse 7a. “The end of all things is near.” If we think we have plenty of time, we easily become complacent. We become like lazy students at the beginning of a semester: they relax and have fun, planning to study later. But by the time they actually begin to study they are too far behind to catch up. This is why many drop out and fail to fulfill their dreams. Peter said, “The end of all things is near.” Peter saw the living God who judges the world day by day. Peter saw the coming of Christ which will bring a sudden and unexpected end to this present age. Several years ago, Missionary Barnabas Baek of Sri Lanka confessed that living in a Buddhist culture had unconsciously influenced him to think there was no end, but that everything goes on in an eternal cycle. He repented and decided to live in the truth that there is an end. We can learn from him. Many of us live as though everything will just keep going on forever. However, the Bible clearly teaches that there will be an end. Peter was sure of this and he declared that the end was near. We must believe this.

How then should we live? Look at verse 7b. “Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” A clear mind is one that works properly. It is not clouded by sinful thoughts or stormy with grudges, but it is clear like a bright sunny day. A clear mind can produce healthy and truthful thought that is necessary to make right decisions and take right actions. To be self-controlled is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:23). It means that our selves not controlled by our sinful nature or by evil spirits, but are free to love and serve God under the influence of the Holy Spirit. We must be clear minded and self-controlled so that we can pray. How can we be so? We must believe that the end of all things is near. Then we can pray.

Prayer may be the most important thing we can do when we want to obey the will of God. Through prayer, we can know the will of God. Through prayer, we can find the strength to do the will of God. Through prayer, we can stay spiritually awakened. I believe that UBF people are generally praying people. We pray two by two after meetings. Many pray in the early morning after eating Daily Bread, some visibly and some invisibly. We pray before and after having one-to-one Bible study. We have special prayer meetings for conferences. We pray before meals. Parents pray for their children and children pray before bedtime. We pray personally and sometimes offer emergency prayer. However, I believe our prayer will be even more fervent when we truly believe the end of all things is near. Prayer is the power source by which everything else Peter mentions must be done.

Verse 8 says, “Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins.” This love is like that of close-knit families. It binds us together in affectionate and godly concern for one another. But it is more. It is redemptive love that values another’s soul and seeks his or her best good. It is love that rejoices in the truth; it does not compromise with sin, and yet it embraces others with the forgiving grace of Jesus. This love springs up in those who know how much the Lord has forgiven them (Lk 7:47). In an atmosphere of love, confession of sin is possible, and many sins are covered by the blood of Jesus as Christians love and serve one another. Peter knew that Christ died for his sin, and even his terrible denial. So Peter was ready to embrace those who had made mistakes–like John Mark, who abandoned the first mission journey with Paul. Peter embraced Mark with the forgiving love of Jesus, and Mark became a gospel writer. Love is most important.

Verse 9 says, “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” This means that our homes should be open to one another. When someone comes unexpectedly, we should welcome them with open arms and an open refrigerator, and if necessary, a place to sleep and to shower. Mother Barry has shown us a good example. Verse 10 says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” God gives gifts to his children. We don’t deserve them, that is why they are called “gifts.” They are not meant for showing off, but for serving others. In love, we must discover what needs to be done, and then do it with the gifts God has given us. We must use our gifts faithfully to share God’s grace with the body of Christ. We must not be like the man in Jesus’ parable who hid his talent in the ground (Lk 19:20 ff.). Instead we must be like those who do their best with their talent in order to give a profit to their Master. We must be alert for opportunities, and eager to bless others with the gifts God has given us. These gifts are generally put into two categories by Peter. Look at verse 11. “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

III. Rejoice to participate in the sufferings of Christ (12-19)

In this part Peter again drives home the point that we must have a right attitude toward sufferings. He explains this in two ways: We must realize that there is a mysterious joy inherent in suffering for Christ, and that suffering for Christ is much better than suffering for sin.

First, rejoice in suffering for Christ (12-14). When we suffer for Christ, it is a painful trial. Our first response to such trials may be, “Why me?” “What did I do to deserve this?” or “Why am only I suffering?” (12) In truth, these kinds of reactions come because we don’t want to suffer. But there is no one in the world who does not suffer. Even two year old children suffer every day in many ways. Our question should not be “Why?” Our question should be “for Whom?” If we are suffering for Christ, there is good news for us. Look at verse 13. “But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” Peter boldly tells us to rejoice that we participate in the sufferings of Christ. This tells us that not only is it possible to rejoice in suffering for Christ, but it is commanded. It is our right response to suffering for Christ. How can we do that? We can rejoice in suffering for Christ when we think of Christ in the midst of our sufferings. Suffering for Christ has a mysterious power to draw us to Christ and to deeper fellowship with Christ. As a result, we do not focus our attention on the suffering, but on Christ. In Christ we rejoice.

After Jesus’ ascension, Peter and the other apostles preached the gospel in the temple courts according to an angel’s command. Then the Sanhedrin members were furious. They condemned and flogged the apostles. Surely it was painful. However, as the apostles left the Sanhedrin, they were not crying. They were rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for Christ (Ac 5:41). In the time of suffering their identity in Christ was strengthened and their fellowship with Christ was deepened, to such a degree that they rejoiced greatly.

The Apostle John, as a very old man, was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the gospel of Christ boldly. His life was one of hard labor and pain in his old age. Yet one Lord’s day, when he was in the Spirit, the Risen Christ appeared to him and gave him the most vivid revelation of his glory and his final victory, and of the splendor of heaven. This revelation has inspired Christians with heavenly vision ever since then. To those who share his suffering, Jesus promises that we will share his glory as well. His glory is so great in comparison that our suffering pales to insignificance. The Apostle Paul, who suffered much, knew this secret very well. So he said, “I want to know Christ…and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings…” (Php 3:10). He also said, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Ro 8:18). Therefore, when we participate in the sufferings of Christ, and are sure of it, we have reason to rejoice greatly, for we can be sure that we will share in his glory.

Suffering for Christ is a “win-win” situation. We can rejoice now, and we will be overjoyed when his glory is revealed (13b). This refers to the time of Christ’s coming in power and great glory as King and Judge. Yet again, in some sense, we experience this now. When we see the fruit of gospel work, we rejoice, forgetting the pains we experienced. Two years ago, our IIT coworkers began independent ministry on campus. We felt pain to send them away. However, last Friday we saw the fruit of their growing ministry. As they reported, God’s stock is going up year by year in the IIT ministry, and for this we rejoiced. Last year, new UIC ministry began in the midst of the pain of broken hearts, as the new West Loop chapter was formed and many close coworkers separated. However, on Friday, we saw the fruit of new disciple raising at UIC, and we rejoiced over this. Last year, the Loop fellowship coworkers agonized over Amber because of her difficult situation and her wavering faith. Many prayed for her with tears. Now we see that she is growing as a woman of God. These are just small tastes of the glory that awaits us in the future. Yet this tells us that all of our sufferings for Christ turn to glory, now and in the future, in a way that we can only imagine. Peter said in verse 14, “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” We should see sufferings for Christ as the evidence of God’s glory with us.

Second, suffering for Christ is much better than suffering for sin (15-19). Look at verse 15. “If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.” When Cain killed his brother Abel, he thought it was the solution to his jealousy problem. However, Cain began to suffer unbearably from fear. He thought that everyone who saw him wanted to kill him. He became a restless wanderer on the earth (Gen 4:14). This suffering is terrible; it has no redemptive value. It is nothing but pure misery. All suffering for sin is like this. However, suffering as a Christian has deep meaning and gives us real reason to rejoice. So we must not be ashamed but praise God when we suffer as Christians (16). We must remember that God’s judgment of all people is certain. God uses our suffering with Christ to purify us and prepare us for heavenly glory. But those who suffer in sin have eternal condemnation waiting (17-18).

Though we have so many reasons to be positive about suffering for Christ, sometimes we become tired of suffering. Sometimes we wonder if it might not be better to take a break from suffering and enjoy an easier life for a while. But there is no easier life. If we try to avoid suffering, we suffer more with guilt and fear. We must solve this problem with commitment to God. Look at verse 19. “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” God knows our suffering. God uses our suffering for good. In God’s time it will end and we will receive everlasting glory. God has promised this, and he is faithful. So let’s commit ourselves to him, and continue to do good.