Good Works and Suffering

Older women are to be teachers of good things, and one of the things they are to teach younger women is to be good. In the third blog on goodness, I shared how Paul clearly teaches in the book of Titus that goodness and good works flow out of sound doctrine. The grace of God found in the Gospel teaches us to be good from the inside out. It cleanses us from evil and fills us with the goodness of God in both character and action. Throughout the book of I Peter, Peter reiterates the same theme of Gospel transformation revealed through goodness of character and works as he tackles the thorny subject of suffering as believers in Jesus Christ.

Five times throughout his first letter, Peter talks specifically about suffering for doing good. It seems so wrong and backwards. Yet Peter makes two truths very clear: 1) Jesus suffered for doing good, and we are to follow His example; and 2) our good works will silence the evildoers who cause the suffering as we patiently endure unjust treatment and continue to do good. Consider these verses:

I Peter 2:11-12: Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

I Peter 2:15-16: For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

I Peter 2:19-24: For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

I Peter 3:13-18: And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit…

I Peter 4:12-16, 19: Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter…Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Jesus told His followers, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). He went on to say, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Our good works are a testimony to the world that we are children of God. They shine the light of His character into a dark world. They also put to shame and silence the enemies of God and those who wish to harm us.

As we saw in Titus, good works are the natural outflow of sound doctrine. Godly living must accompany a belief in the truth. James puts in very bluntly: “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). James makes it very clear that good works authenticate our faith. What we truly believe is displayed by our works, and our belief in the truth of Christ is made perfect by our good works (James 2:18, 22). Three times in one paragraph James states that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17, 20, 26).

In chapter 3, James comes back to the same theme. He asks, “Who is wise and understanding among you?” He then urges us to realize that true wisdom is shown by our good conduct in works that are done in the meekness or humility of wisdom (James 3:13). We don’t do good works to draw attention to ourselves but to bless others and to demonstrate the goodness and love of God for the world. He goes on to say that the wisdom that’s from above is full of good fruits. It bears the fruit of righteousness that sows seeds of peace so that peace will grow and flourish in a war-torn, revenge-filled, close-your-heart-to-those-who-hurt-you world (James 3:17, 18).

Peter states it so well and so clearly, bringing all these thoughts together and showing that this is the truth from God throughout both Old and New Testaments:

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it” (I Peter 3:8-11, quoting Psalm 34:12-14).

Oh, how different our world would be—and our churches—if we would live like this, always seeking to bless those who hurt us, actively pursuing good works toward everyone around us. This is the true light of God. This is the heart of God, who loved us when we were His enemies (Romans 5:6-10). We are called to this. Our Master and Lord, Jesus Christ, sets before us this astounding, counter-cultural, yet magnificent vision:

You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:43-48).

Is your life characterized by good works? Even to those who have wronged you and hurt you? May the “sap” of Christ’s life flow through us so fully that we fulfill this high and holy calling and become perfect, perfectly reflecting the heart of our perfect heavenly Father.

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