“But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13). These words, penned by the Apostle Peter, present us with what seems like a paradox—finding joy in suffering. For many Christians today, living in relative comfort, the verse may appear distant or difficult to grasp. Yet, understanding how we share in Christ’s sufferings is crucial for the believer’s spiritual journey.

Peter, who witnessed Christ’s sufferings firsthand and would later face martyrdom himself, wasn’t presenting mere theory. He was preparing believers for the reality of the Christian life—a life that necessarily involves suffering in fellowship with Christ. This profound truth, while challenging, offers us deep comfort and purpose in our trials.

 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SHARE IN CHRIST’S SUFFERING? UNDERSTANDING THE CONTEXT

Peter wrote his first epistle to Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), who faced increasing persecution under Roman rule. Believers needed encouragement and, more importantly, a theological framework to understand their suffering. The letter’s recipients weren’t just facing social ostracism; they were confronting the real possibility of losing property, freedom, even their lives for their faith.

What’s particularly striking is how the Apostles consistently prioritised preparing the church for suffering. Consider:

• Acts 14:22: Paul and Barnabas strengthened disciples by teaching “that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God”
• 2 Timothy 3:12: Paul’s stark warning that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”
• 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4: Paul’s reminder that believers are “destined for trials” and his prior warnings about coming afflictions

The Apostles understood suffering wasn’t merely incidental to the Christian life—it was integral. They saw preparing believers for suffering as a fundamental pastoral duty, equal in importance to teaching sound doctrine and establishing church order. This wasn’t pessimism; it was loving realism grounded in Christ’s own words that His followers would face tribulation (John 16:33).

 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SHARE IN CHRIST’S SUFFERING? REFORMED PERSPECTIVES

The Reformed tradition has particularly emphasised the doctrine of union with Christ as the foundation for understanding our participation in His sufferings. This union isn’t merely metaphorical; it’s a profound spiritual reality that John Calvin called the “mystical union.” Through this union, believers are joined to Christ in such a way that all that is His becomes ours—including both His sufferings and His glory.

The believer’s union with Christ operates in three key ways:

1. Legal Union: Through federal headship, Christ’s righteousness becomes ours, and our sin became His on the cross
2. Vital Union: We receive spiritual life through our connection to Christ, just as branches receive life from the vine
3. Experiential Union: We participate in Christ’s death and resurrection through our daily Christian experience

This union means that when we suffer as Christians, we’re not suffering alone or merely imitating Christ—we’re experiencing the overflow of His own sufferings through our vital connection to Him. This isn’t adding to Christ’s redemptive work, which is complete, but rather participating in the suffering that comes from being united to Him in a world that rejected Him.

 

THE NATURE OF CHRISTIAN SUFFERING

Christian suffering takes several distinct forms, each carrying its own spiritual significance and purpose. Consider the types of suffering discussed in 1 Peter:

• Suffering for righteousness (1 Peter 3:14): This occurs when we face opposition for doing what is right, maintaining our integrity, or standing firm on biblical principles in a hostile environment.
• Suffering for the name of Christ (1 Peter 4:14-16): More direct persecution for our Christian identity and witness, ranging from social exclusion to actual persecution.
• Suffering in God’s will (1 Peter 4:19): The various trials God sovereignly allows in our lives for our sanctification and His glory.

 

SO, HOW DO WE PARTICIPATE IN CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS?

The Greek word koinōneō, translated as “partake” or “share” in 1 Peter 4:13, carries the rich meaning of fellowship or communion. It suggests an intimate participation rather than mere imitation. Yet, while this participation is active and real, it is distinct from Christ’s unique atoning sufferings which can never be repeated or supplemented.

Ways we share in Christ’s sufferings:

Suffering for righteousness:

• Standing firm against sin and temptation, experiencing the world’s hostility just as Christ did
• Being misunderstood and rejected by family or friends because of our faith
• Facing persecution in various forms for maintaining biblical convictions

Suffering for the gospel:

• Bearing social cost for evangelistic witness
• Experiencing rejection when sharing the truth of Christ
• Sacrificing comfort, security, or advancement for the sake of kingdom work

Suffering in sanctification:

• The painful process of dying to self and mortifying sin by fighting temptation
• Experiencing the Spirit’s conviction and the Father’s discipline
• Bearing the cross daily in following Christ’s example

 

THE PURPOSE AND BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING

Understanding the purposes and benefits of sharing in Christ’s sufferings transforms how we view and endure our trials. These purposes aren’t arbitrary but are intricately connected to God’s work of conforming us to Christ’s image.

Sanctification through suffering:

• Suffering acts as a crucible that purifies our faith and strengthens our character
• Through trials, we learn obedience as Christ did, though He was perfect
• Our suffering serves to detach us from worldly comforts and increase our dependence on God

Witness to the world:

• Our patient endurance in suffering provides a powerful testimony to unbelievers
• The joy we maintain through trials demonstrates the reality of Christ’s sustaining grace
• Our response to suffering often opens unique opportunities for gospel witness

Future glory revealed:

• Present sufferings prepare us for and increase our future capacity for glory
• Our sharing in Christ’s sufferings guarantees our sharing in His glory
• Temporal sufferings produce an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs them all

Deeper communion with Christ:

• Suffering deepens our experiential knowledge of Christ
• Through trials, we better understand Christ’s own sufferings on our behalf
• Our suffering draws us into closer fellowship with our Savior as we depend more fully on His grace

These benefits aren’t mere theoretical consolations but real spiritual fruits that God produces through our trials. As we grasp these purposes, we begin to understand why Peter calls us to rejoice in our participation in Christ’s sufferings.

 

CONCLUSION: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SHARE IN CHRIST’S SUFFERING?

In the profound mystery of sharing in Christ’s sufferings, we encounter a paradox that’s central to the authentic Christian experience. While our natural inclination is to flee from suffering, Scripture invites us into a deeper understanding where suffering becomes not just bearable, but meaningful—even a cause for rejoicing. Peter’s words carry special weight because they come from one who both witnessed Christ’s sufferings and eventually followed in his Master’s footsteps to martyrdom. His message isn’t theoretical consolation but tested truth: our sufferings as believers are neither meaningless nor merely circumstantial. Rather, through our vital union with Christ, they become the very means by which we enter into deeper fellowship with our loving Saviour.

As we face our own trials—whether they be persecution, rejection, the daily mortification of sin, or the cost of faithful witness—we can do so with supernatural joy. This isn’t so because suffering is pleasant, but because through it, we’re granted the privilege of knowing Christ more intimately. When we suffer as Christians, we’re not just enduring pain; we’re being drawn into the very pattern of Christ’s death and resurrection. Until the day when Christ’s glory is revealed, may we embrace our share in His sufferings, knowing that in them we find not just pain, but purpose; not just trial, but transformation. In doing so, we can truly understand and embrace Peter’s paradoxical command to rejoice in our share of Christ’s sufferings, knowing that such participation is both a present privilege and a pledge of future glory.

 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SHARE IN CHRIST’S SUFFERING?—RELATED FAQs

What did the Puritans teach about sharing in Christ’s sufferings?

John Owen emphasised our suffering is intimately connected to the process of mortification—the daily dying to sin. He taught that through suffering, we experience both the death-dealing and life-giving power of Christ’s cross, making it an essential part of our sanctification. For Owen, suffering wasn’t just something to endure but a means of grace through which we experience deeper communion with Christ.

Thomas Brooks: In The Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod, Brooks taught silence under affliction doesn’t mean stoic resignation but faithful submission to God’s wise providence. He emphasised God’s rod of suffering is wielded by a Father’s hand, always for our good and never in mere punishment. Brooks particularly encouraged believers to see their sufferings as evidence of their adoption rather than their abandonment.

Richard Sibbes: Sibbes, nicknamed the “sweet dropper,” emphasised the tenderness of Christ toward His suffering people. He taught our sufferings actually endear us to Christ, as He has particular compassion for those who suffer as He did. For Sibbes, sharing in Christ’s sufferings meant experiencing not just His pain but also His comfort.

Thomas Watson: Watson viewed suffering as a carefully measured medicine prescribed by our Divine Physician. He taught that God allows suffering not as punishment for believers but as purification, with each trial precisely designed for our spiritual good. Watson’s perspective helps us see our sufferings aren’t random but redemptive.

• How is Christian suffering different from Christ’s atoning suffering? Christ’s atoning suffering was unique and unrepeatable—He alone could bear the wrath of God against sin. Our participation in His sufferings relates to the ongoing opposition of the world to Christ and His people, not to His substitutionary atonement. This distinction helps us understand that while we share in Christ’s sufferings, we don’t add to or complete His finished work.
• Isn’t it wrong to seek out suffering? Yes, deliberately seeking suffering misunderstands Peter’s teaching. We’re called to faithfulness, not martyrdom-seeking, and should never manufacture persecution or difficulty. True sharing in Christ’s sufferings comes naturally as we live faithfully for Him in a fallen world.
• How can I distinguish between suffering for Christ and suffering from my own poor choices? The key distinction lies in the cause and character of the suffering. Suffering for Christ comes from faithful obedience and righteous living, while suffering from poor choices comes from our own sin or foolishness. Scripture encourages us to rejoice in the former while repenting of the latter.
• How should I respond when suffering comes into my life? Begin by examining the nature and cause of the suffering, asking whether it’s a result of faithfulness to Christ or other factors. Then, view it through the lens of God’s promises, remembering that all suffering allowed by God for His children has sanctifying purpose. Finally, seek support from the body of Christ while maintaining your focus on future glory.
• How can I support fellow believers who’re suffering? The key is to provide both practical help and spiritual encouragement, following the example of the early church. This may include meeting physical needs, offering prayer support, and reminding them of God’s promises. Remember, sometimes the most powerful support is simply being present and listening.

How can suffering become a witness to unbelievers? When believers maintain their faith and even demonstrate joy in the midst of trials, it presents a powerful testimony to the reality of Christ’s sustaining grace. Our response to suffering can open unique doors for gospel conversations, as people want to understand the source of our hope and peace in difficult circumstances.

 

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