Peter encourages his readers to be ready to suffer for righteousness. He tells them that even if their persecution results in sacrificing their lives as Christ did, God, their judge, will honor and reward them in heaven. Peter commands them to arm themselves by adopting the attitude of Christ.

In “Purity and Persecution,” Dr. Stanley reminds us that Christ suffered, not for doing what was wrong, but for doing what was right. As a result, His crucifixion freed us from the power of sin. With this incredible burden lifted, we can now concentrate on following Christ’s will for our lives rather than on our own needs. As we build momentum in the work of conquering sin, we become more spiritually mature.

This message is part of the series, Living Triumphantly: A Study of First Peter, and covers 1 Peter 4:1-6.