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Suffering as Christians:
v. 15. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
v. 16. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
v. 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?
v. 18. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?
v. 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.
Having shown what advantages the Christians enjoy in the very midst of suffering, the apostle now teaches, in a paragraph full of warning, that only genuine Christians are included in this category of blessed people: For let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evil-doer or as a prayer into other men's matters. If anyone calling himself a Christian and belonging to the Christian community should become guilty of actual wrong-doing, it would be impossible for him to claim martyrdom. Such sins as murder, or theft, or deliberate performing of evil, or the assuming of authority or oversight in matters which were none of the Christians' concern would very naturally and properly bring punishment upon the perpetrator, and such a person was but obtaining the just reward of his deeds. Note: It is a foolish and dangerous thing for Christians to meddle into affairs for whose administration they are not called, functions of the government, of some other church-body, etc. Such behavior will not only cause bitterness, but will usually frustrate even the good intentions which such a meddler may have had.
On the other hand, it remains true, and the apostle here repeats: But if as a Christian, he need not feel ashamed, but let him praise God in this name. See Mar_9:41. If disagreeable things strike the believer in his capacity as Christian, for the reason that he is a Christian, because of his confession of the name of Christ, because he lives up to the precepts of God's holy will, then he has nothing to be ashamed of, then that which would under other circumstances be a disgrace to him becomes a matter of pride to him. Incidentally, the Christian will in no way seek his own glory in a case of this kind, in order to have his name extolled as that of a martyr for the cause of Christ. His attitude will rather be such as to give all glory and honor to God alone.
In a very solemn statement the apostle adds the reason for the Christian's equanimity in sufferings: For the time is come that the Judgment be held, beginning with the house of God; but if first with us, what will be the end of those that are disobedient to the Gospel of God? Even now the Judgment of God, the judgment of condemnation upon the unbelievers, whose culmination will be reached on the day when the Lord will return in glory, is beginning. It is in the house of God, in the Church of God, in the sufferings of the children of God, that it is seen. But what for the Christians is a judgment of refining, to test out their faith, what they accept as a beneficial chastisement at the hands of God, will, as directed toward the unbelievers, be a punishment of wrath unto everlasting damnation. For, as St. Augustine writes, if the sons are being chastised, what will happen to the slaves? What will be the fate of the unrighteous, if God does not even spare the righteous, His intention being to instruct and train them? The believers are hardly, but certainly saved; those, however, that have refused to be obedient to the Gospel, that were unbelievers from choice, will miss the salvation of Christ, will go away into everlasting destruction, Rev_17:11. That is what the apostle calls out in impressive warning: If the righteous is hardly saved, where will the godless and the sinner appear? Evidently all the hopes which people of that kind have had are futile, have no foundation, as they will find out to their terror.
St. Peter, therefore, concludes: Wherefore let also those that suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to Him, as to the faithful Creator, in doing good. Because the Judgment has begun in the house of God, because the last time of suffering has begun for the Christians, therefore all those that are suffering in conformity with this will of the Lord should not despair, but should deposit their souls into God's care, entrust them to the protection of the Lord. This is an instance where the Christians show their confidence in the Lord as the almighty Creator of the universe, as the faithful Provider for all their wants. They know that He will not tempt them above that they are able, 1Co_10:13. But they do not sit down in supine carelessness, waiting for. His promises to come true, but they are diligent in the exercise of good works; that is the sphere in which they move, in which they conduct themselves. As Luther says, God, having created our souls without our worry and assistance, is surely able also to keep them safely to the end. That is our comfort in life and in death.
Summary
In view of the nearness of the end, the apostle admonishes the Christians to cease from Sins, to be diligent in Christian virtues and works, to be partakers of Christ's sufferings, but to be sure that this is done in all Christian sincerity.