However, we should not take comfort in suffering that we bring on ourselves for sinning in contrast to suffering that we experience because we take a stand with Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Peter 2:20). Peter felt ashamed when he denied the Lord in the high priest"s courtyard, but he learned his lesson, stopped feeling ashamed, and urged his readers not to feel ashamed. We glorify God as we stand up as disciples of Christ both visually, as others view our lives, and verbally, as we explain our commitment to them. [source][source][source]
"Clement of Alexandria tells of a favourite disciple of St. John who became captain of a band of robbers ... There were men in the Apostolic Church who had been kleptai [1], and were still in danger of falling back into evil ways, see I Cor. vi10; Eph. iv28." [2][source]