Today’s Sermon Notes: 6-7-2026
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“Living Hope”
A Sermon Series Through 1 Peter
“The Effect of Suffering Upon the Believer”
1 Peter 3:13-22
Introduction
In Luke 23:39ff there are three men on crosses
Suffering For Doing Good (vv. 13-17)
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
The Christian should have a firm grasp of hope and skill in presenting it.
Our understanding of the things of God strengthens our grip onto hope.
Acts 3:6-8, 12-13, 37-38“And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? . . . 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
“. . . Now when they heard this (Peter’s sermon) they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Common reasons people reject Christianity:
- How can an all-powerful and all-loving God allow the existence of gratuitous pain, tragedy, and evil?
- The Christian claim that Jesus is the “only way” to God feels unjust.
- The Bible contradicts itself and is filled with wrong information
- Miracles don’t happen today so they didn’t happen then (Jesus rising from the dead, Jesus’ healings, the Red Sea opening, virgin birth, etc.)
- It violates their moral compass (why didn’t Paul just say slavery was wrong, instead of telling the slaves to submit to their masters, etc.)
- All of these (and many more criticisms) have plausible answers if a person willing to truly listen and look for answers.
Christ’s Example of Suffering For Doing Good (vv. 17-22)
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
2 Corinthians 5:21 “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.
Colossians 2:15, “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” “
- How do you reassure fellow Christians who are undergoing persecution and hardship because of their seeking to do good? Peter points back to the flood and an ultimate judgement upon the face of the earth.
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[1] See discussion of Isaiah 8:12b-13 ff. Fear of other armies, verses fear of the Lord.
[2] Kenneth S. Wuest, First Peter In the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1960) 89.
[3] “In Athens every citizen was expected to be able to join in the discussion of state affairs.” Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Volume VI (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1933) 114.
[4] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 1 Peter (Chicago, Illinois; Moody Publishing, 2004) 202.
[5] Wuest, 90.
[6] Leonhard Goppelt, A Commentary on 1 Peter (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdsmans Publishing Company, 1993) 245.
[7] Wuest, 92.
[8] MacArthur, 210.
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