Drew Boswell

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“Wives and Husbands: Part One, Wives” 1 Peter 3:1-6

“Living Hope”

A Sermon Series Through 1 Peter

“Wives and Husbands: Part One, Wives”

1 Peter 3:1-6

Introduction

Now that Peter has introduced why he is writing the letter and to whom, he then turns to particular groups within the church. First addressing household servants or slaves, then turning to Christian wives, specifically those whose husbands were not saved. The wife has become a believer, and the husband is not. How then does a wife reach her husband for Christ? Then Peter turns to Christian Husbands and how they are to live.

The Christian marriage is the God-given picture of salvation. There is leadership, submission, roles lived out, both seeking a healthy relationship with God, seeking the same life goals, both pulling in the same direction, based on the same core values. When the world looks at the Christian marriage it should get a glimpse of Jesus and the transformation that takes place in a believer’s heart, especially in the way that the husband and wife interact with each other.

Christian Wives Described (vv. 1-6)

Before we jump into today’s passage, you “can’t claim the Bible to be the source of authority, while at the same time declaring that particular biblical teachings reflect sinful chauvinistic attitudes imposed upon the church by the Apostles.”[1] Or to say, that the traditional way of interpreting a section of text was wrong, so you seek to reinterpret them in such a way that matches the culture of today.

Peter writes six verses pointed toward wives and one verse toward men as husbands. Why such a unequal weight if it is not “chauvinistic attitudes imposed upon the church by the Apostles,”? In Peter’s day, when a wife became a Christian, the potential for difficulty was much greater than it was if the husband became a believer.

In that society when women, who were viewed as inferior to men, became Christians without their husbands also becoming saved, the likelihood of his being embarrassed and shamed by what was viewed as an act of defiance by his wife, was predictable, as was the conflict subsequently generated.”[2] The wife stops worshipping the gods of the household, specifically her husband, and now worships Jesus. This put them in a most difficult situation.

Submissive to Her Husband (vv. 1-2)

Likewise[3], wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct.

 (v. 1) “even if some do not obey the word,” – the idea here is that the wife has presented the gospel, the truth of Jesus, and the husband has rejected the gospel. Instead of quoting Scripture and trying to persuade by arguing, or nagging him to follow Christian teachings (like going to church, giving, etc.) Peter encourages Christian wives to win them by holy living, “they may be won without a word (her spoken word, not the Word of God).” They had already heard and rejected the gospel – now the wives attitude and example would do the rest of the work of drawing the husband to Christ.[4]

This does not do away with Paul’s teaching not to be married to by choice a non-believer, 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial?2 Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” It is foolish to ignore God’s clear teaching on who you should and should not marry.

Can’t she just divorce him and find a Christian husband? No, 1 Corinthians 7:13, “If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.”

But Peter is writing here to a married woman who, after marriage, she becomes a believer. How then can she convince her husband to also become a follower of Jesus, especially after he has heard the gospel and rejected it? So first off, this is wives (married women) to their specific husbands. So it is not all women are to submit or adorn themselves with submission to all men. This is specifically wives toward their (chosen) husbands.

Colossians 3:18 says, “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”

Ephesians 5:22-24 says, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.”

Titus 2:4 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

We see the opposite of this in Proverbs 19:13; 27:15 “. . . a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.” . . . “A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike;” When there is no submission, only the butting of heads, it makes the marriage torture for the man. This submission does not mean that “a wife has to always agree with her husband, as here she differs on the most important issue of all: the gospel of Jesus Christ.”[5]

Adorned With A Changed Heart (vv. 3-5)

3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.[6]

Then as Peter’s argument continues on how a Christian woman can persuade her husband toward Christ, he turns to her appearance. Instead of depending on her outward appearance to persuade him, she should turn inward and put on “a gentle and quiet spirit.” If she focuses on the “external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear,” How is she any different than the world, or ungodly women? And eventually those things fade, they are corruptible. It also does not mean an excessive movement in the opposite direction toward a puritanical plain appearance.

1 Timothy 2:9-13 “. . . likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. 11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.”

The word used here for “adornment” is the translation of the Greek word kosmos which is refers to the adornment of the ornaments worn by women. The word itself refers to an ordered system, namely a system where order prevails. The word that is opposite of kosmos is chaos, which means “a rude unformed mass.” How a Christian wife adorns herself starts in the heart, and expresses itself outwardly as submission to her husband in a gentle and quiet spirit toward her husband (as is ordered by creation[7]).

Remember, Peter’s whole point is how a Christian woman shares her faith (specifically to her husband), “Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart” If you seek to win others to Lord by how you do your hair, how you dress, the jewelry you wear – but have no heart change it will land as false. The focus is in the wrong place.

Our English word “masquerade” fits this idea, “When Christian women adorn themselves in the haircuts of the world, copy the world’s lavish and gaudy display of jewelry, and don the apparel of the world, they are masquerading in the garments of the world. They are in the language of the Greeks, hypocrites, acting like the world and the world thinks them to be people of the world. Then when they come with the news of the gospel, their message falls on deaf ears.”[8]

Peter is comparing what is perishable beauty (gold), with what is imperishable (a quiet spirit, the hidden person of the heart); gold and silver go away, but the condition of your soul is eternal. Show your husband how Jesus has changed your heart. Notice, the “be subject to your husband,” and “gentle and quiet spirit” are on the inside. You can hide submission, you can fake it, just as you can fake being a Christian – and look to outward displays to hide a false attitude.

The world’s first clothing

 After Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, Genesis 3:7-10 “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” The purpose of Adam and Eve sewing leaves together was to cover their shame which came after they sinned, later God provided them clothes, Genesis 3:21 “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.” Through the death and shed blood of an animal Adam and Eve’s sin and shame was covered. Which eventually would point to Jesus’ blood being shed for the covering of all sin.

When Peter says, “Do not let your adorning be external,” This is like Adam and Eve covering themselves with sewed fig leaves, it is man’s attempt to deal with his shame and sin. Instead, God has provided the way for our sin to be done away with forever through Jesus, that heart change then affects how we present ourselves to the world (and to our spouses). People can look to the world to try and cover their sin, or they can through our relationship with Christ cover our shame.

For the Christian, especially the Christian woman, how do you display Jesus in your life? Do you focus on the outward (gold, braiding of the hair, jewelry – your effort to appear a certain way), or do you accept what Jesus has done in your spirit and allow it to shine through your behavior. It’s easy to put on and take off jewelry – a changed life is also easy to display, but it doesn’t come off.

There is a saying, “whatever you do to get them, you have to keep doing to keep them.” If a church says “come and be apart of our church because we are cool like the world, see how we dress, see the jewelry we wear, see how we adorn ourselves (totally outward focused), then pivot and talk about “holiness, purity, compassion, modesty, sacrificial giving, (inward changes of the heart)” we will lose them. Car dealers call that “a bait and switch.”

Peter then gives a historical example of Sarah, “For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord” quoting from Genesis 18:12 “So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” referring to the coming birth of Isaac. “This comment was a mere aside; she was talking to herself, and there was is no indication that she intended Abraham or anyone else to hear her.”[9] We are spectators to her inward feelings about her husband. Peter’s point is that women of history submitted to their husbands, and as children of Sarah (those who live by faith in God), will follow her example and submit to their husbands.

But her submission was not to a perfect man who always got life right – he told her to say she was his sister and lie to the pharaoh of Egypt which ended badly. Abraham listened to Sarah’s bad advice and had a child with Hagar. As a couple, they didn’t always get it right, but they both loved the Lord and sought to serve Him. Abraham and Sarah both loved the Lord and had faith in God. They are an example of a godly couple who believed God’s Word. That Christian way of life id passed down from generation to generation.

Active In Her Christian Walk (v. 6)

And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

 (v. 6) “do good . . .” is to do God’s will. 1 Peter 2:15 “For this is the will of God, that by doing good . . .”“. . . and do not fear” – “alludes to Proverbs 3:25 “Do not be afraid of sudden terror . . .,” The idea is that Christian woman are not to let nothing terrifying frighten them from their course. “frightening or intimidating could include and individual or experience posing a threat to one’s well-being (Prov. 3:25), it is likely that the danger posed by unbelieving husbands is what Peter has particularly in mind”[10] “The wife has to hold to her new Christian confession and practice, whatever threats may be leveled against her.”[11]

“you do what is good and have no fear in doing so” – “the wife is to do what is appropriate for her as a Christian even within the confines of a marriage to a non-Christian husband, a husband who may use fear and intimidation in the attempt to compel activity inappropriate for her as a Christian.”[12] She then becomes an example of how we are to live as Christians in a culture that may be hostile to Christ’s teachings – we get along as best we can, in as many areas of life as we can, we live at peace – and we don’t compromise on the areas where to do so would be against the will of God. And we try to evangelize where we can use words, and where we can’t we let others see how Christ has changed our hearts.

__________________________

[1] R. C. Sproul, 1-2 Peter: An Expositional Commentary, 1 Peter (Sanford, Florida; Ligonier Ministries, 2019) 74.

[2] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 1 Peter (Chicago, Illinois; Moody Publishers, 2004) 175.

[3] MacArthur, 177. “Likewise” refers back to the two previous mentioned examples of submission; citizens to civil authorities (2:13) and servants to masters (2:18). But “correspondingly” may be better because it suggests the responsibilities are not identical, but nevertheless associated in some way. Dubis, 84.

[4] Kenneth S. Wuest, First Peter in the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM B Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1960) 73.

[5] Sam Storms, ESV Expository Commentary, Volume 12: Hebrews-Revelation (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Publishing, 2018) 332.

[6] See Isaiah 3:16ff. adornment stripped away as judgement.

[7] See 1 Timothy 2:9-13.

[8] Kenneth S. Wuest, First Peter in the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1960) 77.

[9] Storm, 333.

[10] Storm, 333.

[11]Paul J. Achtemeier, Hermenia, 1 Peter, A Commentary on First Peter (Minneapolis, Minnesota; Fortress Press, 1996) 208.

[12] Achtemeier, 217.

“Who Are You?” 1 Peter 2:4-11

“Living Hope”

A Sermon Series Through 1 Peter

“Who Are You?”

1 Peter 2:4-11

Introduction

God has delivered the Israelites from Egypt where they had been in slavery for over 400 years. In preparation to enter into the promised land, and before receiving the 10 commandments and the law (Ex. 20), God says, Exodus 19:4-6 “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests (a royal priesthood) and a holy nation.’” These words are foundational to understanding their identity. Israel was to be led by God, and to be a light to the nations.

There is an expectation that to be delivered is that a person will obey God, keep His commandments, and carry His name as a kingdom of priests (those who stand before people representing God) and teach the world His ways.

Peter uses this same idea to help us understand our salvation through Christ, and how we are to live holy lives. You have been saved therefore as Christ followers you are to live according to God’s commands. In the previous verses Peter tell us to be holy in all our ways (1:13-16), to conduct ourselves in fear of God (vv. 17-21), to be bound together in love (vv. 22-25), to keep only the Word of God (2:1-3) – all four of these encouragements grow directly out of our connection to God as His children.

Christ Is A Living Stone (vv. 4-5)

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

 When the disciples were rebuked for praising Jesus, Luke 19:39-40 “And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” Stones don’t speak, or cry out – that is something impossible. They are not alive – yet Peter tells us that when we come to Christ, he is a stone that is alive. We also, as begotten of God, are also living stones.

Jesus called Peter (Petros – rock), Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,” But in writing this epistle, Peter uses the word for stone. Peter is saying that the believer is apart of something that is being build – one stone upon another.

When the NT discusses this building of the church, the foundation is the prophets, apostles, and they gave us, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God. Psalm 11:3 says, “If the foundations are destroyed what can the righteous do?” Jesus is the “living stone” because he has risen from the dead. Those who place their faith him, are made alive as well, “like living stones.”

(v. 4) “rejected by men,” – “Based on their blind hearts and false standards (Matt. 12:2, 10, 38; 15:1-2; 16:1; Mark 12:13-34; John 12:13-34; John 8:12-27), they concluded that He did not measure up, so they rejected Him (John 19:7, 12, 15; cf. 7:41-52; 12:37-38). Contempt and hatred characterized their rejection (Matt. 26:57-68; 27:20-25, 39-43; Mark 12:12; Luke 6:11; 13:14; John 8:59; 10:31, 39; cf. Luke 4:28-30); it was unthinkable to them that Jesus could possibly be the cornerstone of God’s kingdom (cf. Ps. 118:22). They viewed Him as one who foolishly denounced their religious system (cf. Matt. 23:1-36; Mark 8:13-21), was too weak and humble to overthrow the occupying Romans and secure the Jews’ national freedom, and was willing to die ignominiously on a cross (Matt. 17:22-23; 20:17-19; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 18:31-34). He simply did not measure up to any of the Jewish establishment’s expectation.”[1]

“In the OT priests would offer up sacrifices to God in keeping with the sacrificial system of the old covenant. The sacrifices that the priests offered up were physical sacrifices, animals and grain offerings. We are a different kind of priesthood, in which the believer is called to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God. From the very beginning, with Cain and Abel, God’s people brought their offerings to God as a sacrifice.”[2] To “offer up” was the act where the priest would take your offering, go up a ramp and place it on a four-foot by four-foot bronze grate.

Instead of approaching an alter, we approach Jesus (directly). Instead of going to a priest, you are a priest. Instead of offering slaughtered animals we are to offer spiritual sacrifices. Instead of going to a temple, we are the temple where God resides. Instead of wearing priestly garments and headwear, we have been clothes in righteousness, We don’t go into a holy place and sprinkle oil, we have been anointed with the Holy Spirit, “Our status as chosen and beloved people of God results in praise to God.”[3]

Worship is when God’s people lift up their praises, adoration, and affection to God.

“We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord.”

 Hebrews 13:15-16 “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

(v. 5) “like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house,”— The stones are being built up into a spiritual house – The church is being built up. God is at work in the life of a believer, and in obedience and service they allow God to “build them up.” It is not quiet participation, but always active service. A building is not a single stone – it is a group of stones being placed together. You cannot be the Christian God desires for you to be without being connected to a local church (remember the book of 1 Peter as God’s Word was written to churches).

Christ Is the Cornerstone (vv. 6-8)

6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”[4] 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

When builders and stone workers select a cornerstone it must be perfectly straight and square – because the wall going to the left, right, and straight up will find their angle off of this one stone. The building’s being square depends on the quality of the cornerstone. This cornerstone (Jesus) is precious, meaning “unequal in value, irreplaceable” – you can’t substitute another stone for this cornerstone. God the Father himself chose Jesus the Son to be the one who determines how salvation will be laid out.

The builders, Peter is referring to, were the Jewish religious leaders. They rejected Christ as the Messiah, but he has become the one true way for one to receive salvation.

Jesus causes people to stumble and they take offense to His Words. How/Why? “because they disobey the word,” We fall into the same lie Satan told Eve many years ago “you will not surely die” – consequences are controllable, “your eyes will be opened,” – God doesn’t want what is good for you – He is keeping something from you. Ultimately , “I know better how to live my life and make decisions than the loving God who desires fellowship and a relationship with me. When we disobey God’s Word it breaks fellowship between us and God.

(v. 8) “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense,” – literally, “a loose stone on the path,” and “to strike against,” It is a stone that you run into, that makes you fall. Jesus and God’s Word are stumbling blocks for unbelievers because they don’t accept Him, The Word of God, and being true (straight, the way, the truth, and the life).

There is no middle ground with Jesus – either you accept Him and build your life upon His Word, “Cling to the Rock of Ages” or you reject Him and be dashed against Him. (v. 8) “as they were destined to do.” “Their disobedience is not ordained, the penalty of their disobedience is”[5] They rebelled against God and paid the penalty (that is always the same). If you reject Christ the outcome is always the same (destruction).

“Salvation comes through belief in him through the gospel message; destruction comes upon those who disobey, reject, the message of Jesus . . . That is why we Christians must ensure that people are faced with the message of Jesus and not the particular opinions, viewpoints, or cultural habits of church people.”[6] If someone rejects Jesus we must make sure (as His ambassadors) that the Jesus we share matches the Jesus of the Bible – the effects are eternal.

The Church is called to share the gospel, not our opinions or preferences.

When Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This is the exclusivity of Christ. To a believer it is beautiful and aligns our heart to what is true. For the unbeliever, it is offensive to them because want to live according to their own hearts (which is corrupt and sinful).

Remember 1 Peter was written to various churches who were undergoing persecution because of their following Jesus’ teachings. They were being rejected by the world because of their beliefs and behavior. One of the mistakes that the modern church has made is seek to appeal to the lost world instead of understanding why the world rejects church.

Many congregations seek to compromise the message of the gospel to make it more acceptable. We lower moral standards, as if to say, “see we are just like you,” or we accept you as you are, don’t ever change.” The church thinks that it should be more like the world so that the teachings of Jesus will be more easily accepted – but it actually diminishes the impact of the gospel because the compromised church has no power – it is weak. We must love the sinner, but hate the sin.

 God’s command to the church is to be holy, not popular.

“Be holy, as I am holy”

Most people have stood on the elementary playground as teams are chosen for a game. One by one your classmates are chosen – your heart yearns to be chosen – pick me, pick me. Who do you want to be proud that you are on their team? The world or God? Peter reminds us that we have been chosen by God (when you were not worthy to be picked); who cares what the world thinks about us?

Believers Are A Holy Priesthood (vv. 9-10)

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Unlike the Jewish priests, who were only priests – Christians are king-priests. Chosen by God, belonging to God, and given a purpose “that you may proclaim the excellencies of him,” What is it that you would say? How do we know what to proclaim? You tell the world of how before Jesus you were in darkness, you were alone, and were living with the full consequences of your sin. Now, you live in marvelous light, you belong in Christian fellowship, you have purpose and meaning, and especially you are dearly loved by God who has completely delivered you from your sin.

“The phrase “priesthood of every believer” is based on 1 Peter 2:9. The idea rose from the Reformation when Martin Luther and others came to believe that Roman Catholic clergy were abusing their spiritual authority. We no longer need someone to stand in between us and God – we have direct access to God ourselves.

This doctrine is typically taken to mean that each individual believer has the same rights and authority as ordained clergy. (access to God, God hearing our prayers, presenting your offering to God, etc.)”[7] Peter’s focus is not on authority (who is in charge) but responsibility and relationship (what all Christians do).

“There are some elements of representative democracy within the congregational form of church government. Certain persons are elected by a free choice of the members of the body to serve in special ways.”[8] The words pastor, elder, and overseer in the NT all refer to the same office within the church. But the word priest (as in 1 Peter 2) does not refer to the office of pastor.

Hiereis meaning priest deals with what this person does – All Christians have within them the Holy Spirit, access to God’s Word, and the ability to communicate with God and the common command to use their spiritual gifts in service to the church. We then take that calling, and various gifting and serve before Him. Service and representing God to others is the focus here.

 11 Beloved, I urge you has sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”   

Jesus said, Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so nthat2 they may see your good works and ogive glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Peter is saying to believers, live a godly life, which is the single most effective foundation for making the gospel attractive and believable.

Godly living always begins on the inside, “abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” There is an ongoing battle between the flesh and the spirit. While we are no longer slaves to unrighteousness, we still must choose to abstain from it. To wage war is the idea of a long-term military campaign, relentless aggression. The world will attack again and again. This battle is won or lost on the inside.

Then that inner victory will present itself outwardly in a changed life, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable,” – because you carry the name Christian.

________________

[1] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 1 Peter (Chicago, Illinois; Moody Publishing, 2004) 105.

[2] R. C. Sproul, An Expositional Commentary, 1-2 Peter (Sanford, Florida; Ligonier Ministries, 2019) 47.

[3] Dennis R. Edwards, The Story of God Bible Commentary, 1 Peter (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Harper Collins Publishing, 2017) 97.

[4] See Isaiah 8:14, 28:16

[5] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures In The New Testament, Volume VI (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1933) 98.

[6] Edwards, 95.

[7] Edwards, 92.

[8] Millard Ericson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Books, 1985) 1080.

“Friendship and Spiritual Growth – Both Take Time and Effort” 1 Peter 1:22-2:3

“Living Hope”

A Sermon Series Through 1 Peter

“Friendship and Spiritual Growth – Both Take Time and Effort”

1 Peter 1:22-2:3

Introduction

The Result of Holiness In the Believer’s Life – Love For Other Christians (vv. 22-25)

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

1 Peter 1:15 the believer is commanded to be holy. Our holiness is not just for our own sake, but it also affects those around us, specifically the church body that we are to be connected to. Peter is writing multiple churches (Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia) and he tells individuals to be holy – then he shows why this is important – because our personal holiness will affect the effectiveness and potential power of the church.

(v. 22) “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth,” – obedience to God’s Word (the truth) leads to purification of the soul, Then, that purification of the soul leads to further obedience which leads to further purification, etc. Just as sin has devasting consequences, obedience also has healthy consequences. Obedience leads to further obedience. Rebellion and Sin leads to more rebellion and sin. Starve the wolf and eventually it will die. Feed the wolf and it will grow to eventually devour you.

Romans 6:16 “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”

Obedience Produces Further Holiness In The Life of the Believer.

Obedience to God leads to “a sincere brotherly love,” and “earnestly from a pure heart” The love that Christians have within the same family of God must be genuine and steadfast, “without hypocrisy.” Because they are followers of Jesus, they are obligated to love other Christians. The book was written to multiple churches experiencing hardship due to what he calls “the Dispersion.” In that time of stress, they gather together and what characterizes their meetings? Love.

Love is a characteristic of a Christian, but is there a difference in loving one’s neighbor Matthew 22:39 “. . . You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – which leads to the parable of the Good Samaritan, and loving your brother (a fellow believer)? (v. 22) “a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,”

Should I love the world the same way I love the Church?

The “pure heart” carries the idea of not being hypocritical, of having a gesture where you turn toward the person, and the action comes “from the heart.” With the neighbor you are to show love (bind their wounds, put them on your donkey, pay for their hospital/in stay – show compassion, a love in action), but with a fellow Christian (a fellow chosen exile) your heart faces them, there is a genuine concern for their welfare (your heart is engaged toward them).

Not a hypocritical love, “The Greek word from which we get our word “hypocrite” was used of an actor on the Greek stage, one who played the part of another. The word means literally, “to judge under,” and was used of someone giving off his judgement from behind a screen or mask. Some of these whom Peter was writing, had put a mask of feigned (false) love over their usual countenances when associating with certain others of their brethren.”[1] “There is always danger that we pretend like an actor instead of having actual affection.”[2]

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 What Is Required to Drop the Mask of Hypocrisy At Church?

5 things required to drop the mask of hypocritical warmth toward other believers. 1) time. Most of us only see each other on Sunday. How many Sundays does it take to develop a friendship? Most people don’t give church enough time for a genuine connection to develop. 2) Not letting your guard down – I want to be known and at the same time I don’t truly open up to people. They only know the false face you present on Sundays. 3) false or unrealistic expectations. You have too high an expectation on how people are going to treat you, or how quickly relationships will form. 4) Doing Ministry Together – the best way to get to know another person (and for them to know you) is to serve in a ministry together. If you want to get to know someone really quick go on a week-long missions trip with them. 5) Small Groups – am I actively involved with a group of people so that I can be known?

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Because God loves Christians (having given His life for them), and as His child and name bearer, we imitate Him in loving (other) Christians. But it is a supernatural love (because they are born again) that the world should look on and marvel, John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

(v. 21) “sincere brotherly love, “love one another earnestly,” In the original language there are two words for love used here, one is “brotherly love” – phile (where we get Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love,) This love is a love of liking. One person likes another person because that person is like himself in the sense that person reflects his own personality, the same likes, the same dislikes, as himself. It is an affection or fondness, a purely human attachment for another person. There is a commonality that connects them together.

It is used here to contrast how a person feels toward fellow Christians, with worldly associates. What is it that attaches two people together in friendship? Salvation should change how we view our worldly associates with the Christians in our lives. There is the saying, “birds of a feather flock together.” The species of birds gather together based on the similarity of character.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6YDhVeW5Kc birds murmuration. The starling is a bird and it was created to fly, so it flocks with other starlings and they fly together in formations called murmurations (named because of the sound of their wings). Scientists don’t know why they do this or even how.

 Christians were saved and set apart to bring Jesus glory with their lives; so they gather together and worship God in formations called churches. Angels look on in astonishment how they have been shown grace, and how these churches bring God glory in their obedience to His Word and their dedication to seeing others saved. In that murmuration of the church our relationships one with another must be pure.

Where the church gets this wrong is that we think the common characteristic is our race (Hispanic church, black church, white church), or socio-economic (rich, middle-class, poor), or culture (cowboy church, etc.) or generational (contemporary or traditional, Gen. x church, etc. ) – no our common bond is a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

It doesn’t matter where the man next to me is from, what color he is, what team he cheers for, what college he went to (or not), the car he drives, the square footage of his house – none of these things matter – what makes us brothers is that we both have been saved from our sin, we love Jesus and are seeking to be faithful to His Word.

The other word for love is “love one another earnestly” This is a agape love, one that expresses the ideal love, “that is exercised by the will rather than emotion, not determined by beauty or desirability of the object, but by the noble intention of the one who loves. Earnestly, means to stretch to the furthest limit of a muscle’s capacity. To go “all out.” – this kind of love requires serious effort.

Why should we love this way? Because (v. 23) “you have been born again” Because I have been supernaturally saved, born anew, I am therefore able to love another believer with a love that is different than how the world loves.

Then as he is discussing how believers are to have a genuine love for each other, he says, V. 24 “all flesh is like grass,” and them references, 40:6, “The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” These things always follow the same pattern – growth, flowering, and decay. But God’s Word remains unchanged and will exist forever, “the word of the Lord remains forever.”

 To explain why he quoted Isaiah Peter adds, “And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” The word of God that had been preached to them was the gospel, the good news of salvation. The gospel enters the heart, regenerates you, imparted its eternal life to you, overcame what is corruptible and perishing by replacing it with what is incorruptible and remains forever. Let the good news of salvation, do its’ work in you. Let fade what needs to fade, and let bloom what needs to grow in your heart.

 The Result in the Believer’s Life – Love For the Word of God (2:1-3)

2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.[3]

 So, as you are sincerely showing brotherly love, and love that you choose to show toward another believer (with exertion) – it requires that you put away, “all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.” – Malice is the desire to bring harm to another person, then we are given parts of we may do that (deceit (bait for fish), hypocrisy (lies behind a mask), envy (ill-will at the sight of another’s good fortune), slander (using words to destroy another person), etc.)

If the church is to be unified it must be characterized as a place and people of love and these spiritually immature behaviors (deceit, hypocrisy, malice, etc.) have to diminish. How does a person put away “all malice, envy, hypocrisy, etc.” How does a believer change that part of them that they know is corruptible? It is the Word of God that showed them how to be saved, so it is the Word of God that nourishes our spiritual growth.

(v. 2) “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation,”[4] – The word that is used for pure here is a reference to uncontaminated food. God’s Word has no contaminates, and gives us what we need to grow spiritually. The point is not to compare milk with solid food (like Hebrews 5, or 1 Cor. 3) but to push the believer to the source of spiritual growth (God’s Word), and that we should desire for it to be apart of our lives. So, unlike Paul saying you will move past milk to soild food, Peter is saying the believer should always crave God’s Word. If you are a new convert, or have been a Christian for many years – the same principle applies. God’s Word is the source of spiritual growth.

In Exodus 16:1-4 God has given the people freedom from sin, they have escaped pharaoh’s army, and now they are headed toward the promised land, “And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat (flesh) pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, . . .” Where do you go, where does your heart long to find subsistence for your soul? Flesh pots or manna? Do you go to what enslaved you for nourishment or the manna provided from heaven?

 “The goal of every Christian’s life here on earth is to fully mature, becoming the person God intends for each of us to be; simultaneously all believers together are growing into the mature fellowship we ought to be (God’s intended community).”[5]

 The Isaiah passage that Peter quotes shows the life cycle of plants, always following the same patter (growth, flowering, fading, and death). The human life cycle is similar (birth, childhood, young adulthood, middle age, and old age, and eventual death). There is no stopping the natural process. Spiritual growth follows a similar cycle, but it is different – to grow spiritually it takes effort – there must be a longing.

 A five-step plan for what to do when you have your quiet time:

  1. Start with prayer. Ask God to prepare you to meet with Him. If there is something in your life that you know displeases Him, confess it. Let Him forgive you so that nothing will hinder your communion together.
  2. Read a specific passage of Scripture – perhaps a chapter or two. If you are not very familiar with the Bible, you may wish to start with the New Testament. Many people think that the Gospel of John is a good place to start. Perhaps you would enjoy reading one or two of the Psalms every day.
  3. Meditate on it for a while after you have read a passage. Think about what you read, and ask yourself what it means. What does God want you to do? Remember, even though you may not understand all you read in the Bible, you can still obey what you do understand.
  4. Write down questions about the passage as you read. It is good to write down the things you learn and the questions you have. Later you can search out the answers from someone who knows the subject or Bible commentaries. You can ask the question, “what did this teach me about God?” and “what did this teach me about myself?”

Write down the big idea and insights. Journaling is simply writing your thoughts and reflections about your life and relationship with the Lord in a notebook. Spend some time writing your thoughts as you spend time with God in His word and prayer. It can be as simple as writing what’s on your heart.

You can write about what God is teaching you in your Bible reading time. You can also write about how you are feeling and struggling with. Develop the habit of writing. This habit reinforces what God is trying to tell you in your mind and heart. I believe it is part of a good quiet time because it is a way for you to remember what God is revealing to you during that time.

  1. Finally, respond and take action. Respond with praise and thanksgiving – “I praise you God for…..” Respond in repentance and confession – “I confess my sin of ……” Respond by asking for guidance – “Lord, lead me today by…..” Respond with obedience – “I will obey you in……”

Conclusion

I have discovered that anything that is an “ought” in my life I will always be a failure at, for “ought” is a lousy motivator. Anything that is an “ought” I may in time do. I will do it out of compulsion, guilt, or duty – it will do it begrudgingly but I won’t do it often.

There are many of who understand our salvation to be in terms that Jesus has saved me so that I may serve Him. Didn’t Jesus say, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” We become disciples of Christ, so that we may become His fishers of men (and we serve, and we work, and we toil).  What we miss is that Jesus’ invitation simply says, “Come, follow me,” – meaning to be in a relationship with Him.  Being a fisher of men was not the purpose of my salvation (it happens, it is an outcome) – but the relationship with Jesus, the following comes first.

We serve, and in our minds we “I ought to have a quiet time” “I ought to spend time with Him” — and we get burn out, and tired, and disillusioned by life, all the while we work, and serve, and toil – and Jesus says, I said “Come and follow me.” Jesus invites us to a relationship first (service comes later as an outflow of the relationship). He simply wants to know you, and for you to know Him. He did not die, so that you can serve Him, he died so that, you can have a relationship with Him. He doesn’t really need our help anyway, He’s God!

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[1] Kenneth W. Wuest, First Peter in the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1960) 45.

[2] R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of 1 and 2 Epistles of Peter, the three Epistles of John, and the Epistle of Jude (Minneapolis, Minnesota; Augsburg Publishing House, 1966) 71.

[3] See Psalm 34:8

[4] See also Hebrews 5:11; 1 Cor. 3:1, ff.

[5] Dennis R. Edwards, The Story of God Bible Commentary, 1 Peter (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 2017) 79.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8

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