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“The Suffering Christian and His Future Vindication” 1 Peter 3:20-4:11

“Living Hope”

A Sermon Series Through 1 Peter

“The Suffering Christian and His Future Vindication”

1 Peter 3:20-4:11

Introduction

You are blessed, blessed because you may suffer for doing good. To explain this blessing, Peter discusses Jesus making a proclamation to a group in a spiritual “prison” (1 Pet. 3:19) and he connects it with baptism. God as far as the disobedient in hell, “the disobedient in hell all enemies of Christ are under his feet. For the believer, since baptism, there is salvation through him who rose again and sits at God’s right hand. You are blessed in such a way will not fear men or be shaken, you will sanctify Christ in your heart (by doing good), and will be ready to answer men at any time regarding your hope, always keeping a good conscience.”[1]

The emphasis of the text is not what Jesus said (what He proclaimed we don’t know), but the fact that He went to captured spirits (demons, hell, those who rebelled in the days of Noah) and made a proclamation.

“Baptism is a symbolic picture of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”[2] By faith only eight people got into the ark and were saved from the flood. By faith a person follows Jesus’ teaching to be baptized – not because baptism saves you, it is by faith you take action. Water baptism is an outward expression of the believer’s inward faith. They already have faith in Jesus, that is what saved them – baptism is an expression of that faith.

“Water was a means of judgement (in the case of those outside the ark), and it was water that lifted the ark and was the salvation of those inside the ark. The same water that judged the unrighteous saved the righteous. Jesus also has the same affect upon men (Luke 2:34); the Christ who the damned saw in terror in hell is the same Christ who is our hope on heaven.”[3]

In Luke 2:34 Simeon is at the temple and had been waiting for the Messiah to arrive, Mary and Joseph present Jesus to him and he says, “this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel,” – Jesus would preach and people would fall in repentance and bow down before God because of their sin, then they would rise up in praise, excitement, because of their pardon from sin, their being justified before God, and adopted as His children.

In another sense, “the fall” “was to happen to the worldly, proud, self-righteous – like the Scribes and Pharisees. While those who were lowly, prayerful, those who sought God, Jesus would rise them up to true dignity, happiness, and glory.

“The falling of some and the rising of others is what is meant. He will be a stumbling block to some who love darkness more than light, he will cause the rising of others.”[4] Judas despairs, Peter repents: one robber blasphemes, the other confesses.” (Plummer). Like a magnet Jesus attracts and repels.

“The righteousness of God that banishes forever from His presence those who reject it because they refuse to place their faith in the Savior, saves and keeps saved forever those who accept it at the hands of God who perfectly satisfied His just law which we broke, by stepping down from His judgement throne to take upon himself our sin and penalty, this satisfying His justice and making possible the righteous bestowal of His mercy.”[5]

Baptism is a Testimony of Your Faith (3:21-22)

21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Peter says that baptism corresponds with those on the ark who were saved. Water, in both cases, is an agent of salvation. It does not remove sin, “filth from the flesh,” but it is an appeal to God for a good conscience. In Jewish traditions their ceremonial washings only washed the dirt off the outside, it did nothing for the soul on the inside (they were symbolic).

Obedience resulting from faith leads to a clear conscience before God. Baptism is a public declaration of what God has done (in the believer’s heart). It does not provide the elimination of immorality; that is something that is part of the Christian’s daily living. Peter is tying a person’s baptism to the flood. Peter says baptism saves you, and the water of the flood saved those in the ark. But it is faith in God that saves you, resulting in obedient actions.

So why does Peter bring together the eight souls saved on the ark, our baptism, and the new life, Christ’s decent into hell to proclaim a message, and His resurrection and being seated in heaven? It all has to do with our being blessed and Christians undergoing persecution and suffering (for doing good).

Peter is wanting to fortify the churches he is writing to, to encourage them – the eight souls on the ark were few compared the world around them. The local church may feel small compared to the lost world that surrounds it. Even churches that stand for the authority and inerrancy of the Bible may feel greatly outnumbered.

Because you have placed your belief in Christ you will not be imprisoned in hell, but will be with Jesus in heaven (where He sits as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords). And when we see Him there will be no fear, only love.

Living the Christian Life Among Unbelievers (4:1-6)

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.

In previous verses (1 Peter 3:18-22) Peter spoke of Jesus’ sufferings and His example of patience and submission to the Father while undergoing unjust treatment. Now he is saying that believers should “arm themselves” with the same way of thinking toward unjust suffering. Earlier, Peter said, “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (3:17)”

(v. 1) “arm yourselves,” This a military word for putting on armor – and there are two words that reference armor (heavy armor, and light armor).[6] Peter uses the word for a heavily armored foot soldier who carried a pike and a large shield.[7] To have the same understanding and attitude toward unjust suffering as Jesus had, will cause us to react toward the suffering has He did.

For “whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,” – God has saved the sinner and broken the chains of sin from them – they no longer have to sin, they have been freed from sin. Literally, the Christian “has got release” from sin. So, our reaction to unjust suffering should be that of a person broken free from sin, not a sinner reacting in the flesh.

Once you have been saved, you can choose not to sin – you can be victorious over your sin. Historians say that when the Allies landed in Normandy in June 1944, it marked the beginning of the end of WWII. Yet still to come was the Battle of the Bulge, one the bloodiest battles of WWII, when the forces of the third Reich made their last stand. When we come to Christ, that is like D-day, the outcome is sure, but Satan and His forces (even though defeated) still have their last stand, their Battle of the Bulge.[8]

(v. 2) “so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.” Verse 2 tells us why God has broken the chains of our sin; so that they can no longer live the rest of their time in sinful cravings (passions), but to pursue and keep the will of God.

(v. 3) “For the time that is past suffices,” – Peter uses a word for time that means a period of time that is now complete. When a Christian looks back on the time before he was a Christian it is as a completed period of time – that time of your life is done. Romans 6:4 “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” There was plenty of time devoted to sinful activities (that time suffices), now spend your new time, and new life in pursuit of bring God glory and doing His will.

The Christian must constantly choose to use his/her time (that is left) for the glory of God,

instead of sinful pursuits.

“For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do,” Peter then reminds the churches what the Gentiles want to do, and gives a list that should cause the Christian to say, “yeah, that’s pretty bad.” You are not bringing God glory, or following His will by wasting your time pursuing sinful activities (sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry).

4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

(v.4) “they are surprised when you do not join (run with) them,” – notice it’s not the level of sinfulness that surprises them, but that you don’t join in with them anymore. “in the same flood of debauchery,” it is a picture of a crowd or mob all moving as a riot. “The character of an abandoned man.”[9] Another way of saying it is, “they are estranged because you no longer join in.”[10]

Because you don’t do the sinful things you did before, they “malign you.” Why aren’t you running as a mob with us in debauchery? But the word malign is stronger than “speak evil of,” it is more of a cursing Christianity because it turns people into the opposite of who they used to be.

“The problem for Christians consisted in the fact that their new way of life no longer allowed them the kind of full participation in the religio-cultural activities that was expected of all people within the Roman-Empire, a participation they had enjoyed prior to their conversion.”[11] Most of the festivals and social gatherings revolved around worshipping a false god, emperor, and festivals that involved sinful activities – so the Christians did not participate.

(v. 5) “they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” – God’s judgement upon anyone could happen at any moment, because God is ready to judge. Those who reject Christ will stand before Jesus (either because he returns before they die, or after the are dead), who will have to give an account of their blasphemy. “Why did you reject Jesus, why did you make His followers suffer?”

Believers will also have to stand before Jesus (who judges the living and the dead); so as we proclaim him through baptism, seek to live a holy life, suffer for His name, we will stand as His, free from sin and there will be no condemnation and those that stood against God will face His judgement. Jesus will say, “well done my good and faithful servant,” to the believer, and to the disobedient and those that rejected His name he will say, “depart from me, for I never knew you” (Matt. 7:23).

When believers stand before God at the day of judgement – for them it will be vindication. Lies were told about them, their business destroyed or went under because of the injustice of others, because of their walk with Jesus they suffered, etc. – but on judgement day their names will be called and their reputations made right. God will make the world right again.

(v. 6) “For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.” Another way to arm ourselves for the suffering for seeking to live as Christ, is to have a genuine hope of the reality of eternal life. There were Christians who were killed “judged in the flesh” and were martyrs. Some may have even wondered what happens to them – before Christ’s return? Will they miss it? They may experience physical death, but their spirits remain alive.

Living the Christian Life Among Believers (vv. 4:7-11)

7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

(v. 7) “The end of all things is at hand;” Peter is saying that we need to be ready for Christ’s return, as Jesus did in Mark 14:38 when His earthly ministry was drawing to close, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” A lack of self-control and a lack of being sober-minded can lead you into sin which affects your prayer life. Your prayer life is essential to being ready for Christ’s return, and to keep God’s will for your life. Peter tells us that to be ready we need to love each other, to offer hospitality, and to use our gifts.

(v. 8) “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” The word for earnestly means “stretched out, put to full strain, exerted to the limit of its strength.” When you love one another, do it with a great amount of effort. Other people’s sins make it hard to love them, it strains the relationship. If you hate someone you are prone to highlight their sin, and gloat over it. But for the believer, it is not that we hide their sin (we are called to hold each other accountable for our sin), but we don’t allow it to dimmish our love for them, and we don’t bring their sin into the public to ridicule them with.

James 5:19-20 “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”[12] Love others in spite of their sins.

“Peter is not referring to sins that are committed against each other so that hiding means forgiving.”[13] You are not pretending that someone isn’t sinning (you hold them accountable), and you are not forgiving by ignoring – just pretend that it never happened (you go to them and talk about how they have hurt you or how what they are doing is harmful), and your love for them extends to remaining to love them through all those relationship straining things – we know our own failings.

Closing

Many of us struggle to know exactly what to pack when we go on our various travels. The Pilgrims in their voyage to the new world were no different. As Bill Bryson describes in his book Made in America:

“It would be difficult to imagine a group of people more ill-suited to a life in the wilderness. They packed as if they had misunderstood the purpose of the trip, They found room for sundials and candle snuffers, a drum, a trumpet, and a complete history of Turkey. One William Mullins packed 126 pairs of shoes and thirteen pairs of boots. Yet they failed to bring a single cow or horse, plow or fishing line.”

Among the professions represented on the Mayflower’s manifest were two tailors, a printer, several merchants, a silk worker, a shopkeeper, and a hatter—occupations whose indispensability is not immediately evident when one thinks of surviving in a hostile environment.

Their military commander, Miles Standish, Was so diminutive of stature that he was known to all as “Captain Shrimpe”—hardly a figure to inspire awe in the savage natives, whom they confidently expected to encounter. With the uncertain exception of the little captain, probably none in the party had ever tried to bring down a wild animal. Hunting in seventeenth-century Europe was a sport reserved for the aristocracy.

Even those who labeled themselves farmers generally had scant practical knowledge of husbandry, since farmer in the 1600s, and for some time afterward, signified an owner of land rather than one who worked it.

They were, in short, dangerously unprepared for the rigors ahead, and they demonstrated their incompetence in the most dramatic possible way: by dying in droves. Six expired in the first two weeks, eight the next month, seventeen more in February, a further thirteen in March. By April, when the Mayflower set sail back to England, just fifty-four people, nearly half of them children, were left to begin the long work of turning this tenuous toehold into a self-sustaining colony.[14]

Are you prepared for Christ’s return? Are you doing practical things that keep you where you need to be spiritually? Are you loving fellow believers, showing hospitality, and using your gifts for His service? Know that if you are suffering God will set all things right, and until then know that you are saved and a child of the King.

_______________

[1] R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of The Epistle of St. Peter, St. John, and St. Jude (Minneapolis, Minnesota; Augsburg Publishing House, 1966) 168.

[2] Robertson, 120.

[3] Lenski, 169.

[4] Robertson, 29. Isa. 8:14; Matt. 21:42,44; Romans 9:33; 1 Pet. 2:16; John 3:19; Rom. 6:4, 9; Eph. 2:6.

[5] Wuest, 108.

[6] See also Ephesians 6:13-17, the armor of God. Paul uses a similar picture.

[7] Kenneth S. Wuest, First Peter in the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1960) 110.

[8] R.C. Sproul, 1-2 Peter: An Expositional Commentary (Sanford, Florida; Ligonier Ministries, 2019) 124.

[9] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Volume VI (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1933) 123.

[10] Leonhard Goppelt, A Commentary on 1 Peter (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdsmans Publishing Company, 1993) 286.

[11] Dennis Edwards, The Story of God Bible Commentary, 1 Peter (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 2017) 175.

[12] See also Proverbs 10:12b.

[13] Lenski, 195.

[14] https://thepastorsworkshop.com/sermon-illustrations/bill-bryson-packing-for-passage-on-the-mayflower-id_3600

“The Effect of Suffering Upon the Believer” 1 Peter 3:13-22

“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 – two are suffering for their own sin (one learns nothing from his suffering and rightly dies because of what he has done (this is justice). The second thief repents of his sin and is saved on the cross (this is grace). And the third man is giving his life for the salvation of the world. God uses suffering to accomplish His will.

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.

(v. 13) “are zealous,” – “to burn with zeal, to desire earnestly.”

(v. 14) “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.” – On the rare chance you have to suffer because you have been zealously pursuing and doing good, you will be blessed in the end. You may suffer because you have done something wrong and are suffering the consequences, or the discipline of the Lord, or you may suffer because you are doing good. Peter says that this is the will of God, and you should be glad because it will result in some kind of blessing (but this is only when God wants it).

“Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,” – The world will use intimidation and fear tactics to get you go back into it’s mold and way of thinking, but have no fear, Do not be affected by the fear they are trying to place in your heart.[1] (v. 15) “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy,” – instead of focusing on the threats and having fear in your heart, focus on your heart honoring Jesus. In order to honor Christ as holy we ourselves should seek to be holy. We are to set part a section of our heart for Him alone as our God, and to sanctify ourselves is to keep ourselves from sin and give the world no ability to slander us (and thereby slander Him).

They may eventually even ask you, “Why are you doing all this good?” Then, “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;” Another translations says, “always be ready to give an answer,” and the word for defense, answer, reason, is apologia but you are not giving an apology (not an excuse), as in asking them to forgive you, instead you are giving a defense, a reason, an answer for why you believe what you believe and why it has led you to do good.

It is a legal term “to talk off from,” like a defense attorney who talked his client off from the charge against him.[2] Peter also adds here (v. 16) to silence evil speakers with his good conduct which certainly speaks for itself and puts slander to shame. Your words of defense and your works of righteousness are the way to push back against the world’s attach.

You have thought through your testimony, how Jesus has changed your life, and how you are seeking to serve God by doing good. The Christian overcomes fears with facts – Jesus did rise from the dead (how do you know?), Jesus was born of a virgin (how do you know?), The Bible is the inerrant Word of God that can be trusted completely (how do you know?) When life hits you hard and you can’t defend your faith, then fear and doubt will overwhelm you.[3] “Christians who cannot present a biblically clear explanation of their faith (1 Thess. 5:19-22; 1 John 2:14) will be insecure when strongly challenged by unbelievers (Eph. 4:14-15).” [4]

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.

Peter may have even been thinking of when he was made fun of for his faith in Jesus, 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.”

The false allegation against them was that they were drunk, but Peter then goes on to give an answer for the faith that he had, and the result was that people believed in Jesus, “. . . 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.” When the moment came, Peter was ready.

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.

(v. 15) “yet do it with gentleness and respect,” – “This fear is self-distrust; it is tenderness of conscience; it is vigilance against temptation; it is the fear which inspiration opposes to high-mindedness in the admonition, ‘be not high-minded but fear.’ It is taking heed lest we fall; it is a constant apprehension of the deceitfulness of the heart, and the insidiousness and power of inward corruption. It is the caution and circumspection which timidly shrinks from whatever would offend and dishonor God and the Savior.”[5]

(v. 16) “having a good conscience,” “The conscience is the divinely-placed internal mechanism that either accuses or excuses a person, acting as a means of conviction or affirmation. Everyone has a sense of what they feel is right, and what they fell is wrong – that internal compass guides them. God’s Word calibrates the instrument to have correct settings. It is not the Holy Spirit, nor is it infallible.

The believer has been informed by the Word of God, they have the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and their conscience lines up with those truths – then they ask themselves, “Am I living according to what I know to be true?” “Having,” carries the idea of maintaining your conscience – you take action, you give it your attention to make sure it is properly maintained (it can become calloused, burned, hardened).

So when a person inquires about Jesus, Peter gives us three things to consider; 1) the answer should be gentle; do not condemn others but seek to win them over with grace, they conduct themselves with fear before God, because they have this responsibility. 2) Their conduct must be consistent with what they say they believe (their apologetic), they should have a good conscience, 3) a “good manner of life,” (v. 16) “when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” Your life matches what you preach.[6] So when people say false things, your reputation shuts it down.

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,

“The resurrection of Christ and His consequent glorification in view of His suffering for sinners are presented as proof of the fact that suffering for well-doing on the part of Christians is also followed by blessing and reward in their lives.”[7]

(v. 18) “suffered once for sin,” – For the Jewish people in order to atone for their sin they would bring an animal to the temple. One Passover alone, a quarter million sheep would have been sacrificed. So, the idea of one sacrifice instead of an ongoing parade of carnage was a new concept. What Jesus did on the cross, was the last needed sacrifice. The lambs only atoned (held back God’s wrath for a moment), what Jesus did completely and eternally satisfied the wrath of God.

“the righteous for the unrighteous,” 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.” Jesus had no sin, yet he offered up His own blood as an offering for sin, that He may bring us to God. Then Peter illustrates what he means by giving a series of explanations of between when Jesus died “put to death in the flesh,” and was resurrected (three days later) “made alive in the spirit.”

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.

(v. 19) After Jesus’ death but before His ascension into heaven, Jesus “went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison.” The Apostle’s Creed helps us understand this passage (or at least how the church traditionally understood it). “. . . suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, . . .” Jesus preached to the disobedient in hell (but what did he say?) because they formerly did not obey,

The spirits that are in prison and Jesus goes to proclaim something to them, Colossians 2:15, “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” “Ever since the fall of Satan and his demons, there has been an ongoing cosmic conflict between the angelic forces of good and evil. After the apparent victory in inducing Adam and Eve to fall into sin God promised to the Evil One himself eventual destruction by the Messiah, who would triumph with a crushing victory over him. . . Satan tried to prevent this by attempting a genocide of the Jews (Est. 3:1-4:3), the destruction of the Messianic line itself during the time of Joash (2 Chron. 22:10-12),

When that failed, he attempted to kill the infant Messiah (Matt. 2:16-18). Satan tried to get Jesus to abandon His mission by tempting him in the wilderness, and when they didn’t work, he tried to kill the Messiah himself – He incited Jewish religious leaders and a mob that resulted in the crucifixion. They guarded to tomb to make sure he stayed there. But even this plan didn’t work because He rose again. So while we don’t have the exact words Jesus said, I think it went something like this, “It is finished.”[8] Satan has worked over the history of the earth, and his plans have failed – Jesus is triumphant.

On a mission trip to India our team hired drivers to get us from our hotel to an orphanage two days drive into a very remote part of the country. Along the way every little town and village had various political flags (colors and symbols). There was one orange flag we kept seeing again and again as we drove. The drivers never really gave us a good direct answer and were claiming not to know the English word for the flags – only later did we discover that the orange flag we kept seeing was the anti-Christian flag, and had we been discovered in those areas probably would have been very bad for the team. Over the centuries Satan has been claiming territory with his sin flags – Jesus goes right into the headquarters of the Evil One and says, “the battle is done, I have won – You are defeated.”

Peter is telling us that believers who seek to do good will suffer, but it is not a disaster but it is a path toward spiritual victory. Peter tells us of Jesus triumph, who suffered unjustly but through his suffering conquered sin and demons in hell. Who knows how God will use your suffering for His glory and your blessing.

(v. 20) “when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared,” – It took Noah and his family 120 years to build the ark, and while he was building it, he would go and preach to those who gathered to see it. Why are you building such a boat? Noah was obedient to God, and he explained (he gave an answer for his hope) a wrath of God that was to come.

Every hammer blow, and every plank of wood that was laid was a testament of a coming judgement. For 120 years Noah preached, God was patient, yet they did not repent or listen (they were disobedient). Then Peter tells that Jesus went and preached (proclaimed) to them in “prison.”

“that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.” These eight people were saved, but those in prison were not. The flood was a final judgement – for those who did not believe (in the coming flood), and disobeyed (did not have faith in God). The time of God’s patience came to an end (He is longsuffering, 120 years, but there is an end).

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.

________________________

[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.

[9] R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of The Epistle of St. Peter, St. John, and St. Jude (Minneapolis, Minnesota; Augsburg Publishing House, 1966) 168.

[10] Robertson, 120.

[11] Lenski, 169.

[12] Robertson, 29. Isa. 8:14; Matt. 21:42,44; Romans 9:33; 1 Pet. 2:16; John 3:19; Rom. 6:4, 9; Eph. 2:6.

[13] Wuest, 108.

“The Christian’s Response to Other’s Hate” 1 Peter 3:8-12

Drew Boswell Ministries

“The Christian’s Response to Other’s Hate” 1 Peter 3:8-12

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“The Christian’s Response to Other’s Hate” 1 Peter 3:8-22

“Living Hope”

A Sermon Series Through 1 Peter

“The Christian’s Response to Other’s Hate”

1 Peter 3:8-12

Introduction

1 Peter 2:11-12 Peter says, “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.” Then he gives instructions to different groups that may directly experience the pain from the “dispersion” and the suffering that was apart of it. His focus has been submission to authority and how one’s conduct can lead others to Christ, “genuine Christian conduct not only hushes up vilification of Christians but also wins many non-Christians. . .”[1]

Attitudes That Foster Unity (v. 8)

Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

The word finally is telling us that he is ending his instructions to four groups of people (citizens, slaves, wives, and husbands) and turning to the church as a whole, “all of you.” So the first group of instructions deal with how Christians interact with each other.

There is to be a “unity” of how they think – of the mind, “same-thinking.” Philippians 2:2 calls it, “like-minded.” They are to be united in the doctrines and practice of Christianity. It is not that we cult like have to hold to the exact belief about everything. We all have different backgrounds, life experiences, perspectives, and even various generations – you don’t have to give those up to have unity. Peter says to have unity on substantive matters.

And it is also not that Christians simply agree about the same doctrines, but that those beliefs then unify them, and then working together work toward something. Remember each group’s instructions was for the purpose of reaching another person for Jesus. Wives were to submit to their lost husbands, so that “they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,”

Not uniformity (everyone is the same)

but unanimity (everyone is different yet all are working toward the same direction)[2]

The unity that we share is the purpose and calling of the church. Our gifts, life experiences, and unique talents make up various parts of the Body of Christ. We are to be aware that our conduct as a whole affects our ability to make disciples of Jesus and bring others to Him. We establish a doctrinal statement (you can go and look at it on our website), so that as a body we are not constantly arguing inwardly about various doctrine and beliefs about the Bible. Nothing stops the advancement of the gospel by the church than inward fighting and disunity.

Bellevue Baptist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

They are to have “sympathy,” which is a combination of two ideas, “to be affected” by something – “to feel something” or to have feelings stirred up within one by some circumstance. It refers to the interchange of fellow-feeling in either joy or sorrow. You are sharing the same feeling; you are able to put yourself in their place. Romans 12:15 describes it as, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”

They are to have “brotherly love,” this same word for love was used in 1:22 “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,” What unifies biological brothers and sisters is their common life experience (they grew up in the same home, same parents, etc.); what unites spiritual brothers and sisters is our connection to Christ.

To have a tender heart, full of pity, when a Christian looks around at the hard and dark world around them, they express how it has affected them by being tender hearted, which results in action. Jesus’ saying “I was sick and you looked after me,” (Matthew 25:36) did not go unheeded. Jesus’ ministry included physical and spiritual healing. The first orphanages and hospitals were started by Christians who living in a brutal and harsh society who saw children abandoned and brought them in, and saw people in poor health cast out of homes and took them in to their own homes and helped them to heal.

“When epidemics broke out, the Romans often fled in fear and left behind the sick to die without care. Romans saw helping a sick person as a sign of weakness; whereas Christians, in light of what Jesus taught about helping the sick, believed they were not only serving the sick but also serving God. Thus, Christianity filled the pagan void that largely ignored sick and dying, especially during pestilences. In so doing, it established the principle that to help the sick and needy is a sign of strength not weakness.”[3]

“and a humble mind.” – “having a modest opinion of one’s self.” Moses in the OT is described as “more humble than anyone on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). His biological brother and sister were jealous of Moses (and criticized him for marrying a Cushite woman), but Moses’ response was to ask God not to punish them for their foolishness. Jesus is described in Philippians 2:3,8 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves . . . 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Behaviors That Counter Hateful Attacks (vv. 9-12)

9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

(v. 9) “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling,” When someone wrongs you, Peter is saying don’t try to even the score, they hit, you don’t hit back (tit for tat). Romans 12:17 “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.” If you have been wronged, he doesn’t say not to react, but that your reaction should be something good not evil.

“In a Jewish context, the Torah allowed for a response in kind when one is violated, i.e. a retaliatory act that is consistent with the infraction, hence the allusion that Jesus makes to Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, and Deuteronomy 19:21. Old Testament justice attempted to ensure that the offender and the one offended suffer equivalent losses.”[4] Jesus demanded more than equalizing, He demanded grace (favor that the offender had not deserved). Christians are to give when asked, and go beyond what is expected. Matthew 5:39-42, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” Paul describes someone’s offense against us, as “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (Romans 12:14).

“bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing,” – We have received forgiveness of our sin (called to salvation), through Jesus (even though we have greatly offended Him and have sinned against Him). In light of all that we have been forgiven of, we then forgive others of their sin against us.

It was Peter himself who asked Jesus in Matthew 18:21-34 “Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.8 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,11 and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” We are called to bless because we ourselves were blessed by God through his call to salvation. And in that forgiveness of others, we will receive a blessing of forgiveness from God.

This does not mean that if you don’t forgive then you will lose your salvation (that interpretation doesn’t line up with the Bible as a whole). You can’t work through a list of those you have forgiven and then earn your salvation, nor can you build a list of people over time that you refuse to forgive and thereby lose your salvation.

Salvation has always been by faith alone, by God’s grace alone, but if you are to live an abundant life, and to live as a Christ would have us live – then you must forgive others. It is a life filled with anger and malice toward another person, verses a life of joy and peace – Jesus wants us to have the latter.

With the one word, “For” Peter introduces us to Psalm 34:12-16 . . .

10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

To explain and clarify his point, Peter quotes from Psalms, “we are called to inherit a blessing, God’s own everlasting blessing. Let us then not lose it as the unmerciful servant lost his as recorded in Matthew 18:32-34.”[5]

The idea of “desires to love life and see good days,” carries the idea of living a life that means something, that is worthwhile. It is a life that one can love with intelligence and purpose. If you want to see days that are meaningful, beneficial, and not empty then . . . When David wrote the Psalm 34 and Peter wrote this letter, they were not thinking of sun shinny days, happy, easy days – but a life that is full of purpose and meaning.

The sword of Damocles

This does not mean that God’s people will not suffer, but as they seek to be a blessing to others, they will have a life that they love and the days will be good because they are filled with purpose. Jesus called this an abundant life, John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Most of what Peter is focusing on in these verses is what it means to live in Christian community. “Christena Cleveland, a Christina social psychologist, identifies forces that keep Christians from experiencing the kind of community that the NT describes. She says, “the act of adopting a common identity that supersedes all other identities is a daunting one, even painful one.”[6]

To join a church is to identify as that group of people – you not only agree with them in doctrine and purpose, but you also see them as part of your family (and for some it is thier only family). We are not designed by God to live alone and isolated – we need community, specifically the church to have the abundant life described by Jesus, Paul, and Peter.

Conclusion

“It’s just a common practice to leave your doors open. I never lock my car doors in my personal vehicle,” Erica Gillis, a research technician at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, told AFP.

She explained that this custom is partly due to the polar bear threat, but also because Churchill is a remote, isolated community not accessible by road. “There aren’t many roads other than the main street,” Gillis added. There is an estimated population of 935 polar bears in the western Hudson Bay area, where Churchill sits. As a response to the frequent bear visits, the town established a polar bear alert program. A team tranquilizes the animals if they enter town and takes them to a polar bear holding center, known by locals as the polar bear jail.

Thanks to the program, the Manitoba town has not had a bear-related fatality since the early 1980s. A tight knit group of people, all looking out for one another, intentionally making provision for one another’s refuge and safety. My car is your car. In this village, in this community, we protect and care for one another.

In our wild and unruly world where all manner of “bears” are seemingly out to get us, the church is called to be that village where the doors of refuge are always unlocked, waiting to welcome us in to help us stand against the lurking dangers.

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others, (Philippians 2:4, ESV).

“Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor,” (1 Corinthians 10:24, ESV).

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God,” (Hebrews 13:16, ESV).

Polar Bear Alert Program

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[1] R.C.H. Lenski, The Interpretation of 1 and 2 Epistles of Peter, and three Epistles of John, and the Epistles of Jude (Minneapolis, Minnesota; Augsburg Publishing House, 1966) 147.

[2] Leonhard Goppelt, A Commentary on 1 Peter (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1993) 233.

[3] Alvin J. Schmidt, Under the Influence, How Christianity Transformed Civilization (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 2001) 153.

[4] Dennis R. Edwards, The Story of God Bible Commentary, 1 Peter (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 2017) 143.

[5] Lanski, 144.

[6] Edwards, 147.

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

Drew Boswell Ministries

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

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