1 Peter 3:13-17
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A Transformed Life Honors Christ as Lord
A Transformed Life Honors Christ as Lord
The Key passage in our study today is found in verse 15.
“but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts”
The heart of Peter’s exhortation is the fact that Christ is our Lord.
What is the meaning of the word Lord?
Lord = Master, someone with High Authority, but not limited to that. In this context, Lord is used as “sovereign God”...
Christ is our sovereign God and Master who allows suffering, and who works in the midst of suffering to bring out something good...
Remember the theme of chapter 3, is about doing good as the proper response to hostile environment.
Here…Peter continues to teach practical application to the readers...
Peter is giving us a specific God-pleasing principles to use when persecution or injustice comes.
The right response to injustice and suffering is to Honor Christ as Lord in your hearts.
The word honor / sanctify means - set apart, to give value.
Christ is our sovereign God and Master who allows suffering, and who works in the midst of suffering to bring out something good...
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Various Trials = Testing of your faith = Endurance = maturity
Our sufferings and Trial have purpose!
Maturity in the faith!
In this passage, Peter gave a prescription on how we can honor Christ as Lord (Sovereign God).
13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,
I. Embrace suffering for the Sake of Righteousness (vv. 13-14)
I. Embrace suffering for the Sake of Righteousness (vv. 13-14)
a. Doing good usually reaps reward, not punishment. But this is not always the case in this fallen world.
b. So Peter recognizes the possibility that Christians may suffer for the sake of Righteousness...
Thus, Suffering is expected when you follow Christ
12 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. 13 “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.
When we stand strong in the faith - the possibility of being treated unjustly is high.
What shall we do? Use your situation to tell your testimony about Christ! (v.13)
15 For I will give you the words along with the wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.
II. Embrace the truth of the Sovereignty of God
II. Embrace the truth of the Sovereignty of God
God is sovereign over suffering, do not forget that!
The Christian will face opposition and may suffer, but he cannot be harmed in any significant way (unless God allows it)
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,
A. Since God is sovereign, you are blessed (highly privileged) because God will be with you as you suffer
See 3:12 - the Lords favor is with you!
10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,
Because God is sovereign (Lord), we should not fear the threats of the people.
c. Do not fear (their threats)
d. Do not be troubled.
Christians are not to be afraid of what men can do to them (cf. Matt. 10:28
28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
III. Be Ready to Defend your Faith in Christ (v.15)
III. Be Ready to Defend your Faith in Christ (v.15)
Rather than being fearful and troubled (absence of peace), we need to commit to reminding ourselves in the truth that Jesus is our Lord! Jesus is the Messiah! Jesus is the Savior that all the people need the most!
To make a defense / To give an answer (Greek - apologia) = This implies a constant willingness to speak up for him, to confess one’s allegiance to him, and to witness fearlessly to his saving grace.
Hope = this term includes terms like “salvation,” “inheritance,” “hope” (e.g., 1:21), and final vindication (3:18–22). Christians are, in other words, expected to be prepared to speak at any moment about God’s salvation of his people through Jesus Christ and how that salvation will manifest itself at the end of history.
Illustration:
Peter may have remembered his own failure in making a defense because of fear - when he failed to give the right answer about his relationship with Christ.
Luke 22:55-57
55 After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. 56 And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”
61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
a. Be Prepared! You must know the basics about Christ in order for you to give answer of the hope that you have!
Illustration: Naay mangutana kanimo...
Nganong nag join paman ka ug born-again nga grupo? Dili ba diay ang Katoliko ang tinoud nga pagtoo?
Kinahanglan ba ma born again para maluwas?
Unsay pamaagi para ka maluwas?
b. You must have a deep relationship and trust with Christ for you to see the necessity of defending the faith.
b. Give answer in a Gentle and Respectful manner.
Peter learned his lessons and applied it later on...
27 When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
32 “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
40 They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
IV. Keep a good conscience (v.16-17)
IV. Keep a good conscience (v.16-17)
Christians who are not afraid in the face of persecution are able to witness respectfully to their faith in Christ. They then keep a clear (“good”) conscience.
a. It is God’s will to overcome evil with good. (good conscience = good behavior to all).
b. It puts the ignorants to shame.
Peter’s Prescription on how we can honor Christ as Lord (Sovereign God)
I. Embrace suffering for the Sake of Righteousness
II. Embrace the truth of the Sovereignty of God
III. Be Ready to Defend your Faith in Christ
V. Keep a good conscience
Illustration: Christ is our SOVEREIGN God and Master who allows suffering, and who works in the midst of suffering to bring out something good...
The story of Joseph (Genesis 45:5-8)
5 “Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 “For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. 8 “Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Joseph suffered - jealousy of his brothers, separated from his family, sold as a slave, mistreated, maligned, threatened, beaten, and imprisoned for the sin that he did not commit...
He was not troubled by the false accusations, mistreatments - why? because he stood by his belief in his sovereign God.. (45:7 - God sent me - it was not you who sent me)
God’s blessed him - He became the 2nd most powerful person in Egypt (next to Pharaoh) - 45:8
He became a blessing - To preserve the lives of his people and the egyptians...45:5b, 7
Joseph became a blessing to the people who tried to harm him! The very people who are jealous of him…The people who betrayed him! They are not innocent of their sins!
That is why
Joseph is a type of Christ ;Jesus died not for the innocent but for the sinners! This is the beauty of the Gospel!
Jesus died for his Jews, and for the gentile!
When Christ is honored as Lord, you will be able to see that our God is a miracle worker, a master architect, a great ship captain, the captain of our soul who will keep us safe even in the midst of a storm.
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