Life Together, Life in Suffering, Life in Christ
1 Peter • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Our passage today starts with the word finally, yet we are only half way through this letter. So what is the finally there for? Peter is concluding something—not his entire letter, but his survey of the principal duties of Christians, which he began in 1 Peter 1:13. As we have walked through this letter over the last couple of weeks we have seen that these duties are:
1. Because God is holy, we are to be holy (1:16).
2. Because Jesus has redeemed us and we have tasted His goodness, we put away specific sins, such as malice and deceit (1:18–2:3).
3. Because of God’s redemptive work, we are his chosen people, a holy nation that abstains from the passions of the flesh and maintains good conduct (2:4–12).
4. Holiness also manifests itself in life’s several social structures. Every believer submits to governing authorities, whether we agree with them or not (2:13–17). Servants submit to masters, whether they merit respect or not, for Jesus submitted in the same way (2:18–25). Finally, wives submit to their husbands, regardless of whether they are obeying God’s word or not. And while I didn’t cover it husbands are to honor their wives the word honor carries the idea of putting first. So A Husband is to put his wife first, even before himself. And if he doesn’t honor her, it says that his prayers may be hindered. (3:1–7). So as Peter wraps all of this up, He concludes by giving us some final ways we are called to live in a world that is not our home.
Our Attitude
Our Attitude
Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble,
Here Peter gives us a list of attitudes that we are to have as Christians. Let’s look briefly at each of them.
Like-minded: The Greek here literally means to have the same think. Believers are to live in harmony together maintaining a common commitment to the truth that produces an inward unity of heart with one another. We are not to be in conflict with each other even under severe persecution. Paul tells this to us this way:
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
We need to have unity of mind when it comes to the gospel. That is what we as believers are to stand upon. This is not about standing together politically, or culturally, this is about standing firm in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Sympathetic: The word Peter used here literally means that we are to “share the same feelings” or "feel with others." Romans 12:15 says it about as good as any other place in Scripture.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
Love one another: The Greek word is “philadelphoi,” brotherly love. It points to the fact that as believers we are members of the same family.
Jesus taught this in John 13:34-35
“I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
A distinguishing mark of being a follower of Christ is a deep, sincere love for brothers and sisters in Christ. The apostle John reminds us of this as well:
And we have this command from him: The one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.
To love one another is to love fellow believers as Christ loves us. Those who love like Christ in the Holy Spirit’s power will give evidence that they are disciples of Jesus Christ.
Compassionate: This word in the Greek is only used one other time in the NT.
And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.
This is really the essential characteristic of what needs to take place if genuine community is going to take place within the life of the church. Because any time that you have sinners living close together, they will surely sin against one another. And a kind, tender, heart of compassion will forgive, which will allow the relationship to continue. Isn't Christ a great model for us in this area? Christ has compassion on us when we sin and gives us forgiveness.
Peter’s life gives us an example of this. Jesus told him that he was going to betray him three times, and Peter said that he would never do that. But when the time came and Jesus was arrested and tried, sure enough, Peter does deny him, but then after the resurrection, Jesus doesn’t scold Peter about the denial, he doesn’t hold it against him and disqualify Peter from ministry, instead we read what Jesus did:
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
This is the attitude of forgiving compassion. Jesus is restoring Peter to ministry.
Humble: At this point, some of the ancient manuscripts read differently. Some read, "courteous" (such as the KJV and NKJV translate). In many ways, the idea is the same, you are setting the interests of others before yourself. That's what it means to be "courteous." That's what it means to be "humble."
In Philippians 2, Paul gave us great discourse on humility. He said,
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
The humble person is quick to confess sin. The humble person is easy to confront. The humble person seeks help from others.
At the end of Peter's epistle, he quotes the Proverb, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (1 Pet. 5:5; cf. Prov. 3:34). Think about the good life that comes to the humble! They have the favor of God upon their lives! Think about the cursed life that comes to the proud! They end up fighting against God.
An observation that I want to make about these, all of these are really one another attitudes. I cannot have unity of mind if I am not engaging other believers. I cannot truly have sympathy if I am not actively listening to other believers to understand and share in that understanding. Likewise, love for one another and compassion for each other is not possible if there is not another for me to love or show compassion towards. Also, when we are the only one in our lives, it is hard to be humble, or considerate of others as some translations have it.
This is why we are to be the church. Christ has saved us and placed us in His church. Now we cannot gather as a church at this moment, but that does not cause us to cease being the church anymore than a man in the military who is deployed for six months ceases to be married to his wife. This just means that at this time, we have to try harder at being the church. This is why the Elders have been making phone calls, texting, or emailing you. I want to encourage you to do the same. Continue to engage with each other and live with each other in these attitudes while we are apart.
Our response
Our response
not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.
Our natural reaction in the flesh is to fight fire with fire, evil with evil, insult with insult. We repay pain with pain. But to fight fire with fire, evil with evil, insult with insult is to continue the destructive curse of sin on the world; the curse that wants to wreck the most intimate of relationships and the curse that destroy lives. By repaying evil with evil and insult with insult, we simply PILE ON the suffering the world experiences because of sin.
Instead we are called to bless. And the way that we bless is by holding out the Gospel to the world. How do I come to this conclusion? Listen to Peter’s words as he preaches in Jerusalem in Acts.
You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, And all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring. God raised up his servant and sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.”
The ‘servant’ that God raised up based upon context here is Jesus.
When we are insulted and evil is perpetrated upon us, instead of piling on the curse of sin, we respond with the blessing we have, Jesus. We share Jesus. The cornerstone … The living hope … The one who guaranteed our inheritance that is being safely stored in heaven for us
And by sharing the blessing, we keep it. This only works in God’s economy that when something is shared something is kept. We share the blessing of Christ in order to keep it.
But, here Peter is merely passing on what he learned from Jesus, who said, ...
But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
Peter’s readers understood this because this was real life for them. They were living in a time when they were being slandered and persecuted for righteousness sake.
The last half of vs 9 really stands out to me though. ‘to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing’
Think carefully about what Peter is saying. God has called you for a purpose. He has called you to be insulted. He has called you to be on the receiving end of evil. He has called you to respond differently to the world around you. Rather, than fighting for your rights, you are to continue in doing good to others. And when you do this, it will be an opportunity for you to give glory to God. Because, people will ask you, "to give an account for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). In doing this, your joy will exceed the joy of others around you. And you will live the good life and know the blessing of God.
Look down at vs 13-14:
Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be intimidated,
Peter here isn't talking much about the blessing that you will have. He's talking about the blessing that you have right now! Think about it! When evil is coming upon you, or people are insulting you, know that you have a great opportunity to live the good life! As you respond without retaliation, you will be blessed.
Did this really happen? Yes. When the apostles were flogged for preaching in the name of Jesus,
Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name.
When those in the early church experienced persecution, they rejoiced. The writer to the Hebrews says:
Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way. For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, because you know that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession.
Now, certainly, in order to suffer well, you need to look forward to the reward. As Jesus said, ...
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
But, don't lose sight of the fact, that you will be given joy today and experience the blessing of God when you refuse to retaliate against the injustices that come your way.
Our Standard
Our Standard
So Peter has shown us what our attitudes and responses should be, now he is going to tell us what our standard should be. And to do this he turns to the Old Testament, to God’s Word that had been written at that point. Peter drives this point home with an O.T. Psalm.
For the one who wants to love life and to see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, and let him turn away from evil and do what is good. Let him seek peace and pursue it, because 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 what is evil.
You see, the standard for us is and always should be God’s Word. God has given us the standard that we are to follow. Just as Jesus and the Apostles lived and ministered by the ultimate standard of Holy Scriptures, so must believers who would enjoy God’s gift of life. And that is what Peter is illustrating for us here. But not only does this OT quote drive the point home of what is our standard, it also shows us we are to keep from evil both with our tongue and our actions, we are to seek and pursue peace, and we are to pray.
Peter’s quote here of Psalm 34 vividly fixes the reality that ought to motivate us to live lives that are pleasing to God.
Can I finish that Psalm for you? I think it’s important.
The face of the Lord is set against those who do what is evil, to remove all memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.
This passage is telling us that since God is omniscient, He is aware of all of every detail of our lives. He is watching and listening so that he can answer our prayers. It may not be exactly what we want, but it is what we need. Our incentive to live out these passages is to know that we can have confidence that the Lord is always watching and waiting to hear and answer our prayers.
Call to Action
Call to Action
“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy,” (1 Peter 3:15a, ESV)
“but honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts.” (1 Peter 3:15a, HCSB)
“but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts,” (1 Peter 3:15a, NASB95)
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.” (1 Peter 3:15a, NIV)
“Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life.” (1 Peter 3:15a, NLT)
How do we get such varied translations? We go from honor to revere, to sanctify, to worship, some say as holy others do not. So the question that we have to ask ourselves what is going on here? This is a great example of why I say that it is a good practice to read the Bible in multiple translations. Because it will show you where there might be something going on that the English can’t quite explain.
The word that is used here in the Greek is ἁγιάζω, which means holy, set apart, but with the connotation of worship and honor. So it is much more than just stating that he is holy, but living that He is holy!
So I am going to use the word Worship here. So does the NLT. But we have to remember that worship isn’t singing certain songs or coming to the worship service. Worship is something that we do with all of our lives. It literally means ascribing worth. So if something is worthy of our worship, than it is something far more important than anything else and I should live all aspects of my life in light of that worth. Paul gives us a glimpse of this in Romans 12:1 –
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
What Does It Mean to regard or worship Christ as Lord? It means regard him as the holiest being in the universe. Regard him as unique, one of a kind, without peer or rival in purity and righteousness and goodness. Put him in a category by himself—the highest place, the greatest value, the most supreme treasure, the greatest admiration, the most cherished prize, the one you esteem and honor and love the most out of all persons and all things in the world.
Especially admire his lordship—"Sanctify Christ as Lord." Stand in awe of his lordship over the universe. Bow before his sovereign rule. Tremble with joy and gladness at the majesty of the Lord that says,
“Even from eternity I am He, And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?”
But the verse in 1 Peter goes on.
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,
Worship Christ in your hearts, by giving a credible defense of your hope. How is Christ worshiped by good defense of our hope? The answer seems to be that he is that hope. He is the ground of it and the goal of it. When our hope looks strong, Christ the ground and goal of it looks strong. So he is worshipped and honored when we show that our hope in Him is unshakable. We are worshipping and glorifying Him when we show the value of Jesus to others.
This concept of Jesus being our hope is right at the center of Christianity. Make sure that you get it for the sake of your soul and your joy. Christianity, as we see again from this text, is very Christ-exalting rather than self-exalting. Any Christian, church or pastor/teacher that puts self-first rather than Christ first, is teaching a different gospel and is not following God’s Word.
Peter says that the way to exalt Christ as Lord is to hope in him. What is meant by hope? Hope here is not wishing, but complete confident trust. I have put all my eggs in the basket of what Christ has done for me. I trust His completed work completely. The beauty of Christianity, and what sets it apart from other religions, is that Christianity offers a Savior whose glory and weightiness are upheld by being hoped in. Christianity does not call us first to work for God, but to hope in God's work for us—that is first, and that is the main thing. Christ is worshiped in our lives by our hoping in him.
The great central heartbeat of Christianity is that Jesus Christ, the Savior and Lord, is exalted and sanctified by the hope that his people put in him. And he shines all the brighter when our hope is fearless and well-defended and meek and zealous for good deeds.
So no matter what you are facing, right now it may be missing fellowship, or it might be fear for health, finances, or loss of liberty, or maybe it is another form of persecution or rejection as you share your faith, remember hope in Christ, Worship him by displaying his glory to those around you. Do it with the right attitude and response. Trust Him and the blessings that he has given.