1 Peter 3:1-7

Here on Sunday nights during our missions month,
We have been looking at submissive evangelism.

You had better put action to your words,
For an unbelieving world will watch.

That being said,
The most effective tool in action a Christian has
Is not strength, but weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:10 “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
JESUS
It was not His strength on earth that wow’s us.
It is His weakness that touches our heart.

So, we have been studying submissive evangelism.
Governing Authorities
Masters
NOW MARRIAGES

This text talks to wives more than husbands…

And there are four truths we will look at for the wives.
#1 EXHORTATION TO WIVES
1 Peter 3:1a

“In the same way”

1 Peter 2:21-25 “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”

And after pointing out that Jesus:
Was Maligned for no Purpose
Was Meek during Persecution
Was Merciful to Persecutors
Made His Point

Peter reminds wives that they are to follow His example
In regard to their husbands.
And the initial key is “be submissive to your own husbands”

Now, please notice the word “own”.

This is the tool for your own husband.
NOT HOW TO EVANGELIZE SOMEONE ELSE’S

BUT IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT A WIFE SUBMIT TO HER HUSBAND.

It creates healthy marriages
Ephesians 5:22-24 “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.”

It trains other women, and honors God’s word
Titus 2:3-5 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

And if no other reason, it is commanded by God
Colossians 3:18 “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”

But what Peter teaches here is that it is also
The most effective tool you have for witnessing to your spouse.

And that is what we see next.
#2 THE EXPECTATION OF WIVES
1 Peter 3:1b-2

Here again we see Peter sewing up a loop hole.
“I’d submit to him if he gave me something to submit to.”

First off to that let me say, “No you wouldn’t”
Your lack of obedience is no one’s fault but your own.

But beyond that, Peter directly addresses that point.
“even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won”

You see Peter says, you are still to submit,
Only now your submission has a different purpose.

To submit to a godly husband
Is a way to respond in worship and thanksgiving to God.
To submit to an ungodly husband
Is a form of evangelism.
And of course, as we have seen several times already,
It is because your spouse is watching.

“as they observe”

While your husband is watching you, let him observe
“chaste and respectful behavior”

Now the word for chaste means “perfect, pure from every fault, immaculate”

The word for respectful is PHOBOS, remember, it is that behavior changing emotion that always looks ahead to the punishment of doing wrong.

1 Peter 1:17 “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;”

SO WHAT IS PETER TALKING ABOUT?

THE BEST TESTIMONY YOU CAN HAVE
THAT YOUR GOD CHANGES LIVES,
IS YOUR CHANGED LIFE.

HOLINESS

Now remember, as we have said, this is possible.
It is commanded.

1 Peter 1:14-16 “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

It is possible by yielding to the power of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Galatians 5:16 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”

If you do this, then you have his attention.
That is your witness.
You walk in obedience.

Remember what Peter said about evangelizing an enemy.
1 Peter 2:11-12 “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

Wives, you live in fear of God and obey Him,
And it will be your best chance at winning your husband to Jesus.

#3 EXPLANATION TO WIVES
1 Peter 3:3-4

Peter is explaining what he meant by
Making sure your spouse is drawn by your respectful behavior.

As in all Christianity,
There is a right way, and a wrong way to draw someone to salvation.

The wrong way is to try and appeal to the sensual earthly desires of the human flesh and then try to swap them over to God.

That is the wrong way, because you can’t draw anyone.

The right way is to preach the gospel, and do it God’s way, and let Him do the drawing.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”

in the same way,
There is a right way and a wrong way
For you to try to draw your husband to Christianity.

The wrong way is by trying to appeal to his sensual earthly desires of the human flesh.

Namely using your body to attract him, and then swap him over to Jesus.

John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”

The right way, as in all other evangelism, is to walk in 100% obedience to God, and allow Him to do the drawing.

This is Peter’s point as he explains what he wants from you wives.

“Your adornment must not be merely external – braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;”

Now, I do want to clear up two things here.

#1 I am all for a wife looking pretty for her husband.
It will help protect him from fleshly lusts in the world.

This is why Paul said what he did.
1 Corinthians 7:1-5 “Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

My point is ladies,
Do not use this text as a justification
To stop fulfilling your role to your husband.

#2 This does not mean women can’t wear gold or dresses.
Obviously Peter would have wanted them to wear something, and they weren’t going to wear pants.

The key word here is “adornment”

In other words:
WHAT IS THE TOOL THAT YOU USE TO MAKE YOURSELF ATTRACTIVE?
WHAT IS YOUR ADORNING QUALITY?

Do not let your adorning quality be your physical appearance.

One reason of course is because God can’t stand this.

Isaiah 3:16-26 “Moreover, the LORD said, “Because the daughters of Zion are proud And walk with heads held high and seductive eyes, And go along with mincing steps And tinkle the bangles on their feet, Therefore the Lord will afflict the scalp of the daughters of Zion with scabs, And the LORD will make their foreheads bare.” In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, headbands, crescent ornaments, dangling earrings, bracelets, veils, headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes, amulets, finger rings, nose rings, festal robes, outer tunics, cloaks, money purses, hand mirrors, undergarments, turbans and veils. Now it will come about that instead of sweet perfume there will be putrefaction; Instead of a belt, a rope; Instead of well-set hair, a plucked-out scalp; Instead of fine clothes, a donning of sackcloth; And branding instead of beauty. Your men will fall by the sword And your mighty ones in battle. And her gates will lament and mourn, And deserted she will sit on the ground.”

1 Timothy 2:9-10 “Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.”

Don’t use your body as your adornment, that is detestable in the sight of God.

But the other reason is because
You aren’t trying to draw your husband to you,
You are trying to draw him to God.

So live your life, so as to beautify God, not yourself.

“but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”

And notice what Peter says.
“the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit”

YOUNG LADIES – Do Not Flaunt Your Bodies
I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOUR SKIN
Proverbs 11:22 “As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.”

Besides, Looks Fade.

But there is one thing that doesn’t.
“a gentle quiet spirit”

LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL OLDER WOMEN IN OUR CHURCH
They adorn themselves with a gentle quiet spirit.

And if even that doesn’t seem to work,
Then do it just because that is what God likes.

“which is precious in the sight of God”

Psalms 149:4 “For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.”

Ladies, use your age defying beauty, that leads them to God.
And then Peter gives an example for you.

#4 EXAMPLE FOR WIVES
1 Peter 3:5-6

A woman whom God named princess.

Genesis 17:17 “Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?”
I give you that verse because I want you to see that Sarah was only ten years younger than Abraham.

Genesis 12:11 “It came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman;”

Sarah was at least 75
Of course this happens again.

Genesis 20:1,11 “Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he sojourned in Gerar…Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely there is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.”

This occurred only a few months before Isaac was born, and Sarah was 90 when he was born.

Sarah was at least 89 years old, and apparently had not lost her beauty.
BUT WE AREN’T TALKING ABOUT PHYSICAL BEAUTY.

We know her body had changed, for she was past child bearing years.
Yet she was still beautiful at 89

Let’s look at a few characteristics of Sarah
1) HOPED IN GOD
“For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God used to adorn themselves”

2) HUMBLED HERSELF
“being submissive to their own husbands”

3) HONORED ABRAHAM
“just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord,”

WOULD YOU HAVE FOLLOWED THAT DREAMER?
WOULD YOU HAVE TOLD PHARAOH YOU WERE HIS SISTER?
WOULD YOU HAVE DWELT IN TENTS WITH YOUR KIDS?

Sarah knew how to live a godly life.

“you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.”

The word for fear here is not PHOBOS, it is PTOESIS, it means “to be frightened”

It is the fear that keeps us from exercising faith in God.
Peter says, don’t give in to that fear. Follow God and obey Him.

#5 EXHORTATION TO HUSBANDS
1 Peter 3:7a

There again, we see this “in the same way”

Peter isn’t tying this back to wives, but back to Jesus.
And the example is probably even more fitting here.

Jesus belittled Himself to a weaker party to show love that wasn’t deserved
There you have it men.

And there are two things husbands are told to do.
1) “live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman;”

DOESN’T MEAN WOMEN AREN’T SMART
(My Sister and the Bathroom) “Rory, let her go, if you do it like that, she’ll never win.”

Husbands, if you don’t show love to your wife,
She will not be able to demand it.

And Peter says, “live with your wives in an understanding way”

In other words, show her love.
Ephesians 5:25-27 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”

Notice what Jesus did.
All the sacrifice He made on behalf of us was so that we could be better.

Jesus loved us into perfection, that is what you do.

2) “show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life”

Now Peter is not talking about the grace of God, or an heir of heaven.

He is talking about “the grace of life”

Meaning the simple rights that are given to a human being.
In Bible times, women weren’t treated equal.

Put her in a status above what she has.

Ephesians 5:28-29 “So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,”

We have talked of this before.
(Men love their bodies)

Husbands, you will never lead your wife to Jesus
By forcing her to submit to you.

You show her that you are submitting to Jesus,
And let her follow your lead.

#6 EXPLANATION TO HUSBANDS
1 Peter 3:7b

Now hidden in this last sentence is
An understanding that you are praying for your wife’s salvation.

In the text where women are commanded to properly adorn themselves, Paul also had a word for the men.

1 Timothy 2:8-10 “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.”

Now the point is simple.
If you are trying to lead your wife to submit to Jesus,
And you aren’t showing her Jesus as an example,
Then all you are doing is working against your prayers.

Don’t put yourself as a hindrance to their salvation.
If you don’t love her, and honor her, don’t expect her to want to follow the God who has supposedly transformed your life.

Let your submission to God lead them to salvation.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”
Willingly give up what you could take by force,
So that your wife might also partake in the salvation of God.

It is called submissive evangelism,
And it will work in the home as well as in the office.

Never be afraid to be like Jesus.

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

 

 

 

1 Peter 2:18-25

We live in a world that has falsely assumed
That the only role of importance is the leadership role.

Our society thinks that if you aren’t in charge, you aren’t important.

Nothing could be further from Biblical truth.
Jesus never said the leadership position was most important.
Jesus said the servant role was most important.

According to Jesus, the secret to greatness
Was not found in authority, but in service.

Luke 22:24-27 “And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. “For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.”

Jesus told us true greatness only came through being a servant.

Matthew 20:26-28 “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Not only did Jesus teach that submission is the key to greatness,
He also taught us that the glorified position in heaven
Will not be the leader, but the servant.

Matthew 19:30 “But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.”

When we get to heaven,
It won’t be the logical people who will sit in the most prestigious seats.
We assume those who are first in the world who will be first in heaven.
Not so!

The servant is the one whom Jesus will honor.

Matthew 23:11-12 “But the greatest among you shall be your servant. “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

Submission is not a dirty word.
It is a fact of life, and a good one at that.

Jesus was the greatest man to ever live,
Yet He was continually submissive to the Father, and the governing authorities.

We know we must all submit to governing authorities…
Children must submit to their parents…
Wives must submit to their husbands…
Husbands must submit to the Lord…

And also included in this list,
Is the fact that slaves must submit to their Masters.

This flies right in the face of worldly thinking.
WE THINK HAVE THE RIGHT TO FORCE OUR RIGHTS
Under that mindset, wars have been fought…
Marriages have been terminated…
Possessions have been stolen…
And lives have been taken…

BUT WHEN DEALING WITH A CONCEPT LIKE SLAVERY, IT IS OK TO RISE UP AND TAKE YOUR RIGHTS ISN’T IT?

The closest thing we find to slavery is our workplace,
Where we are under the command of our boss.
And here it is imperative that we be submissive.

Tonight we see another aspect of submissive evangelism.
We look at our witness while in unfair working conditions.

Many times in life,
God allows us to be placed in difficult circumstances
So that we can be used as a witness before an unbelieving world.

I’ve witnessed Christian parents that lost children…
I’ve witnessed Christian children that lost parents…
I’ve witnessed Christians lose jobs…
I’ve witnessed Christians get maligned…

Somehow a true Christian seems to rise to the occasion
As a witness of the grace of God in those moments like never before.

Job was a man like this.
He wasn’t chosen because he was sinful, but on the contrary.
God was about to show off one of His own.

Job was a greater witness in suffering than he ever was in his comfort.

Peter also knows this is the case,
So while writing to those who are rejected, and scattered,
He is reminding them that even though they are despised,
They have an opportunity in their hardship to really shine for Jesus.

We call it submissive evangelism.
And tonight, there are 3 main points to Peter’s message.
#1 EXHORTATION
1 Peter 2:18a
“Servant be submissive to your masters with all respect”

It is not hard to tell at all what Peter is commanding.

This is not a conditional passage.
In fact, unlike Paul who does speak to masters as well,
Peter doesn’t require anything of the master.

He is only concerned with you as a servant.

And the simple command is “be submissive…with all respect”

Not only do you do what they say,
But you treat them with respect while you do it.

It is unacceptable to either disobey, or disrespect
Those who serve as master over you. The Bible never allows it.

Paul clarifies it even a little more.
Ephesians 6:5-8 “Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.”

Peter said “be submissive”
Paul said “be obedient”

Peter said “with all respect”
Paul said “with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ”

Then Paul gives the obvious motivation for obeying them.
It is because you are out to please God, and He is watching.

And this leads us to our next point.
#2 EXPLANATION
1 Peter 2:18b-20

Peter is explaining in greater detail what he means.

First, he answers a natural fleshly argument before it is even asked.
(we all get around our role, by pointing out that the other isn’t fulfilling theirs)

Peter knows that the obvious loophole
to not obeying your master is if he is unfair.

To that Peter says in verse 18
“Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.”

Peter again reveals the command to submit is not conditional
God knew what kind of evil masters there would be
When He gave this command.

But He still commanded it.

And here is why we are to do it.
Verse 19, “For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.”

Not talking about God yet (that is verse 20)

Peter is talking about finding favor with your master.
No matter what your job is,
There is always a time when something extra is asked.
That is your opportunity to shine.
Even more so if it is unfair.

When you just do the status quo, you don’t get reward.
Reward comes when you go beyond.

Luke 17:7-10 “Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? “But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? “He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.'”

The point is simple.
If you really want to make a difference,
And be a witness to your master or boss.
Then submit even when it isn’t natural.
You will soon find his favor.

But Peter goes on.
Verse 20, “For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.”

We understand what Peter is saying.
If you do bad, there is no reward in being punished.

But if you endure punishment for being good.
“this finds favor with God”
God is pleased, even if your boss is not.
AND IS THAT NOT WHO WE ARE ULTIMATELY OUT TO PLEASE?
Remember how Paul put it.
Ephesians 6:5-8 “Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.”

If you want a reason to submit.
Then do it to find favor with your boss.
But even if that doesn’t work, do it to find favor with God.

You see, God is shaping you, and molding you.
He is allowing you to go through a few difficulties to forge you into what He wants.
If you resist hardship, you are resisting God’s working on your life.

Look at what the Bible says.
James 1:2-4 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Hebrews 12:11 “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

Romans 8:28-29 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”

God is trying to make you “perfect and complete”
God is trying to get you to “yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness”
God is trying to make you “conformed to the image of His Son”

He does through difficulty, through trials, and through hardship.
Be obedient even under difficult circumstances,
“for this finds favor with God.”

#3 EXAMPLE
1 Peter 2:21-25

Notice what Peter says right off the bat.
“For you have been called for this purpose.”

IS THAT NOT WHAT WE JUST READ FROM PAUL?

Romans 8:28-29 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”

We have been called to be made like Jesus,
So Peter is going to show us what Jesus was like.

4 truths
1) HE WAS MALIGNED FOR NO PURPOSE (21-22)

As Peter pointed out in verse 20, sometimes we deserve our suffering.
But Jesus never did.

He suffered but He “committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth.”

It is impossible to look at the punishment of Jesus
And ever say, “He just got what He deserved.”

In all the arguments trying to discredit Jesus,
I’ve never heard “He deserved it” used.

Of all the examples in the world of people suffering unjustly,
Jesus is the pinnacle.

Peter reiterated this fact in his sermon at Pentecost.
Acts 2:22-23 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know — this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.”

He was forced to suffer, not because He was wicked,
But because those in authority were.

And He is our example.
So you didn’t deserve what happened to you.
Well, neither did Jesus.

2) HE WAS MEEK DURING PERSECUTION (22)

I would say this point is an understatement.

There has never been, nor will there ever be,
A greater display of strength under control
Than Jesus being scourged and nailed to a cross.

He is God.
Look at what He did to Pharaoh
Look at what He did to the Red Sea
Look at what He did to Jericho
Look at what He did to countless evil armies
Look at what He did to Nebuchadnezzar

The only reason they did what they did is because He chose to let them.
The Bible clearly says He could have called ten-thousand angels,
But trust me, they would have only been spectators
If He had decided not to let it happen.

No where is this seen better then in the arrest of Jesus.
John 18:1-13 “When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples. Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples. Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.” Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.”

If He hadn’t let them off the ground, they would still be there.
If He hadn’t refused Peter, they would all be earless.
If He hadn’t controlled His strength, He would have never been arrested.

All is summed up there when Jesus says to Peter, “the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”

Jesus wasn’t persecuted because He was too weak to do anything
Jesus was persecuted because He was determined
To be submissive even amidst hardship.

He just “kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously”

He just kept trying to find favor with God.

3) HE WAS MERCIFUL TO HIS PERSECUTORS (24)

Talk about mind blowing facts.

It is bad enough He suffered unjustly.
It is bad enough He allowed Himself to suffer.
But He actually suffered for the sake of those who caused Him to suffer.

Now be honest.
Suppose you have agreed to die for the world.
You are going to be the sacrificial lamb,
And you have determined to allow yourself to suffer, even unjustly.

But when that beady-eyed, sissified, sniveling, hypocrite of a high priest
Spit in your face, wouldn’t you have scratched him off redemption’s list?
“I’ll go through with it, but not for you buddy.”

But it is at this point is when Jesus blows our minds the most.
Luke 23:34a “But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

He endured for those who were persecuting Him.
That is why we do it.

We are trying to reach, even those who malign us.
It is called submissive evangelism.

4) HE MADE HIS POINT (25)

YOU KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME OF HIS SELFLESS ACT WAS?
Those who continually strayed from God ended up running to Him.
Those constantly chose sin, ended up turning to Jesus.
YOU AND ME

His selfless act made a way for our salvation.
His selfless act led us to salvation.

He is the greatest example that submissive evangelism works.
He didn’t save you and me by threatening our lives.
He saved us by not resisting when His life was taken.

He submitted, and His point was made.
That is what Peter is talking about.
If you want to be a witness to this world, then live like Jesus.
Preach the truth, but also practice what you preach.
That is how you really let your light shine.
Jesus said it like this.
Luke 21:12-19 “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. “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. “So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. “But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of My name. “Yet not a hair of your head will perish. “By your endurance you will gain your lives.”

 

1 Peter 2:13-17

January is the month in which we focus our gaze
Into the world of missions and evangelism.

This is the purpose of the church.
We are called into a relationship with Jesus Christ that we may go and tell others the good news of the gospel.

And I am an advocate of preaching the gospel.
It is highly necessary for us to present the gospel to the lost.

Matthew 10:7 “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘ The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

It is vitally important that we are willing to speak the truth of God.

However, it is also true that if you are going to talk the talk, You must indeed walk the walk.

The fastest way to kill your witness
Is to live inconsistent to the message you say you believe.

It is also true that at times,
The only witness you have available to you is a silent one.
Person who won’t listen to you.
Someone you can’t get to (The King)

At times, the only witness we have available to us is our actions.

We are to be ready at all times to speak the truth.
But at times our only witness is our lifestyle.

Peter sums the two together later in his letter.
1 Peter 3:15-16 “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; 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.”

So we are talking about in Peter the concept
Of evangelizing with our lives.

A couple of weeks ago,
We discussed evangelizing an enemy, tonight we look at another scenario.

Peter focuses in on those who live under an oppressive government.
Now of course we don’t – YET.

But there are certainly many in this world who do, and even when we go to these countries, it is very possible that we can be placed in these situations.

So the first part of submissive Evangelism that we will look at is:
CITIZENSHIP

And there are five things we will look at tonight.
#1 EXHORTATION
1 Peter 2:13a
“Submit yourselves…to every human institution”

This verse is extremely clear.
However, we have become extremely good at saying:
“Here is what the Bible says, but don’t you think…”

One topic that is constantly run through the “but don’t you think” filter
Is the topic of submission.

It doesn’t matter if it is
Wives and husbands, servants and masters, or citizens and government,
People just don’t like the concept of submission,
And it is the natural human inclination to rebel and usurp the authority of those above you.

The human mindset, even in regard to government,
Is to fight, usurp, rebel and overthrow.
And many times it is even done under the banner of religion.

BUT YOU WILL NOT FIND THIS IN SCRIPTURE.
The Bible is extremely consistent in the fact that submission is required. Not only is commanded several places, but that is also the example the saints of the Bible.

Take Stephen for example:
Acts 6:8-15 “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.” And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.”

Stephen never usurped authority, he just preached the gospel in full submission.

Of course the premier example is Jesus.
1 Peter 2:21-23 “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;”

This is the calling of Christians.
But what if they ask you to do something that is unbiblical?
Submission is still required, disobedience to God is not.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Were forced to disobey, but you don’t find them leading a revolt.
Daniel 3:16-18 “Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. “But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Take Daniel

They did not submit to the commands of the government,
They did submit to the government by accepting punishment.

That is also what Jesus did.
He submitted to the punishment, even though He had done nothing wrong.

Paul submitted to being a prisoner, and even appealed to Caesar, although he too was innocent.

The Bible is extremely consistent,
We are called to submit to the governing authorities.

Jesus even commanded this.
Matthew 22:19-21 “Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, ” Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”

Look at another instance in which Jesus dealt with this topic.
Matthew 17:24-27 “When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt. “However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”
It doesn’t mean that we want to be controlled by tyrants.
It doesn’t mean we can’t use legal means to try and change things.
It is ok to want religious freedom.

In fact Paul said to pray for it.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”

We can desire religious freedom, but even if it is not a reality,
We are not permitted to rise up and seek to overthrow the government.

#2 MOTIVATION
1 Peter 2:13b
“for the Lord’s sake”

WHY SHOULD I SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNMENT?
Do it for Jesus.

The idea is that you elevate Him and His kingdom.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Look at how Paul would respond in the heat of the moment.
Acts 16:25-30 “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

There is a simple truth I want you to grasp.

Usurping the authority of one who is given charge over you
Is nothing but pure selfishness in every instance.

Any time we rise up and fight for our own personal freedoms,
It is only because of our selfish desires.

However, submission is all about Jesus.
He is the only reason a person would be willing to do it.

Matthew 20:24-28 “And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

It should be our motivation to elevate Jesus in every instance,
For only He can save.

John 12:32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

It isn’t because we like the government, or even agree with the government.
We do it because we want Jesus to be glorified.

#3 EXPLANATION
1 Peter 2:13c-14

He is clear that we are to submit to every form and aspect of our authority.

Some make the laws, some enforce the laws,
But submission is required to all.

TURN TO: ROMANS 13:1-7

1) Resisting Authority is Resisting God (1-2)
2) Resisting Authority brings deserved punishment (3-4)
3) Resisting Authority defies the conscience (5)
4) Resisting Authority withholds what is due (6-7)

It is wrong to usurp any of the authority God has placed us under.
To do so brings swift, and deserved punishment.

BUT I THOUGHT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PERSECUTED ME, THEY ARE THE WORLD, WE ARE ON OPPOSITE SIDES?

Trust me, if you preach Jesus you will have your share of persecution.
Matthew 10:22 “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.”

But suffering itself is not the goal.
Obedience is the goal, which may very well bring suffering.

1 Peter 4:14-16 “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.”
1 Peter 2:20 “For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.”

#4 EXPECTATION
1 Peter 2:15
Here is the purpose to your submission.
THAT YOU MAY SILENCE THE ENEMIES OF THE GOSPEL

I’ve always thought Satan had two main tools.
A smoke screen, and a magnifying glass.

If you are arrested for running from a police officer,
You have only given the enemy that many more bullets for his gun.

But if you do what is right, he will have nothing to say.
At best all he can do is shove it under the rug.

Don’t give the enemy a stick to attack you with.
Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.”

This truth echoes what Peter said earlier.
1 Peter 2:12 “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

The ultimate idea behind sacrificing your own personal freedoms
For the sake of the gospel is to silence the gospel haters.

Matthew 22:41-46 “Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” They said to Him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET”‘? “If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?” No one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question.”

Jesus continually did this, not only by His words, but also by His actions.

John 9:29-34 “We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.” The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. “Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. “If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So they put him out.”

That is what God wants for you.
That is one of the ways we evangelize with submission.
#5 APPLICATION
1 Peter 2:16-17

He tells us to “act as free men”

The freedom of Christ is not the freedom to disobey rules,
And break commandments.

Which is why Peter goes on to say, “and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil”

The freedom Christ brought is the freedom not to sin.
He brought us freedom from the flesh.
He brought us the freedom to submit even when it goes against the grain of our natural ways of thinking.

And then in verse 17, Peter just gets to the point.

1) Honor all people
Of course we know that man is created in God’s image.
For this reason alone, other humans are worthy of our respect.

We have no right to harm one another,
We have no right to steal from one another,
We have no right to covet what is someone elses.

Jesus even went further than that in this submission game.
Matthew 5:40-42 “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”

We are called to submit ourselves to others.
Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

2) Love the Brotherhood
Love sacrifices self for the good of others.

In short, love is to willingly submit to your brothers in Christ.
This is also Biblical.

Romans 13:8-10 “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Ephesians 5:21 “and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”

One of the best ways that others would know that we are His disciples.

John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

3) Fear God

WHAT MOTIVATES US TO SUBMIT OUR PERSONAL FREEDOMS TO ONE WHO CAN’T PUNISH US IF WE DON’T?

GOD
Don’t do it because God is watching.

2 Samuel 12:7-12 “Nathan then said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. ‘I also gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! ‘Why have you despised the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. ‘Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ “Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. ‘Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.'”

4) Honor the King

His position demands your respect.

Titus 3:1-2 “Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.”

John MacArthur said this:
“When believers obey the principles of this passage, it gives genuine credibility to their faith. Submission to civil authority is an implementation of what might be called “evangelistic citizenship,” along with the lines of Jesus’ declaration in the Sermon on the Mount: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
(MacArthur, John, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 1 Peter. Moody Press, Chicago, Ill; 2004, pg. 153)

As you go, preaching the gospel,
Make sure your speech is accompanied by this priceless tool

 

1 Peter 2:11-12
Most recently in Peter’s letter,
We have talked about the privileges of being a Christian.

To these rejected selected, it may look all trial and no triumph.
Peter has assured them that is not the case.
It is far better to be a suffering Christian in the world,
Then a comforted non-believer.
The privileges are still greater.

In tonight’s text, Peter begins tackling a new theme.
No doubt one of the biggest hardships these rejected Christians were facing was difficulty in ministry.

And we know what this is.
Sometimes the most discouraging attacks the enemy throws at me
Are when he tells me there is no way I can ever win the lost,
Because they are too angry.

HOW DO YOU WITNESS TO THE PERSON WHO HATES WHAT YOU STAND FOR?

HOW DO YOU LEAD YOUR ENEMY TO CHRIST?

That is indeed where these rejected selected are.
They aren’t popular in their world, they are rejected,
Yet they are trying to reach the lost for Jesus.

HOW CAN YOU REACH THE PERSON WHO HATES WHAT YOU STAND FOR?

HOW DO YOU EVANGELIZE THERE?

That is the theme to Peter’s text tonight.
He is going to show us the tool that you must use
In order to evangelize your enemy.

Of course it is worth noting the people really aren’t our enemies,
Although sometimes it may seem that way.
Our enemy is really Satan, and he’s their enemy as well, they just don’t know it.

Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

We are really fighting Satan, but because he has some people so ensnared,
It can seem like we are fighting people,
And they most certainly feel as though they are fighting us.
That makes for difficult ministry.
How do you witness in this situation.

Well there are three things in this text we will look at, tonight,
To help us understand the tool we must use in this situation.
#1 THE CIRCUMSTANCES

Before we dive into what to do,
We must look at the circumstances
That surround those who are receiving this letter.

This will help us,
Because often times we are tricked into thinking
That if we are in this same boat,
Then we must have done something wrong.
There are two main circumstances that these people find themselves in.
1) THEY ARE STRANGERS
Vs. 11a, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers…”

We must first let this sink in.
We say it many times, but we must do more than say it.

Christians are in the world, not of the world.
We are not here to blend.
We are not here to float down stream.

This world is headed for a waterfall of destruction,
And the stream gets faster every day.
We are not called just to grab a log and float along.
We are called to stand against the flow.

We are never to be content with the world.
We are never to crave the world.

Hebrews 11:13 “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”
So are we.

For some reason, the mindset today
Is that a certain amount of worldliness is required
So that we are not offensive, and can more easily win the lost

“may it never be!”
1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

You say I agree with that preacher.
“I don’t love the world,
I just befriend the world in order to reach the lost”.

That sounds noble doesn’t it.
James 4:4 “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

Let me clue you in on a very important truth.
YOU ARE INTENDED TO BE DIFFERENT.
Did we not just read it a couple of weeks ago.

1 Peter 1:14-16 “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

Let me assure you, it is OK to be an outcast in the world.
It is OK to be considered a stranger
It is OK to be considered an alien
I don’t recall Jesus fitting in with the world too well either.

The people Peter is writing to are strangers, we should be too.
2) YOU ARE SLANDERED
Vs. 12b, “…they slander you as evil doers…”

Boy here is another one that if the shoe fits,
We think we have done something wrong.

For some reason, if someone dislikes us enough to slander us,
Then we automatically think we must have done something wrong.
Because no one should want to slander a true Christian.

Well, let’s take a second and look at Jesus.
After all, anytime you do something that a lost person doesn’t like,
He’s the first person they will throw in your face.

“Jesus wouldn’t have done that.”
Well let me ask you this.

IF JESUS WAS SO POPULAR, WHY DID THEY NAIL HIM TO A CROSS?
If my memory serves me correctly, the slandered Jesus like crazy!
So why do we assume that when a lost world slanders us,
We must have done something wrong?

Brethren, this was promised.
Matthew 10:22 “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.”

Matthew 10:24-25 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. “It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!”

2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

John 16:1-3 “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. “These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me.”

You see folks, these are the circumstances
That real Christians often find themselves in.

If you are a slandered stranger,
It does not mean you have done something wrong,
It may very well be that you are doing things right.
These who received Peter’s letter certainly fit that bill.
The problem was, how do these witness to those who are slandering them?

I mean, if you have a person who hates your stand for truth,
And hates the way it dictates your life,
And they hate it so much that they are actually slandering you,
How do you witness to that person?

#2 THE COMMANDS

Two clear cut commands of how to be a witness to your enemy.

They are both vitally important, and the second builds upon the first.

1) ELIMINATE EVIL DESIRES
Vs. 11, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.”
Notice he didn’t say “abstain from fleshly actions”
Here Peter is talking about the desire.

You see, if you don’t first win the battle in your mind,
You will never win it in your body.

Our flesh has a very powerful tool, it is called rationalization.
If you allow your mind to dwell on something long enough,
It won’t be long ‘til your mind finds a way to justify it

EVER JUST START ENTERTAINING THE THOUGHT OF GETTING A NEW CAR?
If you ever start entertaining the thought, you’ve lost the battle.

You can rationalize action in your mind.
That is why the first step is to “abstain from fleshly lusts”

James 1:14-15 “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”

You must say no to those things, for they “wage war against the sole”

They literally attack the Spirit in you.
It is that war that Paul talks about in Romans 7.
If you allow it, it will only attack and try to get more of you.

Romans 6:19 “I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.”

Make sure you don’t love the world, it will nail you every time.

2 Timothy 4:9-10a “Make every effort to come to me soon; for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica;”

1 Timothy 6:9-10 “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Peter says if you want to be a witness to those who hate you,
The first thing you must do is eliminate evil desires.
You must not even allow yourself to want some of those things.

2) EXHIBIT EXCELLENT DEEDS
Verse 12a, “keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles”

The simple truth is that the world is watching you
Because they want to see you fail.
Now, since they are watching you, use that as a witness.

You must first get your desires right,
Because action is consequence of desire.

This doesn’t always work in regard to righteousness,
But I’m convinced it just about never fails in regard to sin.
If there is some sin you want to do, odds are you will follow through.

So you must first get a handle on your desires.
But once you’ve done that, then control your actions.

You witness to your enemy by living above reproach.
THEY ARE WATCHING

Matthew 12:1-2 “At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.”

John 8:1-6 “But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.”

Matthew 21:14-15 “And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant”

See, they are watching you, so live excellent among them.
#3 THE CONCLUSION

This is the result of our flawless living before those who hate you.

And there are two aspects here.
1) THEY MAY WITNESS YOUR GOODNESS
Verse 12c, “so that in the thing in which they slander you as evil doers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them,”
You see, you may walk in righteousness,
And they may even say what you are doing is wrong.

Keep it up, because they may say it’s wrong, but they’re watching

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

2) THEY MAY WORSHIP YOUR GOD
Verse 12d, “so that…they may…glorify God in the day of visitation.”

WHAT IS THIS DAY OF VISITATION?
Luke 19:41-44 “When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. “For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

This visitation is the day in which the Spirit of God
Visits them in regard to salvation.

Now, here is what Peter is saying.

Suppose you have a person who hates your righteous lifestyle.
They hate the things you do,
And even tell you that you are wrong for doing them.

The world will tell you,
In order to win that person, you have to become less offensive.

My parents had a church growth expert come to their church in Wichita Falls.
His name is Josh Hunt.
He encouraged having a block party with some sort of entertainment. (Super Bowl).

But one thing he stressed, “DO NOT SHARE THE GOSPEL”.
He said it was too offensive.

Apparently that mindset is sinking in.
Because our biggest concern is that the lost like us.
SO WHAT!

We aren’t here to make friends, we are here to make disciples.
I want you to know I had more friends before I became a preacher.
I had more friends before I became a Christian.

So remove the gospel..?
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

LET ME TELL YOU WHERE THE LIE CAME IN.
Somewhere along the lines, people convinced us that the best way to win a person to Christ was through building a relationship with them.

NOW, WHY WOULD THAT BE SO?

The only reason I can see
Is because you would seem to be more influential in their life
If you have a relationship with them.

But have we not learned, we are not trying to persuade.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”

It is my observation that when people try to first build a relationship,
They never fully present the gospel,
Because the relationship becomes the final aim.

Peter’s point teaches otherwise.
The best way to win your enemy is not to give in to him.
The best way to win your enemy is to live flawlessly before him.

Because there will come a day when God will visit him,
And at that point, you will be on his mind.
At that point all you have done will witness to him.

If you truly want to be a witness to an unbelieving world,
Then do what Jesus said.

Matthew 5:48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

 

1 Peter 2:7-10

This morning we talked about
Some of the privileges of being a believer in Christ.

The Christian life is not all suffering, persecution, and endurance.
The Christian life is equipped with divine privileges
That are only for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Several verses in Scripture reveal this is the case.

2 Timothy 2:11-12a “It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him;”

Romans 8:15-17 “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”

While Christians are commanded to count the cost of discipleship,
It would also do us good to examine the benefits of it as well.

This is Peter’s point in verses 4-10.
Certainly these rejected selected Christians
Had no problem identifying the costs of discipleship.
Peter wants to understand the privileges of it as well.

This morning we saw that they have the privileges of:
Christ likeness “You also, as living stones”
The Presence of God “are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood”
The Ability to please God “to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”

These are privileges that an unbelieving world does not have,
But if you believe in Christ, they are yours.

Which is exactly the point Peter makes again in verse 7.
“This precious value, then, is for you who believe”

It is privilege to be a Christian.
Privilege – “A special right or favor granted to a specific person or group.”

This morning we heard him preach Isaiah 28,
Proving no matter the scorn,
If you come to Jesus, you won’t be disappointed.

Tonight Peter will preach 4 more texts.
The first two deal with the lack of privilege to a disbelieving world,
The last two deal with the privilege of those who believe.

#1 DISBELIEVERS LACK OF PRIVILEGE
1 Peter 2:7-8
Again you see that believers have privilege
While those who disbelieve do not.

The word for believe is (PISTEUO) – “to trust”
So naturally the word for disbelieve is (APISTEO) – “not to trust”

It deals with one who has examined the costs and benefits of something.
One determined to pay the price and trust, one determined not to.

When God confronts your soul with the gospel, you only have two options.

Here, in keeping with the theme of Christ as the Living Stone,
Peter outlines the benefits of not trusting or disbelieving.

“but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER STONE.”

TURN TO PSALM 118
You will remember it is the Psalm of God’s champion.
Ultimately it is meant to foreshadow the victory of Jesus.

And after the Psalmist takes a look at this Champion
Who was scorned and rejected by men,
But was delivered by God and God alone,
The Psalmist can only come to one conclusion.

Verse 22 “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.”

The point made by the Psalmist is the same made by Peter
HUMILIATION FOR THE REJECTORS

They actually rejected the One whom God had chosen.
Instead of being able to have pride that they did something correct,
They are now humiliated because they rejected God’s chosen.

This is no different than what Peter preached at Pentecost.
TURN TO ACTS 2:22-36

They are humiliated, and that is Peter’s point here.
They rejected the very One God chose.
But Peter then preaches a second text to them.
Not only is Jesus “THE VERY CORNER STONE” but also

“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND ROCK OF OFFENSE”

TURN TO ISAIAH 7

The setting for the chapter can be seen in the first 2 verses.
The Kings of Aram & Israel teamed up to attack Judah.

In chapter 8, God is promising His protection over Judah.
The only problem is, the people are more afraid of the attackers than they are of God.

That is why Isaiah wrote verses 11-15

For those who will fear and trust God,
He will be a sanctuary for them.

For those who won’t fear and trust God,
He will be a rock they stumble over.

This is exactly what Peter is talking about for those who disbelieve.

Those who would not trust God, end up stumbling over God.
Jesus was “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE.”

The first passage = HUMILIATION
The Second passage = CONDEMNATION

They will stumble over Jesus
And rejecting Him will be their most grievous offense.

This is something we all know.
You go to hell because you reject Jesus.
If you won’t put your trust in Jesus, then how can you be saved?

Hebrews 10:26-31 “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Instead of receiving the privileges of a believer,
Those who disbelieve receive humiliation and condemnation.

Peter even explains his point further in verse 8
“for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.”

This is a great point to be made as to why people go to hell.
They do not go to hell because God can’t save.

Isaiah 59:1-3 “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken falsehood, Your tongue mutters wickedness.”

Isaiah 50:1-3 “Thus says the LORD, “Where is the certificate of divorce By which I have sent your mother away? Or to whom of My creditors did I sell you? Behold, you were sold for your iniquities, And for your transgressions your mother was sent away. “Why was there no man when I came? When I called, why was there none to answer? Is My hand so short that it cannot ransom? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, I dry up the sea with My rebuke, I make the rivers a wilderness; Their fish stink for lack of water And die of thirst. “I clothe the heavens with blackness And make sackcloth their covering.”

“they stumble because they are disobedient to the word”

The reason people go to hell is because they are disobedient.

Which is why Peter says, “and to this doom they were also appointed.”

The Bible says God appoints all people without Jesus for destruction.

Revelation 20:13-15 “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

This is the lack of privilege for those who disbelieve.
They get humiliation and condemnation.

Maybe Jesus has caused you some suffering,
But it is nothing like that of those without Him.

Now lets’ look at the final two passages Peter quotes and see:
#2 BELIEVERS PRIVILEGE
1 Peter 2:9-10

“BUT YOU”
They suffer, but that is not you.
“are a chosen race, A royal priesthood, A holy nation, A people for God’s own possession,”

TURN TO EXODUS 19:1-6

It is the scene at the foot of Mt. Sinai.

The children of Israel had just been delivered from Egypt,
Pharaoh’s arm had been broken,
And now the people had arrived to the Mountain of God.

The implication here is simple.
They were a people of privilege,
And that privilege was to be used in a missionary way.

Which is why Peter said in verse 9, “so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light,”

They were a people of privilege and responsibility.
But they crucified God’s Messiah,
They did not believe, and they were broken off.

These are now the privileges of the church.
1) “But you are a chosen race”
I want you to see that word “chosen”. It means exactly what it says.

Ephesians 1:3-6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”

We are not talking about foreknowledge,
We are talking about election.
Before God ever said, “Let there be light”
God chose you to adopt you as His child.

That is a privilege.
Imagine an orphan at an orphanage, some parents arrive, and out of all the children, they choose you. Would you not feel privileged? You should, that is what God did for you.

Deuteronomy 7:6-9 “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. “The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. “Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;”

It is a privilege to have been chosen by God.

Look at the second privilege.
2) “A royal priesthood”

We talked about this a little this morning, in relation to having access to God.
God called you to Himself.
He called you into a relationship with Himself,
But not only that, He called you into a ministry.

He allows you the privilege of partaking in His work.

2 Corinthians 5:16-19 “Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

We know have the privilege of access to God, and to be a part of His work.

Ephesians 1:9 “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him”

You are not allowed into the oval office
To know what the President is doing,
But you are allowed into the Holy of Holies
To know what God is doing.
That is privilege.

3) A Holy Nation

Not only did He choose you and call you, He consecrated you.
He set you apart and made you Holy for Himself.

He changed you to be a witness.
It is the concept of Him putting His seal on you and making you different for Him.
Ephesians 5:25-27 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”
God immediately changed you and made you knew.
Your last name was changed, and your nature was changed.

4) A People for God’s own possession.

Guys when you married your wife, you put a ring on her finger.
DO YOU KNOW WHY?

You wanted the world to see that she was set apart for you.
She was yours and your alone.

It is that same privilege that God has granted us.
Revelation 3:12 “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.”

I put the ring on Carries finger and gave her my name
So the rest of the world would know she is mine.
But I married her because I wanted a relationship with her.

But the flip side is this.
In giving her that ring I also pledged
That she was the only one who was getting me.
I am hers alone.
That is her privilege.

That is how it is with God. We are His, and He is ours.
The lost world can’t say that.

They have no access to God,
They are not in a relationship with God,
They cannot talk to God.
They are foreign to Him, and He to they.

They do not have the privilege.

And the second Scripture Peter uses ties in directly to that.

Verse 10, “for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

For this final truth
TURN TO HOSEA 1

You know the story of Hosea.
Vs. 2, “Go take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry.”
3 children with special names.
Verse 4 says the first child was named “Jezreel”. That name meant “God sows’.
So the marriage must be going decent. Their child is named as if God had granted them a blessing.

Verse 6 says the second child was named “Lo-Ruhamah”. That means “No Compassion.”

Verses 8-9 record a third child named “Lo-ammi”, which meant “not mine”.

And that is exactly what we were before salvation.
We were not the children of God.

Of course chapter 2 of Hosea reveals Hosea calling Gomer back.
And it ends in verse 23
“I will so her for Myself in the land. (Jezreel) I will also have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion (Lo-ruhammah), and I will say to those who are not My people, ‘You are My people!’ and they will say, ‘You are my God!’” (Lo-ammi)

This was us.
We were not God’s children, but now we have been given over to privilege.
We had not obtained compassion, but now we have been given over to privilege.

Because of the “living stone” of Jesus who was precious in the sight of God…
Because we believed in Him, we now have privilege.

We are made like Christ
We have access to God
We have the ability to please God
We are chosen by God
We are called by God
We are consecrated by God
We can correspond with God
We are now a people of mercy and compassion.

Those were privileges that were not ours before Jesus.
This is the same truth Paul outlined in Ephesians.

TURN TO EPHESIANS 2:11-22

I don’t care how much the cost,
Do not forget that the Christian life is also full of privileges
For those who believe in Jesus.

Pray