In 2 Timothy Paul exhorted Timothy to preach the Word of God. He knew that people would cry out for something else and wanted Timothy to stand strong in his declaration to proclaim the Word. In our day, too, this warning needs to be heeded for many are the calls to proclaim something besides God’s Word. It seems that many of the cries are for practicality. People want to discern themselves what is needful and then orient sermons around our perceived needs. However, we know that we can deceive ourselves, that the Bible is always our greatest need, and that it is what must be proclaimed.

Yet, at the same time, even if I were simply looking for what was most practical in my own eyes, it seems that our text this morning might rise to the top of the list. For Peter’s setting is very much like ours. He’s writing to a people for whom Christianity is not illegal but who are living in a culture in which it is despised. Thus, they are being slandered, maligned, and hated by many. And they could foresee greater persecution coming.

I think we could say the same in our own day. Today in the United States of America, Christianity is despised by our culture. The thought that Christ is the only way to the Father draws hatred from many. We are slandered and maligned, and I think we could envision how persecution could grow worse. So, what is it then that we need to hear today? I think it is the same message that Peter declared to his audience in 1 Peter 3:13-4:11. Therefore, let’s look at what truths Peter declares in that text and declare them to ourselves this morning.

He first wants them to see that …

Those who suffer for Christ’s sake are blessed (3:13-17)

Peter has just ended the previous section proclaiming that that the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. Thus, God’s favor and care are with those who walk in righteousness, even if they happen to be suffering. Therefore, Peter begins this section by asking the question, “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?” (3:13). This is much like Paul asking, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” It’s not as if Peter has forgotten that they are undergoing suffering or could even be killed for doing what is good and right. But Peter wants them to see that the responses of man should fade in light of God’s approval. Therefore, he wants them to see than in obeying God they have nothing to fear, for God is pleased. Yet, as we’ve said, he is not now ignoring their suffering. He writes in verse 14, “But even if you should you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.” Even if your doing good leads to suffering, even then you are blessed. Therefore, there is no reason not to do good and obey God.

But why is Peter telling them this? It is because he wants them to do two things. First, he wants them not to fear or be troubled by those persecuting them for righteousness. He writes in verse 14b, “Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.” If man can do nothing to affect God’s blessing toward and approval of you then you have no reason to fear them or be troubled by them. Then, instead of fearing them, he wants his readers to “regard Christ the Lord as holy” (3:15a).

Here he is most likely drawing from Isaiah 8:11-15 when Judah is threatened by Israel and Aram and God tells them not to fear these for they will be taken over by the Assyrians. Specifically, God tells them in Isaiah 8:12-13, “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall regard as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.”

Peter has taken this same language and applied it to Christ. Do not fear man, but understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is great and majestic. He is more mighty and more powerful than all. He is holy. Remember that, and fear him above all else. One minor application of this can be seen should we obey Peter’s exhortation to obey human institutions. Driving the speed limit, for example when it is 55 mph on an interstate will get you honks and dirty looks, but your response must be to that big truck whose getting as close to you as he can get even when you’re on the extreme right lane, “Sir, I fear God more than I fear you, and God has told me to obey that law.” Don’t fear man, but regard Christ as holy, remember who he is, and fear him.

And in a world where we do not fear what others fear but fear only God, people will ask why. They will want to know what’s driving us. When we’re willing to face persecution rather than join the world in their actions, they will want to know why. So, Peter urges us to “always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (3:15). Be ready to use those opportunities to speak of Christ and our trust in him for that final day. And yet, don’t use it as an opportunity to be harsh, taking out all your frustration on them, but “do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame” (3:16). Again, let our actions give the world no ammunition to be used against Christ and his church.

So, yes, on occasion it will indeed be God’s will that you suffer for doing good. His commands stand, and he will not always allow obedience to be easy, but “it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil” (3:17). For even in our suffering for righteousness we are blessed.

Thus, Peter begins by reminding us to get set in our minds the blessedness of obedience, even if it means suffering, for Christ is holy, and he will be our judge on that final day, rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked.

But, with that said, what must be our focus in suffering? How can find strength to endure suffering? What is our hope in suffering?

In suffering our hope and focus is Christ (3:18-22)

As Peter has spoken to his readers about the call to obey even though it may mean suffering, he reminds them instantly that this was the path of our Lord. He directs their focus and hope to Christ. First, he wants them to see that suffering was Jesus’ road to exaltation. He writes, “For Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit” (3:18).

Now, in turning their focus to Jesus, he puts us a bit in our place. Before we get to thinking that we somehow deserve a better road than suffering, Peter reminds us that Christ suffered as one who is righteous, dying because of sins, so that he might bring people who were estranged from God to God. And unlike Christ, we are not righteous or sinless or able to reconcile others to God. Rather, apart from Christ, we are unrighteous, completely sinful, and in need of being reconciled to God. So, we are in no way deserving of anything better than Christ, and he suffered in his obedience. And he died. But he also was raised. He was made alive in the Spirit.

But his resurrection didn’t simply mean that off in some hidden area God vindicated him before a handful of his enemies. No, rather, God raised him from the dead and Christ proclaimed to his enemies that he was victorious, that he accomplished redemption for his people, and that he has triumphed over his enemies. Specifically Peter writes about Christ proclaiming his victory and the sure judgment of his enemies in regard to the fallen angels or demonic spirits that had sinned against God and in Genesis 6 had slept with human women. This happened in the days of Noah when man’s sin grew to such a point that God destroyed the world and saved Noah and his family. It appears the meaning of verse 19 is that after Jesus was raised from the dead he proclaimed his victory and the sure defeat of his enemies to those fallen angels (demonic spirits) who had sinned in Genesis 6 and were being kept in chains until final judgment.¹ He had triumphed over them.

Then, Peter uses the reference to Noah to drive it home to us. Only eight persons were saved from the flood. They were a small and no doubt persecuted community. But they were saved through the waters. And in the same way, we are saved through baptism. Now, Peter wants to make clear that it is not the baptism itself that magically brings about one’s salvation, but baptism saves us in the sense that it is in our baptism that we profess our faith in Christ, that we appeal to God for a good conscience. Just as we might refer to our conversion in our day saying we walked the aisle, prayed a prayer, or asked Christ into our heart to reference our profession of faith and reliance on God for forgiveness through Christ, in Peter’s day they referred to their baptism. Therefore, remember that even as we are baptized with Christ in his sufferings, so we will be exalted with him through his resurrection, which is why I think Peter ends verse 21, writing, “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” So, we focus on Christ to remember that the pathway of suffering for us is ultimately a pathway that will lead to vindication before God and man, even as it did for Jesus Christ.

And we also focus on Jesus and his suffering to remember that through his suffering he has conquered his enemies. Peter writes in verse 22, “Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities and powers having been subjected to him.” Christ’s enemies do not reign over him. Therefore, when you are tempted to give up and stop following after Christ because the persecution is too much or the suffering too great, and you want the approval and applause of those who declare themselves enemies of Christ, remember that Christ has defeated his enemies through his death, burial, and resurrection.

We focus on Chris to remember the pathway of suffering ends in vindication and that those enemies of Christ who come against us have been defeated and will one day proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

We need to realize that those who suffer for Christ’s sake are blessed. We need to set our hope and focus on Christ in suffering. But if you’re not in the midst of suffering for Christ’s sake right now, then what do you do. Is this text instructive simply for those in the midst of persecution? No. This is a text that also speaks to us as we realize persecution and suffering might be around the corner. So, if you’re not in the midst of suffering right now, what do you do?

Set your mind to be willing to suffer in this life for Christ’s sake (4:1-6)

Peter writes in 4:1, “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” That is, determine in your mind, that even as Christ suffered in this life that you are willing to suffer as well. For, if your determine that you’re willing to suffer in this life for the sake of Christ, then you are demonstrating that sin does not reign over you. It no longer has dominion over you.

By setting your mind to be willing to suffer whatever necessary for Christ’s sake you are saying clearly, as Peter says, that you are “to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God” (4:2). After all, as we see in verse 3, there has been more than enough of your life spent living the way pagans do. Should we not join with the world in their sin ever again, then we’ve already joined them more than enough.

And, yes, Peter recognizes that when you decide not to join the world in what they’re doing but instead take up a willingness to suffer for obedience to Christ, then they will indeed malign you, but they will give an account to God for their actions (4:4-5). And even if the world should point out that Christians and non-Christians alike die eventually, then we can remember that believers heard the gospel and believed, so that even though they die, they will live in the spirit, that is, they will one day be raised to eternal life.

Therefore, what do you do if you’re not in suffering right now? You determine in your mind to be willing to suffer for his sake. And if you are in suffering, you determine in your mind to be willing to suffer more. Interestingly, Peter’s audience at the time may not have been called to give their lives for Christ’s sake, but when we read the book of Revelation we know that certain individuals in Asia Minor eventually were called to that task. Could it be that they were willing to die because they heeded Peter’s exhortation here?

So the same call is to us now. I know the temptation of the world. I know it well. It seems that some people get away with sin and are living life to its fullest. I remember this in high school as I found out my friends were sexually active. And they would intentionally let me know to drive home the point that I was missing out – at least in their minds. And it was hard. And there were days I envied them. I felt I was missing out on the pleasure they knew, the fun they seemed to be having, and on top of it was being maligned for not joining in. However, according to this text they will give an account to God for that, and I will be raised to eternal life one day.

So, whatever form of suffering obedience requires, it’s not going to be easy. However, you need to prepare your mind now to be willing to suffer, remembering that we will all stand before God to give an account and that the righteous will be raised to eternal life.

So we know that those suffering for doing good are blessed by God, that we are to set our focus on Christ in suffering, that we are to prepare our minds to be wiling to suffer, and yet Peter wants us to see what this good that we’re to be about will look like, what righteous living looks like, that might bring persecution from the world.

As you live, live in light of that last day (4:7-11)

Talking about judgment in verse 6, Peter moves on in verse 7 to say, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” Remember that the end is near. Know that we are closer to the coming of Christ than anyone has ever been. Christ has done what he needed to do for our redemption, and now we simply await his return. So, don’t get crazy thinking about the end of all things, but be self-controlled, sober-minded, and pray. Control your thoughts and direct them towards prayer for what we know is good and right.

Then, Peter gives us a few other things to do. “Above all,” he writes, “keep loving one another earnestly since love covers a multitude of sins” (4:8). Righteousness is chiefly manifested in loving our brothers and sisters in Christ. And when you love one another deeply, our wrongs against one another don’t drive us to leave one another or fight against another because love covers sins. So, chiefly we should love.

In addition, “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling” (4:9). One aspect of loving one another is being hospitable, having one another into our houses, living as a community of believers. And, yes, it’s hard at times, taking a toll on our families, but don’t grumble about it, for this is what the Christian life should look like.

And finally, as we use our gifts, whether speaking gifts or service gifts, speak God’s words and serve by God’s strength so that God receives glory. That is what righteous living looks like in this world as believers.

But let me note something about this as well. Peter’s vision for righteous living demands believers laboring together in community. We pray for one another, love one another, are hospitable to one another, teach one another, and serve another. But all of these commands require others. Holiness is not chiefly pictured in us getting away from everyone so that we can really love God. It is pictured in us loving and serving the bride of Christ. For us, this means that we must pour ourselves into one another’s lives so that we can live in light of these last days and so that we might be strengthened to suffer everything that obedience to Christ means in a world that that hates our Lord.

Therefore, this is a call to us about what normal Christian living looks like. This is not super-Christianity; it’s normal Christianity. It means realizing we are blessed in suffering, looking to Christ, preparing our minds to suffer for following Christ, and living righteously in this life by directly our labors to build up the body of Christ. I pray that this will characterize us as a church in the days to come. May God grant us grace for obedience even as we come to the table. Amen.

¹For those who heard me preach on Genesis 6 previously, you will note that I have changed my position on interpreting the text that the sons of God slept with the daughters of man. I said at the time that I did not believe we should understand this speaking of angels sleeping with human women and bringing about giant offspring, but now I do believe that’s how we should interpret the text. In reading 1 Peter 3:19, 2 Peter 2:4-5, and Jude 6, it is clear that there are angels being kept in eternal chains until judgment. 1 Enoch 12-16 recounts the fact that these angels were the very ones who slept with the daughters of man, producing offspring. It appears that Jude draws from 1 Enoch (not saying it belongs to the canon but that it is speaking of something true). And bringing up these angels always in connection with Noah leads us back to the flood narrative which begins in Genesis 6, where we find the story of the sons of God sleeping with the daughters of man. Finally, ‘spirits’ is almost always used to refer to angels in the Scripture.
Therefore, I believe that 1 Peter 3:19 is telling us that those angels who slept with the daughters of man in Genesis 6 have been imprisoned in chains until the day of final judgment, and after Christ’s resurrection he went and proclaimed to them their sure judgment and defeat and his victory over them.

SUFFERING, SERVICE, AND THE STEWARDSHIP OF GRACE

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