Choose to Be a Blessing

1 Peter 3:13-22 

SUBJECT: The Glory Inherent in Christian Suffering

THEME: Christ will turn our suffering and unfairness of today into triumph and glory for eternity because we are called to bless others.

RELEVANCE: being treated unfairly can leave us hurt, confused, disconcerted, and angry. The desire to get back at them…to make them feel the pains we have felt, is incredibly strong! These very real troubled heart feelings…. God addresses to guide our actions.

INTRODUCTION: No doubt Peter is addressing Believers who have already experience some lose because of their faith in Christ. These believers are not suffering because of some mental, emotional, or relational abnormality. They are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ, they are disadvantaged by society because they confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord and not some self-absorbed political leader. This is why they are suffering… (1Pet. 1:10-2:25). There is room to apply this counsel to our own sufferings rooted in a bold testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ in our own time. Many countrymen may not agree…unfortunately many ‘Christians’ will reject this notion in favor of a softer and more traditional view. None of this changes what God vitally said to hurting Believers.

MESSAGE:

BELIEVER’S SUFFERINGS FOR CHRIST’S SAKE WILL RESULT IN REWARDS; OUR SPIRTUAL TRIBULATIONS WILL BECOME TRIUMPHS IN GOD! 1 Peter 3:13-22

  A.  THE SUFFERING BELIEVER’S IS CHARGED TO DEFEND OUR FAITH IN CHRIST, 1 Pet. 3:13-15

           1. We Are Charged to Walk in Faith and Not Fear   vs 13-14

                  (a) It is unlikely that a Christian will suffer for doing good.  The government and the boss will very likely appreciate it. Husbands and fellow believers will appreciate it too.    Vs 13

                  (b) There is the possibility of suffering for righteousness’ sake, this is a blessed condition from God’s perspective.   Vs 14  

Matt 5:11-12, Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12,  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

                  (c) What can I expect as the result of my suffering? 

                              * God could overcome the suffering for His own glory. (Example in the Book of Esther--God delivered the suffering Jews from the wicked Haman and the Jewish Holiday Purim celebrates the great deliverance of God and thus He is glorified).

                              * God could use the suffering to bring blessing to others. (Example of using your testimony of a trial to help someone else through a difficult time).

                              * God could bless the one who suffers for His name’s sake. (Example of mature saints who have suffered much and they have a real deep knowledge of God’s goodness and Faithfulness). Hudson Taylor the great missionary was a powerful Christian who suffered much, and God rewarded him over and over with the blessing of a deepening and healthy fellowship with his Savior.                            

           2. We Are Charged to Defend the Faith    Vs 15

                    (a) We are to Set the Lord Apart in our Hearts. 

This should be to such an extent that He has our entire life.  There is no room for your will anymore, only the will of God.  There is no room anymore in your life for your hang ups, only the plan of God for your life.  All that we do and say should be for his glory and pleasure.

The Lordship of Christ should dominate every area of our lives---our possessions, our occupation, our library, our marriage, our spare time---nothing can be excluded.

                     (b) We are to Readily Defend and Share our Faith and Hope in Jesus Christ.

Vs 15, ‘Answer’ here means a defense for one’s belief. Primarily this deals with the saint under heavy persecution.  They should not cower but boldly defend the faith with reverence to God and respect to one’s persecutors.

Also, we from day to day will have opportunity to witness of God’s goodness in our lives and we are to do it with gentleness ‘meekness’ and with reverence ‘fear”.  There should be no trace of harshness, bitterness or flippancy when we speak of our Lord and Savior.

  B.  THE SUFFERING BELIEVER IS CONSCIENCE OF GOD’S WILL IN THE PURSUIT OF DOING WELL, 1 PET. 3:16-17

           1.  Let Us Maintain a Good Conscience   vs 16

‘Conscience’ means an awareness of God’s presence and will.  When we conduct ourselves in accordance with His will and walk in light of His presence, we maintain a ‘good conscience’. It is the Lord God that we want to please and represent more than any thing else. The question is are our values cultural or eternal?

           2.  Let Our Suffering Be Because of Well Doing   vs 17

Christians who suffer unjustly and keep a clear conscience put to shame those who slander their good behavior in Christ. Once again Peter encouraged his readers with the fact that good behavior is their best defense against unjust punishment and persecution.

3:17. However, Peter pointed out that it may be God’s will (thelēma; cf. 2:15; 4:2, 19) for them to suffer for doing good (cf. 1:6; 2:15; 4:16, 19). This, as he told them earlier, “is commendable before God” (2:20) and so is better than deserved suffering for doing evil (cf. 2:14). First Peter 3:17 is an effective summary of the content of 2:15, 19–20.^[a]

If a Christian must suffer, which might sometimes be God’s will for him, it should be for doing good. But he should not bring suffering on himself for his own misdeeds; there is no virtue in that.^[b]

  C.   THE SUFFERING BELIEVER IS CALLED TO FOLLOW THE HOPE FILLED EXAMPLE OF CHRIST’S TRIUMPH, 1 Pet. 3:18-22

           1.  We Are Called to Follow Christ’s Example, vs 18   

(He suffered unjustly to, but it was for our benefit) “That He might bring use to God”

                *Christ suffered unjustly—we will suffer unjustly too for righteousness sake.

                *Christ suffered for our benefit—"to bring us to God”—we must suffer for others benefit.  This is part of what being a Missionary is all about.  This is part of what serving in a church is all about.  You may have to miss out on a Sunday School class or a Message to serve others. This is what serving in the nursery is all about. But we still do it to follow our Savior’s example and to bring others closer to the Lord.

                *Christ suffered even unto death—We will need to die to self to follow Christ. We must take up our cross daily and follow Him. Some may even sacrifice themselves to protect other Believers.

                *Christ was raised from the dead by the power of the Spirit-- “quickened by the Spirit”.  We today as believers are to walk in the power of a new life and we in this new life are called to bring others to Christ, following our Lord’s example. Just as the Spirit raised Christ, He will empower us to fulfil the will of God.  Let God use our sufferings to bring others to God!

           2. We Are Called to Bare Witness Through Our Sufferings, vs 19-20   

(Christ never forsook His witness and no matter how low we get; we must never forsake our Testimony and Witness)

       * ‘PREACHED UNTO THE SPIRITS IN PRISON’   vs 19

               (a)  The act of Christ between His death and resurrection when He descended into Hell and proclaimed His victory at Calvary to the demonic hordes held in that part of Hell. Jesus made a proclamation of His victory over death to the rebellious angels who had been placed in prison. His proclamation was also a form of judgment on them because of their sin and rebellion. This idea also seems to be supported by <2 Peter 2:4> and <Jude 6>.  (See also Eph.4:8-10)

              (b) Vs 20, Christ also Proclaimed His Victory to the Saints of God from all the Ages and this act vindicated their faith before the unbelievers of all ages. Especially the unbelieving Souls of Noah’s day.   Just as God Vindicated the faith of Noah and His family by saving them through the flood in the safety of the Ark; He will also Vindicate the Faith of the saint who suffers for righteousness sake in our time. Just as Noah and His family experienced deliverance from judgement, and deliverance into a new day and new hope, we will also experience safety from divine judgement and deliverance into a new and glorious day free of suffering, persecution, pain, and rejection.  Delivered into the very presence of God by the Ark of Jesus Christ accompany by everlasting triumph.

THE TRUTH IS NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE ARE MOCKED AND PERSECUTED IN THIS LIFE, NO MATTER HOW STUPID WE MAY LOOK IN THE EYES OF PEOPLE FOR FOLLOWING OUR LORD’S INSTRUCTIONS….  WE WILL BE COMPLETELY VINDICATED FOR OUR FAITH AND OBEDIENCE BEFORE THE FALLEN ANGELS AND BEFORE THE LOST OF ALL GENERATIONS. OUR COMMITMENT AND FAITHFULLNESS WILL PLACE US IN THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD RADIATING WITH THE GLORY OF CHRIST JESUS! OUR SUFFERING FOR CHRIST’S SAKE IS NOT IN VAIN, IT WILL CLIMAX IN SPLENDID GLORY! THIS IS THE SUM OF SUFFERING FOR CHRIST’S SAKE!

APPLICATION: Child of God, when you are most angry…when you know the situation is not fair…when people treat you wrong for doing right…when you feel justified and encouraged to get even…think instead about the eternal, the final triumph, standing vindicated and blameless in the very presence of Almighty God. Make the conscience choice to take it, accept the unfairness from people, focus on their needs and not necessarily what they say…persist and insist on doing good regardless. Tell God honestly what you are feeling…that is enough for now…He is enough even when life hurts…. Continue to be a witness.

               3.  We Are Called to Completely Identify with Christ’s Triumph, vs 21-22 (Those who suffer with Christ will Reign with Christ)

                    (a) Jesus Christ was Raised to a Justified Life. We Identify (baptism) with this justification when we trusted Him as Savior.  His life counts for our life. His death count for our death. His resurrection counts for our resurrection. We receive credit for having paid our debt to sin and are no longer obligated to sin.  Christ suffering for our sin was a BAPTISM.

Luke 12:50, But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

Mark 10:38, But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

Rom 6:3-4, Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4, Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

                    (b) Vs 21, Jesus Christ fulfilled a purpose in His Sufferings, and we must Identify with this Purpose in our sufferings, which is the answer of a good Conscience towards God.  Conscience is the awareness of God’s will and Presence.  God wants us to submit ourselves in suffering and be a good witness. We understand now what His will is for suffering saints, and we must act accordingly to maintain a good conscience before God.

                     (c) Vs 22, Jesus Christ suffered unfairly, but now He is exalted and glorified. Suffering always leads to Glory. If we suffer with Him or if we more completely Identify (Baptism) with Him, we will be glorified together with Him.  We will reign with him in Victory—Our Tribulation, Suffering and Submission will turn to Triumph, Honor, Dominion and Power!

Rom 8:17-18, And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18, For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

CONCLUSION: 

News like this will help us smile through the tears, confusion, and persecutions when life hurts the most! The temptation to settle the score or get even is tremendous, multifaceted, unrelenting, and rooted in a people or cultural sense of identity. Be really careful with ‘door mat’ or ‘good guy’ analogies they are more cultural and are built on humanistic ideas of our value and worth. Our goal is to be of value to God’s character as His witnesses, and to advance His kingdom above all else which has eternal significance. It helps when you are bent on living for eternal importance rather then cultural, political, or religious ideas.

There is no doubt, there will come a day when the Sum of Our Suffering will equal Glory!  Life may be unfair for the moment, and we may have to endure difficulties and hardships for some time. But great will be the reward of the saint who stays true to the Lord. Beloved, this is far more then an oversimplification. I get it…life is complex and messy, but these principles are still applicable to us today.

We must, therefore, conduct ourselves as brothers with compassion and sensitivity one towards others. 

We must seek peace and prayerfulness with each other and all men as much as possible; refusing to resort to an attitude of retaliation and getting even. 

Most of all, we need to look to the example of our Lord Jesus and follow closely in His steps for they lead to glory with Him in the presence of God. Beloved, we are called to be a blessing and not a curse! May we treat others like God treats everyone, including us.

Continue to follow God’s instructions as a suffering saint, He will one day vindicate our faith before this wicked generation just as He did with Noah in his day. You do not need to worry about doing this for yourself at this time in this generation.

When dreams seem to fade in this life, we will still have the hope of the next life with Christ! Therefore, it is glory all the way!

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^[a] Roger M. Raymer, “1 Peter,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 850.

^[b] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2271.