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Armed and Ready – Sermon Notes for 1 Peter part 15

March 20th, 2016
1 Peter Part 15

Armed and Ready

1 Peter 4:1–6

AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

In the 3 chapters that have come before, Peter has laid out a number of foundational truths for his suffering readers.

Let’s review a number of them quickly, and then we will go on to the text before us today, and tease out a number of tools – or as I will call them – WEAPONS that Christ has provided for us in what is a true BATTLE for Christians living in this World.
1. Reckoning with their/our Dual status as Elect, and yet Exiles. And that these are not mutually exclusive categories. 1 Peter 1:1–2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
For Peter’s first readers – these dislocated and marginalized Believers in a very hostile environment – being mindful that their situation is not only not CONTRARY to God’s working – but PART of God’s working His good will and pleasure in them is of vital importance.

It is for every Believer in every age. Contrary and difficult circumstances are not hindrances to our Spiritual growth, but in fact essential to it!
1. Remembering the “Blessed Hope” that awaits the Believer irrespective of current circumstances. 1 Peter 1:15–16 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1. To not stop Practicing their Priesthood, and living lives that accord with that call: 1 Peter 2:9–10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1. Seeing every relationship through the lens of redemption and manifesting Christ’s Spirit in the world. 1 Peter 2:13–15 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
1. Responding to persecution and marginalization in the Spirit of Christ as our “calling”: 1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
These things said, Peter knows still that ever since the Fall in Gen. 3 – mankind has been plagued with an inward sin principle that wants to live contrary to the way of life just described in the preceding 3 chapters.

The Believer is a “new creation” as Paul says in 2 Cor. 5:17 – but we are not yet all that we are destined to be.

Peter is thinking the same way his fellow Apostle John does: 1 John 3:2–3 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. ³ And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

We are in what theologian George Eldon Ladd labeled: “The already, but not yet” state.

Or to use Paul’s words in Philippians: 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

The work has been begun in us, but it is not yet completed. And that work as Romans 8:29 states it is: “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

If you are born again today, this is what God is about in you.

He is both calling you, and ordering the circumstances of your life around this work of conforming you to the image of the character of Jesus Christ. Till that is what you are like too – in all His perfections.

In the meantime however, you are at war – at war with the remainder of the sin within you that resists that conformity. That still wants to rebel and to be your own god – living for your own plans and purposes irrespective of God’s.

The Biblical writers all agree in this: This condition leaves us at war with our own sinfulness. This, in place of the once losing war we were at with God – over who has the right of supremacy over our lives.

But Christ has purchased you out of this bondage, to walk in the freedom of those who belong to His Kingdom. And as citizens of His Kingdom, we find there is still a warfare to be waged.

This warfare is part of the absolute substance of the true Christian life. J. C. Ryle writes: There is a vast quantity of religion current in the world which is not true, genuine Christianity. It passes muster; it satisfies sleepy consciences; but it is not good money. It is not the real thing which was called Christianity eighteen hundred years ago. There are thousands of men and women who go to churches and chapels every Sunday, and call themselves Christians. Their names are in the baptismal register. They are reckoned Christians while they live. They are married with a Christian marriage-service. They mean to be buried as Christians when they die. But you never see any “fight” about their religion! Of spiritual strife, and exertion, and conflict, and self-denial, and watching, and warring, they know literally nothing at all. Such Christianity may satisfy man, and those who say anything against it may be thought very hard and uncharitable; but it certainly is not the Christianity of the Bible. It is not the religion which the Lord Jesus founded, and His Apostles preached. It is not the religion which produces real holiness. True Christianity is “a fight.”^{^[1]}

Let us consider well these propositions. Let us take care that our own personal religion is real, genuine, and true. The saddest symptom about many so-called Christians, is the utter absence of anything like conflict and fight in their Christianity. They eat, they drink, they dress, they work, they amuse themselves, they get money, they spend money, they go through a scanty round of formal religious services once or twice every week. But of the great spiritual warfare,—its watchings and strugglings, its agonies and anxieties, its battles and contests,—of all this they appear to know nothing at all. Let us take care that this case is not our own. The worst state of soul is “when the strong man armed keepeth the house, and his goods are at peace,”—when he leads men and women “captive at his will,” and they make no resistance. The worst chains are those which are neither felt nor seen by the prisoner. (Luke 11:21; 2 Tim. 2:26.)^{^[2]}

It is this “fight” language that finds its way into the first vs. of the 4^th chapter and that helps frame what Peter is after here.

But before we look at that, we need to be aware of a danger here to look out for. For if you are going to fight ANY war, you have to define the enemy you are fighting with precision.

Christians may be easily diverted to the wrong fight!

Exam. 1 – We may be at war with the culture, and try to make it and those in it, into something we prefer.

Exam. 2 – We might be diverted to the political war raging so violently in our own society today. Confusing that for this spiritual battle.

Exam. 3 – We may wage war against other people’s sins rather than our own.

Exam. 4 – We might be fighting the losing war of trying to exterminate sin from our souls altogether, which is a false war since sin doesn’t die – instead, we learn to die TO it – To its inward urgings, bents and compulsions. Rom. 6 makes this abundantly clear.

Exam. 5 – And we might be engaged in the imaginary war of ease or comfort. Thinking the battle ground is to somehow avoid any pain, dis-ease or discomfort in life – because the “victorious” Christian life (we falsely believe) is one where everything goes our way, and nothing too bad ever troubles us.

Exam. 6 – Prosecuting a war against Science as though true Biblical faith and science are mutually exclusive.

What IS the actual war then, and HOW do we fight it?

The actual war is one against living with the same values and desires as the culture and society around us, against a life lived for “self” and against inward desires incompatible with the character of Christ Jesus having full sway within us.

Fighting THIS battle, will make us truly stand out in contrast to the culture around us.

And it takes a highly specialized approach. For it is an inward battle.

One which this opening portion of the 4^th chapter Peter lays before us in wonderfully clear terms.

1^st Weapon: Christ our Example and Encouragement. 1 Peter 4:1a-b / Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking,

Think as Christ did – that suffering in the Christian is to be expected and not treated as aberrant.

2^nd Weapon: Keeping our eye on the immediate goal. 1 Peter 4:1c- 4:2

/ for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ² so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

Flesh = “sarki” not “soma” (body) i.e. in this earthly or present life.

When we deny ourselves sinful attitudes and actions – it is a painful exercise. Face it. And learn that the more uncomfortable I am willing to be by not indulging sinful desires, the more I cease from sinning period. These are in direct proportion to one another.

3^rd Weapon: Re-exploring the bankruptcy of sin. 1 Peter 4:3 / For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.

Haven’t you had enough of sin already?

Do you really want to go back to the guilt?

Back to the seaminess?

Back to the bondage?

4^th Weapon: Expecting to be misunderstood and maligned. 1 Peter 4:4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;

Karen Jobes writes: Pagans of the first century viewed Christians as killjoys who lived gloomy lives devoid of pleasure. The pleasures from which Christians of the first century typically abstained were the popular forms of Roman entertainment: the theater with its risqué performances, the chariot races, and the gladiatorial fights with their blood and gore. Christian lifestyle also condemned the “pleasures” of an indulgent temper, sex outside marriage, drinking, slander, lying, covetousness, and theft. These attitudes toward contemporary Roman customs and morals, combined with the Christians’ refusal to burn incense to the emperor—a gesture of civic gratitude intended to assure the well-being of the empire—earned Christians the reputation of being haters of humanity and traitors to the Roman way of life.^{^[3]}

Paul Achtemeier in his commentary adds: “It is a problem that will recur whenever Christians are forced by their faith to oppose cultural values widely held in the secular world within which they live.”^{^[4]}

5^th Weapon: Remembering the end of those outside of Christ. 1 Peter 4:5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

6^th Weapon: The Promise of Everlasting Life. 1 Peter 4:6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

It is in using these powerful weapons at our disposal, that we begin to live the Christian life in earnest.

And I must be clear here, those who are not fighting in such a way, so as to bring the mind into conformity with Christ’s plans and purposes and means – are either living deluded, defeated lives as Christ counts life – or are still not born again, and are living with the delusion of salvation altogether.

So the great question before us today is: Is this MY life?

Am I in this battle, and fighting it God’s way?

Or am I living woefully below the Gospel?

And perhaps not a Christian at all?

If you are a Christian and not living on the front lines of this battle – Hear His call to you today to wake up, and take up arms and begin at once. There is no time to lose.

And if you find in fact that you are not a Christian today – which is why you are not fighting this battle – Hear His call to run to Christ for the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation to the Father!

There is a Heaven to be gained and a Hell to be shunned. There is a real battle. And none but those on the side of Christ and His Kingdom will be spared.

^{^[1]} Ryle, J. C. 1889. Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots. London: William Hunt and Company.

^{^[2]} Ryle, J. C. 1889. Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots. London: William Hunt and Company.

^{^[3]} Jobes, Karen H. 2005. 1 Peter. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

^{^[4]} Jobes, Karen H. 2005. 1 Peter. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
As I was reading today…In John Flavel

March 15th, 2016

Psal. 73:25. “Whom have I in heaven but thee?” If it could be supposed (saith one) that God should withdraw from the saints in heaven, and say, Take heaven, and divide it among you; but as for me, I will withdraw from you; the saints would fall a weeping in heaven, and say, Lord, take heaven, and give it to whom thou wilt; it is no heaven to us, except thou be there: Heaven would be very Bochim to the saints without God. In this, our glory in heaven consists, to be ever with the Lord, 1 Thess. 4:17. God himself is the chief part of a saint’s inheritance; in which sense, as some will understand, Rom. 8:1. they are called heirs of God.
Balance in Ministry to the Suffering

March 14th, 2016

The balance (scales) of Justice is seen outside France’s national assembly in Paris October 16, 2008. REUTERS/Charles Platiau (FRANCE) – RTX9MO1

2 Corinthians 4:17–18 (ESV) For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

It is a reality, that those who have suffered, are often best equipped to others who are suffering. Especially if their sufferings are somewhat similar.

However, we also know that a doctor need not have suffered from the identical illnesses or conditions we might have, in order to effectively alleviate our suffering. Not every surgeon has had that same surgery we face. That does not disqualify him or her from operating upon us with the best of success. One need not have been poor, to know how to help someone whose finances are in disarray, nor must a doctor have had a baby in order to deliver one.

Nevertheless, there are times when someone’s experience with our particular suffering can be of particular use.

I once knew a pastor who was truly gifted in preaching and teaching God’s Word, and was a truly good and godly man. However, he had hardly ever been ill in his life – and until stricken with an unusual infection, lacked a bit in compassion toward others in their illnesses. He had always been sympathetic, but through his experience become empathetic. But in truth, the spiritual comfort he gave still issued from the very same source – the Word of God under the ministration of the Holy Spirit.

Now it is also true that sometimes, we Believers can be guilty of tossing a passage like the one above at some suffering saint, in a most careless and matter of fact manner. We can try to remind them that that their affliction is but “momentary”, and thus “light.” But if we forget that the Apostle’s point here is that our afflictions are “light” and “momentary” in COMPARISON, to the eternal weight of glory about to be ours – if that contrast is lost, the words can be felt more like an insult if not a downright denial that we are truly suffering at all.

So my first point is that we need to maintain the context here, and use such portions of God’s Word as they were given, if they are to offer the maximum benefit. To use them in such a way that they are not dismissive of the very real and present pain one might be enduring. And then to help them, gently, to try and weigh the present distresses, against the coming glories.

That said, it might also be well for us to remember – and this is my second point, that the one who penned the above passage also penned this: 2 Corinthians 11:23–33 (ESV) Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. ²⁴ Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; ²⁶ on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; ²⁷ in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. ²⁸ And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? ³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. ³² At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, ³³ but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

In other words, the one who wrote the first passage, knew suffering well. In a variety of ways few of us will ever experience. And at that, he knows well the sufferings of His Savior Jesus. And this man, so well acquainted with such suffering, is the one who gently brings us back to weigh our present sufferings in the light of the coming, eternal glories. Not as a disinterested promulgator of religious platitudes, but as a fellow sufferer – and one who shares this comfort with us – because it is the comfort he himself has taken advantage of so liberally.

Minister the Word to one another beloved – with tenderness and mercy, and in a balance that soothes the wounds rather than exacerbating them. This is the Spirit of Christ.
Baptism Saves You? Sermon notes for 1 Peter 14c

March 13th, 2016
1 Peter Part 14c

1 Peter 3:13-22

Baptism Saves You?

AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

Last time we were together, we really had to put our thinking caps on to sort out the difficult ideas in vss. 18-19 / 1 Peter 3:18–19 “For Christ also 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, ¹⁹ in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison,”

You will remember the idea here appears to be that The Spirit that raised Jesus from the Dead – the Holy Spirit, was at work even back in Noah’s day. That we could say Jesus was preaching through Noah to those who were about to enter the Flood, and that even though the results were very little – only 8 souls were saved – it was still God at work and WE can take great comfort in our day when the Gospel seems to have little impact.

Peter has been making this point over and over; that HOW we respond to persecution and marginalization by the culture – is once again a means of preaching the Gospel by the power of the Spirit – and that we ought not to lose heart even when we don’t see lots of results. God is still at work!

And in making that argument, Peter is going to enlarge our understanding of how the Gospel works in one of the most graphic similes in the Bible. It is a powerful and useful picture.

And by virtue of how Peter places this before us, I want to speak especially to you here today who have not yet come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. For this is a Gospel saturated passage and one the I pray will open the eyes of any here who might still be lost in the face of Christ’s coming judgment upon mankind for sin.

The text: 1 Peter 3:18–22 “For Christ also 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, ¹⁹ in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. ²¹ Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.”

Once again we have to be careful in not letting a difficult verse become the basis for a doctrine all on its own. Sadly, this verse has been used by many to claim that water baptism is necessary in order for someone to be saved. Or, that baptism itself – somehow saves.

However, a careful reading of the text, and seeing what point Peter is making and how he makes it, clearly rules out the idea that this is what the passage is teaching.

6 Observations:
1. 1. (19-20) In the Spirit, Christ preached to those who refused the message, and remained disobedient to it “when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah.”
1. 2. (20) As a result of this only “a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.”
1. (21) Baptism, “corresponds to this”. Corresponds to what?
What is the THIS, that baptism corresponds to?

“THIS”, is the scenario Peter just outlined from the Genesis flood account.

Somehow – Water Baptism corresponds to the key factors that were at play in Noah’s day – while God waited 120 years to send the flood, and while Noah preached (righteousness – 2 Pet. 2:5) and built the Ark.

We can easily tease out 4 key facts in that scenario:
1. To a message of judgment preached
2. That message being believed,
3. Responding appropriately – Noah responded and built the Ark
4. Being spared from the judgment
Hebrews 11:7 (ESV) “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”
1. Baptism isn’t about “a removal of dirt from the body” it is NOT a physical thing – but about having “a good conscience” – having heard the Gospel and responding in faith – faith which acts by putting trust in the message.
1. “Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” – As Rom. 4:25 notes, Jesus was “raised for our justification”
This is how we arrive at a good conscience before God – because Jesus was raised up from the dead, proving our sin was atoned for and that we can have a conscience devoid of condemnation over past sin.

More – He has endured the judgment, and risen again, and if we are IN HIM, we are saved.

So the simile Peter uses plays out to its fullest: Jesus is the “Ark” of our salvation.
1. In being resurrected, He ascended into Heaven with ALL THINGS in the universe having been “subjected to Him”.
All of this then is a most wonderful picture of how salvation works – AND, of a dreadfully missing component in the Gospel message so often neglected in our day – JUDGMENT.

Romans 2:12–16 (ESV) For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. ¹⁴ For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵ They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them ¹⁶ on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

This aspect of being delivered from God’s just wrath is absolutely central to the Gospel presentations in the NT. And it is often neglected, if not completely absent from much of modern preaching of the Gospel. We try to declare good news (Gospel) without any BAD NEWS! Guilt and sin and shame.

Acts 17:29–31 (ESV) Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. ³⁰ The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, ³¹ because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Just as the Spirit of Christ preached that same coming judgment and God’s means of salvation through His preacher in the days of Noah

Just as that message, both of judgment and salvation has been preached by the Spirit of Christ in every generation after

And just as Paul preached that coming judgment in his day, as we have it in this text

So it is we today must declare to the world that this judgment of God is yet to come upon all mankind.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Matthew 12:36 (ESV) I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

Hebrews 4:12–13 (ESV) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

You see, this is the great dilemma of all mankind – this is what makes the Cross of Jesus necessary, and rational: “For ALL have sinned…”Romans 3:21–25 (ESV) But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— ²² the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

What is our great sin? We fall short of the glory of God in it.

We were created to reflect Him and all His perfections

We were made “in His image”

And we must ask – Is God in all of His divine glory and perfections seen in me without flaw?

For that is the purpose for which we were created and the lofty place from which we’ve fallen.

Is my every action one that displays His holiness?

Is my every word one which declares His holiness in perfection?

Is my every thought in perfect submission to His plan and purposes?

Is the foremost love in my heart love of Him and His glory?

Do I serve Him consciously and joyfully and perfectly more than myself?

If not – Then how can I hope to be spared His wrath?

How can I possibly be reconciled to Him since I have spurned His love and lived for myself and for my own desires and have become so separated from Him in every way?

Hear the message – there is judgment coming – yes!

But there is also salvation to be had in His Ark – in faith in Jesus Christ!

I must believe that He has made a way and that way is to trust His Son as my sin bearer on Calvary – that He endured MY judgment there. That I deserved what He took.

And putting my faith in Christ and Christ alone – I now follow Him.

So it is in Baptism, I declare that Jesus was crucified in my place, rose up from the dead and ascended in Heaven above all powers and authorities.

He went THROUGH the judgment safely, and if I am IN HIM, so will I!

And my conscience is cleared by His having satisfied my debt to the Father – I am now reconciled to The Father through The Son, and with all who believe.

This is what Baptism signifies.

And though comparatively few are saved in this way – that in no way diminishes that this salvation is real and magnificent and full of mercy and grace that is unfathomable.

(21) Baptism, “corresponds to this”. Corresponds to what?
1. To a message of judgment preached – Have I heard?
2. That message being believed, – Have I believed?
3. Responding appropriately – Have I responded by putting my faith in God’s “Ark” in Christ Jesus and His death, burial and resurrection?
4. If so, then I will be spared from the judgment
Hebrews 11:7 (ESV) “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

So, as our key text tells us:

Baptism which corresponds to this – To Noah having heard the Word of God and being saved from God’s wrath by believing and acting up it –

now saves you

Not through the removal of dirt from the body – NOT THROUGH THE PHYSICAL ACT OF BAPTISM

But an appeal to God for a good conscience – Having heard, believed and acted upon the message ourselves

Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ – by testifying to our faith in Jesus who has undergone God’s wrath against sin, so that if we are IN HIM – we might remain safe.
There Is No Time

March 9th, 2016

There is no Time

Matthew 24:36-44. “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Again the voice, as oft before

Came clearly through the night.

Again it shook me to the bone.

Again my heart took flight.

The urgency and righteousness,

The power and the might;

The clarion voice rang loud and clear,

This matter did indict –

THERE IS NO TIME.

Too long you’ve lived among the World,

Too long you’ve slept in day.

And so the voice came once again,

With no mistake to say –

Stir up yourselves! Stir up yourselves!

Stir up yourselves – today!

Sleep no more, t’will soon be here,

That great and awful day

THERE IS NO TIME

My trembling lips began to speak,

‘Tis they O Lord not I,

I see each mote, there is no beam

At lodge within my eye.

I pray and tithe, attend your House,

I’ve spoken not the lie.

You surely can’t mean me!

Then came the dread reply

THERE IS NO TIME

But Lord, I’m sure there’s many yet

To bring within the fold.

Surely no contempt for man

Your righteous heart can hold.

I plead their case before you now

If I may be so bold.

The voice returned, with mercy gone.

Stark. Unreal. Cold.

THERE IS NO TIME

“You O man”, I heard him say,

“I hear the words you speak.”

“Attempts to justify yourself,

Though you’re naked, cold and weak.

Look now to Christ, for He alone

Can save you – if you seek.

My judgment I will not withhold,

For year nor month nor week.”

THERE IS NO TIME

“My prophets, they have oft declared

This day. But you’ve not heard.

There, read the Scriptures in your hand,

Tis written in My Word.

There’s no more time for playing Church.

With truth your loins now gird.”

Again the voice grew urgent.

This time, I finally heard.

THERE IS NO TIME

Christian, sinner, all alike,

I bid you hear it too.

Flee to Jesus Christ the Lord

For nothing else will do.

His terror fast, is coming now.

The sky He’ll soon burst through.

And all will stand before His throne,

Heathen. Christian. Jew.

THERE IS NO TIME

Put away the foolish things.

Flesh, put fast away.

For all but Jesus’ preciousness

His light will burn away.

Oh do it now my brethren!

With emergency I pray.

There’s little time allotted us,

Hear it now – today!

THERE IS NO T
What is an EVANGELICAL?

March 1st, 2016
In this election year, one cannot read or hear anything about the Presidential hopefuls and their constituents without hearing about the “evangelical” voting block.

Some candidates want to take the label to themselves, in order to identify with this block, and others want to eschew it. It a matter of both guilt by, and vindication by – association.

But if you were ask most people what an Evangelical actually is, my guess is – it would run the gambit from fanatic and bigot, to anyone who is simply not Roman Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, or the member of any other recognized or organized religion.

But the term Evangelical once was both very powerful, and well defined. Powerful most likely, BECAUSE it was well defined. However, in all cultures, words and terms come to be redefined through usage, misusage, and sometimes even deliberate recasting.

So Michael Jackson could sing “I’m Bad, I’m Bad” meaning hot, or cool, or awesome. It’s hard to tell which (or maybe all) since as each of those descriptive words also suffer from cultural morphology.

We as a local, independent Church, call ourselves “Evangelical.” The Evangelical Church of Fairport. The question is – what do WE mean by that? And the second necessary question is – what do other people think when they hear that name?

The term Evangelical has a rich historical heritage. And we consciously take the label upon ourselves. Tho I do begin to wonder if it fails to communicate much of anything positive to those who have no clue as to its meaning, beyond its amorphous cultural distortions.

So what IS an Evangelical? Or maybe better, what ought to define one as an Evangelical? We need to poke around in Church history to get a clear view.

In our search for the earliest mention of someone being referred to as “evangelical”, the honor seems to rest withJohn Wycliffe (1320-1384), often described as the “Morningstar of the Reformation”, and also – doctor evangelicus.

The term gained popularity early in the Lutheran side of the Reformation and spread from therewith the awakening of the Gospel across Europe.

Those men wanting to be identified with the recovery of the gospel in terms of its central doctrine of justification by faith called themselves evangelici viri – evangelical men.

Luther liked and used the expression in German as die Evangelischen.

The direct connection in each case was the idea of the gospel – the “evangel”, or “good news.”

“Evangelical continued to gain popularity, and achieved its widespread use during the 18th century in the revival movement associated with Wesley and Whitefield. (See: John Stott’s excellent little book – Evangelical Truth).

The preamble to the Cambridge Declaration, a modern evangelical statement reads: “In the course of history words change. In our day this has happened to the word “evangelical.” In the past it served as a bond of unity between Christians from a wide diversity of church traditions. Historic evangelicalism was confessional. It embraced the essential truths of Christianity as those were defined by the great ecumenical councils of the church. In addition, evangelicals also shared a common heritage in the “solas” of the sixteenth century Protestant Reformation.”

In John R. W. Stott’s “Evangelical Truth, A Plea for Unity, Integrity and Faithfulness”, he cites J. I. Packer’s “anatomy of evangelicalism” (from his monograph – “The Evangelical Anglican Identity Problem” – 1978″ where he he lays out the foundation in four general claims, and six particular convictions.

The four general claims of historic evangelicalism are:
1. Evangelicalism is PRACTICAL Christianity. A lifestyle of total discipleship to the Lord Christ.
2. It is PURE Christianity. Since you cannot add to the Christian faith without in the end subtracting from it.
3. It is UNITIVE Christianity. Seeking unity through a common commitment to gospel truth.
4. It is RATIONAL Christianity. Over and against the popular preoccupation with mere experience.The six fundamentals would be as follows:1. The supremacy of the Holy Scripture (Because of its unique inspiration)
5. The Majesty of Jesus Christ (the God-man who died as a sacrifice for sin)
6. The Lordship of the Holy Spirit (who exercises a variety of vital ministries)
7. The necessity of conversion (a direct encounter with God effected by God alone – being born again)
8. The priority of evangelism (Witness being an expression of worship)
9. The importance of fellowship (the Church being essentially a living community of believers)To go back to elucidate the 5 great solas of the Reformation which form the substrata of all true evangelicalism – these are: (I’ll quote the affirmations from the Cambridge Declaration)Thesis One: Sola Scriptura / We reaffirm the inerrant Scripture to be the sole source of written divine revelation,which alone can bind the conscience. The Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for our salvation from sin and is the standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured.We deny that any creed, council or individual may bind a Christian’s conscience, that the Holy Spirit speaks independently of or contrary to what is set forth in the Bible, or that personal spiritual experience can ever be a vehicle of revelation.Thesis Two: Solus Christus / We reaffirm that our salvation is accomplished by the mediatorial work of the historical Christ alone. His sinless life and substitutionary atonement alone are sufficient for our justification and reconciliation to the Father.We deny that the gospel is preached if Christ’s substitutionary work is not declared and faith in Christ and his work is not solicited.Thesis Three: Sola Gratia / We reaffirm that in salvation we are rescued from God’s wrath by his grace alone. It is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that brings us to Christ by releasing us from our bondage to sin and raising us from spiritual death to spiritual life.
  We deny that salvation is in any sense a human work. Human methods, techniques or strategies by themselves cannot accomplish this transformation. Faith is not produced by our unregenerated human nature.
  
  Thesis Four: Sola Fide / We reaffirm that justification is by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone. In justification Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us as the only possible satisfaction of God’s perfect justice.
  
  We deny that justification rests on any merit to be found in us, or upon the grounds of an infusion of Christ’s righteousness in us, or that an institution claiming to be a church that denies or condemns sola fide can be recognized as a legitimate church.
  
  Thesis Five: Soli Deo Gloria / We reaffirm that because salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God, it is for God’s glory and that we must glorify him always. We must live our entire lives before the face of God, under the authority of God and for his glory alone.
  
  We deny that we can properly glorify God if our worship is confused with entertainment, if we neglect either Law or Gospel in our preaching, or if self-improvement, self-esteem or self-fulfillment are allowed to become alternatives to the gospel.
So it is on these foundation that we continue to call ourselves The Evangelical Church of Fairport

That’s it in a nutshell. Though a whole lot could be cited to differentiate historical evangelicals from fundamentalists and fundamentalism – but that will have to wait for another day.

Let me also recommend D. Martin Lloyd-Jones’ superb little treatment titled: “What is an Evangelical.”

Evangelicalism has deep historical roots and a fairly definitive theological framework.

Historically, these foundational truths are the things that make for being an Evangelical.

But to be an Evangelical in the historical sense, includes the idea that one must also be a Christian. So we need to ask that question as well – What is a Christian?

I believe, if we take the Biblical categories responsibly, we come to see that there a number of things – which no doubt are almost (if not entirely) missing from modern conceptions of what a Christian is. From that Biblical standpoint we can at least say the following:

A Christian is one who believes God exists, and that He created all things.

A Christian is one who believes what God has said is true and orders their lives accordingly.

That God created humanity in His image.

That through rebellion as a race we sinned against God and are lost.

That the world is the way it is because of these things.

A Christian is one who has come to see the reality of their personal guilt and ruin before God, and their need of a Savior.

A Christian is one who has believed that Jesus Christ is the God/man, and that He died on the Cross historically to bear the just punishment for sin due to fallen mankind.

A Christian is one who has personally trusted in Christ’s death at Calvary as their substitute, and God’s only means to be reconciled to Him – through faith in that death.

A Christian is one who is now living their lives in loving gratitude and service to Jesus Christ as their Lord, proclaiming the grace and mercy that saved them, to others.

A Christian is one who is ever moving toward Heaven as their final home and their highest joy in being with God and Christ Jesus eternally.

If these ideas hold true – then when I hear that Evangelicals are supporting some candidates with rabid fervor – I have to ask, by what definition are they indeed – Evangelicals?

Something to ponder.
The 800# Gorilla of 1 Peter 3:18-20

February 28th, 2016

1 Peter Part 14b

The Fellowship of His Suffering

1 Peter 3:13-22

AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

Before we even get into the text in detail this morning, it might be good to acknowledge the 800# gorilla in the room.

What I mean by that, is that we need to think just a bit about the unique statements Peter makes in vss. 19-20:

1 Peter 3:18–20 “For Christ also 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, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.”

What in the world is going on here?

Some of you will remember our series in the book of Daniel.

In that series, we talked about dealing with certain portions of Scripture which are difficult to understand – in that case, Biblical Prophecy. What needs untangled.

And you will recall that we set out a little grid for dealing with difficult passages.

We consider obscure passages in 3 ways. We major on:

1. What is CERTAIN in the passage.

We treat carefully –

2. What may be REASONABLE to infer.

And for the most part, we avoid camping on –

3. What is SPECULATIVE.

We noted then, as we need to do with today’s passage, to be sure we major on what is CERTAIN above all else.

There may be some reasonable inferences we can draw, but we do not base any doctrine upon them.

And, there may be ideas which we might speculate upon, but once again, we do not want to base our conclusions on those ideas – but focus upon what is certain.

Why do I bring that up here?

Because, as one commentary I consulted on vss. 18-20 noted: There are no less than 18 major interpretations of what precisely is meant here. (Holman Bible Commentary)

So we have a real need to tread lightly.

It is obvious we cannot treat all 18 of those possible interpretations today, but let me lay out the 4 most prominent, and why I personally hold to one particular view – while leaving the door slightly open to one other.

At the same time, let me add that should you disagree with me in some of the particulars in the precise interpretation here, I’ll not wrestle you to the mat over it, as long as we all confine ourselves to keeping the CERTAIN points in view.

So difficult are these several verses that Martin Luther wrote, “A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.”^{^[1]}

Tom Schreiner – James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Professor of Biblical Theology (1997); Associate Dean of the School of Theology @ SBTS in Louisville KY helps us greatly here summarizing top 4 interpretations.

This passage is speaking of:

VIEW 1: Christ’s Spirit preaching through Noah in days before the Flood.

VIEW 2: Jesus, after death and before resurrection, preaching to the OT saints in Hades, and leading them to Heaven.

VIEW 3: Jesus, after death and before resurrection, preaching to those who perished in Noah’s Flood, offering them a 2^nd chance.

VIEW 4: Jesus’ proclamation of His victory over the evil angels who co-habited with human women precipitating the Flood, and who are imprisoned forever in Hell. Maybe before resurrection, or after.

I must acknowledge here that the 4^th seems to be most common today among conservative scholars.

The truth is, there are problems with each of the views here – mine included. Either on grammatical grounds, or a mixture of grammar, or in comparison with the rest of Scripture, and in the immediate context.

View #2 Seems to be ruled out because it is based on a view of Hades as a double compartmented abode of the dead, the righteous on one side and the wicked on the other.

But a careful study of how the words Hades and Hell are used in the OT demonstrate that this dual compartmented view comes from Pagan thought and not Bible teaching and fails at the outset.

View #3 Seems ruled out due to unambiguous Scripture statements such as: Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, The idea of a 2^nd chance at salvation after death is not only not taught in the balance of Scripture, it is flat out denied.

View #4 In my estimation fails on 4 main fronts – tho as I said, it is the most common view today. While it offers the most in-depth grammatical solutions to the passage:

a. I believe it fails to follow Peter’s logic as carefully as it should leading up to this point.

b. It relies heavily on the extra-Biblical book of Enoch – which in my opinion falls into the category of Jewish myth.

c. It relies on a view of angelology which I believe Scripture does not support.

d. It presupposes Peter’s readers would have a working knowledge of this extra-Biblical material to draw from, take to be truth, and know how to apply it even though it is only mentioned in passing.

I think that stretches credibility a bit farther than I can go.

If you would like to discuss that in more detail, in a way I simply cannot this morning – then perhaps we can arrange a Wednesday night to do so.

In short – regarding this 4^th view, we have no Biblical data supporting the idea that angels even CAN co-habit with human humans. At that, the Bible says they neither marry nor are given in marriage (Luke 20:35), and do not appear to be a race which propagates itself, but each are individual creations.

The idea that the offspring of such unions were the “Nephelim” of Gen. 6:4, seems disproved by the fact that Nephelim still exist after the Flood (Numb. 13:33) – which would create so many other exegetical problems as to be (in my opinion) impossible to overcome.

That said, this 4^th view is held by many whom I would gladly sit under the feet of to learn. They are both godly and scholars in the highest degree, so I do not take their view lightly, even if I take issue with it.

So where does that leave us? With View #1. It seems most likely to me, that Peter is saying that the same Spirit which raised Christ from the dead, was active even back in Noah’s Day, preaching through Noah for 120 years – and that the example of Noah laboring so is to be an encouragement to Believers now.

That said, let’s get back to the start of this text and try to work it through.

Vs. 17 – You as one of Christ’s elect are suffering – so why is it “better” to suffer for righteousness if that should be God’s will?

Why does the Believer have SUCH hope, that our sufferings are “better” than those that our neighbors endure?

In short, because, above all else – we have the promise of not only suffering with like and with Jesus, but of also being raised with Him.

Our union with Him in our being born again is more than just a nice notion – It is a most powerful and living reality – Something we even taste a bit of now – Colossians 3:1 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”

So, 1 Peter 3:14 “even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled”

What then can we take away from these portions in terms of what we can be certain of?

5 Great Certainties:

A. SUFFERING IS NOT SHAMEFUL: Because Christ also suffered under God’s will, this is nothing to be ashamed of should it happen – since it was even part and parcel of how Christ came as our substitute to die in our place.

In the culture where Peter’s first readers lived, humility in the face of adversity was NOT considered a positive trait. In fact, is was downright shameful.

Jesus’ willingness to go to the Cross without putting up a good fight would have been seen as gutless and the mark of an exceedingly weak character. The same would have attached itself to those who followed in Christ’s steps the way Peter is calling for.

But Peter is urging his readers – and us: Do not let the World make you ashamed of suffering for His name’s sake. Peter is building to a point he will reiterate in the next chapter: 1 Peter 4:12–16 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. ¹⁶ Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

B. SUFFERING BRINGS EVANGELISTIC OPPORTUNITY: As Christ suffered “to bring us to God” – so too, as we’ve seen already in the whole argument up until now, HOW we suffer for His name in this present world, is a powerful apologetic to bring make Christ known in this present darkness, and to see them brought to saving faith.

2:5 – Our Priesthood in this present world

2:9 – The Proclamation of His excellencies

2:12 – Testimony to the persecutors which will be verified on the last day

2:15 – Putting to silence the ignorance of foolish people

3:1 – In winning the lost

C. SUFFERING FOR BELIEVERS ALWAYS TERMINATES FINALLY IN RESURRECTION: Should our suffering even bring us to death – remember that resurrection through the Spirit of Christ is ours.

The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead (Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.)

The very same Spirit which raised Christ will raise us, and this same Spirit has always proclaimed forgiveness and deliverance from God’s judgement, even all the way back to the dark, dark days of Noah – days darker even than our own.

D. DISCOURAGEMENT NEED NOT SPOIL YOUR SUFFERING: If so few as only 8 responded to the preaching of the Gospel in face of coming judgment in Noah’s Day – do NOT be discouraged if you do not see many come to Christ as a result of your witness of suffering righteously for His sake.

Whatever else may be going on in these verses as regards preaching to the spirits in prison who did not obey in Noah’s time – whether the preaching referred to is the Spirit of Christ preaching through Noah then, or Jesus proclaiming to those imprisoned spirits after His death –

FEW LISTENED. And that is never reason to be discouraged, or to stop being those who endure suffering in this present age – in a way that makes the Spirit of Christ evident to our detractors.

Don’t lose heart!

We are about the business of fulfilling God’s eternal plan in Christ Jesus.

E. CHRIST RULES AND REIGNS OVER ALL EVIL SPIRITS. HE IS VICTOR!

As Tom Schreiner notes – who takes VIEW #4 by the way: Believers should not become intimidated in suffering but continue to sanctify Christ as Lord because the suffering of Christ was also the means by which he was exalted. Just as suffering was the pathway to exaltation for Christ, so also suffering is the prelude to glory for believers…the emphasis on Christ’s victory reminds believers that the troubles of the present time are temporary, that victory is sure because Christ has triumphed over evil powers. The theme of the text therefore is not the imitation of Christ, contrary to some scholars,²⁶⁵ but his victory over evil.^{^[2]}

All of this is wrapped up in this one great reality – That Jesus Christ has been raised up from the dead, and so will all of those who are His with Him, when He comes.

Paul summarizes Peter’s thought here, in Ephesians 1:15–23 (ESV) For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, ¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ¹⁸ having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might ²⁰ that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

^{^[1]} Schreiner, Thomas R. 2003. 1, 2 Peter, Jude. . Vol. 37. (The New American Commentary). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

^{^[2]} Schreiner, Thomas R. 2003. 1, 2 Peter, Jude. . Vol. 37. (The New American Commentary). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
An Observation, and a Prayer – From Proverbs 28:1

February 28th, 2016

The Heavenly Father is patient, and does not chasten without warnings and reproofs. But when those warnings and reproofs are repeatedly rejected, He does finally move. In those times, His action is swift, and decisive. Better to hear these rebukes and learn, to confess and repent. To take whatever measures we need to. For when He is forced to act like this, we seldom emerge without permanent damage. Proverbs 28:14

How far is too far when testing the patience of God? No one knows. That is the point. Some take God’s patience as a sign He is simply pleased with them as is. Others think it simply impossible to provoke Him. The wise man knows “the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience…is meant to lead you to repentance” (Rom. 2:4).

So what has God been dealing with you about, that you continue to put off? Don’t wait until it is too late.

Heavenly Father, grant me a repentant heart. Grant US repentant hearts. Nothing is so wicked as confessing our sin and seeking forgiveness, but not turning from it. It is how every form of idolatry works – just go through the ritual, but no real change is expected or needed. Father, I want my heart to hate the sin that is in me as you do – and love your holiness as you do. I want to want other things – to have sinful things appear as wicked and heinous as they really are, and to see and be attracted to the beauty of holiness as you really are. I plead with you Father – do not leave me as I am. I am so easily fooled and deceived by my own sin. Let me truly walk in the love, light and wisdom that is ours in Christ. Grant me your gift of true repentance from my sins.
Sermon Notes for 1 Peter 1:13-22 / The 3 R’s of Encouragement

February 23rd, 2016
1 Peter Part 14a

The 3-R’s of Encouragement

1 Peter 3:13-22

AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

Peter, having brought his main thought thus far in this letter to the fore in 3:9 – 1 Peter 3:9 “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”

And, as having the self-identity of God’s “elect exiles, shown us how the principle can be lived out in 3 contexts:

With Governments

In Work Environments

In the Home

And, having exhorted us on how to encourage and support one another in the Body of Christ when trials, tribulations and persecutions for the name of Christ come our way –

Peter now goes on to give us some powerful, useful and practical tools to encourage and equip us.

This is what occupies the text from 3:13-3:22.

We can only unpack the beginning of those this morning, in vss. 13-17

The 3-R’s of Encouragement
1. 13-14 / Redefining HARM: As Citizens of Christ’s Kingdom.
2. 15a / Realigning our UNDERSTANDING: How the universe works under Christ’s Lordship.
3. 15b-17 / Remembering our MISSION: As Christ’s Emissaries in the world.
1. 13-14 / Redefining HARM: As Citizens of Christ’s Kingdom.
1 Peter 3:13–14 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

1. Note first, that some may indeed harm us, even when we do good. This is reality, and to be expected.

We ought not be too surprised if in this fallen world we suffer some injustice.

Wasn’t Jesus’ crucifixion the single most unjust act ever committed by human hands?

Should it shock us then if we are treated wrongly at times?

This is sin’s unmasked face. It is grotesque, ugly and fearsome.

2. But note secondly that God does not define harm as we so often do.

Identical words can mean different things to different people in different contexts.

Bee in one’s bonnet

Here: Something’s bothering them

England: A bug inside their car hood

A pebble in my boot

Here: Something in my shoe

England: A stone in the truck of their car

Here, Peter echoes Jesus’ words from Luke 21:16–18 “You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. ¹⁷ You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish. “

Harm in this life can be but physical and emotional, and at that, temporary.

Compared to eternal spiritual harm, such is nothing.

Oh to keep that balance in our hearts when tested in this way.

This reminds us of Jonah’s prayer in the belly of the fish in Jonah 2.

Jonah 2:1–2 “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, ² saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.”

How does a prayer of thanksgiving fit at this point? Alive, but in the belly of this fish?

Because, he IS alive, when in fact he was deserving of and preserved from the Hell from which there is no return.

Yes it is hot.

Yes it is smelly.

Yes it is dark and uncomfortable and the future is uncertain – but it is not eternal separation from God and under His undiluted wrath.

ANYTHING is better than that.

When one has been so close to utter destruction, being saved by only an inch, is cause for celebration.

Note 3^rd, that as Citizens of Christ’s Kingdom, He has promised that irrespective of the “harm” the World may think to do to us, it will in NO WISE diminish our blessedness.

In fact, part of the redemptive work of Christ on our behalf, is to so govern His people, that evil perpetrated against us by the World or the Devil, is actually utilized for our good!

Now the correct balance on this is important.

For the Believer, evil does not cease to BE evil.

But such is God’s sovereignty, that one and the same event can have evil intent by one party, and yet good intent from our God.

This was the pronouncement of Joseph in Gen. Genesis 50:15–20 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” ¹⁶ So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ¹⁷ ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. ¹⁸ His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” ¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? ²⁰ As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Joseph does not deny their evil motives, nor baptize their actions as though they actually did a good thing.

He acknowledges their evil intent – but notes God’s own GOOD intent in the very same event.

Much like Acts 2:22–23 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— ²³ this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”

They are not commended for having accomplished God’s will in Christ’s crucifixion, but in fact are condemned for their wickedness.

Or as in Mark 14 when Jesus us speaking of Judas’ betrayal: Mark 14:21 “For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

Because God provided salvation through the shed blood of Jesus, does not vindicate Judas from His vile treachery.

We do not pronounce evil good and good evil in recognizing Christ’s redemptive work in making our sufferings the source of blessings for us.

But we DO glory in that such is both His power and love toward those who believe.
1. 15a / Realigning our UNDERSTANDING: How the universe works under Christ’s Lordship.
1 Peter 3:15a “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy,”

a. Jesus Christ is Lord of ALL!

The one who loves us with the infinite love of God.

The One who came to die in our place, bearing the full wrath of God upon human sin for the salvation of all who believe.

He is Lord, not others nor the circumstances.

b. This Jesus who loves us with infinite love and gave His very life for us – HE IS LORD!

He is not a disinterested bystander.

Christ actively rules in His universe. There is no such thing as chance or randomness.

Caesar is not Lord – nor any government or ruler.

Circumstances are not Lord.

Christ is Lord of all.

Isaiah 40:12–31 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? ¹³ Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? ¹⁴ Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? ¹⁵ Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust. ¹⁶ Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering. ¹⁷ All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness. ¹⁸ To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him? ¹⁹ An idol! A craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts for it silver chains. ²⁰ He who is too impoverished for an offering chooses wood that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to set up an idol that will not move. ²¹ Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? ²² It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; ²³ who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. ²⁴ Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. ²⁵ To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. ²⁶ Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing. ²⁷ Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? ²⁸ Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. ²⁹ He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. ³⁰ Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; ³¹ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

c. He is holy. And as ontologically holy, He cannot sin against us but can only act for our good;

and let those considerations govern our thoughts and attitudes, rather than whose hands it is we suffer directly from.
1. 15b-17 / Remembering our MISSION: As Christ’s Emissaries in the world.
1 Peter 3:15b–17 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

Thirdly we note, this response to such treatment, is so counter-intuitive to normal human responses that it will evoke wonder from those who observe it in us.

I know that this verse is often cited generically as a reference to apologetics, but Peter’s statement here is specific to Christians suffering.

That in our suffering – and most especially in our being persecuted for living for Christ in this fallen world – that our hope in Christ in it all – is so profound and evident, that observers are compelled to find our why we are not hopeless and hapless but content, at peace, fearless and rejoicing!

This then serves as a means to redeem that suffering and make it a means whereby the Gospel is preached and Christ it put forward before men.

This is the hope that is so remarkable, men cannot help but wonder where it comes from.
Note lastly – that we make our response to them not as though defiant and self-triumphant, but with gentleness and respect.

Their being put to shame for treating us badly is not to be a means of revenge for us, but a means of showing God’s grace and mercy for the sake of their souls.

Proverbs 24:17–18 “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, ¹⁸ lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.”

I worry at just how counter scriptural it is, and how unlike the Spirit of Christ it is, when I hear self-confessed Christians dancing on the ruined reputations and lives of those who have opposed us.

Think in terms of the present political context, and how much venom by supposed Christians gets spewed at candidates we dislike, and especially if some dirt from their past comes out or they get defeated.

Why we do not hate them any more than we fear them, and maintain our joy and hope and peace – is to be expressed with GENTELNESS and RESPECT!

How far popular American Christianity has fallen from this kind of thinking and acting!

Now who but our wondrous God would have put forth such a pattern to follow? Oh what a glorious God we serve!

So HOW, are we to live this supernatural life that Peter has reminded us we are called to in a dark and hostile world?

First and foremost, by mastering the 3-R’s:
1. 13-14 / Redefining HARM: As Citizens of Christ’s Kingdom.
2. 15a / Realigning our UNDERSTANDING: How the universe works under Christ’s Lordship.
3. 15b-17 / Remembering our MISSION: As Christ’s Emissaries in the world.
Sermon Notes for 1 Peter – Part 13 / Finally

February 14th, 2016

1 Peter Part 13

“Finally, all of you”

1 Peter 2:13-3:12

AUDIO FOR THIS SERMON CAN BE FOUND HERE

3:8 – Finally, all of you

The United States is a nation built upon Rights.

From the advent of the Magna Carta in 1215 – Signed by King John in Great Britain, down to our own Declaration of Independence from British rule – personal and human rights have been at the center of how we think about ourselves in relationship to governments, institutions, businesses, and even in personal relationships.

Peter’s letter finds its way to its first audience with mixed realities regarding rights – especially those of the individual toward the then ruling power of Rome.

No doubt those Jewish Christians who were exiled from Rome in AD 49 when the Emperor Claudius expelled all the Jews – were Peter’s main audience.

Sometimes in these expulsions, the Emperor would create little colonies of the exiles, giving them at the same time some Roman “rights” and even in some cases full Roman Citizenship.

But as imposed foreign transplants – there due to religious persecution – the locals looked on them with suspicion and hostility on both fronts. Both the political imposition AND their unique religious identity as Believing Jews.

They were truly people without a country or a people, in place where they would be consistently harassed by their neighbors on several fronts. Elect Exiles as per 1:1

How were they to live? Peter writes to tell them.

It is no wonder then that one writer noted that in former Yugoslavia and Muslim Indonesia, 1 Peter is the most popular book among Christians.

And I believe it is an essential book for American Christians to ground themselves in as we see the tide of public and even government opinion edging us ever closer to a similar circumstance in this nation.

Peter’s first readers could no doubt, in some instances try to stand on their “rights.”

And that may be our first response as well.

But Peter is interested in teaching them about something much higher than their (or our) “rights” in society.

He wants them to begin to live above human rights, and to live instead in Divine Privilege.

And that, is a horse of such a completely different color, as to maybe not even be a horse at all!

As Scott McKnight writes: “Peter intends his readers to understand who they are before God so that they can be who they are in society.”^{^[1]}

As you might suspect by the word “FINALLY”, Peter is about to summarize his points thus far in this letter.

By addressing “all of you” – he is moving from the particular applications we’ve seen so far:

How the Believer relates to and interacts with hostile secular government and leaders –

How the Believer relates to and interacts with hostile secular masters or employers –

How the Believer relates to and interacts with a hostile unbelieving spouse –

How the Believer relates to and interacts with a believing spouse –

All in the context of being both God’s elect people – and citizens of Christ’s Kingdom, while also being exiles due to religious persecution as part of this fallen world and its institutions.

Suffering by Believers in this fallen world is to be expected, and not viewed as something irregular or inexplicable.

Peter is one with his Master Jesus in this: John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus told His disciples – and by extension, Believers in every age – that our peace is to be found in Him – in being reconciled to the Father by Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice.

And also, that having changed sides in the cosmic conflict, we will now suffer tribulation in this world.

But not to capitulate to the World – because He has overcome it – and is leading us to live as He did! Above the world and its so-called “rights”.

The summary statement Peter builds this next section on is found in vs. 9 “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”

This is the main concept he has been driving at thus far.

The world lives on rights. The Christian, as a citizen of the Kingdom, lives more on his or her divine privileges in Christ – than rights.

The idea here is: For the sake of manifesting Christ’s kingdom in this present age, do not stand on your rights, but take up the privilege of living as an agent of Christ right now, in the presence of this dark and fallen world.

So the instructions is NOT:

1. Just grit your teeth and bear it.

2. Just be the bigger person. Condescending.

3. It is – and this is ESSENTIAL – for the sake of manifesting the life of Christ right here and now, respond not only in a lack of retaliation or retort, but actually BLESS the other.

Do that which is making evident the Spirit of Christ right in the very midst of evil – whether they perceive it as such or not.

BECAUSE – you were called to suffer like this, and to respond like this, that you may also obtain the blessing that comes from God alone.

To act this way not for the sake of manipulation, but solely because this is what our Heavenly Father has called us to. THIS, is living in stupendous privilege.

To do it with Worldly Governments.

With Worldly employers.

If in such a circumstance, with an Unbelieving Spouse.

And in the home with a Believing spouse.

In the Church and everywhere else.

Wow!

Now, to respond in KIND to hostility of any sort, is NATURAL.

We have no better examples of this than in the famed antagonism between Winston Churchill & Lady Astor

At one gathering, Lady Astor, bugged (as she seemed to perpetually be) by Churchill remarked: “Winston, you are very drunk.”

To which he promptly retorted: “And you are very ugly, but in the morning, I will sober!”

At another gathering, Lady Astor was heard to say to Churchill: “If you were my husband, I should poison your coffee!”

To which he replied: “And if I were your husband, I would drink it!”

We laugh at those and even find a certain sense of satisfaction in the cleverness and the fittingness of those exchanges.

No one got hurt. And, as we just noted – it is NATURAL.

But then there are those who even when insulted, just let it bounce off and offer no reply.

And, to refrain from a negative response is NOBLE.

But Peter takes us to a much higher place yet – to actually seek to BLESS in response. THIS, is nothing less than supernatural.

And again – not in the abstract – just to be “good people” – but to seize upon the opportunity to display the life and Spirit of Christ smack dab in the middle of the darkness that produces the hostility.

To do it intentionally as Citizens and Agents of Christ’s Kingdom, in a foreign land.

But Peter is also a realist. He knows not all of us will get to this place very quickly, and even then, there will be lapses no doubt.

And so we have his opening instruction in this portion:

Vs. 8 – “Finally, all of you”

1. Have unity of mind. It would seem here the unity of mind to be had is that which has been given above.

We know this is NOT absolute UNIFORMITY of thought in every case:

See: Rom. 14 / Eating meats & Sabbath keeping. 1 Cor. 8 – Food offered to idols. Mode of baptism, wine or grape juice, etc. etc.

As Christians, all of us need to have the same concept of God’s order and response to sinful treatment, for the cause of Christ in the world.

Or, as vs. 9 summarizes the entire portion: Do not repay evil for evil; nor reviling for reviling; but instead – bless – for in such a mindset, is contained your own blessing. Even as Ps. 34 says. BE OF THIS MIND – ALL OF YOU.

This is the unity of mind he is appealing to here.

2. Sympathy. While seeking that unity of perspective, do not fail to sympathize with those suffering.

Don’t throw out platitudes in suffering like “it’s the Lord’s will, so just endure” – SYMPATHIZE! And especially when they are struggling to truly grasp this extraordinary way of living.

After all – this is how Christ deals with us in our trials: Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

3. Brotherly love. Cultivate a deeper and connected concern for those who cannot navigate these waters of duality as easily as others.

In a family, no one gets left behind – but there is labor to help.

4. A Tender heart. A. Toward failing Christians in this regard – Those who fail need our compassion, not our censure. There is a difference between weakness and rebellion. We do not shoot our wounded, but help them back to safety to be restored, and then strengthened to fight another day.

Toward the persecutors, who are so bound in their sin that they resist the very manifestation of the Spirit of God among them, and are lost and in desperate need of a Savior!

A Humble Mind. A. OK – so YOU get it. Be grateful you’ve been given grace for it, and do not then wave it as though a personal accomplishment before others. Recognize grace.

Humble toward those still bound in their sins. You have not accomplished salvation – it was a gift bestowed upon you. Be humble in your interactions with your tormentors. If not for the grace of God, you would be doing the very same thing if not worse.

And WHY again is this to be our approach?

Because this is our CALLING!

1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

It is a high and holy calling. To live above the rights of this world, by living in the privileges of the Kingdom of Christ.

Which, as we have noted all along – can be done only as we rely on the indwelling Spirit of Christ – to live the righteousness of Christ out through us.

As George MacDonald so eloquently prayed:

Haste to me, Lord, when this fool-heart of mine

Begins to gnaw itself with selfish craving;

Or, like a foul thing scarcely worth the saving,

Swoln up with wrath, desireth vengeance fine.

Haste, Lord, to help, when reason favours wrong;

Haste when thy soul, the high-born thing divine,

Is torn by passion’s raving, maniac throng.

^{^[1]} Jobes, Karen H. 2005. 1 Peter. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.