Sunday, March 5, 2016 - New Heights Christian Church, Kent, WA - Pastor Micah Adamson New Heights Christian Church, Kent, WA - Pastor Micah Adamson Title: 1 Peter 4: Peter's Success at Suffering Text: 1 Peter 4:1-19 1 Peter 4:1 (NIV84) 1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. Introduction: Last week we saw from Mark 14, that Peter knows what it s like to fail to suffer for Jesus and be given another chance. o Don t give up when you fall into sin and fail to suffer for Jesus! Go to Jesus for forgiveness! o Don t think too highly of yourself or compare yourself to others in your struggles with sin. o Don t deny what Jesus and the Bible say about the fact that Christians will struggle with sin and even fail. But, don t use this as an excuse to give up struggling against sin either! Whatever the consequences, we should be willing to acknowledge in public and in private that Jesus is the Christ (for all that being the Christ means) and that we belong to Him! 1 Peter 4 Outline: This week we are going to hear Peter s advice on how to successfully suffer for Jesus: o Suffer like Jesus: to fight sin (4:1-2) o Suffer abuse for saying no to sin instead of suffering God s judgment for sinning (4:3-7) o Suffer by serving and loving other Christians (4:8-11) o Suffer for calling ourselves by Christ s name not for committing crimes (4:12-16) o Suffer as members of God s family not as the ungodly (4:17-19) In the end, suffering is unavoidable, we only get some say about what we suffer for and when. 1 Peter Overview: Problem: Christians are facing temptations related to suffering for Jesus: o Persecution Tempted to fear man: in either revenge or despair. o Prosperity Tempted to go back: to the either the sin of Paganism or the legalism of Judaism. Solution: The salvation from God that we have in Jesus is really is gloriously good and worth giving up everything for! 1 Peter 5S Outline: 1 Peter is addressed to God s people in Jesus who don t fit into the world anymore. o What sets us apart from the world is: Faith/Theology: (1 st Half) o Introduction (1:1-2) Salvation (1:3 12) We re saved from God s wrath in Jesus. Sanctification (1:13 2:3) We re called to live differently in Jesus. Selection (2:4 12) We re God s chosen people in Jesus. Practice/Application: (2 nd Half) Submission (2:13 3:12) We re called to submit as Jesus did. Suffering (3:13 4:19) We re called to suffer as Jesus did. o Conclusion (5:1-14) 1 Peter 4 is in the practical application section of 1 Peter where Peter is encouraging us to be willing to suffer for Jesus. 1
1 Peter 4:1-2 (NIV84) 1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 1 Peter 4 is the continuation of Peter s argument in 1 Peter that we re called to suffer as Jesus did. o Jesus is the first person suffering in this section, but we suffer too. 1 Peter points out over and over that Jesus s death came before His exaltation. o But, Jesus suffering is related logically, not just chronologically, to His glorification. o Jesus death didn t just come first, it prepared Jesus for His resurrection and glorification. o As we learned on Day 3 of our study of Fifty Reasons Jesus Came to Die this week: Jesus learned obedience from what He suffered (Hebrews 5:8). Jesus didn t have to overcome His own sin, but each act of obedience to God the Father in a more difficult situation made Jesus more and more obedient, until He had resisted disobedience all the way to the point of shedding His blood (Hebrews 12:4). o Like Jesus, our suffering comes before heaven. And like Jesus, our suffering is designed to help us be done with sin, but it our struggle with sin won t be completely over until we died or Jesus returns (1 John 3:1-3). God had a different plan for Jesus suffering than Jesus enemies had for Jesus suffering. o Jesus suffered because evil men wanted to hurt Him. But, Jesus also suffered because God wanted to save us. o God has different purposes for the same suffering caused by sinful actions (Genesis 50:20). God has a purpose for suffering, even when suffering is caused by the sin of evil people. In one sense, Jesus suffering for sin on the cross is unique and unrepeatable. o Jesus definitively did away with sin by suffering and dying on the cross to save us (1 Pt. 3:18). But, in another sense, our suffering is like Jesus suffering helping us do away with sin (1 Pt. 4:1-2). o If you don t trust in Jesus to save you from sin, copying Him will not do you any eternal good. o Peter is NOT saying that Jesus worked really hard to fight sin and succeeded and if you work hard enough than you can become sinless too. o Peter is NOT teaching asceticism = exercise-ism (purposely suffering to be saved). o Peter is teaching that the essence of being done with sin is to be willing to suffer in order to do God s will like Jesus did (Matt. 6:10, Mark 14:36). Last week we saw Peter fail to suffer with Jesus, either by dying with Him or praying with Him. o Peter is telling us to be like Jesus instead of like Peter. 2
1 Peter 4:3-7 (NIV84) 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. This time the first group of people suffering are Christians. o Pagans/Gentiles heap abuse on Christians for not joining them in sin anymore. o Peter s audience includes former Pagans/Gentiles, who were not Jewish religiously or ethnically. o Experienced sinners who used to join right in, will now suffer for saying no to sin. o Notice that this suffering isn t even directly for being a Christian, but just for avoiding sin. o It sounds like even non-christians can get into trouble for living a godly life (2 Timothy 3:12). But, there is another group of whose suffering is mentioned here: those who persecute Christians. o Christians are being judged by men, but God is the ultimate judge. Men can only judge is in regard to the body. God is Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead since end of all things is near. God is also the one who makes us alive in the Spirit now and forever in Jesus. o Peter encourages us to care more about God s judgement than man s. Flood = Judgment of all the living (Genesis 6:17). Final judgment = Judgment of the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:3). Peter is still thinking about the story of Noah s Ark that he used as an example in 1 Peter 3. o In 1 Peter 3, Peter used the flood as an example of baptism, saying that the water saved Noah. In the flood, the world died to Noah and Noah died to the world. In Jesus, we have died to the world and the world has died to us. o In 1 Peter 4, Peter us using the flood as an example of God s judgement. Pagans think it strange that we won t go swimming with them off the back of Noah s ark. But, we know that sin is the cause of God s judgment that Jesus came to die for. Going headlong into sin should be as unthinkable for us as diving into the flood. o Example Sins = Noah s post-flood sins Drunken, Sexual Sins (Genesis 9:20-22) The sin Peter s audience was tempted to also included idolatry to pagan gods. Instead of giving in to drunken, out of control, idolatry; Peter tells us to maintain clear minded, self-controlled, prayerfulness. o Avoiding sin will lead to suffering, but it s worth it! The reward is a good relationship with God through Jesus now and forever! 3
1 Peter 4:8-11 (NIV84) 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. We don t just suffer for avoiding wrong; doing what s right requires a kind of suffering too. o You may not think of sacrificial love as suffering, but you should when others show it to you. Think about the word sacrifice for a minute. Do sacrifices suffer? Are you grateful? o This kind of suffering requires humility. This was another kind of suffering that Jesus successfully faced the night of His death, and Peter failed to do. In Mark 14, after the last supper, Peter said that he was better than anyone else. In Luke 22, immediately following the first communion the disciples started arguing about who was the greatest. In John 13, we find out that after the last supper Jesus told His disciples to love each other and set them an example of serving each other by washing their feet. Peter says that this kind of love, covers over a multitude of sins. o Does that mean that we can save others or ourselves by loving each other? No. o It means that forgiveness and overlooking offenses is a big part of love. Peter quotes the OT so often that it s safe to assume that Peter is probably thinking of the OT here. Proverbs 10:12 (NIV84) 12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. Proverbs 17:9 (NIV84) 9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. o Love doesn t parade other people s offenses before the world. Love is also gentle in how it confronts offenses with an offender. But, since Peter has reminded us continually of Noah s story in the last two chapters, I think it s also safe to assume that Peter is thinking of the end of Noah s story here too. o When Noah got drunk, uncovered himself, and something sketchy went on with his son Ham, Noah s other two sons, Shem and Japheth, covered Noah up (Genesis 9:23) *(See Leviticus 18 and 20 in the ESV, KJV, NKJV, or NASB, to see why uncovering or covering Noah implies more than is clearly stated in Genesis 9.) o There is a right way and a wrong way to cover sin. Wrong: Ruthless accountability groups don t last very long (R.C. Sproul). Meanwhile, churches that let the world define sin have a pact to let each other sin. Right: Love doesn t attack sinners or excuse sin. Love partners with sinners to help them fight sin as companion warriors (Dan Folden). This loving service of other Christians includes both practical serving and spiritual encouragement. o Grace = gift = Charis (Charismatic = Gifted) All Christians are Charismatic since all are gifted. o There are 3 other Spiritual gifts lists in the NT: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 2 o 1 Peter 4 keeps it simple dividing it in two: Serving gifts & Speaking gifts. o If you have a serving gift, use God s power; if you have a speaking gift, speak God s word. o Do both without complaining, but praising God. This kind of serving and loving is hard, but it leads to God being praised through Jesus. o Peter s doxology contains most of the long ending of the Lord s Prayer, which is also found in: 1 Chron. 29:11, Dan. 7:14, 1 Pet. 4:11, Jude 25, Rev. 1:6, 5:12-13, 7:12 4
1 Peter 4:12-16 (NIV84) 12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. Christians are suffering here merely for bearing the name of Christ. o This is the kind of persecution is what we often think of as the only kind of suffering. But, even this kind of suffering catches us off our guard. o Pagans thought it was strange that Christians wouldn t sin with them (1 Peter 4:4). o Now Christians think it s strange that they are suffering (1 Peter 4:12). o Peter says that it s normal for Christians to suffer since Christ suffered (John 15:18). There is another group of people suffering here again: criminals. o One reason that people suffer is the temporal consequences of their sin. o This is true of both Christians and non-christians alike. o Peter tells us to be careful not to suffer for sin, big or small. o The command not to suffer as a meddler sounds like Peter s comments on love covering evil. How bad is this suffering? o Commentators argue about how bad persecution was for Christians at this time. Persecution was bad enough that Peter died for his faith in Jesus by the end of his life. o For now, Peter calls it a painful trial that includes insults at the least. o Being called a Christian was probably meant as an insult since it only comes from outsiders the three times it s used in the NT (Acts 11:26, 26:28, 1 Peter 4:11). o The mention of trials in connection with suffering as a murderer or thief or criminal makes it sound like this kind of suffering includes the threat of legal action against Christians. o Peter telling Christians to offer hospitality to each other in the last section is an indication that suffering can lead to being homeless (1 Peter 4:9). Peter knows full well that the temptation from this kind of suffering is to be ashamed of Christ. But, we can rejoice when we suffer for Jesus because we are blessed with God s Spirit. o Peter is using Jesus strange definition of blessing from the Sermon on the Mount again (Mt. 5). o Our reward is a present and future relationship with God through Jesus by the Holy Spirit. o When we suffer for Jesus, we also suffer with Jesus and He suffers with us. Peter also reminds us again that suffering comes before glory for us just as it did for Jesus. 1 Peter 4:17-19 (NIV84) 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? [Proverbs 11:31] 19 So then, those who suffer according to God s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. There are two groups suffering in this section: God s family and sinners. o Peter says that both of these groups suffer according to God s will, so we need to trust God. This is a how much more argument: o If even the members of God s own family suffer. o How much more will the ungodly sinners suffer for rejecting the gospel. The Proverb is a warning for sinners, but Peter applies this backward since it s written to us. o We can trust God in our suffering for good, since He ll make everything right in the end. 5
Conclusion: Our suffering comes from saying no to sin, from serving others, and from the name of Christ. o But, this is better than suffering for sin either in the present or the future. God has chosen to use suffering caused by evil as the way to do away with sin, for Jesus and us. o Our suffering is in union with Christ who suffered and died to take our sins away. Our suffering is in fellowship with the Trinity, and our reward is a present and future relationship with God the Father, Son, and Spirit! o Our suffering is in the present, but like Jesus, our glory is yet to come! In preparation for the Lord s Supper, let s review the gospel and spend some time in prayer. The Nicene Creed <https://www.ccel.org/creeds/nicene.creed.html> 1. I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. 2. And [I believe] in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. 3. Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man. 4. And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried. 5. And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures. 6. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. 7. And He shall come again, with glory, to judge the [living] and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. 8. And I believe in the [Holy Spirit], the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. 9. And I believe one holy [universal] and apostolic Church. 10. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. 11. And I look for the resurrection of the dead. 12. And the life of the world to come. Amen. The Lord s Prayer Matthew 6:9b-13 (NIV84) 9 Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.] (NKJV, 1 Chron. 29:11, Dan. 7:14, 1 Pet. 4:11, Jude 25, Rev. 1:6, 5:12-13, 7:12) 6
Confession Lutheran Service Book (page 151) <http://lsb.cph.org/samples/lsb_sampler.pdf> Pastor: Let s silently confess our sins to God our Father in Jesus. (Silence for reflection on God's Word and for self-examination.) Pastor: Let s pray together. Congregation: Most merciful God, We confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen. Pastor: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for His sake God forgives us all our sins. To those who believe in Jesus Christ He gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit (John 1:12). May the Lord, who has begun this good work in us, bring it to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). Congregation: Amen. 7