Suffering and fear St John's 29/6/2014 @ 10 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Readings: Psalm 34; 1 Peter 3v8 to 4v2 1. Introduction You can tell the apostle Peter was a preacher because at chapter 3v8 he says Finally, when he s only halfway through! But that s alright, because if you d been one of those Christians back then, suffering just for being a follower of Jesus Christ, then you would have been grateful for all the help you could get. Don t stop, Peter! I need help to live so that my non-christian friends and family might become believers And to handle the persecution I m facing as a Christian? Of course, if you re a Christian today here in Woking, you really don t face persecution. I wonder if that s why so many of us don t come to the Word of God hungry for help and encouragement to keep going? I recently met a Pakistani vicar from Lahore. Wasseem s church has 10 armed body guards round it before, during and after every church gathering. And his friend, another vicar up the road, lost 200 of the 600 members of the church he serves, when two suicide bombers went in and set off bombs last autumn. The Archbishop of Canterbury visited there recently and found that their church membership has trebled! How come? I m not sure I know. But I do know that Wasseem travelled all the way here last May, just to attend a 3-day conference to help him teach the Bible better. I call that commitment to the Word of God, don t you? Page 1 of 11
So let s ask God to give us that same hunger now for his word. If taking notes helps you understand, remember and live it out, then there s space on the newsletter. Almost certainly, having it open will help you. Let s pray. 2. Am I really living as one of God s people? 3v8-12 How should you, if you re a Christian, relate to other Christians? How does God want you to live, and why? How can you really impact on non-christians you know? In other words, are you really living as one of God s people? Those are the kinds of questions Peter is wanting to help these Christians deal with. And they all link to the suffering many of them were facing. He s still dealing with the fallout from chapter 2v11: Here s what he wrote: Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world... See, he knew how alone you can feel as a Christian. And he knew how they were being attacked and all the things they were being accused of, often falsely. So, does he suggest keeping their heads down? Being a chameleon, and blending in with society? Not exactly! Peter continues:...abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. That others will notice and might come to honour the Lord too. It s rather more like this picture... Page 2 of 11
If you re struggling to get on top of some sinful behaviour or attitude, then here s a real motivater for you. God wants to hold up your life, your attitudes, you re responses, as the best local example of Jesus way of living. So that others might discover his transforming power for their lives too. Never forget that Peter was there at most of the key moments in Jesus ministry, and heard most of his teaching. Like the night before he died, when he told them the most convincing way for them to stand out as his followers. Do you remember Jesus words, because as sure as eggs are eggs Peter did? By this all... will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35 So chapter 3v8: Finally, all of you, [here s how Jesus wants you to live so that others might become his followers too...] live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Here s a plan! Why not write out that verse and put it somewhere obvious? I ve stuck it to my computer screen. And then ask God which you need to be working on this week? So that people will see the love between you and other Christians, and want to know about the Lord you follow? So, Christians, how are you making this church one of harmony, sympathy, love, compassion and humility? When was the last time a non-christian friend commented on St John s church like that? And what do you need to change to make it so next week? Page 3 of 11
And if you re not yet a committed Christian, have you seen those attitudes among St John s church family? And if not, would you do us Christians a favour? Would you, preferably gently, point out where we aren t living up to what we claim to believe? And where we don t live like the man we claim to follow? We d be very grateful... or at least, we will try to be! But Peter had also told them to abstain from sinful desires. So he tells them, v9: Do not repay evil with evil... Like taking a bite out of your opponent s neck, for example. or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. The word Peter uses for blessing means to speak well of! Crumpets! But Christian, that s what Jesus called you to when he offered you all the blessings Peter listed at the start of his letter. You didn t think being a Christian would be a doddle, did you? He did say Take up your cross and follow me! So when someone insults you, how should you respond? Well, how did Jesus respond? For example as he hung dying on the cross, and looked at the soldiers who had insulted and then executed him? He said Father, forgive them, for they don t know what they re doing. Luke 23:34 I d call that returning evil and insult with blessing, wouldn t you? That s turning the other cheek, isn t it? And that is so hard to do, isn t it? But pray at that very moment for strength to do as Jesus did. And see the effect it has! Page 4 of 11
A fairly new Christian here was asked what made them start to look into Christianity. It was how a Christian they knew handled a difficult person. Go on, Peter says, do as Jesus did and taught, and see if you don t stand out from the crowd! Peter then quotes from Psalm 34, which he s quoted before. It was written by king David when he d fled due to persecution and was a stranger in a very ungodly foreign land. See the link with the Christians Peter was writing to? V10 says to keep your tongue from all evil or deceitful speech. And do the same with how you act, in v11. Not just in turning from evil, but in actively seeking peace. Jesus was hot on dealing with upsets between Christians. Matthew 5v23: "if you re [at church] and there remember that your brother has something against you... First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 18v15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. As you sit there, do you have a problem with another Christian? You re holding something against them, or you know they re holding something against you? Whoever is in the right? Then v11 says you must seek peace and pursue it. Straight after the service, before you get a coffee. And why? Because v12: the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Nothing slips past Almighty God s notice. And I want him to be attentive to my prayers, don t you? Page 5 of 11
So let me summarise what Peter s been saying since chapter 2v11. If you re a Christian, then you re a foreigner living here. Your real and forever home is with God and his people, in the future, under the new heavens and on the new earth. So live like God s people should, which means like Jesus did. And yes, that might get you into trouble with the secular authorities, or at work, or in your family. But live God s way, and who knows what he might do with you, as he calls people into his family? 3. Do I really have confidence in Christ s victory? 3v13-4v2 But what about when persecution gets really tough? How should Christians give account for their beliefs? What assurance is there that evil won t always win? In other words, do you and I really have confidence in Christ s victory on the cross? Magnets are weird things. The same lump of metal can attract and repel equally. Like godly Christian lifestyle and witness can. Some people will be attracted to Jesus, whilst others will react negatively, sometimes with anger and revulsion. Like those two suicide bombers in Lahore. v13: Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But Peter knows that s sometimes exactly what happens. It happened to him, early on, when he and John got jailed for healing a cripple, and telling people about Jesus. v14: But even if you should suffer for what s right, you re blessed. Oh really? Yes, Peter would reply to you, I was there when Jesus said: Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven... Matthew 5v11f. Page 6 of 11
Peter now quotes a second time from Isaiah 8, there in v14: Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. When you get into all sorts of trouble just for being a Christian, Peter says, don t be frightened. Why not? Well, if you read around this quote by flipping back to Isaiah, you will see that they were people who had no time for God. They were facing invasion, and they were terrified. But God goes on to say to Isaiah The LORD Almighty is the one you are to... fear..., and he will be a sanctuary... Don t fear what non-believers fear, suffering or troubles that might come your way. No, fear God and he will be your sanctuary in your suffering. Peter puts it in his own words at v15: Don t fear suffering, But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Get your heads straight that Christ is your Lord, whom you follow and obey. Remember how Peter had been arrested for saying Jesus is Lord? Well, by the time he s writing this letter, you had to say Caesar is Lord. A bit like two South Africans in our evening congregation had to do recently when they were given UK citizenship. But they didn t have to say David Cameron is my Lord and I will obey him above all others! For Christians in those early days, they said Jesus, not Caesar, is Lord, the earliest form of Christian creed. And for that, huge numbers got arrested, interrogated about their beliefs, and executed. Page 7 of 11
So, those words in the second half of v15 weren t about a harmless chat over coffee, by the water cooler in the office, at the Sainsbury s checkout. Though of course they do apply if people ask about your faith. No, they re about being arrested, thrown into a dungeon, and then dragged before the judge to defend your beliefs. Now let me read v15: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. These Christians lived every day with the real possibility of arrest for having a Christian hope. The kind of hope that Peter has already written of four times. Like chapter 1v13: Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. How should you as a Christian prepare your mind for action? By always being prepared to give an answer - to make a defence - for that hope you have as a Christian. On the 16th October 1555 in Oxford, two bishops, Nicolas Ridley and Hugh Latimer were burned at the stake for saying Jesus is Lord. As the fires around them were lit, Latimer said to Ridley, Be of good comfort, and play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out. Page 8 of 11
Those words in v15 were written for countless Christians down the centuries, including Latimer and Ridley and the 200 in Lahore last autumn. And for you, if you re a Christian. Why? v18: For [because] Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous [that s Jesus, who never sinned] for the unrighteous, [that s you and me] to bring you to God. Back at chapter 1v3: to give us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you... And so he reminds them of the historical events that mean that they and you and I can face whatever comes our way. v18b: Jesus was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, or it could mean in the spiritual realm. It is Jesus death and resurrection that gives the Christian hope, transforms every part of a Christian s life and makes it possible to handle even unjust persecution. But not just his death and resurrection, but also where he is now. v22: he has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand - with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. I d like to be able to stop there, but I know I have to say a few words about Jesus preaching to these spirits from v18b: He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. Page 9 of 11
Martin Luther, no less, said he didn t understand these words. They are almost certainly the most difficult words to understand in the whole New Testament. There are three possible interpretations. Let me deal with the one that is definitely wrong first. That is that after he had died, and before he rose back to life, Jesus preached the gospel to all the people who had died as non-christians, so that they had another chance. That s definitely wrong! How can I be so sure? Two reasons. Firstly, because the word used for preached in v19 is different to the word for preaching the good news. It means announce the king s arrival or his victory in battle. Whatever Jesus was doing, he wasn t calling on people to repent and believe the good news. And secondly, it s definitely wrong because Scripture says there s no second chance after death. Hebrews 9v27 says man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. And Jesus says it s wrong in his parable of the rich man and Lazarus. They both die, Lazarus goes straight to be with Abraham and the rich man straight to hell, and can t transfer over. That leaves two possibilities for what Peter is saying, both of which fit the context of Peter s letter and the rest of Scripture. Page 10 of 11
It could mean that the Spirit of Christ was preaching through Noah at the time of the flood, calling on people to repent and turn back to God. Or it could mean that as Jesus ascended back to Heaven, he announced his victory over Satan and sin at the cross. Either to those who had died as non-believers. Or to fallen angels, who had rebelled against God. But no worries, because either way, nothing changes. Jesus has won the greatest victory ever, over every enemy. So he is now in heaven and is at God's right hand - with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. 4. Conclusion Let me conclude. Should Christians expect they will always be welcomed? No, and for some the attacks will be terrible. How should Christians respond when called to account? By giving a well-prepared answer for what they believe and why. What assurance is there that evil won t always win? Jesus historically-attested resurrection from the dead. Which means he is reigning in Heaven and every one of his enemies either has been, or one day will be, defeated. So, do you have confidence in Christ s victory on the cross? Let us close by saying the first two verses of chapter 4, but put into the first person so we make them our own, on the screen if you d like to join me in saying them. Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, I will arm myself also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, I will not live the rest of my earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 5. Prayer (do business) Page 11 of 11