Warning! Warning! Warning!
2 Peter 2:1-22
Remember & Pay Attention
2 Peter 2:1-22
Main Idea: Do not be led astray by those who falsely say there is another way!
“It now becomes evident why the readers needed to be reminded about the importance of a godly life and why they needed to maintain the truth of Jesus’ future coming. False teachers had arisen within the church who denied the former and questioned the latter. If there is no future coming of the Lord, the foundation for ethics vanishes, and the way is opened for a dissolute lifestyle. The words in chapter 1 do not represent an abstract thesis on Christian growth. Peter urgently responded to a threat to the churches, to false teaching that was inevitably accompanied by an evil lifestyle.” ~ Thomas Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude
I. Recognize their Pattern (2:1-3)
Deuteronomy 13:1-5: “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
II. Remember God’s Judgment (2:4-10a)
III. Remember God’s Judgment (2:4-10a)
“The words of 1 John apply well to what has happened in 2 Peter: “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us” (1 John 2:19). Peter pointed in the same direction in the illustration of the dog and pig. In the final analysis, those who fell away never really changed their nature. They remained dogs and pigs inside. They may have washed up on the outside and appeared to be different, but fundamentally they were dogs and pigs. In other words, they were always unclean; they only seemed to have changed. Perseverance, therefore, is the test of authenticity.”
~ Thomas Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude
Remember & Pay Attention
2 Peter 1:12-21
Remember & Pay Attention
2 Peter 1:12-21
Main Idea: We must remember God’s grace and pay attention to God’s Word until Christ’s promised return.
I. Remembering God’s Grace (1:12-15)
Since God has “granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (1:3), Peter writes to “remind” us of these qualities that are ours in Christ. Though we “know them and are established in the truth,” we are prone to forget (cf. 1:9; Deut. 5:15; 16:3; 1 Cor. 15:1; 2 Tim. 2:8)
Peter’s urgency in this reminder is connected to his impending death (1:13-14; cf. Jn. 21:18-19). Finishing our race well and “confirming our calling and election” (1:10) means we must return and hold fast to the things we have already learned (cf. 2:20). Peter’s reminders are to ‘stir us up’ from any slumbers of indifference or tendencies to drift.
“The business of the church and of preaching is not to present us with new and interesting ideas, it is rather to go on reminding us of certain fundamental and eternal truths… the primary business of the Christian church and of her message and her preaching is not to indulge in vague general statements. It is to repeat the centralities of the Christian Gospel, to remind men and women of the truth of God as it is in Christ Jesus. The world is more liable to forget this than anything else. The world is interested in the general situation, politics, economics, social conditions, the possibilities of another war, and other similar things. The world, therefore, rather delights in these vague general statements that never lead to anything. But the business of the Christian church is constantly to remind men and women of certain things which they constantly tend to forget.”
~ Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Expository Sermons on 2 Peter
II. Standing Firm in the Grace of God (5:5b-14)
False teachers were claiming that Peter was devising or following “myths” regarding the “power and (second) coming” of Christ (cf. 3:3-4). False teaching about the return of Christ was a persistent issue in the early church (cf. 2 Tim. 2:18), and these false teachers denied Christ’s promised return in glory to “judge the living and the dead.”
To combat this false teaching, Peter refers back to the transfiguration of Christ (cf. Mk. 9:2-13). He draws attention to this moment for at least three reasons:
The transfiguration prefigures and anticipates the promised, glorious return of Christ (cf. Mk. 8:38)
Peter, James, and John were “eyewitnesses of his [Jesus’] majesty,” not receiving information second-hand
The transfiguration is the fulfillment of multiple OT Scriptures (cf. Deut. 18:15; Ps. 2:7, Isa. 42:1); it is “the Bible on display”
Peter is indicating to the recipients of this letter that we can listen to him because he has listened to Jesus: “this is my beloved Son; listen to him.” (Mk. 9:7)
III. Paying Attention to God’s Word (1:19-21)
We have the “prophetic word more fully confirmed” because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. Since he is the fulfillment and the center of all Scripture (cf. John 5:39; Lk. 24:44; 1 Pet. 1:11), we “do well to pay attention” to the Word of God.
Peter gives two pictures for the role of the Word of God in our lives:
A lamp shining in a dark place (cf. Ps. 119:105)
The morning star rising in our hearts, when the day dawns (cf. Num. 24:17; Rev. 22:16)
Until that glorious day arrives, Peter reminds us that “no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation,” meaning that the Word of God cannot be interpreted however we desire. This is the activity and impulse of the false teachers Peter is combatting (cf. Jer. 14:14).
“Today, Western culture is dominated by expressive individualism, the idea that we are defined by our inner feelings, that our relationships with others place no natural or necessary obligations upon us, and that we can pick and choose them as they serve our emotional needs. This idea plays into the general cultural assertion of individual autonomy and rejection of external authority — or at least of traditional external authority — that requires some sacrifice of ourselves for others. Whether it is a child rebelling against the parent or the individual rebelling against the sex of his or her own body, today autonomy and personal desire are king; and these press against anything from outside that tells us who we are, what we should believe, or how we should live.”
~ Carl Trueman, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self
Instead, the Scriptures have come about because “men spoke from God, as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (1:21). We must pay attention to the Scriptures because they are the very words of God for the people of God to remember until the day Christ returns.
“The reason we may not fill the words of Scripture with our ideas is that God intends that they carry his ideas. The meaning of Scripture is not like putty that we can mold according to our desires. It is the work of the Holy Spirit and carries a solid, firm, divine intention. The glorious truth of this verse is that in Scripture God has spoken, and not merely man, and therefore our aim must be to hear God’s meaning, not merely our own.”
~ John Piper, “Men Moved by the Holy Spirit Spoke From God”
2 Corinthians 4:4–6: “… the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Forward, in Faith!
2 Peter 1:1-11
Forward, in Faith!
2 peter 1:1-11
Main Idea: Genuine faith in Christ unites, conforms, and compels us to glorify Him in all areas of our lives.
I. Know Your Faith (1:1-4)
2 Peter 1:1-2: Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV): "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
2 Peter 1:3-4: His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
“What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we set ourselves in life? To know God. What is the eternal life that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God. “This is life eternal, that they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight, and contentment than anything else? Knowledge of God. “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me” (Jeremiah 9:23). What, of all the states God ever sees man in, gives him most pleasure? Knowledge of himself. “I desire … the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings,” says God (Hosea 6:6).… Once you have become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life’s problems fall into place of their own accord.”
~ J.I. Packer, Knowing God
II. Supplement Your Faith (1:5-9).
2 Peter 1:5-7: For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
1 John 4:7-8: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
2 Peter 1:8-9: For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
“Peter basically says that the believer’s re-creation into the image of Christ comes about by way of active participation in the pursuit of knowing him more and more. Many believers limit their knowledge of God to their conversion. “I came to know Christ” or “I believed in Christ” are frequent confessions, as if knowing him was a one-time deal tied to conversion. But knowing God, Peter says, is a lifetime pursuit. And it’s the avenue through which God’s children access all the powerful resources he’s provided to make them look more like Jesus.”
~ James Shaddix and Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 2 Peter, Jude
III. Confirm Your Faith (1:10-11)
2 Peter 1:10-11: Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Confirming is different than earning in several ways. In this sense, Peter urges us that no one has been saved by simply a profession of faith. You must possess it as well as profess it. This faith is graciously given from God alone and unites us to him. It never lulls us to sleep but compels us toward Christ and His kingdom.
Luke 22:31-32: Simon, Simon behold Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail, and when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
“With his own death imminent, Peter is set to strengthen those of us who follow in his train centuries later. It is as if by this letter, he lives today and can still be found preaching on how to move from falling to finishing well. Second Peter is his road map to Heaven. It confirms that we can also possess a faith that will not fail. On that fateful night long ago, Jesus told Peter that he had been praying for him—especially that his faith would not fail. That same Jesus stands today at the right hand of God interceding in like manner for you and for me.”
~ David Helm, 1 & 2 Peter and Jude
Shepherds, Sheep, & Standing Firm
1 Peter 5:1-14
Shepherds, Sheep, & Standing Firm
1 peter 5:1-14
“The vocation of pastor has been replaced [in North American culture] by the strategies of religious entrepreneurs with business plans… I wonder if at the root of the defection is a cultural assumption that leaders are people who “get things done,” and “make things happen.” That is certainly true of the primary leadership models that seep into our awareness from the culture—politicians, businessmen, advertisers, publicists, celebrities and athletes. But while being a pastor certainly has some of those components, the pervasive element in our 2,000-year pastoral tradition is not someone who “gets things done” but rather the person placed in the community to pay attention and call attention to “what is going on right now” between men and women, with one another and with God—this kingdom of God that is primarily local, relentlessly personal, and prayerful “without ceasing.”
~ Eugene Peterson, The Pastor: A Memoir
Main Idea: Elders shepherd the church toward humility and endurance so we might stand firm in grace.
I. Shepherding the Flock of God (5:1-5a)
Peter discusses four aspects of pastoral ministry:
1. The Task of Elders (5:2): “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight”
Shepherding the flock involves knowing, feeding, leading, and protecting the church “among” them (cf. John 21:15-17).
Acts 20:28: Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
2. The Calling of Elders (5:3): “... not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly” (cf. Titus 1:11; 1 Tim. 6:5)
3. The Manner of Elders (5:3): “... not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”
2 Corinthians 1:24: Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.
4. The Goal of Elders (5:4): “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (cf. 2:25)
John 10:11–14: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me”
In response to Godly leadership from elders over the flock, the congregation should “be subject to the elders” in humility (5:5).
Hebrews 13:17: Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
II. Standing Firm in the Grace of God (5:5b-14)
Peter urges the church to “stand firm in the grace of God” (5:12), evidenced by two pursuits:
1. Humility (5:5b-7)
All in the church ought to “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.” This humble posture toward each other is rooted in Christ (Phil. 2:3-5) and prepares us to receive grace from the “mighty hand of God.” A prideful, envious, and competitive spirit is fundamentally “anti-grace.”
Practically, Peter urges us to “cast all our anxieties on God” as an expression of humility (cf. 4:19).
“Worry is a form of pride because when believers are filled with anxiety, they are convinced that they must solve all the problems in their lives in their own strength. The only god they trust in is themselves. When believers throw their worries upon God, they express their trust in his mighty hand, acknowledging that he is Lord and Sovereign over all of life.”
~ Tom Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude
2. Endurance (5:8-14)
For the first time in his letter, Peter identifies Satan - our “adversary” and ancient foe - who “prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Though Satan is a defeated foe (because of the finished work of Christ), he nevertheless rages on against the Lord and his people “because his time is short” (cf. Rev. 12:12).
We “resist” Satan (cf. Jas. 4:7) by applying what Peter has been consistently exhorting throughout his letter:
Living with sober-mindedness and watchfulness (5:8a)
Standing firm in our faith (5:9a)
Expecting suffering (5:9b)
Looking forward to our glorious future (5:10)
In all of these exhortations, Peter reminds these “elect exiles” that they are not alone, but have been given the gift of one another in the community of faith. Those who have been saved by Jesus are to “stand firm” together in the grace of God in solidarity and strength alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Expect, Embrace, Entrust
1 Peter 4:12-19
Expect, Embrace, Entrust
1 peter 4:12-19
Main Idea: We rejoice when we suffer as Christians by entrusting our souls to God while doing good.
I. Expect the Fire (4:12-14)
1 Peter 4:12-19: 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.
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.”
1 Peter 4:13: But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
James 1:2-4: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Acts 5:41: Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
1 Peter 4:14: If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
Isaiah 11:2: And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
II. Embrace the Cross (4:15-18)
1 Peter 4:15: But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
1 Peter 4:16: Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
If you suffer for the name of Christ, bearing that name, you glorify God.
1 Peter 4:17-18: For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And
“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
The fire that purifies the Church will consume everyone outside the Church.
“It is God’s nature to make something out of nothing. Hence one who is not yet nothing, out of him God cannot make anything.”
~ Martin Luther
The best is yet to come for those in Christ, but for all those who are not in Christ, the worst is yet to come.
III. Entrust the Future (4:19)
1 Peter 4:19: Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
God is your Creator — He is sovereign over everything.
And He is faithful — He never fails His people.
Psalm 31:5: Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God
Acts 7:59: And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
Luke 23:46: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!”
Heidelberg Catechism Q & A
Q: What is your only comfort in life and in death?
A: That I am not my own, but belong— body and soul, in life and in death— to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.
When the Going Gets Tough
1 Peter 4:12-19
When the Going Gets Tough
1 peter 4:12-19
Main Idea: God’s sons and daughters refuse to let suffering stop them from “blessing” and “doing good.”
I. By Resisting the Lies Suffering Stirs Up in Us (4:12, 16)
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… Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
Two lies are embedded in the two prohibitions Peter makes in this passage:
Suffering tends to “surprise” us, stirring us to think “This should not be happening to me!”
Suffering tends to provoke us to be “ashamed” thinking “I must be a failure that this is happening to me.”
II. By Resting in the Truth Suffering Opens Up to Us (4:13-15)
1 Peter 4:13-16: But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name
a. Rejoice, because you belong to Jesus
On the surface, suffering and rejoicing seem opposed to one another. But that is only if you put the accent on the suffering and fail to rest in what is behind it. Peter is talking about the kind of suffering that befalls us because we belong to Jesus. And that is the truth in which we “greatly rejoice” that we belong to Jesus! (cf. 1 Peter 1:3-6)
b. Glorify God in that name
We have been called to bless earth, like salt does, by retaining our “saltiness,” which is the holy, noble lives Peter has described all through this letter.
We have been tasked with lighting up the world, like cities on hills and lamps on lamp stands. We do this through ”good works” that direct everyone’s attention to “our Father who is in heaven.”
II. By Remembering the Outcome Suffering Points Us To (4:17-18)
1 Peter 4:17-18: “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
a. Saints are being “refined” for the glory that awaits them
The fiery trials that come upon us to ”test” us are not permitted with the intent of destroying us, but “so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1:7)
The “judgment” that God allows to fall upon the “elect exiles” distinguishes the false from the true, the fake from the real, the wheat from the weeds.
b. Sides are being drawn before the end of the world
Peter contends that those who “malign” the saints “will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” (4:5) As Peter puts it rhetorically here, “If the righteous is scarcely saved - as evidenced by the ordeals inflicted upon them and currently allowed by Heaven’s just Judge - “what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” In other words, if the glory that awaits the saint is so surpassingly magnificent as to defy words, the wrath that awaits those who “disobey the gospel” shall be distressingly severe.
Conclusion: What are we to do with this exhortation?
If you are a saint, a Christian, an elect exile subject to the fiery trials and insults that are a part of this current season: “Let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” (1 Peter 4:19)
If you are among “those who do not (yet) obey the gospel of God,” one of the “ungodly and sinners” maligning Christians and Christianity, facing a guilty verdict at the Judgment, repent!
Living in Light of the End
1 Peter 4:1-11
Living in Light of the End
1 peter 4:1-11
Main Idea: We prepare for the end by thinking and living rightly together, for the glory of God.
I. End-Time Thinking (4:1-6)
As we behold the suffering of Christ for us (cf. 3:18), we are instructed to ‘arm ourselves with the same way of thinking’ (4:1). Peter is calling us to prepare to expect suffering in this life, as we follow our Savior who was a ‘man of sorrows’ (Isa. 53:3).
Philippians 1:29: For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake
Those who “arm” themselves with this thinking have made a decisive break from sin; sin has ‘ceased’ to have dominion over them in this life. Embracing this life of suffering has two different applications:
Pressure Within: We are to “live no longer for human passions but for the will of God” (4:2). These passions that we are to “put to death” (Col. 3:5) and “put off” (Eph. 4:22) include sensuality / sexual immorality, cravings, drunkenness, and lawless idolatry.
Pressure Without: as Christians live holy lives as “sojourners and exiles” (2:11-12), it will provoke both surprise and maligning from the world.
Though we will face temptations to sin and the scorn of the world, we must remember whose opinion and approval ultimately matters: “Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” We should not cave in to these pressures because they are short-lived; even when we die, for those who believe the gospel, we will “live in the spirit the way God does” in new resurrection life beyond the grave.
II. End-Time Living (4:7-11)
Peter reminds us that “the end of all things is at hand.” The consistent witness of the NT is that we are living in the “last days” (Acts 2:17, 2 Tim. 3:1, Heb. 1:1-2; 1 Pet. 1:20) because of the finished work of Christ. The final act of redemptive history (the return of Christ) could happen at any time.
Being reminded of the “end of all things” should not produce outlandish fanaticism but instead ordinary faithfulness as we prepare for this day. Thoughts of the end ignite us to be “self-controlled” and “sober-minded” for the sake of our prayers (cf. Mt. 24:42-44; 26:40-41).
Our “clear-headedness” is intended to be played out practically together in the household of faith. Peter emphasizes three components of this:
1. Love one another
Our love for one another in the household of faith should be ‘earnest’ (cf. Lk. 22:44), and not half-hearted or begrudging. It should be an expression of Christ’s love for us, since love “covers a multitude of sins” (cf. Prov. 10:12; Jas. 5:19-20).
2. Welcome one another
Biblical hospitality is less about “entertaining” and far more about opening our heart, lives, and homes to others. This is hard and sacrificial work, which is why Peter urges us to do this “without grumbling.”
Romans 15:7: Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
“Whatever darkness inside of you troubles your heart, whatever capacities for wickedness and stupidity lurk within, whatever still haunts you from your past, however fearful you are that you will never change, know this: your sin does not intimidate Jesus. What is right in him far outweighs what is wrong in you. There is more grace in him than guilt in you. He is better at saving than you are at sinning. It is at the point where all of us feel the most disgusted with ourselves, the most hopeless, and the most worthy of judgment that we find Jesus most tender and gracious toward us… This is Christ’s welcome. He moves toward the needy, the outcast, the messed-up, and the sinful. He doesn’t recoil in disgust. He doesn’t keep his distance. He makes the first move, he approaches, he reaches out, he heals and restores. This is what it means for Christ to welcome us. This is what we’re to offer to one another.”
~ Ray Ortlund & Sam Allberry, You’re Not Crazy: Gospel Sanity for Weary Churches
3. Serve one another
In Christ, the Spirit has given “each a gift” that we are to “steward.” In God’s gracious wisdom, we have not received mere talents or abilities but “gifts” that are to be offered back to the Lord in worship and to his people in love. Whether ‘speaking’ or ‘serving’ they are all to be done by word and strength that God supplies, so that he might receive glory and honor.
Christ's Victory
1 Peter 3:18-22
Christ’s Victory
1 peter 3:18-22
Main Idea: Christ has accomplished complete and total victory, powerfully pictured in baptism.
I. The Victory of Christ (3:18-19, 21-22)
Christ’s victory that accomplished our salvation is told in 4 chapters:
1. Death (3:18a): “Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God..”
Peter reminds us here of the “great exchange” that lies at the heart of the gospel; unlike the OT sacrificial system that required repeated sacrifices, Jesus suffered once for sins on the cross (Heb. 10:11-14), as the perfect “lamb of God” (Jn. 1:29; 1 Pet. 1:19) to bring us to God.
2 Corinthians 5:21: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2. Descent (3:18b-19): “... being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison”
The “spirits in prison” are likely fallen angels (cf. 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6; Gen. 6), being held in the “place of the dead” where evil spirits reside (‘Tartarus’). Christ went either between his death and resurrection (on “Holy Saturday”) or after his resurrection from the dead to declare his victory over evil, sin, and death (cf. Col. 2:15).
Revelation 1:17-18: “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”
3. Resurrection (3:21): “... through the resurrection of Jesus Christ..”
4. Ascension (3:22): “... who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.”
While Peter has been talking about “subjection” throughout his letter (2:13, 18; 3:1), the tables are now turned: because of Christ’s finished work, all things have been subjected to him (cf. Phil. 2:9-11).
“Jesus is Lord of all… all kings and princes upon earth, all leaders of thought, and all controllers of human movements, are subject unto him. Do not be afraid of this or that form of anarchy; nothing can shake the eternal throne of the Prince of Peace. Monarchs may die and crumble back to dust, and their empires with them; but the throne of the Son of David shall endure for ever and ever. No acts of senators, nor decrees of despots, nor ragings of the multitude, nor foamings of rebels, nor deliverances of sages, can interfere in the least degree with the supreme power of Jesus of Nazareth. Be cheered by his reign… for the Lord has given Jesus the kingdom, and he shall reign forever and ever.”
~ Charles Spurgeon, “Our Ascended Lord”
II. The Waters of Baptism (3:20-21)
Peter draws a connection between the situation of the early church with the righteous in the days of Noah:
Noah and his family were a minority of the faithful surrounded by hostility and unbelief
Noah witnessed to the world around him through his faith in building the ark
Noah knew that judgment was soon to come upon the world, and that there was a way of escape and salvation
Noah lived in a time where God waited “patiently” for repentance before bringing his righteous judgment (cf. 2 Pet. 3:8-10)
This passage tells us three things about the nature of baptism:
1. Baptism pictures our union with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection (Gal. 2:20; Col. 2:12)
Romans 6:3–5: Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
2. Baptism symbolizes our rescue from God’s judgment
“The waters of baptism, like the waters of the flood, demonstrate that destruction is at hand, but believers are rescued from these waters in that they are baptized with Christ, who has also emerged from the waters of death through his resurrection. Just as Noah was delivered through the stormy waters of the flood, believers have been saved through the stormy waters of baptism by virtue of Christ’s triumph over death.”
~ Tom Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude
3. Baptism represents our cleansing from sin: “not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience.”
The Blessed People who Bless People
1 Peter 3:8-17
The Blessed People who Bless People
1 peter 3:8-17
Main Idea: The grace of God is revealed to a watching world through our love, our lips, and our longing.
I. Our Love (3:8)
“Modern Western concepts of individualism tend to trump commitment to community. Where commitment is found, it is often evaluated in terms of individual needs. An individual whose needs are no longer met by a community terminates the “commitment” and seeks a new and more obliging group. Such thinking runs counter to the qualities of 3:8. Like-mindedness implies a willingness to conform one’s goals, needs, and expectations to the purposes of the larger community.”
~ Karen Jobes
II. Our Lips (3:9-12)
“By the 1980s ... a large majority had begun to think that what was worthwhile in life had nothing to do with its normal routines such as getting up each day and going to work. Nor with the traditional responsibilities of marriage and the raising of children. Rather, life is about its more exotic moments. It is not about what happens on Monday through Friday, but what happens on the weekends. Its real meaning, and its real rewards, are found when the self, unencumbered by routine and responsibility, can be found, nurtured, and satisfied.”
~ David Wells, The Courage to be Protestant
III. Our Longing (3:13-17)
“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”
- Charles Spurgeon
Wartime Witness
1 Peter 3:8-17
Wartime Witness
1 peter 3:8-17
Psalm 137:4: How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?
Main Idea: Christ calls us to love each other, bless our enemies, and glorify the Father by the power of the Spirit.
I. Brotherly Love (3:8)
1 Peter 3:8: Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
Be harmonious (unity of mind)
Be compassionate (sympathy)
Be loving (brotherly love)
Be tender hearted
Be humble-minded
1 Corinthians 13:4–7: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
II. Bewildering Blessing (3:9-12)
1 Peter 3:9-12: 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. For “Whoever desires to love life
and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Romans 12:17–18: Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Mark 8:34–35:“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
III. Beautiful Witness (3:13-17)
1 Peter 3:13–17: Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 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, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
Romans 8:31: If God is for us, who can be against us?
Matthew 5:11–12: “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Genesis 50:19–20: But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 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.