A Life of Submission Pt. 2

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 53:3-6

*** Please turn to 1 Peter 2:18

***Please fill out a card on the entry table, or send me a message/text, whatever if you are able to attend the volunteer brunch. Please come, and please let us know so we know how much food to make.

Recap:

Enduring suffering w/ living hope

Far from home/ exiles on earth.

Last week: Submission Pt. 1 - governing authorities/human institutions

Heading of: Keeping conduct among nonbelievers honorable

Read text & pray!

Introduction:

How treated/ shouldn’t change Christian response.

love enemies

submit to imperfect governing authorities

honor/respect everyone (image bearers)

(today) submit to unjust masters

DILEMMA: LIFE NOT FAIR.

Poorly treated - boss, coworker, classmate, friend, family member....or just how life is.

NEED:

WE ALL FACE these PROBLEMS...HOW do we HANDLE UNFAIR TREATMENT? unfair life?

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Text:

Thought 1:The Command to Servants (v18) Peter commands servants to submit to both good and bad masters alike.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.

Servants/Household Slaves

Tom Schreiner - 1st century Church NOT SOCIAL REVOLUTIONARIES overhauling culture…concerned w/ mankind before God.....

SLAVERY NEVER CONDONED in Scripture, NOT LINKED to CREATED order.

Historical Background:

Slavery not based on race

Slaves w/ good masters = good live, better than poor & free, educated, doctors, etc.

Slaves w/ bad masters = bad life, abuse etc.

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(Q) How do you live as a Christian-slave? - obedience, excellence.

Lastly - Peter’s focus on eternity, enduring suffering…fits this well.

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Last week - How BELIEVERS LIVE around NONBELIEVERS—oversees this text today....let good works silence opposition.

No slaves here? still relevant/helpful.

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(V18)

Slaves to subject/submit/order under masters (ongoing)

In respect/ “reverent fear” (NIV)

FEAR of GOD - give account for works…consistent THEME in Peter’s letter.

***Shouldn’t fear judgment, but still applies. To everyone

Slaves, submit- both just & unjust masters!

(T) This is a tough command, but let’s see how Peter backs this up. (v19)

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Thought 2: Enduring Unjust Suffering (v19-20) The servant endures unjust treatment because this is a gracious thing in God’s sight.

19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

Grace in God’s sight- reward/honor.

God-consciousness allows us to make it through unjust suffering....Revenge belongs to God!

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They “endured” sorrows, which literally means, “to maintain a belief or course of action in the face of opposition” (BDAG)…maintaining course of obedience to Christ & Master

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What sets Christian slaves apart? Enduring unjust treatment. No credit if punishment is due.

(T) This seems so tough, but there’s something greater lurking beneath the surface.

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Thought 3: Following in Christ’s Steps (v21) Those who suffer unjustly do so following Christ’s example who suffered for them.

21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Called into God’s kingdom

Called to fellowship w/ Son

Called out from world.

Called to suffer.

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Theology of Suffering- very applicable!

Tom Schreiner- “Suffering, in other words, is not a detour by which believers receive the inheritance to which they were called. It is God’s appointed means for receiving the inheritance.”

Called to suffer because Christ suffered for us!

Christ’s example - “model/pattern” tracing alphabet!

Suffering is in one sense, the a,b,c’s of Christian faith.

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Example so that we would follow his steps.

Kid’s going up snowy hill, beach, following parents footprints.

Whole Christian life right there!

Never fully attain to Christlikeness…but CHRISTIAN’S MISSION is to be CONFORMING to Christ’s image/example.

Inasmuch as we can by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit within us, we trace the letters he has written for us, and we walk in his steps. And this includes suffering.

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(T) Now let’s look at verse 22 and see how Peter specifically details Christ’s example.

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Thought 3: Christ’s Example of Suffering (v22-23) Christ’s example was that although he committed no sin, he suffered, and he did not respond in kind, but entrusted himself to the Father.

22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Life is UNFAIR? THINK of JESUS!

(v22) HE COMMITTED NO SIN! Sets him apart from all other mankind! Never deserved anything bad!

Yet, suffered more than us who are imperfect...

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(v23)

When reviled, beaten, made fun of, mocked, he didn’t retaliate!!

Our nature is to retaliate… George in soccer.

(Q) Do you remember what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane?

***Jesus submitted himself....Peter (author of today’s text) cut an ear off!

I want the ear-lopper on my team!! (the friend who goes to battle)

Christ could have called a legion of angels…but submitted himself, no retaliation.

***He entrusted himself to the Father, to whom all will give an account.

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2 Things set Jesus apart.

Suffered when 100% sinless & undeserving

Only his suffering atones

While we follow his example, we won’t be 100% like him. Christ is unique.

(T) Now, let’s take a look to the final thought here where Peter ties the example of Christ back directly to us as the audience.

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Thought 4: Christ’s Work on Our Behalf (v24-25) Peter recounts how Christ bore our sins on the cross and as a result servants should turn from sin as they have returned to him.

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Big Idea:

We who at times suffer unjustly should remember that Christ was our example in suffering, in entrusting himself to God, and in righteous living.

Passage culminates w/ cross.

Addressed to slaves....(Q) anyone remember what Judas was paid to betray Jesus?

30 pieces of silver, cost of death of common slave.

He TOOK on FORM of SLAVE (PHIL. 2)

***Christ bore our sin, that we could receive his righteousness

Gospel: Imputation of righteousness for sin. (2 Cor. 5:21)

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(V24) For those in Kingdom - die to sin…live to righteousness.

Unique GK word (HAPOX)

“to be unable to respond or react to any impulse or desire- ‘to be dead to, to not respond to, to have no part in” (Louw-Nida).

NO RESPONSE to STIMULI! Can’t budge.

The WALKING DEAD, SKUNK story…unresponsive while alive, less responsive when dead.

No response to temptation/stimulus to sin.

(v24) By wounds = healed.

Yes,....Healing in atonement

Primarily “spiritual” healing here.

Pray, yes....but salvation can be taken to bank.

****Those who make the cross more about healing do the gospel a great disservice! Temporary/earthly benefits replacing heavenly/eternal hope.

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(v25)

Contrasting WHO WE WERE, with WHO WE ARE now.

***All like sheep have gone astray…iniquity laid on Christ.

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Last week- PASSIONS of FLESH - WAGE WAR against SOUL…now CHRIST described as “SHEPHERD & overseer” of our SOULS!

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Takeaways

Intention.... Our response to God this morning should be to persevere under unjust treatment, entrusting our lives to God, knowing that Christ suffered for us, and he is our example in this.

God judges rightly & vengeance is His! Trust him.

Christ = sinless… only one who didn’t deserve anything bad! Went to cross for us (sinners)

Be thankful we get what we don’t deserve!

Great promises in gospel....but health, wealth, prosperity aren’t there.

Suffering is our calling…a,b,c’s of Christian faith

Not bad, all the time. But not abnormal

Eventually all tears wiped away

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Application

When thinking, “LIFE ISN’T FAIR” remind yourself “GOD IS JUST” and rest in this…

God-consciousness makes all the difference in suffering.

Close in prayer