Acts 9:2

Introduction

This morning, we will start in 1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”

The verse is not a stand alone verse. The verse has context.

The context begins in 1 Peter 2:13 extending into chapter 3: The topic is submission to authority and honoring people.

As Peter wrote this there are 2 points to keep in mind:

As Peter wrote this, Kings, governors and magistrates were becoming violent towards Christians. Masters treated their slaves unfairly, and the family unit was broken.

Even though government , employers, husbands and wives may not fulfill their responsibilities, this does not change the Christian’s responsibilities towards those in authority.

Peter divides this section into 3 tiers:

Government

1 Peter 2:13-14 “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.”

We are to submit

This is God’s will (1 Peter 2:15)

We are not to use our liberty as a cloak of maliciousness, but as servants of God.

Honor all me, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the king

The word honor means to value.

Employer

1 Peter 2:18 “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.”

Cities and families had a patron god. Typically, a family’s patron god would be associated with their labor.

People who have been “converted to Christianity in a state of slavery, were often grievously abused; they were buffeted because they were Christians, and because they would not join with their masters in idolatrous worship.”

This is thanks-worthy if a man who considers God, endures grief and suffers wrongly.

Peter adds context to v.18 by asking a 2 part question in v.20. 1 Peter 2:20 “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.”

Glory - credit or honor -

Is there any glory if you patiently endure just punishment? The answer is no.

Is there any glory if you patiently endure unjust punishment becasue you are a servant of God - The answer is yes! This is acceptable unto God!

“To be punished for our wrongs is no credit to us. But when we are punished for doing good and endure it patiently, we are complimented before God.”

1 Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”

We were called to suffer

Jesus is our example.

Marriage

1 Peter 3:1 “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;”

The context is suffering for faith’s sake.

Be in subjection.

Your lifestyle may be a catalyst God uses to redeem them.

1 Peter 3:7 “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”

Dwell with them according to knowledge

Honor them in the same way we honor the king

Prayers are nor hindered.

Problem

The problem is these tiers of authority and honor are rife with evil and wickedness.

Government is wicked becasue politicians do not fear God or interested in hallowing His name!

Employers are wicked becasue they do not fear God or interested in hallowing God’s name.

Husbands and wives are wicked becasue they do not fear God or interested in hallowing His name.

1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:”

Finally is not a conclusion to the epistle but the subject matter at hand.

Peter was writing to Christians

With what I just taught:

To who? Kings, governors, employers, and spouses

Who is he referencing - Kings, governors, Employers and spouses

The context - Finally - this is not the conclusion of the epistle but the subject matter. The subject matter dealt subjection and honor with 3 different relational units.

Kings - citizens

Employers - employees

Husbands - wives

be ye of one mind

This command brings us back to the need to know God’s word. We can’t be of one mind, the mind of Jesus, if we don’t know what His mind is. The word of God shows us the mind of Jesus.

We need to be in one mind with Jesus becasue He is the perfect example.

Have compassion - sympathetic

Who is he referencing?

Not Christians

Kings, governors, employers, spouses.

Proverbs 24:17 “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, And let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:”

Love as brethren

Particularly Jewish was a strong-group - collectivist culture.

Their strongest relationships did not exist between husbands and wives but brothers and sisters.

be pitiful - tenderhearted

Courteous - Kind and friendly

This is important so that w can have a proper response when we are mistreated by government, employer, or spouse.

1 Peter 3:9-11 “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”

Not rendering evil for evil - What God views evil.

Railing for railing

Slander

Bless them - To speak well of them.

If you love life, and see good days

refrain your tongue from evil,

lips that they speak no guile.

Eschew evil - Keep away from evil

do good

speak peace

and pursue it

What do we do when we suffer?

1 Peter 3:14-16 “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.”

Happy are ye

Do not be afraid of their terror

Do not be troubled

Sanctify the Lord in your hearts

Be prepared to give man an answer of your hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

Having a good conscience - knowing that you are being persecuted for a godly life

Our text

1 Peter 3:17-18 “For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”

It is better to suffer for doing good

Verse 18 in an encouragement to those suffering.

How does v.18 encourage us as we suffer?

The verse contains amazing truths:

How that Christ suffered - Experience the pain and agony with a violent death.

Jesus was not a regular person like you and I. He was the God-man.

Hebrews 7:26 “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;”

Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

We feel sorry for people who suffer. Sometimes, we might even say - They don't deserve to go through what they are going through. Usually, the context references their good character or their innocence.

Why did he suffered? He suffered for sins

He did not suffer or die for His sins. Who sins did he die for? Ours!

Even though Jesus died, Death could not keep Him dead, the Spirit of God quickened Him.

A 4th truth that is often overlooked. Even though we know that Jesus died for our sins, we forget how unfair salvation’s transactions was.

Transactions happen everyday.

Grocery store

Gas for the car

Work for pay

The key for transactions is a degree of equality between the two ends of the transaction.

In the history of the world, there has never been a more disparaging or unequal trade than salvation.

The just for the unjust - The righteous for the unrighteous.

Jesus is the just and we are the unjust

It is not that Jesus is almost unjust and we are almost just.

Isaiah 6:3 “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: The whole earth is full of his glory.”

Romans 5:6-8 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

In Acts 9 God saves Saul

Isaiah 53:6-10 “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: And who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: For the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, And with the rich in his death; Because he had done no violence, Neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”