The source and goal of our perseverance, 1 Peter 3:13-22 (HBC 90th Anniversary)

Today we pause to reflect and to celebrate 90 years of Harrisburg. None of those who started Harrisburg are still here…

There are some things that reflecting on 90 years can bring:

An awareness that we belong to the Lord, and this is His church. A desire to pass the baton baton to the next generation A desire to grow up into the next generation of leaders of the church A vision for another 90 years… don’t you want to see the Lord continue to work and use our congregation to reach the lost around us? I do… and I pray that by His grace He will sustain us and use us for His glory here in Tupelo, Lee County, and North East, MS.

Our passage today points our hearts and minds to the source of perseverance in the life of Christian and the church.

1 Peter 3:13–22 (ESV)

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 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, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

The source of our perseverance is the faithfulness of Christ.

1 Peter 3:18

“18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit”

Jesus was perfectly faithful in all that He did.

As it says here in verse 18, He suffered for the sake of sinners, He is righteous, meaning without sin, and died for the unrighteous- sinners.

Jesus was faithful to the point of death on the cross so that we might be redeemed and reconcile us to God.

Jesus’ suffering and death was an atoning sacrifice for our sins. From the moment sin came into the world there has been what the Bible calls enmity between us and God. In fact, when you look at the events surrounding Adam and Eve’s first sin, you see that one of the result is that there is also enmity between the son of God and satan.

Enmity is defined as “deep-rooted hatred.”

According to 1 John 2:15–16 (ESV) those who love the world are not right with God. It says, 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

And, Romans 8:7 (ESV) says, 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

You see sinners are not just separated from God, they are hostile toward God… and the good news of the gospel is that Jesus Christ has come to save those who have a “deep-rooted hatred” against Him.

Jesus demonstrates faithfulness in his suffering

And the way that He has saved us is through suffering. Instead of sinners receiving what they deserve for their hostile and deep rooted hatred of God, they instead receive forgiveness of sins and the grace of God that gifts them the inheritance of Christ for all eternity.

Philippians 2:5–8 (ESV) says, 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

One of the ways Christians also demonstrate faithfulness to God is suffering for the sake of Jesus.

1 Peter 3:13-17 (ESV)

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 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, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

The Bible regularly points out that the world and the people in it can only harm you in this life… but that God can punish/harm both your body and your soul.

Compromising or being hypocritical to avoid suffering is the same thing as being unfaithful to God.

I say this because I I mentioned earlier that one of the ways Christians demonstrate faithfulness to through suffering… and I don’t want any of us to think that we can be faithful and avoid suffering when it comes upon us.

In fact, when I hear church-goers talk about hoping that Jesus comes back before they experience tribulations like Christians in other places or other times I am reminded of what Jesus said in John 15:18–20 (ESV), “18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”

There is no doubt that these words are fresh in the mind of Peter as he writes to those who are experiencing suffering and persecution for their faith in Christ… it’s present all through the letter we are looking at.

And, as Jesus prayed in John 17 we should pray for the help to persevere in this world rather than for God to remove us from the world and its troubles.

John 17:12–19 (ESV), “12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

Looking forward with faith means we embrace the following:

God has placed Harrisburg here in our city, county, and region for a purpose. Harrisburg exists for the good our neighbors and the glory of God. To accomplish our purpose we must persevere in an increasingly hostile culture

We are no good to our neighbors if we compromise and cave on the gospel in our personal lives or as a church.

The source of our perseverance is Jesus Christ, and as a result the goal of our perseverance of Jesus Christ.

The goal of our perseverance is Jesus Christ

Why should Harrisburg endure for another 90 years? For the name of Jesus Christ

Why should we endure the ridicule and suffering that our culture is bringing toward us? The name of Jesus Christ?

Why would we want to pass the baton? Why would we want to grow up and mature into the next generation of leaders? All for the name of Jesus.

Philippians 2:1–11 (ESV)

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 7:9–12 (ESV)

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

May the Lord bless us and keep us and use us for His glory for another 90 years by using us one day and one week at a time.