34. Submission to Masters p3

Submission to Masters p3: The Example of Submission

As we have been working through this text we have seen in the introduction life as a slave in the Roman empire. There were 60 million individuals which Rome has declared were not human but just property to be used and discarded. The gospel of Jesus Christ comes in and restores their humanity and grants them a purpose in their suffering as slaves that was unique to that group of people. In addressing the purpose of suffering we found God gives grace in it. His grace carries us through those times in which we are oppressed, downcast and afflicted. It is God upholding and keeping us in His free gift of grace that was supplied in our salvation and is being supplied even now. Connie recently told we a quote she read from Elizabeth Eliot, ‘God will not protect you from anything that will make you more like Jesus.’ Indeed, God has predestined us to be conformed to His (Christ’s) image. It is a prying us free from our dependence and love of the world and its temporal comforts and a depending more and more upon Him. (Rom 8:29)  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. But God through Peter not only commands us to be submissive even to the bad masters, He points s to Christ as the example of suffering at the hands of evil men. This morning we move to the third main point behind the Introduction and the command to submission; the example of submission.

1Pe 2:18-25 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. (19) For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. (20) For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. (21) For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: (22) "WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH"; (23) who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; (24) who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (25) For you were like sheep going astray but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

His Position

His Purpose

His Practice

His Place

In verse 21 we see a transition from addressing the household slave specifically to addressing the church generally. If you recall one of the primary themes of Peter’s letter is that of suffering. It is not limited to slaves only but all of the people of God. There are 19 references of suffering and persecution in 1 Peter alone. The NKJV inserts the word us in verse 21 to show the transition. Other translations use the 2nd person plural pronoun you. How do we know Peter is not specifically talking to slaves here? We know this by the greater context of Peters letter.

(1Pe 1:11)  searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

(1Pe 1:18)  knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,

(1Pe 1:19)  but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

In the first chapter of Peter, he is addressing all believers not a specific class withing the churches. So when Peter speaks of Christ suffering for you it is the whole of the body of Christ not just some. There is much for us all to learn from this text. As Paul told Timothy that all who desire to live godly will be persecuted, we all look to Christ Jesus as our perfect example And Peter begins with a reminder of who Jesus is. He is the Christ.

I. His Position – the Christ

Peter uses this reference to Jesus 22x in his short letter. Considering what we heard this morning in the Scripture reading we heard that there was nothing that would attract us to Him. Isa 53:4  Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Despised and rejected by men. From Isaiah’s description Jesus was a man, physically speaking, that we would give a wide birth. Like the people who sit on the street corner with a sign asking for money. We keep our gaze averted so we don’t make eye contact and catch their unwanted attention. But Jesus came as the Christ of God. What does that mean exactly and why does Peter use the term here instead of just using Jesus?

Christ literally means the Anointed One the Hebrew equivalent is Messiah. To be anointed in the Scripture is to be set apart for a specific purpose or place. There were three types of anointing in the OT: Prophets, Priests and Kings. Each of these offices plays a prominent role in the OT. Each of these were filled by different people at different times. Prophets were the revealer of knowledge. Through the prophets God revealed Who He is and what He requires of us, blessings for obedience and judgments for disobedience. As we saw earlier in 1Pe 1:10-12 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, (11) searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. (12) To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into. They were appointed by God and anointed for service.

1Ki 19:15-16 Then the LORD said to him: "Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. (16) Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

Moses spoke of a Prophet whom God would raise up after Him. Deu 18:18-19 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. (19) And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.

Peter recognizes that Christ is that Prophet. Act 3:19-26 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, (20) and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, (21) whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. (22) For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN. HIM YOU SHALL HEAR IN ALL THINGS, WHATEVER HE SAYS TO YOU. (23) AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERY SOUL WHO WILL NOT HEAR THAT PROPHET SHALL BE UTTERLY DESTROYED FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE.' (24) Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. (25) You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.' (26) To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."

Jesus is that prophet.

The priest offers sacrifices for himself and the people and intercedes on their behalf. They are appointed by God and anointed for service.

Exo 40:13-15 You shall put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. (14) And you shall bring his sons and clothe them with tunics. (15) You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations."

No longer are there priests that year by year enter into the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifices. But Jesus has entered in once and for all time. Heb 2:17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Jesus is the High Priest

The Kings in the OT were also appointed and anointed by God. As Samuel established Saul as the first king of Israel and made his farewell speech to Israel, twice he referred to Saul as “His [the Lord’s] anointed” (1 Sam. 12: 3, 5). As David learned of the death of Saul he called him “the Lord’s anointed” (2 Sam. 1:14, 16). David himself had refused to kill Saul for he was “the Lord’s anointed” (1 Sam. 26:11, 23). Samuel anointed David as king (1 Sam. 16:13). Elijah anointed Hazael king over Aram and at the same time anointed Jehu king over Israel (1:15–16)

The primary function as King in the OT was a righteous rule in accordance to God’s Law, to fight against and subdue the people’s enemies and to enlarge the kingdom in accordance to the promise of God given to Abraham.

Col 2:13-15 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, (14) having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (15) Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Jesus is the King

You may say brother you read too much into this text. But I say that Peter through out his letter infers and implies all of this and summarizes it in 1Pe 3:18-22 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, (19) by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, (20) who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. (21) There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (22) who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

We see His priesthood in His atoning death. We see His being Prophet as He preached to the spirits now in prison, and we see His kingship in v22. who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

These offices are not forced upon Christ by others wishing Him to be something He is not. These He spoke of concerning Himself. Jesus speaking in Joh 3:34-36 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. (35) The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. (36) He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." This text is a summary of His holding to the three offices.

Speaks the words of God – Prophet

The Father loves the Son and has given ALL things into His hand – His is king

He who believes the Son has everlasting life – Priest

If there is any doubt Jesus words to Pilate make it perfectly clear. Joh 18:37 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

What does this mean? It means that as king Jesus has forever but our enemies in subjection under His feet. During the times of the kings of Judah conquered enemies often were able to renew their strength and become formidable once again. But Jesus as king rules and reigns forever. 1Co 15:54-57  So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY."  (55)  "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? O HADES, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?"  (56)  The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.  (57)  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus as the forever High Priest means that His once and for all time sacrifice for sins stand as the eternal testimony before God. He is as He appeared to the disciples after His resurrection with His hands and sides pierced and the wounds from His crown of thorns. Rev 5:5-6  But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."  (6)  And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Heb 10:11-12  And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.  (12)  But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,

Jesus as the forever Prophet, is the only One who can reveal what God has been purposing in history "since the world began" and who can teach and make manifest the real meaning of the "scriptures of the prophets" We can expect to make progress in the Christian life only as we heed His instruction and teaching. Rom 16:24-27  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.  (25)  Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began  (26)  but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—  (27)  to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

II. His Purpose – also suffered for us leaving us an example to follow in His steps

There is a two-fold purpose in Jesus suffering for us. One of which we will address this morning. 1. He suffered to redeem us from the curse of the law, to save us from our sins and to bring us into the household of God. As we have looked before in the 1st chapter He has made us children of God. Rom 8:3-4 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, (4) that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

This is the why of Christ’s once and for all time sacrifice. He fulfilled all the requirements of the Law perfectly for us. The two requirements of the Law that Christ fulfills for us is keeping the 10 Commandments perfectly and suffering our judgement for not keeping it.

Rom 5:6-7 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

But we are not even good. When we look at what sin is, even what our culture would call socially acceptable sins, we have to agree with the Bible that (Rom 3:10) As it is written: "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE; -But in Him we are made righteous 2Co 5:21  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The second purpose is that He left us an example to follow in His steps. This not only our example but also our motivation. He suffered for our salvation and going back to verse 1Pe 2:12  having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

To follow means to devote ourselves to that which is followed. Jesus spoke the same term when He said Mar 8:34  When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. – He uses this term when calling each of His disciples.

Following in His steps does not mean we literally follow each step in His suffering but to move in the same direction. We all suffer in different ways but the main point is that we don’t avoid it at the cost of our testimony and witness.

This brings us to the nature of Christ’s sufferings, the nature of Christ’s sufferings for us. And at first glance we might notice His suffering can be broken into two groups but the reality is that all of His suffering from beginning to end is redemptive in nature culminating in His crucifixion.. In verse 22 Peter quotes from Is 53:9. Jesus never sinned in action or in speech. We know that what comes out of the mouth is a refection of what is in the heart. Jesus Himself said Luk 6:45  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. – in all things and all ways Jesus was absolutely sinless.

V23. He was reviled – during the course of His life and ministry His enemies said He was possessed with a devil. He was called a Samaritan, a glutton, aa wine bibber, a demoniac, one in league with Beelzebub, a perverter of the nation, and a deceiver of the people. When Jesus did speak in severe words to His opponents it was for the purpose of convicting them of sin not retaliatory abuse.

When He suffered He uttered no threats – In His passion He suffered severe physical abuse. He was struck in the face, crowned with thorns, beaten, scourged. We won’t get into it here but look up how Jesus was scourged and what it did to Him. He was forced to bear His own cross and was crucified. Again look up what the affects of crucifixion were. All during that time He never once threatened retaliation, nor predicted that they would be punished for it.

Peter’s picture of what Jesus did not do was molded by the Is 53:6,7. Rather than quoting them he gives his own confirmatory witness, verifying the prophetic witness. Remember Peter was there.

IV. His Place

Positively Jesus entrusted Himself to the one Who judges righteously. He was not concerned about His own fate or questioned His own righteousness. He preferred to leave His vindication before God rather than take action Himself against His enemies. In fact, it is quite the opposite. On the cross He says, Father forgive them for they know not what they do.

His place is one of humbling Himself before God. Entrusting His life into His Father’s hands. To entrust your life to another means to completely place it their hands. When He was in distress in the Garden He prayed that this cup would be taken from Him but not His will but the Father’s will be done.

Application: Consider the Christ, whom the Scriptures testify is God. Yet while He was upon the earth entrusted Himself completely to Him Who judges righteously. Now we cannot follow in Jesus steps in His sinlessness, but we can certainly follow in His steps in His response to suffering by entrusting ourselves to Him who judges righteously. We can do this by the grace that is supplied. Our natural inclination is eye for eye tooth for tooth. Hurt those who hurt us. But we are called to a different way, the way that only being in Christ can supply. Because it is then that God’s infinite grace to meet our every need is given. It is then when we have Christ Himself enter into our sufferings because He was tempted in all ways as we are, yet He is without sin.

Next time we will devote all of our time to verse 24 and 25. May God grant us the grace to follow in His steps knowing that Christ Jesus has gone before us. Amen