Endurance Through Suffering

1 Peter 2:18 – 25

The American view of freedom is based on the belief that every person has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, true freedom must be balanced with personal responsibility. This means making ethical choices, contributing to society, and respecting the rights, dignity, and honor of others.

As Christians, we generally embrace this principle. Therefore, when we encounter situations where those in leadership impose their desires upon us and force us to do things against our will, our natural tendency is to retaliate and seek a way out from under their control.

First Peter, Chapter 2, verse 13 begins with “Subject yourselves to every human institution for the Lord’s sake.”   So, whether it is the king, a government representative, your boss at work, anyone to whom honor is due, submission to authority is important for all believers:

1.    We are to do it for the Lord’s sake (2:13).  If for no other reason, you are to do it because Jesus tells us to.

2.    Submission to authority is God’s will for your life (2:15).  This may be hard to understand but it is an important part of discipleship and becoming more like Christ.

3.    We are to submit to authority out of reverent fear for God (2:17) - knowing that one day you must give account to the Lord for all your words and actions.

4.    And, submission to authority demonstrates to others that our faith is real, and our God is just (2:15,16).  Our good behavior in submission to those who have authority over us shows the world that we both speak and live the truth of God’s Word.  Obviously this only applies in situations where the authority is not directly telling us to disobey the word of God.

But what if the person in authority is abusive, dishonest, or deceitful and crooked?  How are we supposed to respond then?  The Apostle Peter addresses this by speaking to the Christians who in his day were most susceptible to abuse and suffering from those in authority – the household servants.  Many of the early believers living across the Roman Empire were slaves.  It seems the lowly, meek, and humble are some of the first to believe in the Gospel message.  But Peter’s words are not just for slaves, they apply to all of us.  This is truth that we all need to pay attention to.  So, Peter applies this point to those who are impacted most forcefully.  The household slaves were the lowest members of society.  But if it is true for them, certainly it must be true for those of us who have higher standing in society and live with more freedom. 

Strength In Submission

18 Household servants be submissive to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and kind [gentle, courteous, tolerant] but also to those who are morally twisted [corrupt, dishonest, unscrupulous]. 19 For this is being gracious, if through awareness of God someone endures pain while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if while sinning you endure being struck?  But if while doing good you also suffer and endure, this finds favor from God.

Slavery in First Century Roman Empire –

·      Peter addresses household servants.  These would be individual’s, many of whom were educated or skilled in a craft.  They were either conquered by the Roman’s and forced into slavery, born in a slave family, or individuals who sold themselves into slavery for an income or to pay a debt.  They were often given important tasks within the home like running the finances (think of Joseph), education of the children, doctors giving medical care, or household laborers.

·      The difference between Roman slavery vs. slavery in American in the 18th and 19th centuries was that Roman slaves would gain their freedom once a debt was satisfied, or when reaching a certain age.  Slaves were considered members of the household and often would be adopted by their master.  American slavery was far worse.  There was no manumission or release, and slavery was based on race.  Slaves were considered property, and the slave owner was free to do whatever he desired with the slave.  They were considered less than human.

·      There is a tradition outside of American Christianity that the Apostle Paul was once a slave.  The tradition says that he grew up in a slave family in Tarsus and was set free, probably his whole family was freed.  Citizenship was granted because Paul’s master was a Roman and Paul was adopted by the Master.  He went to Jerusalem as a young man and studied to become a Pharisee.

·      Obey your master with all fear – give him or her reverence.  Treat them with honor and do as you are told.

·      This command is not just for the good ones, but also for those masters who are morally corrupt as well.

19 For this is being gracious, if through awareness of God someone endures pain while suffering unjustly.

·      Suffering unjustly – when the slave obeys God and is subservient to the master, this is doing good in obedience to God.  But if the one in authority responds by treating you cruelly and taking advantage of you, the natural (we could say fleshly) response is to not obey and try to get even somehow.   But when you endure the suffering out of an awareness of God’s presence and sovereignty in your life, then you are behaving with grace.  You are blessing that person.

·      We may not be slaves but Jesus when speaking to his disciples warned them about retaliation against those who wrong you:  In the Sermon on the Mount, he said this:

Matthew 5:38–42 (ESV)

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

The Lord is advocating for us to show grace, to give the evil person what they seek, and not hold back from doing good to others just because they are trying to take from you.

You may have a boss who ridicules you and takes advantage of your hardwork and good nature.  Sure, in America under most situations, you are free to leave and find a new job.  But the Lord would also like to use you to impart grace to this person and share God’s love first.

Remember Joseph who was treated wrongly by his brothers and was sold into slavery, then he served Potiphar faithfully, always doing what was right only to find himself thrown into Pharoah’s prison to suffer because of a false accusation from Potiphar’s wife.  But even in prison, Joseph remained faithful and served the other prisoners and the guards who were over them.  Joseph was gracious, forgiving, and honored everyone he associated with.

20 For what credit is there if while sinning you endure being struck?  But if while doing good you also suffer and endure, this finds favor from God.

It is almost comical that someone would think they should be praised for enduring punishment after doing something wrong.  It’s like saying “See, I was a good boy and took my punishment without rebelling – you should reward me.”  But justice doesn’t work that way.  “But if while doing good you also suffer and endure, this finds favor from God.”

·      Enduring unjust treatment with faith provides a powerful testimony of faith. There's a tale about a baker who decided to give away bread to the homeless rather than sell it all. Despite struggling financially, he persevered in his plan. One cold evening, people began lining up for his free bread, and he noticed a few familiar faces from the local market. They were inspired by his actions and offered to buy loaves at full price to support him. Through enduring initial hardships, the baker not only brought joy to many but also inspired others to act on kindness, proving that good can come from suffering. A boy named Sam was known for sharing his lunch at school, despite being teased by some classmates. One day, he brought extra cookies to share. When a few kids made fun of him for it, he simply smiled and offered them some. A teacher observed this and later praised Sam for his kindness. Enduring teasing didn’t stop Sam from doing good, and he ended up earning the respect of both peers and teachers alike. Doing good, despite suffering ridicule, can lead to unexpected rewards.

Peter’s instructions go against our natural responses when we are treated harshly by others.  Submission is not weakness, it is gracious love being shown to those who are morally corrupt.  It requires great strength which God gives through the Holy Spirit within us.

Footsteps Of Faithfulness

21 For to this you have been called,

because Christ also suffered on your behalf

leaving you an example

so that you might follow in his footsteps,

22 who committed no sin

neither was treachery [deceit] found in his mouth,

23 who being abused did not abuse in return,

while suffering he did not threaten,

but entrusted himself to the One who judges righteously.

Jesus is our Savior and also the role model we are to follow.

·      He did not have to come but choose to empty himself of the glory belonging to him, enter our world, and pay the penalty for our sins.  He is the propitiation for our sins – the sacrifice that appeases the wrath of God and satisfy God’s justice against sinful mankind.

·      Jesus is our role model.  He is the perfect example for how we are to run our course, fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep faith in him (2 Tim 4:7).

·      He suffered unjustly on our behalf.  He spoke not a word when the government authorities arrested him, mocked him, beat him, and nailed him to a tree.

·      He did not threaten others when he suffered, but as he hung on the cross, he prayed and said “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34 GNB).

·      God the Father has called us to follow His Son (2:21).  He asks us to take the same footsteps and endure with patience the suffering this world throws at us.  He suffered for us and asks us to willingly suffer at the hands of others by offering them the grace of God in selfless love and forgiveness.  This pleases God and is a continuation of Christ’s ministry in the world today (2 Cor 4:7-18).

·      The silent endurance of Jesus demonstrates the purest submission to God’s will.  He relied on God, rather than himself.  Jesus entrusted himself to the One who judges righteously.  In love for the father and love for us,  He laid down his glory and life so that we can have eternal life and share his glory.

Healing Through His Sacrifice

24 He himself bore our sins, in his body on the cross

so that we may die to sins

and live to righteousness.

By his wounds you have been healed.

25 For you were like sheep who wander away [going astray]

but you have now turned back to the shepherd

and guardian of your soul.

·      He died for us, not so that we could continue to live the way we want (in sin), but so that through faith in him we may die to sin.  He was raised from the dead and gives us a new life free which is free from bondage to sin.

By his wounds we have been healed – this verse is a quote out of Isaiah 53:5.  Many will quote this passage and apply it to healing the body of any type of sickness or affliction.  This may be the case sometimes.  What I know to be true is that God doesn’t always heal physical ailments.  To keep the verse in context.  Here is all of Isaiah 53:5;

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;

      he was crushed for our iniquities;

                  upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

                            and with his wounds we are healed.

·      We are healed from transgressions and iniquities and are no longer slaves to sin, desperate people controlled by the desires and lusts of our flesh.  We were dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1).   But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved (Eph 2:4,5).

There is no cure for the love of sin like the blood of Christ (Spurgeon).

·      We are now free in Christ.  Free to make ethical choices, free to contribute to society and bring benefit to others, free to respect the rights, dignity, and honor due each individual.  And free to endure suffering and hardship in imitation of Christ knowing that God will use our suffering as part of bringing redemption to others.

Beloved, you were like sheep who wander away but you have now turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your soul.  Endure hardship, trust the Sovereign Lord in all things.