Slaves, Suffering and a Savior
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Introduction
Introduction
When I was in college, I was assigned a roommate that completely different than me. We never knew each other until the first day we were moving into the dorm room. I arrived first and was putting things away, when he walked into the room. almost knocked my mother over, then went to the window, rubbed his finger on the window sill knocking some paint flakes on the floor, then said, “Well I guess it is livable!”
He then turned to me and said, “well you must be Mitch!” I remember looking at my mom and saying, “please don’t leave me with him!”
Needless to say, it didn’t get much better. We butted heads more than once that semester. He proclaimed to be an agnostic and did not believe in Christianity. I remember coming in from a very bad day and heard some very loud music coming from our room. I realized that the only way that loud music could come from our room would be if he was using my stereo. The closer I got, the madder I got! I was angry that he would be playing my stereo without my permission and listening to Queen of all things!
I threw open the door and began saying things to him that would make a sailor blush, saying his momma was this and his daddy was this…and He was a ******!
Before I could finish my little tantrum, he looked me in complete shock and said, “And you call yourself a Christian and you are going into ministry!”
I turned and walked away in shame. I had blown my Christian witness. I had failed to be the example that would lead this man to Christ.
Our study in 1 Peter has been about Holy Living. We have looked at ways that Peter has given us to be a people that is different, to be a people that shines the light of Christ in all areas of our lives.
Today’s passage, helps reiterates the truths of godliness. It helps us look deeper into the attitude of Jesus and invites us to become more like Him.
1 Peter
Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Slaves
Slaves
The very first word in this passage is disturbing. Some translations use the word servants. The Greek word refers to household or domestic servants. Apparently during this time, there were a large number of household or domestic servants that made up a very high percentage of the early church. Often, these people were recipients of undeserved punishment and suffering. However, Peter encouraged the Christian slaves to exhibit a new behavior that required them to submit and respect even those that were harsh.
We don’t really fall into such a category today as there are no Christian slaves today, at least in the sense that is portrayed here. However, what Peter wrote does have application to employees.
We are to be submissive to those over us, whether they are kind or unkind to us. We should work hard and do the things that we are expected to do, earning an honest day’s pay.
Our relationship to God is far more important than our relationship to another human. When we do not treat others with respect and honesty, we are harming our relationship with God.
Anyone can fight back. It takes a Spirit-filled Christian to submit and let God fight the battle!
Suffering
Suffering
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Savior
Savior
Peter paints 3 beautiful portraits of Christ in this passage:
He is our EXAMPLE IN HIS LIFE
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
1 Peter 2:21-22
There is a very shallow brand of popular theology in our land that says if you suffer you must not be in God’s will. One that thinks that has not meditated much on the cross.
Our Lord’s humility and submissiveness were not signs of His weakness, but of power. Jesus could have very well summoned the armies of heaven to rescue Him, but He chose to be committed to the Father who always judges righteously.
In this passage I just read, we hear the statement “He committed no sin.” You and I sin every day. We need a Savior not an example. However, when you and I are saved, we will want to follow closely in His steps and imitate the example of Christ.
He is our SUBSTITUTE IN HIS DEATH
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
For,
“All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
Jesus died as the sinner’s SUBSTITUTE. This whole section that Peter quotes is from which theologians refer to as the Servant Chapter. Jesus was a martyr, He died as a Savior, a sinless Substitute.
Jesus died as the sinner’s SUBSTITUTE. This whole section that Peter quotes is from
The word “BORE” here means “to carry as a sacrifice.” According to Jewish law, criminals were not crucified, they were stoned to death. However, if the criminal were “evil” enough, the criminal’s dead body was hung on a tree until evening as a mark of shame. Jesus died on a tree, the cross, and bore the curse of the law.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
Galatians 3:13
The paradox of the cross amazes me!
Christ was wounded that we might be healed.
Christ died that we might live.
We died with Him, therefore we are dead to sin so we can live unto righteousness.
Peter says by His wounds we are healed. This is not necessarily a physical healing but a spiritual healing of our soul.
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
Praise the Lord, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
Psalm 103
Psalm 103:1
When
One day we will have glorified bodies and all sicknesses will be gone. But meanwhile, some of of you as God’s greatest servants will have physical afflictions!
He is our EXAMPLE IN HIS LIFE, He is our SUBSTITUTE IN HIS DEATH and
He is OUR WATCHFUL SHEPHERD IN HEAVEN!
1 Peter 1:25
For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
In the Old Testament, sheep died for the shepherd, but at Calvary, the Shepherd died for the sheep!
You and I are like sheep gone astray. We are dumb, we are lost, we are wandering, we are in danger, we are away from the place of safety and unable to help ourselves. The Shepherd has not only gone out to search for the lost sheep, but He died for the sheep!
As a result, we are returned to the fold and are safe in His care! He watches over us! The Savior in glory watches over His sheep to protect them!
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
That is the application of this passage!
As we live godly lives and submit in times of suffering, we are following Christ’s example and BECOMING MORE LIKE HIM. We submit and obey, not only for the sake of lost souls and for the Lord’s sake, but for our own sake, that we might grow spiritually and become more like Christ!
The world is full of roommates like I had, unsaved and watching us Christians. But the Shepherd is watching over us so we have nothing to fear! We can submit to Him and know, that He will work everything, EVERYTHING…did you hear that? He will work EVERYTHING together for our good and His glory! That is a promise that you and I can count on, everyday that begins with “T”....TODAY AND TOMORROW!