Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Peter 2:19

This morning before we begin expounding our text I want to consider the life of a man who gives us an illustration of man’s inability to be subject to their master without being subject to the Master.

This man lived like many of us as a rebellious teenager, but his life would look much different than that in his late teens.

This man is John Newton.

John Newton was so angry and sinful as a teen that when he finally was kicked out of his last boarding school his father who was a sailor put him to work on the ships with him.

This is where Newton although with his Father was also in the company of sinful sailors and continued in his debauchery.

In a movie about the life of Newton he mad this comment, I began to focus all of my rage on working hard work and efforts to please the officers, not because I had any true respect for them but because I saw it as my opportunity for a change.

So I started to work hard and showed officers great respect at least to their faces.”

What is the problem with this line of thought and selfish obedience?

Newton did get his promotion, but the problem was an angry rebellious employee at heart only becomes an angry cruel taskmaster when promoted.

To get to the rest of the story Newton ended up doing pretty well as a midshipman except for the way he treated sailors who worked for him.

However, during one of their trips into port Newton attempted to go see his future wife and was eventually caught, captured, and convicted of desertion.

After demotion for trying to desert, he requested an exchange to a slave ship bound for West Africa.

Eventually he reached the coast of Sierra Leone where he became the servant of an abusive slave trader.

He was later rescued, his father purchased his freedom and he became a captain of a slave trading ship.

It was during one of his voyages that during a storm, Newton cried out to God for salvation and God began to work in his life to draw him out of the slave trade and into the pastorate!

Do you see the irony.

Newton was a disrespectful, disobedient employee, who tried in his own power to be a submissive employee, who ended up being a slave against his own will, because of the grace of God was freed, became a slave trader, was saved, continued to sail, had a stroke, was taken out of the slave trade, and finally called into God’s service in the ministry!

His life is an illustration of Peter’s text.

He went from a servant in Sierra Leone to a servant of the One, True God!

Why is Peter spending so much time talking about submission and suffering?

Is it that important that we are under subjection to our government?

Is it really that big of deal if we are submissive employees faithfully obeying good and bad bosses?

Shouldn’t we just live out our faith at home and in church and then work and live in the world however seems right in our own eyes?

No....

Again, look at the life of Newton!

Peter is going to give us a couple reasons for our submission as we come to verses 19-21.

He has laid out a couple of “rules” of submission in verses 13-18 and now he provides us with the reason for this submission.

How do we know he is laying out the reason?

Notice how he starts verse 18,

For this is a gracious thing in the sight of God...

Look at verse 21,

For to this you have been called...

Peter is telling his readers be subject to your masters first of all because,

I. Christian Submission Pleases God

1 Peter 2:

Peter is saying, when you are subject to your masters this is a a gracious thing....It is pleasing to God when we submit to those who are in authority.

He is pleased with us we find favor in God’s sight when we are faithful workers and servants.

Robert Leighton explains, “And this is indeed the true glory of it that it pleaseth God; it is a pleasing thing in God’s eyes…Though we owe all our patience under all kinds of afflictions as a duty to Him, and though His grace is His own gift, yet He has obliged himself by His royal word, not only to accept of it but to praise it, and to reward it in His own children.”

Notice these conditions God put’s around this favor.

First it is a gracious thing,

A. When Mindful of God

In other words, suffering is not pleasing to God when we have our selves in view.

If I say

I am going to put up with this so I can be promoted that is not pleasing to God.

I am going to be submissive so that I might make more money this is not a gracious thing in the sight of God.

I am going to submit for the sake of my own comfort this is not pleasing to God.

On the other hand, If we suffer while thinking,

God has placed me in this position for a purpose therefore I am going to submit in subjection to Him.

God has sovereignly set me under this master so I am going to be subject to Him.

God has called me to do all things for His glory so I will suffer as His servant.

God may use my faithful submission to save my boss or my coworkers.

God will one day make all things right and we will be set free from unjust subjection!

Do you see the difference?

There are times we may submit and suffer for the sake of self.

What Peter is calling us to is the same thing Jesus called us to, suffering for righteousness sake!

Peter echoes this same call in,

Therefore, when we suffer for the sake of God, for the sake of Christ, and for righteousness He is pleased with His people.

How do we make sure we are mindful of God?

Make much of His Word!

Prioritizing Time in Prayer.

Placing ourselves in the Midst of His People!

Tom Schreiner writes, “To sum up, when Peter said it is “grace” for someone to endure suffering because of their relationship with God, his point was that those who suffer in such a way will receive a reward from God and that the reward in context is their eschatological inheritance—future salvation.”

Schriener further explains this graciousness of God.

Our subjection not only pleases God, but the favor in which God shows us is our eternal salvation, our eternal reward, our future hope!

God does not just send us a note saying good job.

He promises that one day all those who trust in Christ will one day hear the words,

Suffering in subjection is not only pleasing to God when we are mindful of God,

Secondly is is a gracious thing,

B. When One Suffers Unjustly.

What is Peter talking about when he says suffering under subjection unjustly?

Peter says in verse 19, God is pleased when one is mindful of God and when one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

There are three key words here.

endures = to bear up despite difficulty and suffering, to demonstrate endurance.

sorrows = a state of mental pain and anxiety

suffering = to undergo an experience, usually difficult, and normally with the implication of physical or psychological suffering

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996).

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996).

He also explains what he is not talking about.

He is not talking about suffering for sin…See verse

For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure?

For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure?

Here is where I want to refer to the best theologian I had in my life growing up.

My Mom, Beverly Braswell.

If she would have written a commentary on this verse she would say, “If you are going to be dumb, you better be tough.”

In other words, if you suffer because of your sin that is on you.

If are experiencing physical or mental pain because of your own sin don’t come crying to me… If you are beaten because of your rebellion don’t expect any compassion...

In all seriousness, Peter is contrasting two reasons servants may suffer.

They could suffer at the hands of unjust masters as they lived obedient faithful lives, but they could also experience suffering for sin, for slacking off, for smarting off, or some other form of rebellion against their master.

I can think of example after example of people who have worked for us over the years have cheated, lied, stolen, violated policies and even laws, and then when the consequences come, they act surprised.

They can’t believe they are receiving a written warning, being suspended, or even separated.

I have heard and seen some of the most unbelievable things said and done during these situations.

What Peter is saying here if you sin don’t expect to please God, don’t expect to receive grace from God, don’t expect to received credit from God for your suffering.

You don’t get rewarded for sinful rebellion!

On the other hand it, is a gracious thing,

it, is a gracious thing,

C. When One Does Good While Suffering Unjustly.

Do you see the contrast,

1 Peter 2:20b But, if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

Why does it please God when Christian’s bear up under suffering?