Enduring Unjust Suffering
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Good morning church, we have been moving through the book of 1 Peter and today I would like to speak to you on this subject, enduring Unjust Suffering.
Now I want to talk to you this morning about something that is very difficult for a pastor to discuss, however I want you to understand there are some things we can glean from this text even today. There are many who want to skip this passage and to be honest with everything going on in the world I thought about skipping it myself because its just so hard to talk about it.
However God has impressed upon me the need for us as Christians to follow the whole word of God and so I hope today we can understand both the wight and true meaning behind what happened so many years ago, and also see how this applies to our lives today. Now the apostle Peter has been teaching us that submission, is one of the chief characteristics of someone who is following the Lord with all thier heart.
Humble submission marks the heart of true Christians, they desire to honor the Lord and be obedient to His commands for them. He speaks at the beginning of this chapter about submitting to Jesus Christ as Lord, and then to submit yourselves to God in holiness so that people may see your holy conduct and glorify Jesus on His day of visitation, then He left us last week with the Christians to submit to our governing authorities as well as spiritual authorities that God has put in place over us.
But what we have to do in order to understand this text is go back in history and look at what was happening then, if we are going to understand what was happening and then draw parallels to our lives today.
That is called Biblical Hermetutics it is taking a text of scripture and basically lifting the truth found within off the pages and putting those principles on display for you to consider and respond to.
Todays passage deals with slavery, slavery had little or nothing to do with race in the ancient world. If you were defeated in battle you were sold into slavery. 2/3 of the Roman world were slaves. No God set His gospel into that culture, the principles of Christianity uphold the worth and dignity of all human beings, and there is nothing more putrid, more disgusting, and more shameful than was the era of slavery throughout the years.
This slavery is still happening today, as we witness the reality of human trafficking I cannot tell you the disgust and anger that fills my heart when I hear of these things. When I was in college I was in New Orleans for an apologetics conference and some of the guys who were with me we decided to go down to Bourbon st. and share the gospel one night.
I was not ready for what happened next, I stood there as a man came out of an alley and offered to sell me a girl, I had just witnessed the birth of my baby girl and I was furious my friend Mahlon Lecroix had to step in because he saw the anger and rage building up inside. We tried to notify someone but the man thumped a cigarette in my face and he left.
The heartbreaking reality of human trafficking and slavery that has been a part of our world is evil to the core, it is an abominiation to the God of creation. However Peter here is addressing Christians who had found themselves as slaves to the roman oppressors who had taken many of them captive.
These people were hurting and they felt helpless now remember that Peters purpose in writing this letter was to point his readers in Asia Minor to Jesus Christ as the true source of hope in hurtful times.
What hurtful times they were those Christians were scattered and mistreated, imprisoned and enslaved.
They were rejected by family members, singled out by employers, and attacked by law enforcement officials of thier day who were supposed to protect them. And all of them throughout the empire were living under an emporer who was growing increasingly insane and ant-Christian his name was Nero.
So when Peter begins his God honoring response to the unfair treatment they were facing with
“Submit yourselves for the Lords sake to every human intitution” it doesn’t sound strange, it sounds radical!
Yet we are commanded as Christians to submit to our governing officials whether we agree with their policies or not for a time, because God has commanded it to be so. Now I do believe there comes a time when the government begins to take to much power and they begin to push Christians to disavow Christianity and begin to infringe our rights and then we must honor the Lord and the Lord alone.
However before we push back we must show civility and honor as God commanded us to for a time.
Leaving the larger issue of submission to government authority, Peter turns to a specific group of believers, Christians who were enslaved.
In the 21st century world we shudder at the sound of slavery, bc it is a violation of human rights, Peters words will seem shocking. To some they will be down right offensive! Knowing the human tendency would be for these Christians to rebel against being unfairly treated Peter urges Christian servants to submit to their masters.
Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
Now we need to be reminded once again this is not the same kind of slavery that pops into our minds when we think of it.
While these people were certainly not free they were allowed to hold jobs and interact within the community, Masters could free them at their leisure at which time the slave took his masters name and was granted land and respect.
but Peter under the divine hand of God Himself urged Christians to submit to their masters even to those who were evil and unreasonable.
That is a hard load to bear I am sure, but Peter’s exhortation to submission makes sense when we connect our calling to shine as reflections of Christ character to a dark and godless world.
This is what we need to remember our duty is honoring God
We are right now seeking to honor God through submitting to our local governing officials and our govorner under the executive safer at home order, which mandates churches to maintain 6ft distance and it has made life hard, but it is our duty first to honor Christ by our submission to those governing authorities.
(explain)
Now Peter goes deeper you think it is hard to obey governing authorities if you are a slave and you have a harsh master diplay submission even still WHY?
BECAUSE OUR PRIMARY PURPOSE ON THIS EARTH IS FOR US TO MIRROR THE HEART AND NATURE OF JESUS CHRIST
OUR PRIMARY PURPOSE THE REASON WE EXIST ALONE, IS TO GLORIFY CHRIST ALONE
CHRIST ALONE IS THE REASON WE EXIST IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING
SO MY PRIMARY PURPOSE IS NOT THE PURSUIT OF MY OWN HAPPINESS AS THE AMERICANIZED GOSPEL WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF MY HEART BEATING AT THIS VERY MOMENT IS TO GLORIFY JESUS CHRIST THE ONE AND ONLY GOD WHO CAME IN THE LIKENESS OF HUMAN FLESH IN ORDER THAT I MAY KNOW HIM, for the forgiveness of my sin.
My comfort my happiness is not the supreme reason I am alive.
Notice he says be submissive to your masters with all fear....
What Peter is saying is that even in a situation as difficult as being enslaved that we should fear God and not man, no matter whether they treat you good or extremely bad, this can also apply to a work scenario in which case the boss is abnormally hard on his employees that employee should seek to be submissive to the boss with a good heart not bc he fears the boss but because he understands his primary boss Jesus Christ is only concerned with how well we are sharing and showing the gospel to those around us.
For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
DO you desire to have the favor of God on your life?
Then no matter what hardships you face, no matter what people do to you, no matter what people say about you seek the interests and wellbeing of others.
Knowing it is Gods will that these people you come in contact with need to be redeemed by the blood of the lamb.
These slaves were supposed to act in a culturally respectful way in order to witness to their society.
It is like the story of the pastor who was taken hostage and became enslaved in a prison in another part of the world, he was beaten, spit upon starved for days on end, and yet everyday he told the guard that he loved him and prayed the Lord blessed him. Everytime he would tell his master that, the guard thought it to be disrespect and beat him some more.
However over time, as the man continued another prisoner asked him why if he knew he would be beaten did he keep telling the guard that, the pastor cried out in a loud voice because I do love him because Jesus loves him and I want him to know that!
The guard overheard it
As the days passed by the guard began to change his behavior toward the pastor, until one night the guards wife and children had left him bc of how harsh he was. He came into work his shift and was full of emotion the prisoner noticed and asked if he could pray for the guard, the guard then confided in the prisoner of what had happened with his family.
Over the next few weeks they spoke and became friends and the guard trusted in Jesus Christ.
This is what brings favor from God loving your enemies doing good to those who persecute you and spitefully use you.
Salves are supposed to live in such a way to witness both to thier master and the culture around them.
WHATEVER WE DO WE DO AS UNTO THE LORD THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE OF CHRISTIANITY NO MATTER WHAT SITUATION YOU FIND YOURSELF IN
The goal of Christianity is not that you go to Heaven when you die but that through the Holy SPirit you begin looking and behaving like Christ in how you love so that others in your circle can meet Him in intimate fellowship and go to Heaven with you.
If you are a Christian you are going to suffer. Is that a radical message in our day, if there is one thing that characterizes Western Christianity is Oh lets come to Jesus so I can be healed, lets come to Jesus so I can be rich, Lets come to Jesus so I can be smarter than you
GOD HAVE MERCY ON US WHAT HAVE WE DONE WITH THE MESSAGE OF THE CARPENTER FROM NAZARETH KILLED FOR TREASON?
We have turned it into a western prosperity message that can not be preached in India or Mexico, because its not gods message at all.
God never said come to me and I will fill your wallet, He never said come to me and Ill make things all better and you will never suffer
No he said Ill provide for your needs and you wont starve, and Ill be with you even unto the end of the age.
When you go through life with no problems and no criticisms and no negative reaction, we are floating on the leaf of culture and doing nothing for the kingdom of God.
strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.
For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know.
Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
you cannot let your peace and joy be determined by circumstances or its a half a second from being gone, and how many times have I talked with Christians and some tragedy has happned and they look at me and say why m,e why this why now, and I unerstand grief can cause these emotions.
but we need to remember there will be hard seasons of life. We have been taught oh God loves you nothings gonna happen to you.... YOU ARE PART OF A FALLEN WORLD BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE its not a signof God love or lack of love.
ITS NOT ABOUT YOU OR ME ITS ABOUT HIM AND CHRISTLIKENESS
It is impossible to grow without resistance (working out)
For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
WHAT PURPOSE? Christlikeness, sharing your faith
Christ also suffered for you-
what did the early apostles who walked with him and knew him and learned from him what did they say about Jesus?
what in their opinion were the major truths about Christ?
CHRIST SUFFERED which was extremely suprising to a Jewish audience they were expecting a judge/king who would overthrow Rome and set up and Earthly kingdom here on this planet.
Nobody suffered as unjustly ads Jesus Christ. The only perfect man who ever lived was misunderstood by listeners, maligned by enemies, forsaken by family, betrayed by friends, abandoned by disciples, tortured by law enforcers, and executed by politicians.
The only one in history who had every right to complain remained silent.
The only man who could have called on God to judge His enemies quietly endured undeserved judgement.
who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;
and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
He did all of this not for himself but for us, Dying in our place on the cross -the just for the unjust He healed our souls so that we can live a new life of righteousness
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
Christ came for 3 reasons
He came to fully and completely reveal the heavenly father to us
The OT describes God Jesus is a family member and to see jesus is to fully se God
John 14 Thomas said SHOW US THE FATHER and Jesus said HAVE I BEEN WITH YOU SO LONG THOMAS AND YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT TO SEE ME IS TO SEE THE FATHER?
2. He came to die on our behalf
The innocent one died for the guilty this is ridiculous to American minds
that Jesus the Holy Lamb of GOd that takes away the sin of the world one dying for the sins of the many!
This is Jewish sacrificial system taken to a new level the book of Hebrews it was never the blood of bulls and goats that took away sin but the death of one innocent spotless lamb died once for all that dealt with human sin.
3. He came to give us an example to follow
SHOW US HOW WE OUGHT TO LIVE
Jesus is the perfect ideal human being
He is what humans should be, would be and one day will be in the will of god We were created for so much more and like the video I shared this week the reason the world is in turmoil is because people dont look to Christ anymore we think that God serves us rather than us serving Him
Jesus came to reveal the father, die in our place and give us an example to follow
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
How does GOd deal with sin?
(good judge)
God has to deal with sinhe cannot be a good judge and not deal with it so He bore our punishment in our place
But people wanna control their own lives and thier own desitnies but the Bibles clear your life is not your own you were bought with a price
his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance.
Now the men who wanted to kill Jesus didn’t just wanna kill him they wanted him judged by god, now how do you do that well you take him to Rome and have him crucified and he will be cursed by God bc he was hung on a tree
but what the devil didnt know was that by doing this he was paying the sin debt for all who would trust in Christ and Christ alone what Satan meant for evil god meant for good
So WHAT KYLE DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?
Well if you have never entrusted your soul to Jesus Christ you need to know that your sins have not been paid for and the only way to be made right with God to be justified (just if I had never sinned) is to cry out to Jesus for the forgiveness of your sin.
But also how is your humble submission to the commands of the Lord doing?
How is your witnessing going?
Do you love your enemies?
Are you concerned with souls, or how you feel?
Peter calls his readers and all of us, to submit willingly to people in authority even if they behave unjustly,. But he doesnt make this call simply to keep the peace or uphold a world system. Rather he point us to Jesus as our utlimate example Crhsit entruted Himself to “HIMWHO JUDGES JUSTLY” and could therefore endure injustice with hope. Simalarly we can entrust ourselves to the Shepherd and guardian of our souls
For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
in short by following the example of Christ we can secure an unshakable hope in hurtful times.
Many of us today are not suffering persecution at the hands of civil government or masters but it is coming, we live in an increasingly pluralistic culture growing less and less tolerant of christ we face challenges from political and social movements in which they judge us unfairly.
Even seek to rid Chrstianity and its values not realizing it is these values which are their only hope.
Were more likely to be mistreated for our relationship with Christ if we are vocal about it
NOW IS THE TIME CHURCH TO REMAIN HUMBLE IN AFFLICTION, AND POINT THE WORLD TO JESUS CHRIST AND SHOW HIS LOVE TO ALL PEOPLE
More can be done in prayer and love than can be done by any other action we can take We must cry out to God for our country and for those in authority over us and trust god to do something and trust His decision whatever that may be.