Lent 2021 - 1st Sunday of Lent-Feb 21st
Notes
Transcript
Suffering
Suffering
18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. 21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
Message: Drawing closer through suffering.
Overall Idea: Suffering is part of our existence as human beings. As Jesus was fully man and fully God, he suffered also. However, his suffering brought with it authority and power over death that gives life to those that choose it. We then, after choosing life can share in that authority and power for the glory of God.
vrs. 18 —> flesh (sarx) in contrast of spirit (pneuma)
—> Matt. 26:41, Mark 14:38, John 3:6, Rom. 8:4-6, 1 Tim. 3:16
1 Peter: An Introduction and Commentary (i) For Christ Suffered in Order to Bring You to God (3:18)
Our Lord willingly suffered physical harm, even death, for the sake of eternal, spiritual gain—that he might bring us to God. Peter’s readers should not therefore be surprised to find themselves ‘following in his steps’.
vrs. 20—>
—> When God’s patience waited in the days of Noah also suggests human, rather than angelic, disobedience. God’s patience waited for human beings to repent before bringing the judgment of the flood (this is also a frequent theme in extra-biblical literature), but never is there any hint that fallen angels have a chance to repent—it is only given to sinful human beings (cf. 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6).
Grudem, W. A. (1988). 1 Peter: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 17, p. 167). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
—> By saying that Christ went and preached rather than just saying that he ‘preached’, Peter suggests that Christ did not stay in heaven but ‘went’ to where people were disobeying, and there preached to them through the lips of Noah. The content of this preaching was not a message of final condemnation (see Views 3 and 5 on pp. 212–213) or the completion of redemption (see View 4 on p. 213), but concerned the need to repent and come to God for salvation. This is what Noah would have preached to those around him (even without extra-biblical literature we would draw this conclusion from 2 Pet. 2:4). It is the right message to preach when people are disobeying ‘while God’s patience is waiting’ (cf. 2 Pet. 3:9).
Grudem, W. A. (1988). 1 Peter: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 17, p. 168). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
vrs. 22 —> This theme of Christ’s ‘session’ (i.e. his sitting at God’s right hand) is often mentioned in the New Testament (Matt. 22:44, 26:64; Acts 2:33–34; 5:31; 7:56; Rom. 8:34; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3, 13; 10:12; 12:2; cf. Ps. 110:1). It is used by the New Testament authors as an indication of Christ’s present universal authority, the finality of his completed work of redemption, and his immeasurable worthiness to receive our praise (note Phil. 2:9; 1 Tim. 3:16; Rev. 5:12). Moreover, Christ’s ascension foreshadows our future ascension and rule with him (1 Thess. 4:17; Rev. 2:26–27; 3:21).
Grudem, W. A. (1988). 1 Peter: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 17, p. 173). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil.
Intro
Have you ever come into something in the middle and felt kind of off?
There are certain movies that I would swear I have never seen completely through because I always seem to catch them about 30 minutes in.
Last night was a perfect example...
Today we are starting our Lenten sermon series —>
“Closing the Gap: Drawing Close to God in Discipleship”
—> We will be looking at some of the epistle readings, or the letters found in the New Testament, from the lectionary.
~ Our lectionary text today comes from
18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. 21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
After reading this text I immediately went back to that first line… “For Christ ALSO suffered...”
ALSO… meaning someone else has suffered. Well who has suffered then Peter?
14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil.
Peter’s audience is that of Christians in Asia Minor. We aren’t 100% sure in this is a Jewish Chirstian audience, a Gentile Christian audience, or a mix. What we do know however, is that they are in the minority as believers and our suffering for it.
Suffering is mentioned 25 times in the letters of the New Testament by different writers to different audience.
Suffering seems to be a part of human existence and in particular our existence as Christians, but the question then is how do we respond in our suffering? How do we react to suffering?
1 —> We should be ready for it. v. 14
14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated,
2 —> We should be grateful for the opportunity to suffer for doing good. v. 15-17
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
—> Suffering for doing good is a sign that you are on the right track.
—> “The devil doesn’t waste bullets.”
3—> We should realize that our suffering unites us with Christ as Christ also suffered (v. 18) and draws us closer to God.
18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,
The Big Take Away—>
Jesus’ suffering closed the gap between God and us once and for all, our suffering can help close the gap between God and us, and God and others