Persevering in Hope

1 Peter 3:13-22

Peter’s audience was suffering greatly at the hands of their enemies. This entire letter is an encouragement to keep going and to not quit.

1. There is Blessing in Suffering for Christ

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

v.13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

What is Peter talking about?

Of course there is harm for doing good.

v.16 - revile your good behavior

1 Peter 4:19 … while doing good.”

Because God is our overseer, his eyes are upon the righteous, his ears are open to our prayers and he is sovereign over our suffering. So therefore we no nothing can harm us.

v.14a But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake…

Even if we should suffer for righteousness’ sake can mean really any type of suffering. Not just persecution, but when we are striving to do what is good.

v.14b…you will be blessed.

In this suffering there is blessing.

We see in 1 Peter 3:9 by not repaying evil for evil we might obtain a blessing.

But What is that blessing?

God’s overseeing v.12,

His openness to our prayers. v.12

We see it also in 1 Peter 1:7, that it may result in praise and glory and honor.

We see Jesus saying in Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

v.14c Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.

Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. Isaiah 8:12-13

Psalm 118:5-7 Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. 6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7 The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Hebrews 13:5-7 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

v.15a But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy

Honoring Christ the Lord as holy is the opposite of fearing our enemies.

Honor Christ the Lord = means to believe truly and sincerely that Christ alone is Lord.

Instead of fearing we should be focusing on His supremacy, His sovereignty and His preeminent over all things.

Philippians 1:19-21 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

v.15b Always being prepared to make a defense who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you

This is to explain our grounds or reason for putting our hope in Christ.

Be prepared - there are some preparations on our part

Make a defense - Do we love Jesus more than comfort?

To anyone who ask - Why are they asking? Because they see we are not afraid.

For a reason for the hope that is in you - we need to know the why.

v.15c With gentleness and respect v. 15c

in a hostile world our defense there is a temptation to respond harshly.

The result of making a defense with gentleness and respect

v.16a Having a good conscience

So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. Acts 24:16

Your conscience is an indication of how you are following God.

We can have a bad conscience.

Our enemy may be put to shame. v.16c

v.17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

1 Peter 2:20 “For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure?”

Let’s not bring suffering upon ourselves as a result of our sin.

1 Peter 4:15 “But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.”

v.17b God’s Will in Suffering

When God will’s suffering in our lives it is for good.

Not all Christians possess the spiritual gift of evangelism but we are still called to make Christ known. We should know and be quick to explain why he is more precious to us than all else and why we are prepared to suffer for his sake.

2. Jesus Has the Ultimate Victory

1. The unbelieving enemies and especially the spiritual powers of evil cannot win. They were defeated at the cross.

Colossians 2:14-15 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

v.18 a For Christ also suffered once for sins…

Christ also suffered: Peter is reminding us again that Jesus suffered.

Once: It was a complete and final work. Not a daily sacrifice. “once for all”

For Sins: He suffered for our evil, so we don’t have to.

v. 18b That he might bring us to God…

Romans 5:10-12 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

v.18c Being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.

This is not saying that Jesus’ body did not get resurrected and only His spirit. This is speaking of the flesh and the spirit. Walking in the way of the Spirit.

Conclusion: Christ suffered for us so therefore we should embrace undeserved suffering.

vv.19-20a In which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey

These were bound demons.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

This passage brings real comfort to the persecuted church. That Jesus is Lord over all things.

v.20b “when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight person…

A Few “eight”: The New Testament Church was still relatively small in numbers, not being the majority. The were outnumbered but God was on their side.

Were brought safely through water: by means of the water. Salvation was from death not from the water.

2. Persevere because of what your baptism means. Baptism is a reminder of the victory in which we stand, the victory that Christ achieved by his death and resurrection.

v.21 baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you…

Corresponds to this: the flood

Peter adds “not as a removal of dirt from the body”

He doesn’t say but a removal of sin from the heart, that was not his point in saying that.

Baptism is a symbol of the victory we have in Christ.

An appeal to God A prayer

A Good conscience: Sign of someone working through salvation. Not being ready for baptism.

Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

1 Peter 1:3 born again to a living hop through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

v.22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God,

Ps 110:1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

Authorities, angels and powers are all subject to Jesus.