1 Peter 2:18-25

1 Peter  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Introduction

Have any of you ever been treated unfairly? If so, how did you react? Was the way you reacted negative or positive?
1 Peter 2:18–25 ESV
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
I had a former boss who did not like me.

Explanation

1 Peter 2:18-20 “Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.”
We need to handle the word, “servant.”
The word is not the commonly used, doulos, or slave, but oiketes, which is a slave but nuanced for the household.
How could Paul ask a slave to submit to his master? This is horrible.
1st Century Slavery was not 19th colonial slavery.
Slaves were generally well treated.
They had various professions including managers, overseers, doctors, nurses, teachers, musicians, and skilled artisans.
Extensive laws existed that concerned how slaves were treated in 1st Century.
They were normally paid for their services and could expect to eventually purchase their freedom.
However, their service was involuntary, and they were often forced into labor.
God grants grace to us when we endure sorrows that are unjustly thrown upon us.
Sometimes, you just need to weather injustice.
God uses people who suffer injustice in powerful ways.
Corrie ten Boom’s sister, Betsie, thanked the Lord even for the lice and fleas in the Nazi concentration camp where she was captured.
She suffered horribly and died in the concentration camp specifically built for the extermination of women, but God used her to lead scores of women to Christ.
The Gospel does not grant us the freedom to live sinfully or rebelliously.
We cannot do what we want simply because the gospel has freed us. The gospel has freed us to serve.
1 Peter 2:21 “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”
Even slavery can speak to the power of the gospel.
This truth does not diminish the beauty of the gospel, but it actually enhances it.
Think of how insignificant a slave must have felt at church. What can I do? I don’t even have my autonomy.
Camden Pulliam // Christ’s frees us to become a servant to all. //Corrie Ten Boom
Paul says, “the way you live your life shows others the life the Christ lived.”
We have an opportunity even in the most inopportune times, to shine the light of Jesus to others.
Instead of revolting, we reflect Christ’s character.
1 Peter 2:22-25 “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
Paul shows the nature of Christ’s sufferings.
He was reviled, and he did not revile.
He suffered, and he did not threaten.
The cross is the most just and unjust moment in human history.
God punished Jesus so that we can go free, but our perfect Jesus was struck for our sins.
It is not by the plush life of Jesus, but by the wounds that you are healed.

Application

When we do not get our way, we pray and share the gospel.
When others hurt us, we find ways to share the gospel with them.

Invitation

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