October 2, 2022

Online Worship for Trinity Sixteen, Sunday October 2, 2022

Preacher:
Passage: 1 Peter 2:18-25
Service Type:

Sermon for Trinity Sixteen – Sunday October 2, 2022
Calvary/Marquette ● Soli Deo Gloria

God’s Grace, mercy and peace are yours in abundance, for you have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. Amen.

1 Peter 2:18–25 (EHV)
18Slaves, submit to your masters with total respect, not only to those who are good and kind but also to those who are harsh. 19For this is favorable: if a person endures sorrows while suffering unjustly because he is conscious of God. 20For what credit is it to you if you receive a beating for sinning and patiently endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is favorable with God.

21Indeed, you were called to do this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you would follow in his steps. 22He did not commit a sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. 23When he was insulted, he did not insult in return. When he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself carried our sins in his body on the tree so that we would be dead to sins and alive to righteousness. By his wounds you were healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but you are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

In the Name of Jesus, the Christ,
Who suffered unjustly bearing our sins,
Dear Fellow Redeemed in His Precious Blood –

It’s sometimes said of certain dogs, “He’s all bark and no bite.” In other words, a certain breed or particular dog may growl menacingly and appear ferocious...but when a bigger dog draws near, they run or roll over and expose their bellies. It’s all a show.

The same might be said of most human beings. We have strong opinions (hiding behind a screen on social media, from the privacy of our own homes) and from time to time may speak very bluntly...but when faced with real opposition or violence...we are likely to quietly walk away. We act all tough...but when someone bigger gets in our face about it, our toughness goes out the window.

We don’t go out of our way to make other people angry or invite them to do us harm. I may wear my team’s jersey at an away game...but that doesn’t mean that I’m willing to get beat up for it.

What could possibly be good about getting beat up?

This morning we continue our study of the 1st Letter of Peter and we are forced to answer a similar question: “What’s Good about Suffering for Good?” This Scripture teaches us that if we suffer for doing good, it is attractive or pleasing to God. In fact, we are taught that part of our calling as Christians is to be willing to suffer for the Savior as we follow Him.

Since this is the Word of God given by the Holy Spirit to Peter and not merely his words, we ask that God the Holy Spirit would help us to understand these words and be led to thank God for what He has done for us through Jesus’ suffering and death. We begin with the words of Jesus as our prayer: “Sanctify them by your truth, O Lord, Your Word is truth.” Amen.

+++++++

My wife and I attend sporting events at Northern Michigan. We watch each game unfold, but sometimes we also ‘people watch’. In other words, when there is a lull in the action, we look around and take note of other people, observing how they dress and the things that they do – like the fellow that sits near us at hockey games who spends the time reading a book.

Now I wouldn’t be surprised if other people notice us. Generally speaking, we human beings do pay attention to what other people are doing. It should be important then that we don’t act in a way that doesn’t reflect who and what we are – Christians.

People see us and when they know we are Christians, they expect us to be different. In the 2nd Chapter of this letter, we’ve noticed that God urges us to live in a way that is honorable. God would have us live law-abiding lives and submit to the government authorities in whatever nation we dwell.

We are to do this because we have been set free from Satan, from sin and from death eternal in hell. Moreover, we are to live Godly lives so that when foolish people would drag our and our Savior’s name in the dirt, they have nothing to say.
So, after urging us to submit to the governing authorities, the Holy Spirit turns to the relationship between employer and employee:

18Slaves, submit to your masters with total respect, not only to those who are good and kind but also to those who are harsh. 19For this is favorable: if a person endures sorrows while suffering unjustly because he is conscious of God. 20For what credit is it to you if you receive a beating for sinning and patiently endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is favorable with God.

Slavery...in the Bible? Um, yep. The Bible does mention slavery, without approving of it or calling for its removal. In fact, among the Jews and in the New Testament, slavery wasn’t the ugly racial slavery of the Americas.

 When people fell upon hard times in the Old Testament, they had the option of seeking out a wealthy neighbor and offering to become a bond servant. The bond servant wasn’t purchased, but willingly served as an employee under a wealthy landowner in exchange for housing and payment. A person didn’t remain a bond servant for life... but on average about seven years.

 In the New Testament, slavery wasn’t race based like in the early Americas. When one nation fell to another in war its people were carried off as slaves, whatever their ethnic background. Moreover, just like in the Old Testament people could choose to become slaves because of hard times. As slaves they could buy land and get married. They were even protected by law. They were guaranteed clothing, food and lodging.

In fact, in the Greek New Testament there are a few different words that describe different types of slaves...which in some cases were more like employees than what we think of as slaves. In fact, the word that’s used here in verse 18 refers to household servants, to people who were often counted as part of the family, like a hired cook or butler.

Many slaves in the 1st Century became Christians. Some of them had kind masters. Some had crooked masters. Whichever was the case, God wanted them to submit to their masters with respect and cooperate by doing their jobs. While slaves who were not Christians would cut corners and be disrespectful, Christian servants were to live their faith and obey their masters, even when they were oppressive and unfair.

Why? Well, because when a Christian suffers wrongfully for doing what is right...it is pleasing to God. It’s not fun, but when a person does what is right and is persecuted and made fun of and still doggedly does what is right...God is pleased. Human beings may see it as insane...but God is pleased when His people do what is right especially when it’s difficult.

What’s good about suffering for doing good? It’s good because it’s attractive, it’s pleasing to God.

What is more...people notice the way Christians act and the way they live. These words don’t only have application to 1st Century Household Servants either, but to us today. As Christian employees, we are to do our best no matter what we think of our employer. We are not to steal from our employer by cutting corners or being lazy. When we do what is right, people will notice and may even ask us why we are Christians and why we do what is right even when it means being treated shamefully.

It’s then that we should point them to Jesus the Savior, who is the reason why we live the way we do. In fact, we recognize that suffering for good...is part of our calling as Christians. In fact, as Christians we shouldn’t be surprised when people treat us shamefully.

Jesus Himself said it would be this way. The Gospel of John records His words (John 15:18-21, ESV):

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

So, it really shouldn’t surprise us that Jesus’ disciple Peter, writing as directed by the Holy Spirit, tells us that suffering for doing good is part of our calling as Jesus’ disciples. It gives us an opportunity as forgiven sinners to emulate our Savior Jesus who submitted to far worse in order to reconcile us to God. The secret to enduring suffering patiently is to be found in what Jesus has already done for us.

21Indeed, you were called to do this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you would follow in his steps. 22He did not commit a sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. 23When he was insulted, he did not insult in return. When he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself carried our sins in his body on the tree so that we would be dead to sins and alive to righteousness. By his wounds you were healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but you are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

It means something to be an American. It means that we respect the flag. It means that we appreciate what has been done for us by servicemen to secure and protect our freedoms. It also means that some people in this world will hate us simply because we are Americans.

It means something to be a Christian. We weren’t born Christians, but fallen sinners. When you were baptized your sins were washed away because Jesus paid your debt of sin. In order to secure your freedom from Satan, from sin and from the eternal death in hell – Jesus took your sins and mine upon Himself and suffered and died for them. When it was all over, Jesus arose from the dead to confirm that the debt of your sin was paid in full. There are some people in this world ruled by Satan that will hate you simply because you are Christians.

As Christians we are called to suffer in this life for His Name. However, when we are mocked and persecuted for our faith in Jesus, we endure it by remembering what He suffered for us. In truth, nothing that we suffer for him comes close to what He suffered for us.

Christ suffered -- but not because He did anything wrong. He didn’t commit a sin. Even though He had done nothing wrong, He didn’t speak out against those who brought false testimony against Him. He was silent, willing to suffer unjustly to save you.

Christ suffered because He took up our sins, bearing them in His body on the Cross. Even when He suffered, hanging on the cross, and bystanders mocked him, He did not speak evil of them, but prayed for them, saying (Luke 23:34, ESV):

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

When they insulted Jesus – He did not insult them in return.
When He suffered unjustly – He did not make threats but trusted that divine justice would be served.
Jesus did all of this to set you free from your sins. Jesus did this to set you free from what your sins have earned – eternal separation from God forever in hell. Jesus did this so that when you suffer for doing good, you may also with His help endure it and even rejoice to be counted worthy to suffer this little bit for Him (Philippians 1:29, ESV):

29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ
you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

Whatever the future brings, let us rejoice to be Jesus’ people. Let us look to our Good Shepherd and rely upon Him to carry us through the difficult days until we reach His side and everlasting glory.

My God desires the soul’s salvation, Me also He desires to save;
Therefore with Christian resignation All earthly troubles I will brave.
His will be done eternally: What pleases God, that pleases me.
(TLH 529:5)
Amen.

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