Honoring Christ as Lord 1 Peter 3:13-17
Pain and suffering comes in all kinds of packages. Some of you suffer from chronic health issues that have caused you great pain and suffering. Others, who are with us this morning, have suffered the great stress and sorrow of divorce. This past Tuesday evening many of us were with Donnie and Tiffany Henderson and their family as they grieved the loss of their young, 20 year old daughter, Veronica. You can fail to get into the college you hoped and prayed would accept you and feel great sorrow. There are athletes all over the country who have suffered a season-ending injury during the first three weeks of the season, and the loss weighs heavy on them. Some of us have done things in the past that cause us great pain and sorrow to this very morning. Those who are married can suffer the loss of their husband or wife and feel intense grief and pain. I could fill the rest of our morning with the long list of the ways pain and suffering come knocking at our doors.
This morning I want to narrow our focus to one specific kind of pain and suffering, the suffering that comes because we are followers of Jesus. There is pain and suffering that is shared by all people, like the sorrows I just shared with you. None of the sorrows we talked about are solely Christian sorrows for they are experienced by people from every walk of life and from every faith, including atheists. What I want us to focus on this morning is the suffering that can come into your life simply because you are a follower of Jesus.
In our Scripture for this morning found in 1 Peter 3:13-17, we find Peter preparing the followers of Jesus for what could lie ahead. He addressed his letter, in the very first verse, to those who were “strangers and aliens” living among the people of the Roman Empire. Peter mentions the suffering these brothers and sisters were enduring because of their commitment to Jesus in each of the three chapters we have read so far, and he is not done. In the next chapter, 1 Peter 4:14-16, we read,
14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. (1 Peter 4:14-16 NIV)
There is no question that the followers of Jesus were being persecuted, but most Bible teachers believe that the persecution at this point was more socially oriented rather than physical or government sponsored persecution. In just a few short years Emperor Nero would unleash his fury against the followers of Jesus in Rome and many would be tortured and killed, but that had not happened yet.
The pain and suffering brought about because of persecution comes in a variety of ways, some much more severe than others. There are Christians today, living in the United States and in other nations that feel the pain of being socially marginalized because of their faith. There are other Christians this morning who find themselves living in countries where their freedom to worship the Lord and live out their faith are being severely limited, and in some nations, their very lives are threatened because they are followers of Jesus. In July of this year, top Chinese government authorities told Chinese church leaders they must do more to implement their strict rules on religion. The article, from Persecution.org, stated,
Officials reiterated that church leaders must make President Xi Jinping’s teachings on socialism and other communist teachings central to any preaching and sermons in Chinese churches. (Persecution.org https://tinyurl.com/4r5exumc)
Ten years ago, when ISIS had a stronghold on much of Syria, the members of ISIS would paint the Arabic letter “N” on the houses of those they thought to be Christians. The “N” stood for “Nazarene.” If your house or car was painted with an “N” you had to leave the country or be killed.
You can see, there are different levels of persecution that have been and will be suffered by those who are followers of Jesus. Peter wants to prepare his friends living in the Roman Empire for what could come in the future. Let’s take a look at our Scripture for this morning.
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 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. (1 Peter 3:13-17 ESV)
There was a time in our country when it was assumed that people were Christians. Being a follower of Jesus and attending church on Sunday was socially acceptable, if not expected. In 1937, 73% of all Americans attended church. Those involved in attending church hovered around 70% until the 1980s. Today, that number is about 20% for those who attend church weekly and 57% who seldom or never attend a church, according to the Gallup pollsters.
The beliefs and practices of those who follow Jesus were more acceptable in days gone by, but those days are gone. Today, many see the followers of Jesus, those who actually seek to live out their faith in following Jesus, as a threat and a hindrance to progress in our nation. Many see us as backwards, uneducated, self-righteous, and a branch of a certain political party. I share all of this with us to say this, Peter’s preparation for his friends living as strangers and aliens in the Roman Empire is something we need to take to heart because we do not know what the future holds for the followers of Jesus living in the United States. In verse 13, Peter writes,
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? (1 Peter 3:13 ESV)
It’s a good thought and a principle that is generally true. If you and I are “zealous” for what is “good” then there is less of a chance of others meaning to harm us, but this is certainly not always the case. We find example after example of those who were zealous for doing good who found themselves in trouble in Scripture and it is certainly possible that the same can happen to us. There is no greater example of someone who was zealous for doing good than Jesus, and yet He found himself facing opposition at every turn. Peter is well aware of this and that is why he writes in verse 14,
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, (1 Peter 3:14 ESV)
It is so important that we highlight “for righteousness sake,” in this verse. We can suffer because of bad decisions we have made in our marriages or at work, we can bring suffering upon ourselves because of our decision to break the law, but this is not the kind of suffering Peter has in mind. He says, “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake…” What does suffering for righteousness’ sake look like? That’s a great question! Let me give you an example from God’s Word.
In Acts 5, Peter and the followers of Jesus were telling the crowd about the new life that is available to those who will receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and many people were becoming followers of Jesus. Also, many sick people were being healed. The Jewish high priest and members of the Sadducees were becoming increasingly “jealous,” according to Acts 5:17. They had Peter and others thrown into jail. The Lord provided for their escape and they went right back to sharing Jesus with others. The authorities had them brought in again and this time they would have killed them if not for a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who cautioned them that they might be fighting against God. Then, in Acts 5:40-42, we read,
40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. (Acts 5:40-42 NIV)
They weren’t setting up scams or raping and pillaging the people of Jerusalem. They were zealous for Jesus and doing the things He called them to do. Because of this they suffered. After they had been beaten, they rejoiced “because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”
If suffering comes your way or my way because we are zealous to do what God has called us to do, then we should never back down from suffering–we should rejoice that He has counted us worthy of suffering for His Name. If friends drop us, if our boss threatens us, if members of our family tell us we’ve got to stop–we can’t allow social pressure to silence us.
One of the most talented and talked about athletes in the last Olympics was Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. Sydney never hesitates to give God the glory and evidently some people told her she needed to quiet down or she might lose some of her sponsors. Sydney said,
…There’s been a lot of talk that I’ve received just about, you know, ‘You might not want to talk so much about [faith]. You might lose endorsements, you might lose deals…I don’t live for the approval of people, so I don’t have to worry about any of those things. And even if an endorsement or something wants to leave, I know that God will provide for me in the way He sees fit. So I’m not going to compromise the truth just to make people feel more comfortable. (Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. August 8, 2024)
Sydney understands what Peter wrote in the last sentence of verse 14: “Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.” Far too often we withdraw when we fear what other people will say or think about us or what they might possibly do to us. It’s really interesting that Peter wrote these words because he did exactly what he is now telling others not to do.
Do you remember the story Luke told in Luke 22? Jesus had been arrested and was on trial for His life. Peter and some other people were warming themselves by a fire in the courtyard. A servant girl recognized Peter and pointed him out to the others as one of Jesus’ followers. Peter denied it. Then, someone else pointed Peter out as one of Jesus’ followers and Peter denied it again. An hour later, a third person identified Peter as one of Jesus’ followers and for the third time Peter denied even knowing Jesus. After the third time, Luke tells us,
61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:55-62 NIV)
Regardless of what it would cost him, never again would Peter deny his Lord. He would rejoice in suffering for Jesus, even when it meant being crucified upside down for no other reason than he was one of Jesus’ followers.
Before we focus on Peter’s willingness to suffer for Jesus’ Name, I think it is important to identify why Peter denied Jesus by the fire that night. Did Peter not love Jesus? That can’t be it. I’ve read the Gospels and it is very clear to me that Peter loved Jesus with all of his heart. Why did Peter deny Jesus? It was because he was afraid. He was afraid that those who arrested Jesus would arrest him as well. He was afraid that those around the fire would turn him in. His fear of what would happen to him was greater in that moment than his love for Jesus. If you find yourself in a situation where your love and devotion to Jesus is threatening your relationships with others, you too will be tempted to set aside your devotion to Jesus in order to get along or to avoid conflict or worse. Peter says to us this morning, “Don’t fear them and do not be troubled” by the troubles that come your way because of your love and devotion to Jesus.
It is one thing to tell people, “Don’t be afraid!” To be honest, in my experience, that really doesn’t work the majority of the time. The emotion of fear is strong and the only way to overcome our fears is to possess a greater desire than the fear that has its hold on us. Edward T. Welch wrote a popular book titled, Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest. In a blogpost, Ed wrote about his own fears.
Have you seen horses with blinders on their eyes so they don’t get spooked on city streets? I am trying to wear those too. At first, my fears seemed beyond my control and my mind was not my own, but fears can be fought. Each day has times when I have to practice this tunnel vision. This sounds counterintuitive, but it’s faith-based. Fear wants our attention but not so we can overcome it—it wants to control us. Blinders are a statement of faith: God will care for these anxieties; I will focus on the grace given me today—not the fears. (Edward T. Welch. https://www.ccef.org/update-fear)
That’s great advice! Rather than focusing on what they might think or what they might say, we need to focus on who God is, how He has provided for His own throughout history, and how He calls us to be faithful to sharing the Good News about Jesus with everyone. Peter puts it another way in verse 15.
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, (1 Peter 3:15 ESV)
In some other translations of the New Testament, like the King James Version and the New American Standard Version, we read, “sanctify” Christ as Lord. The Greek word translated “sanctify,” or “honor” in the ESV, is the word “ἁγιάζω” (hagiazō), and it means to “make holy, or to set apart.” We most often talk about how, through Jesus’ sinless sacrifice on the cross, sinners can become cleansed, forgiven, sanctified, and set apart for God. Peter says we are to “honor” or “set apart” Christ as Lord. When the Lord sanctifies us He makes us holy, but when we sanctify the Lord we set Him apart as the Holy One, far above and beyond any other in our life. When we “honor Christ the Lord as holy,” we confess and express our desire to surrender our will to His, we joyfully surrender every aspect and decision of our lives to Him, our highest aim in life is to glorify Him and not please ourselves.
Can you see how our desire to set Jesus before us as Lord and King of our life is the desire that drives out all fear? John said that “Perfect love drives out all fear...” (1 John 4:18) and He is Perfect Love. My love and commitment to Jesus can lead to others being disappointed in me, even losing relationships that are important to me, but His love for me drives out the fear of the possibility of ever losing His love. Paul wrote,
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:35-37 NIV)
My desire to please Him drives out my fear of their rejection. Paul wrote, in Romans 8:31, “...If God is for us, who can be against us?” His promise of an inheritance that can neither perish, spoil, or fade–eternal life spent in His presence in heaven– drives out all of my fear of missing out in this life. Do you remember what Paul wrote to the Colossian believers? Look at Colossians 3:2-3 with me.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:2-3 NIV)
Living for Him, serving Him, knowing Him, experiencing His grace, receiving His mercy, and desiring to hear Him say one day, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Now enter into your rest.” These are the joys of life that those of this world know nothing about, but which are the greatest joys in all of life! David wrote, “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.” (Psalm 4:7 ESV) You want to watch the fear of what others might think or say about you lose its power? Set apart Jesus, hold up Jesus as your highest aim, your greatest desire in all of life.
I want us to read 1 Peter 3:15-16 together before we leave here this morning. I want us to pay special attention to how Peter calls on the brothers and sisters in these Roman provinces to be ready, not just ready to be shamed, mocked, or persecuted in a more harsh way, but to be ready to explain the hope they have in Jesus. Let’s read together.
15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. (1 Peter 3:15-16 NLT)
Today, it seems like we create evangelism experiences to get the word out about the hope that is found in Jesus. There are Christian movies, concerts, conferences, TikTok and Instagram accounts that are designed to share Jesus with others. There’s nothing wrong with any of those efforts, but they are no substitute for you and me. Peter tells us, just like he told those early followers of Jesus, “always be ready” to share the reason for your hope in Jesus with others.
There is something very unique about Christianity and it is this: Jesus’ heart's desire is for those who are not here, for those who do not yet know Him. Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world and make disciples. Jesus said, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 ESV). Peter echoed Jesus in 1 Peter 2:12. We are to reflect Jesus’ love, grace, and mercy to those who do not know Him, to those who do not believe in Him as their Lord and Savior. We are to serve unbelievers, love unbelievers, so that they will see Jesus living through us and desire to know Him for themselves.
We do a really good job of serving. You have such a heart to help others and the ways you help others through the many ministries of this church is mind-boggling. I’m not so sure that we are as well-equipped or bold in sharing, verbally sharing, the hope we have in Jesus. I remember when Dr. Darnell told me he would hire me to be the youth minister at First Christian Church in Plano, Texas…if I would go back to the seminary I had planned to drop out of. Dr. Darnell had agreed with me that it was a very liberal seminary and now he was saying I had to go back if I wanted to work with him. When I quizzed him about it, he said, “Mike, when you get out in the real world you are going to be around people who believe everything under the sun. You need to be prepared to not only share what you believe, you need to be prepared to share why you believe what you believe.” He wanted me to read the books they would give me at Brite Divinity School and then he would give me other books to read so that I could truly get a liberal education. We all need to be able to share not only the hope we have in Jesus, but the reasons we believe Jesus is the hope of the entire world, for all who will believe.
Jesus will open doors for you and me to both serve and to speak. When He does open the door for us to share the hope we have in Jesus, it is so important that we share with gentleness and respect, with a clear conscience. One of my favorite Bible teachers is a man named R.C. Sproul. Dr. Sproul went home to be with the Lord in 2017, but his insights into God’s Word are still with us today. He told a story one time about a conversation he had with a professor of philosophy about the existence of God. The professor was skeptical about whether we can give a significant reason for God's existence. Dr. Sproul walked the professor through Scripture. After a while, the professor said, “Well, I can’t argue with you, but you are an intellectual bully.” Dr. Sproul said he was surprised by the professor’s remarks, but that he realized at that moment that our answers for those who have questions should be offered with gentleness and meekness.
Before we go, I want to urge you to keep your eyes wide open for opportunities to share the reasons for the hope you have found in Jesus. If you will keep your eyes wide open, you will be amazed at the opportunities He will bring your way.
Dr. Helen Roseveare graduated from Cambridge with a medical degree and spent her life as a medical missionary in the Congo, in Africa. Her story is remarkable and you should look her up. Later in life, Helen had returned to Ireland because she had some medical problems that needed attention. Helen visited the hospital in Belfast and found out she had breast cancer. While Helen was leaving the hospital to board the train she saw a woman standing at the train stop who looked despondent. Helen asked, “Are you ok?” The woman said, “I’m not ok.” The train arrived and the two women boarded together. When they took their seats Helen asked her why she was not ok? The woman said, “I’ve just been given the most dreadful news from my doctor.” Helen said, “I’ve been given bad news as well.” Then Helen began to share with the woman the hope she had in Jesus in spite of her diagnosis. Before the two women stepped off the train, Helen had prayed with the woman to become a follower of Jesus.
The common trial of the two women provided Helen with an opportunity to share the peace and the hope that only Jesus can provide. We have no idea when or how the Lord will open a door for us to share with others, but we can make sure we are prepared.
How about you? Do you know the hope and peace that only Jesus can provide? Do you find yourself in the midst of a trial right now that is keeping you up at night? Have you ever considered that maybe the Lord desires to use your trial to draw you to Himself? If you are experiencing smooth sailing at this time in your life then you should be thankful. What a blessing! At the same time, you need to prepare because there is a storm on the way. You need not fear the future, the suffering that comes to all people or the suffering that comes to the followers of Jesus from those who mock us and desire to harm us because of our love for our Savior, if you will set apart Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Won’t you invite Him in this morning?
Mike Hays
Britton Christian Church
September 22, 2024
