Because Christ Also Suffered

[0:00] And you can take out your Bible and you can get on over to the book of 1 Peter. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his footsteps.

[0:38] 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.

[0:52] 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.

[1:08] Father, thank you for your word to us today. Thank you for this longer portion from the middle of 2 Peter that we're going to explore together today.

[1:19] Would you please help me as I endeavor to be faithful to your word? Thank you for the privilege that I have had to prepare this week. Would you help me to serve the people who are gathered here well and faithfully?

[1:35] And would you help me to not be a distraction or in any way take away from what you would say to us today from your word? Father, would you help us to see the things here that we need to see, to believe the things that we ought to believe, and to obey the things that we ought to obey?

[1:54] We want to see our Savior, the Lord Jesus, as we have just had the privilege of hearing your word read to us, focusing our attention on Jesus.

[2:05] So would you please guide us during this time? In the name of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. What motivates you?

[2:25] One motivation is survival. Survival. If you are on an airplane and the flight attendant says to you, you should put on this parachute.

[2:36] Now you might be tempted to say, that looks uncomfortable. I don't want anything to do with that. But when the flight attendant says, you should put on this parachute because the plane is going down, you're going to do it.

[2:51] Survival is a motivator. Some of us are motivated by emotional needs. When Lois says to me, it would really mean a lot if you would schedule that meeting.

[3:03] Do you know what I do? I schedule the meeting. Because I know that it will mean a lot to her. Some of us are motivated by social influences, peer pressure.

[3:17] All of my friends are doing it. Everyone else is going to be there. That can be a very strong motivator. Some of us are motivated by conviction.

[3:29] The things that we believe. Your conscience. Your sense of right and wrong. Some of us are motivated by incentives, rewards, privileges, bonuses.

[3:44] And some of us are motivated by consequences. Loss of reward. Punishment.

[3:57] Losing out on opportunities. There's an additional motivator. And it is called identity. The motivator of identity means that people tend to act in ways that are consistent with who they believe they are.

[4:17] If you consider yourself to be a kind person. Then you are more likely to do kind things.

[4:28] If you think that you are a reader. Then you will be inclined to read books. If you think that you are a musician. Then practicing the piano won't feel like a chore.

[4:43] A coach who says, we are not quitters. We are champions. That coach is making an appeal to the identity of the team.

[4:55] With the hope of motivating them to do more than they think they're capable of. Identity is powerful because it comes from within.

[5:06] And identity is compelling because we will sacrifice, we'll go above and beyond, we'll do more than is expected in order to stay true to ourselves.

[5:23] And identity is important because it can be shaped by what you believe about yourself.

[5:34] Because identity is such a strong motivator, the writers of the New Testament consistently affirm what is true before directing their readers what they should do.

[5:48] We summarized this a couple of weeks ago with this pithy little phrase, knew you, knew do. This is the consistent pattern of the New Testament writers.

[5:58] And Peter follows this. Thank you, Josh, for opening our service this way. 1 Peter chapter 2 and verse number 9. You are a chosen race.

[6:09] A royal priesthood. A holy nation. A people for his own possession. This is who you are.

[6:19] This is your identity. Mike taught us last week. You are an ambassador. Verse number 11.

[6:29] Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles. To do what? Verse 13. Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution.

[6:49] Paul's teaching to citizens. Don't be politically subversive. Don't use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. Why?

[6:59] Why? Because you are identity. Verse number 16. God's servants. Servants of God.

[7:16] So, servants. Verse number 18. Servants. Servants. Servants. Be subject to your masters with all respect.

[7:29] Not only to the good and gentle. But also to the unjust. Slavery at Peter's time was not racially based.

[7:45] But it was still brutal. But it was still brutal. Slaves were often beaten, branded, and abused. They had no rights. Children born to slaves belonged to their masters.

[8:00] It was possible for a slave to purchase their freedom. But most slaves had no hope of ever being free.

[8:12] Peter's instruction to slaves is surprisingly simple and yet deeply challenging. Be subject to your masters.

[8:25] Even if that means unjust suffering. What could motivate a person to suffer unjustly?

[8:43] Identity. Notice the phrase, with all respect. You see it there in verse 18? With all respect.

[8:54] Literally, this is the phrase, in all fear. In all fear. Fear of what? Fear of who? Well, chapter 2 and verse 17.

[9:07] Fear God. And chapter 1, verse 17. Conduct yourselves with fear. Fear of who? Of God.

[9:22] Slaves should submit to their masters because they have a relationship with God.

[9:34] Godliness does not begin with a decision of my will, but with the devotion of my heart.

[9:44] And when godliness begins with identity. Who I am in relation to God. Then submission becomes an act of worship.

[9:58] Do you see that? When godliness begins with identity. Who I am in relationship with God. Then submission becomes an act of worship.

[10:16] Verse 19. For this is a gracious thing. When, notice, identity. Mindful of God.

[10:29] One endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it? When you sin and are beaten for it, you endure.

[10:39] 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.

[10:50] To what? To do good, suffer for it, and to keep doing good. To this you have been called because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps.

[11:06] 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.

[11:25] He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

[11:38] 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.

[11:54] I love how Peter ends this exhortation to the slaves. You may be a slave with a master, but you have a greater master.

[12:06] It's Jesus. He is the real overseer of your soul. I wonder if this is true about you.

[12:19] I wonder if Jesus is the overseer of your soul. Have you been healed by the wounds that Jesus received? Can you say, Jesus bore my sin in his body on the tree?

[12:39] As Peter turns his attention to Christian wives, there's a word that we should not overlook.

[12:50] Just glance down in your Bible at chapter 3 and verse number 1 and notice the word likewise. Do you see it there? Likewise. Do you remember doing dot-to-dots?

[13:03] Isaac has a big dot-to-dot book. If you want to see the greatest dot-to-dot you have ever seen, go look in that book. We are not talking child's play dot-to-dots here.

[13:14] Those things go up to 3, 4, 5, 6 hundred. Lots of dots to connect. Likewise here in this text is a dot.

[13:28] And it connects us to other dots that came before it. Just look down in your Bible and follow these dots. Trace them back. Notice likewise in our verse, number chapter 3, verse 1.

[13:41] But then notice these previous dots. Chapter 2 and verse 20. In the sight of God. Chapter 2 and verse 19.

[13:52] Mindful of God. Chapter 2 and verse 18 that we just looked at. With all respect or in fear of God. And then chapter 13 or chapter 2 verse 13.

[14:05] Be subject for the Lord's sake. Do you see these dots? All of these previous dots lead us down to this word, likewise.

[14:18] Likewise, wives. Be subject to your own husbands. So that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives.

[14:39] When they see your respectful and pure conduct. Mike gave us this helpful phrase last week.

[14:51] How you live the gospel is how you share the gospel. Do you see how that's true here for Christian wives of unbelieving husbands?

[15:02] Some men, Peter says. Some men, entering heaven, will owe their salvation to the submissive behavior and the pure conduct of their wives.

[15:15] Notice the phrase, respectful and pure conduct. This may not be the best translation.

[15:27] Here's why. Respectful here in our text is literally the phrase, in all fear. It's the same word that we have seen repeatedly in 1 Peter.

[15:39] Same word written to the slaves. In all fear. And in 1 Peter, fear is directed towards God.

[15:55] Wives, what would ever motivate you to submit to your husband? It is not because your husband deserves it. It is not because he is smarter, wiser, more emotionally stable, or more spiritual than you.

[16:12] No. No. Likewise means, because you fear God, submit to your own husband.

[16:26] Your identity, your relationship with God is what would ever motivate you to submit to him. Remember, godliness doesn't begin with a decision of your will.

[16:40] Godliness begins with a devotion of your heart. What does pure conduct in fear of God look like?

[16:54] Well, it looks like the new you on the inside that Peter has been writing to us about. It looks like that new you on the inside coming out in what you do.

[17:05] Look at verse 3. Do not let your adorning be external. The braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry or the clothing you wear.

[17:22] Don't let those things be your focus. But, verse number 4, let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which in God's sight is very precious.

[17:45] For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves by submitting to their own husbands as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord and you are her children.

[18:02] Identity. If you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. Submission.

[18:16] The inclination to obey legitimate authority under normal circumstances. The inclination to obey legitimate authority under normal circumstances.

[18:33] Wives should not stay in abusive relationships. A verbally, emotionally, physically, or spiritually abusive relationship is outside of the normal circumstances for submission.

[18:52] And a husband you do not want to deal with me on this. And a husband who abuses their wife forfeits all claim to any sort of authority.

[19:15] I don't have to be a wife to know that submitting to an imperfect husband is not easy. too often husbands we do not love our wives as Christ loved the church.

[19:33] And so my dear sisters as Peter writes to you don't put your hope in your husband. Don't put your hope in your husband.

[19:44] Follow the example of the holy women of scripture and put your hope in God. Let your godliness begin with devotion to God. Submit to your husband as an act of worship.

[19:59] Why? Because your submission is very precious in God's sight. Peter focuses the most attention on citizens and on slaves and on wives.

[20:17] those he is writing to who are most likely suffering under the abusive authority of emperors, masters, and unbelieving husbands.

[20:28] But Peter does not leave the husbands unexhorted. And verse 7 is one of my favorite verses in 1 Peter.

[20:38] Notice how it begins. Likewise. Connect the dots. The dot goes from this direction, this exhortation to husbands, right up back to the previous likewise that came before it.

[20:55] The wife is to submit out of fear for God. The slaves are to submit out of fear for God. Likewise is connecting us back up to all of those things.

[21:06] Verse 7. Likewise, husbands. live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel since they are heirs with you of the grace of life so that your prayers may not be hindered.

[21:36] Now, I think it's okay to hear Peter's exhortation to husbands as a call to being understanding with your wife. Do you see that there in the text?

[21:48] In other words, get to know her strengths, her weaknesses, her insecurities, her loves, her fears, and then treat her kindly based on what you know.

[21:59] I think that's an okay way of understanding and interpreting the text. But I think we can also see in this phrase in an understanding way, a reference to knowing or understanding God's will.

[22:17] Remember, wives should submit to their husbands and have pure conduct in fear of God, and slaves, likewise, are to submit to their masters mindful, mindful of their relationship with God.

[22:34] husbands should honor their wives because they know, because they understand that that is God's will for them. Husbands, it is God's will for you to honor your wife.

[22:54] In most cases, she will be physically weaker than you, but in no way, in no way, is she less than you. Your wife is a co-heir of the grace of eternal life.

[23:13] Treat her like a daughter of the king of kings. If you don't, you will not be concerned about me.

[23:24] If you don't, your prayers may be hindered. hindered. My responsibility to honor my wife does not begin with a decision of my will.

[23:42] It begins with the devotion of my heart. After addressing citizens and slaves and wives and husbands, Peter now broadens his exhortations to the whole community of believers.

[24:00] Look at verse number eight. Finally, all of you have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

[24:16] Do not, do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

[24:43] What, what, do your unbelieving friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family members think about Christians?

[25:01] What do your unbelieving neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family think about Christians? Followers of Jesus should be known for their unity, not our division.

[25:21] We ought to be recognized as people who share deeply in the joys and sorrows and needs of others. This is empathy, and empathy is not toxic.

[25:37] It's Christ-like. As followers of Jesus, we love and we treat each other like brothers and sisters.

[25:49] At least we ought to. Why? Because this is our identity. This is who we are. We are brothers and sisters, members of God's family, co-heirs of grace.

[26:04] When we remember our identity, when we remember who we are to one another, we ought to overflow with compassion.

[26:18] We will fight against pride and arrogance, self-centeredness and conceit, and humility will make us aware of and concerned for the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of others.

[26:39] Follower of Jesus, if you repay evil for evil, so what? Everybody is doing that. If you revile, when you're reviled, that's typical, that is culturally acceptable behavior.

[27:03] Cursing those who curse you, that's just how it is today. that's the world that we live in. But if you remember who you are, if you remember Jesus' example of committing every part of his life and his death into the Father's care, then godliness will flow from the devotion of your heart.

[27:41] And you will bless those who slander you, and bless those who persecute you. You will bless those who despise and forsake you.

[27:53] You will bless those who make you feel small and insignificant. You will bless those who make more work for you, those who are hard to love.

[28:05] You will bless those who abandoned you, leaving you with just a bunch of bad memories. Follower of Jesus, you are called to bless.

[28:18] it is by blessing that you inherit a blessing. Peter does not mean that you are earning eternal life.

[28:29] He means that your blessing of others is evidence of the eternal life that is already inside of you by the Spirit's power. Blessing others is proof that an imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance really is being kept for you in heaven.

[28:54] Blessing those who hurt you, that is an attention getting break from cultural expectations and social norms, isn't it?

[29:08] This is like wearing gym shorts outside when it's 20 below. Everybody's going to notice. our unbelieving neighbors, friends, family, co-workers, they are not going to be curious about Christians who behave like everyone else, but they will be curious about Christians who bless when they are cursed.

[29:34] They will be curious about husbands who honor their wives as co-heirs. They will be curious about wives who submit to imperfect husbands.

[29:49] They will be curious about those who follow Jesus' example and continue doing good even though they suffer for it.

[30:04] Because it comes from within, identity is a powerful motivator. It is compelling because when we remember our identity, it will make us go above and beyond to stay true to who we believe we are.

[30:29] Identity is so important because it can be shaped. It can be shaped by being reminded again and again and again who you are in Christ.

[30:46] So what will motivate your godliness this week? You are a member of God's family, a beloved brother or sister.

[31:00] You are a co-heir of grace. You are God's servant. You are an elect exile. and because of who you are, you can do what is unexpected.

[31:17] You can do what is abnormal. By God's grace and God's spirit, bless those who curse you. Honor others.

[31:30] Submit to authority. Keep doing what honors God even though you suffer for it. Because Jesus also suffered for you and left you an example.

[31:50] And because godliness does not begin with the decision of my will, but with the devotion of my heart.

[32:00] Let's pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. Father, we are grateful for your word. We are humbled to receive it.

[32:13] Would you please teach and instruct us by your word? Blessed Holy Spirit, would you reaffirm what is true of us as followers of Jesus and cause those truths to be lived out in the way that we relate to those around us?

[32:36] We confess we have failed this week to live up to this standard. Would you please, Holy Spirit, come and bring conviction and clarity to our hearts as we take just a few moments and be quiet before you, asking that you would show us our sin, our need of forgiveness and that you would grant us repentance because of Jesus' sake.

[33:18] Father, we receive your grace and the forgiveness of sins that is ours because of our Savior Jesus Christ. He is all our righteousness before you.

[33:33] Lord Jesus, thank you for going to the cross, taking our sin, our shame, our suffering, the punishment that we deserved. Thank you for bearing up under it and taking it away so that we could enter into a right relationship with God.

[33:53] Not because of anything that we have done or will do, but because of who you are, our Lord Jesus and because of what you have done for us. We are grateful to receive your grace again and humbled by your kindness.

[34:10] Would you please help us as we continue to worship by celebrating the Lord's Supper. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.