WEBVTT 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:12.720 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:23.519 So we're in 1 Peter in chapter 3, beginning in verse 13, if you'd turn there with me. 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:34.320 Peter's writing to several churches in modern-day Turkey all about what a Christian life should look like among unbelieving neighbors and country people. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:42.159 It's an excellent letter for us today when looking back on 2025, it feels like it's been pretty hard in many ways, right? 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:50.320 We'll pick up here at the end of Peter's quotation of Psalm 34, which reminds us of God's all-seeing justice. 00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:53.359 In 1 Peter chapter 3, look at verse 12. 00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:58.479 Peter writes, For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:03.359 But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:10.480 Peter's quoting Psalm 34 in his own translation, which the ESV translates this way from the Hebrew. 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:25.040 Peter picks up this Psalm to prove to us, to make the case that what he's just argued for is biblical. 00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:36.319 Namely, that Christians should persist in doing the right thing, even in an unrighteous social, political, even familial environment. 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:38.480 But even especially amongst themselves. 00:01:38.640 --> 00:01:40.319 Peter says, Don't get even. 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:48.879 And he grounds that in Psalm 34. 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:57.200 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:05.280 Paul might have said it in a similar way when he says, The Lord has said, Vengeance is mine, and I will repay. 00:02:05.519 --> 00:02:13.439 They're both teaching us not to laugh to rebel when the world around us is evil. 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:14.719 That's what not to do. 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:16.719 Don't repay evil for evil. 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:22.319 And it's marked by things like humility, honesty, self-control, and peace. 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:27.199 All of that is you endure a dying world with living hope in verse 8. 00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:34.159 But our text for this morning picks up this thought that the Lord's eyes are on the righteous. 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:41.039 And it shows us what we can do instead of just what we can't do. 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:44.800 So Peter instructs us: don't fight back. 00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:48.639 Don't return reviling for reviling or evil for evil. 00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:51.360 But instead, verse 13. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:55.120 Verse 13 to 22, we'll take it in four sections this morning. 00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:56.000 Here they are. 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:10.639 The reality, verses 13 and 14, the response Peter calls us to, the result of that response, in verses 16 and 17, and then finally the reason for the response. 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:14.960 I think we can frame all of that around a single sentence. 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:17.919 Because God is just, that's my reality, right? 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:28.960 Because God is just, God's people should fearlessly and freely honor Jesus as our victorious example and Lord, even through suffering. 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:32.560 Let's begin in verse 13 with the reality. 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:37.520 Peter writes, Now who is there to harm you if you're zealous for what is good? 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:42.479 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:56.960 And he picks up that truth of verse 13, that the Lord hears the righteous, that the Lord is set against evildoers, and he asks the question, Who is there to harm you if you're zealous for what is good? 00:03:57.199 --> 00:03:58.719 It's a very biblical question, isn't it? 00:03:58.879 --> 00:03:59.919 We should ask it all the time. 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:02.960 David taught Israel to sing, What can man do to me? 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:05.439 At least three different Psalms. 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:07.520 What do we really have to fear? 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:10.479 What harm can really come to us? 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:14.800 Who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:25.759 And the point, of course, is that any earthly harm we experience is ultimately harmless for the believer. 00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:26.560 Ultimately. 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:33.360 In other words, if you're zealous for what is good, another way of saying righteous, right? 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:41.040 If you're righteous, if you're passionate about doing the right thing, then the eyes of the Lord are upon you. 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:49.120 And what, if any real harm, can come to those who are under the Lord's watchful care? 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:50.720 The answer is quick, right? 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:51.360 None. 00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:51.920 None. 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:52.879 No harm can come. 00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:53.920 And that's true. 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:56.879 That's part of what Peter means by his verse, by this verse. 00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:59.439 But I also think he's saying a little bit more. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:03.439 He's preparing us for what he says later in chapter 4, verse 15. 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:04.720 I've got it up here for you. 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:12.079 Peter says, But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer, or even as a meddler. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:17.920 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:24.160 So I think what Peter's saying is, if you are zealous for what is good, who is there to harm you if you're zealous for what is good? 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:27.759 He also means that the world will have less reason to harm you. 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:34.879 Even the rulers of the Gentiles know how to punish murderers and thieves, right? 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:41.279 Interesting how Peter tells the churches not to be meddlers in the same breath. 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:59.839 It could be, it could be a subtle nudge from the apostle that the the maybe part of the reason the churches he's writing to were experiencing such opposition and suffering was that they were being a little too nosy or a little too quick to comment. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:07.680 There may have been suffering, at least partly, not just for righteousness' sake, but also as busybodies. 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:09.519 We can't be certain. 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:13.680 But I think those verses shed some more light on our text for this morning. 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:18.399 If you're zealous for what is good, you'll likely suffer less. 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:21.120 You'll likely suffer less. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:27.759 Because it's just true that sometimes Christians suffer as the consequences of our sin, right? 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:30.319 So he's making that point as well. 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:34.399 But not always. 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:38.720 Sometimes we suffer for righteousness' sake. 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:40.560 That's what Peter says next. 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:43.439 He isn't uncaring about their suffering. 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:47.759 The point of this verse is not just to toughen up and get through it, right? 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:51.519 His letter makes it clear that he knows what they're going through. 00:06:51.600 --> 00:07:02.000 He alludes to suffering of various kinds, things like false accusations and ignorant talk, evil and insult, threats, malicious talk, all of those things are in Peter's letter. 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:05.439 There is real opposition and real suffering. 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:07.920 And Peter doesn't say that's nothing. 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:09.759 Nothing. 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:13.759 No, he writes that it's blessing. 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:19.680 When you suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:37.920 Even if they accuse you of evil when you've done nothing wrong, even when they threaten you with punishment for refusing to join in sinful patterns or behaviors, even when they talk about you behind your back for being stuck up, or worse, just boring. 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:49.360 Peter says, even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, and surely Peter has more in mind than just being thought of as boring, right? 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:53.759 But even if you should suffer, you'll be blessed. 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:57.120 And Peter didn't come up with that line on his own, did he? 00:07:57.360 --> 00:07:59.199 We've heard that before. 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:02.720 Jesus taught much the same thing in the Beatitudes. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:07.519 In Matthew chapter 5, Blessed are you when others revile you. 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:10.399 All throughout his ministry, Jesus said stuff like this. 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:15.360 In Matthew 10, he says, Don't fear those who can kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:18.959 Rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:20.079 Very famous verse. 00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:22.720 You don't need to be afraid of those who are against you. 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:27.040 But we shouldn't forget what comes right after Matthew 10, 28. 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:31.519 He then says, Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:35.120 And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:41.360 So fear not, therefore, for you are more valuable than many sparrows. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:46.399 The eyes of the Lord are surely upon the righteous. 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:50.000 And even if we suffer, we'll be blessed. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:53.440 But do you see how how Peter's teaching, though? 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:55.440 It's an example to all of us. 00:08:55.519 --> 00:09:04.799 He goes from Psalm 34 in the Old Testament, then he goes to the teaching of Jesus to comfort his readers about the reality of God's justice. 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:05.759 It all fits together. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:06.480 Isn't that? 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:07.600 I think that's incredible. 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:08.480 It's just incredible. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:12.960 And Peter is teaching us that God sees, his eyes are upon you. 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:16.879 He sees any suffering you endure. 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:19.200 And he's just. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:24.159 And he won't let any sin go unpunished. 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:25.919 All of it. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:32.080 All of it will be dealt with either on the cross of Christ or in the fires of hell, right? 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:35.120 And that's good news. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:45.919 That means the reality of God's justice means that none of your suffering is a waste of time. 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:48.639 None of it's pointless. 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:49.919 None of it's pointless. 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:56.320 All of it, all of it, will serve the glory of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:09:57.919 --> 00:09:58.879 How different? 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:09.840 How different would our lives be if we could start to see our suffering in the light of God's glory and Christ's suffering more? 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:17.120 Grumbling, poof, complaining just disappears, doesn't it? 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:24.399 Can we hold fast to the reality of God's justice when we're afraid to share the gospel? 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:32.320 Can we remember that God's eyes are upon us when we're tempted to join in on sinful choices? 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:35.600 Or better yet, since the new year is almost here. 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:42.240 What about when that alarm goes off a little bit earlier and it's time to read your Bible? 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:44.320 It's a small thing. 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:48.879 But at least for me it feels like suffering sometimes. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:58.000 Can we see even that tiny bit of suffering in the light of the glory of God? 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:00.480 It changes everything, right? 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:01.840 That's the reality. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:06.000 The reality is that the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:09.440 And if you suffer for righteousness' sake, you'll be blessed. 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:13.120 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous. 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:28.240 And because that reality is true, because that's true according to both the Old Testament and the teaching of Christ, that the Lord's justice will be satisfied no matter what, then this is the response Peter calls us to. 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:32.559 The intended application of the reality is in verse 14. 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:36.399 Have no fear of them, nor be troubled. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:47.120 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. 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:52.720 Yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience. 00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:58.399 Because verse 12 and 13 are true, and a little bit of verse 14. 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:05.840 Because all of that is true, Peter tells his readers to have no fear of them, nor be troubled. 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:11.120 And Peter's again, again, remembering the teaching of Jesus here. 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:12.000 It's incredible. 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:15.759 He's imitating Jesus so closely, following right in his footsteps. 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:17.519 On the ninth that Jesus was betrayed. 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:21.919 Remember, it's late that Thursday night, maybe even after midnight on Good Friday. 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:34.000 Jesus took the disciples on a walk, he taught them many things about the days ahead, knowing that their greatest hour of suffering was coming to them, even as his greatest hour of suffering was coming to him. 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:37.919 Judas is on his way with a band of soldiers to haul them off. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:42.720 Having already foretold all of Peter's denials, Jesus says this in John 14. 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:45.759 He says, Peace I live with you, my peace I give to you. 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:48.159 Not as the world gives, do I give to you. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:51.600 Let not your hearts be troubled. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:56.720 Do you see that? 00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:58.960 Look back and forth from your Bibles to the screen. 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:04.559 Peter says in the second half of verse 14, have no fear nor be troubled. 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:08.720 That word for troubled is pretty rare in the New Testament. 00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:10.159 You don't see it very often. 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:12.960 Just when you're reading, the word troubled doesn't come up. 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:21.679 And it means disturbed or unsettled or nervous, even trembling with anxiety. 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:27.120 Jesus used the word to describe himself, even when he knew it was time to die. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:36.080 And so I think that Peter clearly has Jesus' betrayal and arrest in his mind. 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:37.759 And all the things of that night. 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:52.879 And so, with that context, here in 1 Peter, he's saying to his readers something like Even if they haul your friends off to prison, beat them, slap them, spit on them, flog them, mock them, or even crucify them. 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:57.279 Even then, Peter is saying, Don't do what I did. 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:02.000 Don't do what I did when I denied my Lord three times. 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:07.279 No, listen to the encouragement Jesus gave me that I'm now giving to you. 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:12.960 Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:16.799 Don't lie to protect your own skin. 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:21.840 Don't pretend you're not a Christian to avoid the pain or the inconvenience. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:22.559 Don't do that. 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:26.559 But instead, instead in your hearts. 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:30.480 Honor Christ the Lord as holy. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:31.600 Verse 15. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:38.559 Or rather, we could say, sanctify, make holy Christ the Lord in your heart. 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:42.799 And that, right there, that is the main command of this section. 00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:44.240 That's the main takeaway. 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:45.120 That's the application. 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:46.000 That's the point. 00:14:46.240 --> 00:14:47.200 Underline that. 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:49.679 Honor Christ the Lord as holy. 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:52.159 That's what you're supposed to do. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:56.879 That's what we're supposed to do when we're under pressure. 00:14:58.639 --> 00:14:59.440 From wherever. 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:02.000 In your heart. 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:03.360 Remember. 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:05.919 Jesus is holy. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:09.120 Heaven be set apart. 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:10.799 Sing even as you pray. 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:13.600 Say things like, Who else commands all the hosts of heaven? 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:15.679 Who else can make every king bow down? 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:18.720 Who else can whisper and darkness trembles? 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:20.480 Only a holy God, right? 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:24.799 Burn, if we burn those words in our heart, it changes how you see everything. 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:26.080 And that's the difference. 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:27.039 I'm convinced. 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:30.559 That's the difference, guys, between believers and unbelievers. 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:33.440 There's a whole gospel sermon just in that little phrase. 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:36.080 Do you believe that Jesus Christ is holy? 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:38.720 Does your heart honor him as such? 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:44.399 Can you say with honesty that Jesus is right about your sin? 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:48.960 He was right in his entire life. 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:51.279 He lived perfectly. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:54.639 That his life was the holy life. 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:58.000 And not mine, and not yours. 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:00.399 Believing that. 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:06.559 And all those other glorious ways to put it, that's the essence of repenting and believing. 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:16.399 You have not come to saving faith in Jesus Christ unless you're willing to admit and confess and believe that he was right about everything. 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:18.879 Maybe you don't get it yet, and that's okay. 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:21.600 But he was right about everything. 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:25.360 And he was, guys, he was. 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:32.799 The most learned men in Israel looked like chumps when Jesus started to teach. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:36.960 The demons trembled before his power. 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:50.960 The wind and the waves obeyed him, and dead Lazarus heard the command of the Holy One of Israel, and he rose because this Jesus, the baby born in Bethlehem, was the Almighty God who spoke, and the mountains sprang forth. 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:57.039 This Christ is the Messiah, the eternal, unchanging God of the universe. 00:16:57.120 --> 00:17:02.240 There's no one like him in power, in righteousness, in kindness, or in wrath. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.919 He's perfect. 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:08.079 Perfect in all of his ways. 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:10.559 In all of his ways. 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:12.559 Jesus Christ is Lord. 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:16.559 Honor Christ the Lord as holy, the Holy One. 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:18.960 From everlasting days. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:21.440 He's always been like that. 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:24.640 And he always will be like that. 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:26.880 So let's get ahead of ourselves a little bit. 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:28.400 Look at verse 18 down in your Bibles. 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:32.240 It says that Christ also suffered once for sins. 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:36.640 The righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God. 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:38.880 Bring us, us to God. 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:41.200 Peter just called you unrighteous. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:48.000 Even as he called himself unrighteous, that he might the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:55.440 Because, guys, we have no hope that the Lord will ever set his eyes upon us and watch over us. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:59.440 Because of our sin, his face is set against us in our evil deeds. 00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:04.160 And if the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, then why should he ever look at you and me? 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:07.440 Why should he ever hear our prayers? 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:08.880 Right? 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:12.079 We're not righteous on our own. 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:16.799 Our only hope, our only hope is the living hope. 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:41.599 Back from 1 Peter chapter 1, the living hope in the resurrected Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem to live a perfectly holy life, to die a perfectly holy death, to suffer, to suffer righteously in your place for all of your sins of failed endurance, that you and I might receive the righteousness of God by grace through faith, not our own doing, but the gift of God. 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:56.240 All of that, all of that, was in his heart and held clearly in his eternally a perfect and fully divine mind, as his mother wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:57.759 Merry Christmas. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:16.319 So set your hope fully on the incarnate Messiah King, who by his life begun in Bethlehem, earned a righteousness not your own, that he might give it to you by grace. 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:26.319 Nobody. 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:27.680 Nothing. 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:38.000 No matter how good, beautiful, or true it is, nothing should sit on the highest and holiest place in your heart but Jesus Christ. 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:53.759 The phrase we all love to quote from this passage, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. 00:19:55.119 --> 00:20:02.880 That little phrase, I hope I've already made clear, that little phrase is not the main point of this text. 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.079 It's not. 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:09.599 It sits in a secondary position to the command of verse 15. 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:20.960 In other words, always being prepared describes what happens when Christ is honored as holy in your hearts. 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:27.359 This verse does not describe how to honor him as holy in your heart. 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:33.200 You cannot put Jesus in the place of highest honor by memorizing arguments for his existence. 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:34.880 You can't do it. 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:37.440 Prove he is God all you want to. 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:46.559 But if you don't love him above all else, then our apologetics books are just noisy gongs and clanging symbols. 00:20:47.039 --> 00:20:47.599 Amen. 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:58.799 The point that Peter's making is that when you love Jesus, when he has the highest place in your heart, then you're ready. 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:05.440 You're ready to confess him, and you're ready to confess Jesus to anybody. 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:13.279 It's like how married men and married women wear wedding bands as a sign of the covenant they've made before Holy God. 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:18.799 When a man takes off his wedding ring, that means something, doesn't it? 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:25.039 Now, he might be preparing for some manual labor, he doesn't want his hand to get pinched off or whatever. 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:29.519 But what if he takes off his wedding ring as he goes into a restaurant all by himself? 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:33.680 That says something, doesn't it? 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:36.319 That's the picture. 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:44.880 And the man who wears a wedding band is always prepared to tell somebody that he's a married man. 00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:48.640 That's what he's calling you to do as a Christian. 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:57.920 A Christian who honors Christ the Lord as holy is always ready to make the good confession of their hope. 00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.759 And Christians. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:04.960 Do so in a way that makes sense with Christ's holiness. 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:08.240 Jesus is gentle and lowly of heart. 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:12.960 And so when you give a reason for the hope within you, do it with gentleness. 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:14.400 Don't be snarky. 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.599 Don't be rude. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:17.519 Don't be vindictive. 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:21.680 We shouldn't say things like, Well, I'm a Christian, so I would never. 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:27.039 That's not that's often Pharisee talk, not Jesus talk, right? 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:30.400 Do it with gentleness. 00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:32.400 And with fear. 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:37.599 I don't know fully why the ESB translates that word as respect. 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:41.440 The Greek text is clearly fear or phobos. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:48.880 And Peter is purposefully, I think, using the same word again that he used earlier in verse 14. 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:53.759 Have no fear of them, but honor Christ, ready to give a defense with fear. 00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:57.440 The CSB and the New Americans say reverence. 00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:59.279 The LSB says fear. 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:04.720 My guess, though, is that when translators do that, they don't want you to think that Peter is contradicting himself. 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:05.920 Because that'd be weird. 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:08.400 Peter says, have no fear, but do it with fear. 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.200 How's that? 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:12.079 How's that how's that work? 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:23.119 But what what they're obscuring, though, is that Peter isn't talking about fearing the unbeliever or respecting the unbeliever. 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:27.119 Peter's talking about fearing the Lord. 00:23:29.279 --> 00:23:32.960 And so do you sense the perfect unity Peter strikes here? 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:38.559 You have to do it with gentleness, in the fear of the Lord. 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:41.440 It's like speaking the truth and love, right? 00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:42.880 It's this perfect unity. 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:47.680 You can't soft-sell sin in the fear of the Lord, can you? 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:53.599 You also can't browbeat somebody with hellfire and brimstone with gentleness. 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:56.000 Just see the perfect unity it strikes. 00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:57.279 We'll never get it perfectly right. 00:23:57.519 --> 00:24:02.559 But Peter also, that's why he calls us to do it with a good conscience in these matters. 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:05.839 Both in our righteous behavior. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:07.039 We should have a good conscience. 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:09.440 Don't harbor secret sins, put them away. 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:16.240 We should have a good conscience, a conscience in our righteousness, in our righteous honoring of Christ. 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:19.680 Have a good conscience in that Jesus Christ is the first place. 00:24:20.400 --> 00:24:24.640 You should have a good conscience in the righteousness of the defense of your hope. 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:28.640 Speak truly so that you're not worrying about it. 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:32.079 Speak boldly and gently. 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:37.200 And when, not if, we mess those things up. 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:40.319 Come to Christ for forgiveness. 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:43.359 And that's how you have a good conscience. 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:54.319 That, all of that, is the proper response to the reality of God's perfect justice. 00:24:54.799 --> 00:25:09.599 Peter says in verse 16, so that, well, there's my outline again, so that the result, so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:16.079 For it's better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:26.480 The point that Peter is making here is that good behavior, marked by a good conscience, gentleness and the fear of the Lord, all of that is the best defense we could have against slander. 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:30.799 And that's the first result of the righteous response he's calling us to. 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:36.559 If you're going to be persecuted, and all who desire to live godly lives in Christ will be, won't they? 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:45.519 If you're going to be persecuted, make sure it's for doing the right thing, not for doing something evil, like we already saw in chapter 4 a little bit ago. 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:47.279 And that's worth saying. 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:54.640 Peter needs to say that because Christians have done evil things for as long as there have been Christians. 00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:59.200 It was Peter, after all, who chopped off an ear in the Garden of Gethsemane, right? 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:01.279 That's from like the beginning. 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:10.000 And Peter tells you it's better to suffer for doing good than to suffer for doing evil. 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:14.319 He surely suffered when he realized he denied his Lord a third time, didn't he? 00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:30.880 If we respond to the reality of God's justice with righteousness, though, Peter says the result is that you may put to shame those who revile you, that we might humble those who persecute us. 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:40.000 Surely, when Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, they know not what they do, he had an impact on at least one Roman centurion. 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:44.160 That's where Peter goes next. 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:47.039 He takes us then to Christ's example. 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:54.079 Christ's example of selfless gentleness for another's sake, even in the face of suffering. 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:56.400 And that's one of my three reasons for you. 00:26:56.640 --> 00:27:04.240 One of the three reasons Peter gives us to motivate the response of fearlessly and freely honoring Christ as Lord. 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.359 It's this. 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:07.359 Jesus left you an example. 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:11.759 For Christ also suffered. 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:17.519 For Christ also suffered once because once for sins. 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:20.079 Did he suffer because of his own sin? 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.319 Of course not. 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:24.880 So do you see how clear the parallel is? 00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:27.440 Jesus suffered for your sins. 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:38.640 So we ought to be ready to do the same when people sin against us out of respect for his sacrifice on your behalf. 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:40.400 Let them slander you. 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:43.440 Let them slander you if they hear the gospel. 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:46.240 Let them throw us in prison. 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.839 We can bear it. 00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:51.279 All so that they hear the gospel in gentleness. 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:57.279 Jesus suffered in verse 18 that he might bring us to God. 00:27:58.240 --> 00:28:08.799 And so because we love Jesus, who died so that we could be saved, we should endure persecution righteously so that others might hear of his love. 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:14.000 And we don't just do it out of love for them. 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:20.319 But even more so, we suffer as we bring the gospel to people. 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:23.359 Because we love Jesus. 00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:25.680 He died for you. 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:28.640 He suffered in order to bring you to God. 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:34.640 And you and I ought to be ready to die as Jesus does the same for others. 00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:35.920 So that's my first reason. 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:40.799 Suffer fearlessly and freely because Jesus did so first. 00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:43.759 But now this passage gets crazy. 00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:47.200 Martin Luther called it the strangest passage in the New Testament. 00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:48.400 Obscure and very dark. 00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:50.720 I'm not sure what it means, I think, is the exact quote. 00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:56.240 And if old Martin wasn't sure what Peter meant, we should be careful, right? 00:28:57.279 --> 00:29:02.960 But here is my best explanation of verse second half of 18 on through. 00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:12.880 What does it mean that Jesus was made alive in the Spirit, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit? 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:18.559 I think that's a reference to Jesus' resurrection unto a glorified spiritual state. 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:28.799 So right now, on this side of the empty tomb, Jesus has a perfected human body already glorified because he already conquered this life, and now he lives unto eternal life. 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:33.519 Resurrection life is his made alive in the spirit. 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:36.559 So I think a capital S is even appropriate there. 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:46.240 And then that same spirit of resurrection glory, Jesus went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, to the imprisoned spirit. 00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:55.200 And now I don't think, I don't think we're required by this text to argue that he entered their prison necessarily. 00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:56.319 Maybe he did. 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:58.160 But I don't think we have to say that. 00:29:58.319 --> 00:30:03.440 The text is very clear that he proclaimed something where they could hear it. 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:05.519 That we have to hold. 00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:06.480 Right? 00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:11.599 Today, we can get a message into a prison in lots of different ways without ever entering one. 00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:14.400 Television, the internet, they make all that possible, right? 00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:17.279 Who's to say what the spiritual realm could do? 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:22.000 He may have, but I don't think we're required to say that he did. 00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:26.480 But something about being raised in the spirit was heard everywhere. 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:29.839 Verse 19 might make more sense if we translate it this way. 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:35.759 In the spirit, going out, he proclaimed to the imprisoned spirits. 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:38.240 It's a really literal translation I've given you there. 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:40.319 He went in the spirit. 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:43.519 That's what the in which of verse 19 refers to. 00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:46.960 Being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. 00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:52.960 In the spirit, going out, he proclaimed to the imprisoned spirit. 00:30:53.039 --> 00:31:06.720 So I'm tempted to argue that it was by his resurrection, by being made alive by the Holy Spirit, by going out from the grave, that Jesus proclaimed forever to the imprisoned spirits. 00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:08.319 Something. 00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:10.000 Something. 00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:15.920 That word proclaimed almost always describes preaching or heralding, announcing or making something known. 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:18.000 So that's the picture as I understand it. 00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:24.480 Jesus, by his resurrection from the grave in the Holy Spirit, announced over all the earth something. 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:25.680 That's what we've got to figure out. 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:26.160 Two questions. 00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:27.440 What did he proclaim? 00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:29.200 And who are these imprisoned spirits? 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:34.000 And I think we'll start to see what this text is doing, what Peter's trying to show you. 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:39.759 Peter's vague about what the proclamation entailed and who the spirits were. 00:31:39.839 --> 00:31:41.119 So we have to be careful. 00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:42.880 But I think two things help us. 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:44.400 Look at verse 22. 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:53.440 First, Jesus has gone into heaven at the Father's right hand, and angels' authorities and powers have been subjected to him. 00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:58.000