WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:08.880 I encourage you to take your Bible or your device, if that is what you use, and open to the New Testament book of 1 Peter. 00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:14.160 We've been working our way slowly but surely through this New Testament epistle. 00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:15.759 We're nearing the end. 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:20.239 And we are at the end of chapter 4 this morning. 00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:24.000 Going to look together at verse 12 through the end of the chapter. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:29.839 So again, that is 1 Peter chapter 4, beginning in verse 12. 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:47.200 The scriptures tell us, beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:49.439 But rejoice. 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:59.679 Rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:07.760 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:12.959 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:20.480 Yet if any one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:28.079 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God. 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:36.079 And if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:41.840 And if the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:52.159 Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:54.000 Amen. 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:11.680 Why is it that some of us see a glass as half full and some of it as half empty? 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:15.520 Why do we have those differing perspectives? 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:22.080 Have you any of you noticed what's happening in politics lately? 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:27.520 Some say what's happening is good for Christians, some say it's terrible for Christians. 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:34.560 Think about the political differences that we hear about in President Trump. 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:38.400 I've never seen anything like it in my lifetime. 00:02:40.159 --> 00:03:00.159 When we hear or read of differences of opinion regarding what the president has done or what the president has said or a decision that he's made, we don't merely see differences of opinion, we see disgust and hate and severe intolerance. 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:04.400 Even between Christians. 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:16.879 You can read about opposing views, but when you read about opposing views, you wonder if the writers are describing the same event. 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:19.360 Did they see what the other saw? 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:22.080 Did they hear what the other saw? 00:03:22.879 --> 00:03:28.960 When we talk about a glass being half empty or half full, are we looking at the same glass? 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:34.400 How is it that we have such different opinions? 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:38.000 And why does that sort of thing even exist between Christians? 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:41.680 Why do we have this kind of situation in our country? 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:47.680 Now I'm not going to answer that question, and I'm done with politics. 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:55.199 But one of the ways of thinking through that process is thinking about worldviews. 00:03:56.400 --> 00:04:03.680 An oversimplification of a worldview is that it is simply the way you think about your world. 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:08.560 But there's much more to the concept of a worldview than that. 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:17.920 I have a chart here that I borrowed from others who have used it, and I think it's incredibly helpful to explain what a worldview is. 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:22.720 We start at the center of these concentric circles. 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:31.360 Your worldview, what you think of your world, determines your beliefs. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:37.040 What you believe determines your values. 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:43.360 Your values determine your behavior. 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:48.079 Now that's one set of words on this diagram. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:53.040 The other set of words explains it in the same way, but in a more practical manner. 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:58.480 Your worldview is what you perceive or believe to be real. 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:09.839 Michael Del Rosario, the self-proclaimed apologetics guy, says, it's everything you believe about what's real and what really matters in life. 00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:16.959 What is real then determines what is true, what truth is in your world. 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:24.480 What you believe to be true then determines what is good in your mind, in your reality. 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:30.639 And what is good then impacts what you do in life. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:41.439 In her book Total Truth, Nancy Pearcy writes, a worldview is like a mental map that tells us how to navigate the world effectively. 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:51.839 We might say that each of us carries a model of the universe inside of our heads that tells us what the world is like and how we should live in it. 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:58.879 Now, any way you look at it, a worldview begins with a belief. 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:07.040 What do you believe about the realities of your world? 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:10.959 What is it that you believe? 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:15.040 As Christians, we ought to seek out a biblical worldview. 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:18.160 And a biblical worldview begins with God. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:23.600 Even more, it begins with a God that is our creator. 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:27.439 That is where Peter ends this statement. 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:33.920 That we will face all kinds of trials in this life. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:46.319 And the only way that you can properly face the trials, the fiery trials, he says at the beginning, is if you entrust yourself to a faithful creator. 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:57.040 But the only way that you can entrust yourself to a faithful creator is if you have started, if you have begun your belief system with a God who is a creator. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:08.319 Everyone has a perception or a belief about the world that guides their interaction with the world. 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:18.160 It motivates decisions, actions, even interpretations of everything around us. 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:25.040 Your worldview guides your interpretation as to whether this is half full or half empty or just crazy. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:37.120 Your worldview motivated you, hopefully, to shower before coming to church this morning. 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:38.639 Or last night, maybe. 00:07:42.240 --> 00:07:50.399 Your worldview motivated you to decide how to dress to come to church. 00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:53.439 You have a worldview. 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:54.879 Everyone has a worldview. 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:56.720 You just may not have processed it yet. 00:07:56.879 --> 00:08:02.000 Your worldview motivated you to decide to come to church this morning. 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:11.920 Your worldview motivates you, whether you go to church, or whether you go to the lake, or whether you go to the golf course on Sunday morning, or whether you just sit home and watch some show. 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:25.199 Your worldview motivated you to come here this morning, whether that's because you are curious, whether that's because you're searching or you're in need or you have a desire to worship the God of the universe. 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:31.279 You have a worldview and it molds your thinking about faith. 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:46.480 It molds your thinking about politics, about economics, about national and international governments, about education, about medicine, about marriage and parenting, speed limits and road construction. 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:58.159 But as Christians, we ought to have a desire to have a worldview that is molded by truth. 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:03.919 Not just any truth, but ultimate truth. 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:07.519 But even that requires a presupposition. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:12.480 Presupposition is merely a belief that we hold beforehand. 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:17.360 As Christians, we believe that God is. 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:21.360 And we believe that God is truth. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:25.600 And that he has revealed his truth to us. 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:31.200 In a way that we can read, we can hear, we can understand, we can process. 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:40.799 We believe that God has spoken, as it says in 2 Timothy 3.16, that his word is the very breath of God, meaning it is his very nature, it is who he is. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:43.919 He has given us himself in his word. 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:51.279 And so we enter the realm of worldviews with that presupposition, with that belief beforehand. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:59.279 God's word is objective truth, and any other claims to truth must be seen in light of Scripture. 00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:01.919 Now that's not the way that everybody sees it. 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:06.879 Hopefully that's not a surprise to you. 00:10:07.679 --> 00:10:09.279 But that's not the way everybody sees it. 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:12.080 And there are various ways to look at worldviews. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:18.000 I wanted to go through several of them this morning, but for time I will spare you. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:21.440 But as an example, Christian philosopher J.P. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:27.279 Moreland has classified worldviews today generally in three categories. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:35.519 One, historic Christianity, two, scientific naturalism, and three, postmodern relativism. 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:40.480 Historic Christianity is generally why you are here this morning. 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:47.039 It believes that God is real, that he created everything, that he gave a moral law to be followed. 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:51.039 Some things are therefore good and righteous, and other things are bad or evil. 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:54.559 God has revealed himself in the pages of Scripture. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:11:03.679 Then there is scientific naturalism, which in essence everything boils down to natural processes. 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:12.559 So whether that's being able to bend a piece of metal with your mind or a genetic mutation, we're just talking about what happens in the natural world. 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:16.240 Science is the way we know things. 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:21.200 So we can know that medicine helps us, but we cannot know that God is real. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:24.240 That's scientific naturalism. 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:27.039 Then there's postmodern relativism. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:31.039 If you just want to boil it down to one word, I'll give you one word. 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:32.159 Oprah. 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:40.960 Postmodern relativism believes that truth is relative. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:46.720 It is relative to you and your life and your circumstances and your community. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:58.320 It's a feel-good, politically correct worldview where no one's perspective is really right or really wrong, it's just what matters to you. 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:02.559 Until you infringe on what I believe, and then it matters. 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:08.799 Words in postmodern relativism don't really have any definite meaning. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:15.360 They mean what you decide they mean, what your experiences say they mean, and what life means. 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:39.120 And in that survey, they came away with the same three categories, but they added another one, a fourth one, adding spirituality, right, in between historic Christianity and scientific realism. 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:44.080 And spiritual just means, you know, it's it's whatever works for me. 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:54.320 So, you know, if if the Bible, if what I believe about the Bible means that I'm going to be treated poorly, then maybe I can just soften those beliefs a little bit, or I can toss that one out. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:56.480 It's just whatever I want it to be. 00:12:56.720 --> 00:13:02.799 But in this survey, they they asked college students, what do you believe? 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:04.000 What is your worldview? 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:06.559 Where do you fit in these categories? 00:13:07.679 --> 00:13:11.919 32% of them said that they identified as religious. 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:19.519 28% of them as secular or the scientific realism aspect. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:27.759 32% identified themselves as spiritual in some way, and 8% didn't know. 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:32.960 Now let's compare that. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:35.200 That was five years ago. 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:42.879 Let's compare that with a study conducted by Barna Group last year of practicing Christians. 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:48.000 Okay, so we go from college students to practicing Christians in America. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:50.480 So that includes all of us. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:56.080 They asked practicing Christians, what do you believe? 00:13:56.320 --> 00:14:00.159 Where do you fit into a worldview system? 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:11.679 Well, they found that there were elements of spirituality, secularism, postmodernism, and Marxism in practicing Christians. 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:32.639 36% agreed with some sense of Marxism, and 29% of Christians believe ideas based in secularism. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:35.840 What does that mean? 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:43.200 Well, new spirituality is a belief system that holds a positive view of religion. 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:52.559 It generally emphasizes the supernatural, but it feeds at the same time a dissatisfaction with institutions. 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:55.120 So we don't like churchy things. 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:56.960 It's an institution. 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:06.480 So new spirituality would say all people pray to the same God or the same spirit, no matter what name they use for that God. 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:09.679 We're all praying to a superior power. 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:11.519 It's almost karmic. 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:13.440 You get what you sow. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:28.639 Fifty-two percent of practicing Christians, this Barna survey said, believe strongly that the Bible teaches God helps them who helps themselves. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:31.679 God helps those who help themselves. 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:45.600 Secularism is the scientific method, uses that to explain life, and so it generally advances a Darwinistic and evolutionistic view of the world. 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:50.799 But what is gaining popularity in that area is materialism. 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:54.720 And that is the area that's making inroads into Christianity. 00:15:55.600 --> 00:16:00.320 A majority of Christians still resist Darwinism. 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:05.200 But many lean towards materialism. 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:15.279 For them, and I quote, meaning and purpose comes from working hard to earn as much as possible so that you can make the most of life. 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:16.720 That's in the church. 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:17.519 52%. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:22.960 Postmodernism says there's no such thing as objectivity. 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:29.120 We're all limited by our experience, so the best thing that we can do is do what's best for ourselves, what's true for us. 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:33.519 No one can know for sure what meaning and purpose there is in life. 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:44.799 In Barnes's survey, almost 25% of Christians believe that what is morally right or wrong depends on what the individual believes. 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:54.240 Marxism holds a discontentment with economics and capitalism. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:17:06.160 It moves towards socialism and communism, but but it's also founded on an irreligious foundation, almost moving towards being hostile to religion. 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:13.920 Barna's survey found that 36% of practicing Christians hold to at least one Marxist idea. 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:18.079 Again. 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:20.480 Half empty or half full? 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:30.880 How can we be on the same page if all of us are holding to such different views of our world? 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:33.359 How can we be united? 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:35.920 Are we following the same God? 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:38.319 Are we following the same scriptures? 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:49.680 That's why Barna's survey concluded with the challenge with competing worldviews is that there are fragments of similarities to some Christian teachings. 00:17:50.799 --> 00:18:02.160 And some, I quote, may recognize and latch on to those ideas, not realizing that they are distortions of biblical truths because we lack discernment, friends. 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:11.119 Charles Spurgeon once said that discernment is not being able to discern the difference between right and wrong, but between what is right and what is almost right. 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:15.759 We can't tell most often what is almost right. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:18.000 And so we latch on to it. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:28.880 The survey concludes the call for the church is to help Christians dissect popular beliefs before allowing them to settle in their own ideology. 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:35.200 Informed thinking is essential to developing and maintaining a healthy biblical worldview and faith. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:36.559 Amen. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:39.359 So what's a proper worldview for a Christian? 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:46.079 I'd love to talk the rest of our morning about that, but we need to get to 1 Peter. 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:53.279 But before we get to 1 Peter, we believe in a God who created all that is. 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:56.400 That's where we begin. 00:18:56.799 --> 00:19:04.400 And as Peter said in verse 19, he is a faithful God who revealed himself to mankind. 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:16.000 That leads us to then say, objective truth can be known, and that truth is revealed in Scripture. 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:28.319 And that truth, objective truth revealed in Scripture is to inform our view of truth, our view of what is good, and our view of what we do. 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:30.720 How do we know that? 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:33.039 I'm glad you asked, I'll tell you. 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:46.720 John chapter 8, Jesus said, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:49.440 And the truth will set you free. 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:51.839 We can know the truth. 00:19:51.920 --> 00:19:52.799 And it's free. 00:19:53.039 --> 00:19:58.240 He said a little bit later in John chapter 17, praying to the Father, sanctify them in the truth. 00:19:58.559 --> 00:20:01.759 Your word is truth. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:10.720 Now, our objective, our goal, our responsibility, our desire ought to be to become like Jesus. 00:20:12.559 --> 00:20:20.960 We want to become mature disciples who are devoted to following Him, and through that devoted following, God makes us like Christ. 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:24.480 Well, we are made like Christ through His Word. 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:28.160 His word then becomes our worldview. 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:36.640 It determines how we interpret our world, how we live in our world, and even how we feel about our world. 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:42.240 Now, why did this matter to Peter? 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:44.640 And why should it matter to you? 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:49.680 Well, Christians in the first century faced an uncertain world. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:56.000 The church was growing rapidly, spreading throughout the Roman world. 00:20:56.480 --> 00:21:01.359 The world was generally familiar with Old Testament Judaism. 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:04.160 They knew about that, they understood that. 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:12.160 But a religion founded in a crucified man who supposedly rose from the dead claiming to be God was brand new to the world. 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:20.319 And most people, but especially governments, did not know how to respond to that new faith. 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:23.440 Often the response was negative. 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:27.119 It could even include severe persecution. 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:42.480 And so new Christians, especially those who were not Jewish but came from a pagan religion, as they grew in their understanding of Scripture and of God, they also grew in their understanding of His sovereignty over all of the world. 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:58.240 As all of that grew and they became mature, more and more mature in their faith and following Jesus, they needed to know how to handle everything thrown at them by a hostile world. 00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.759 They needed to understand. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:08.960 Understand how to process it, how to think about it, how to feel about it, how to act on it, how Jesus himself would have them do that. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:12.160 And it's not much different for us today. 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:18.720 Our worldviews are going to be informed by what we take in. 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:21.680 That's just what happens. 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:33.519 Our presuppositions and our assumptions are going to develop from how we see the world, what we see in the world, from what we hear, from what we learn. 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:38.960 Take, for example, I said I was done with politics, and with this I promise I will be. 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:42.559 Take, for example, politics and news. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:23:04.000 Worldviews will develop quite differently if you watch CNN entirely, or MSNBC entirely, and those will be completely different from the perspective developed from watching Fox News. 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:08.880 We are formed by what we take in. 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:12.880 We are formed by teachers and friends. 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:17.599 We are formed by parents and grandparents, economics and governments. 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:25.599 But as a Christian, what should form you most is the word of the living God because it is truth. 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:34.640 Do not be surprised. 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:37.039 Do not be surprised. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:47.200 Whether that's because they were surprised, and so Peter was responding to that and wanting to comfort them, or because he's seeking to prepare them for something that's coming, we don't know. 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:50.880 Either way, Peter is addressing their worldview. 00:23:51.839 --> 00:24:00.319 He's addressing how they perceive what's happening in their world and how they're to respond to it and how they're to feel about it. 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:06.960 As God's people face an increasingly hostile world, what are they going to believe? 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:09.599 What are you going to believe? 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:20.400 Peter wants us to have a particular mindset about Christ, about suffering for Christ, about trials in this sin-cursed world, and about persecution. 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:26.160 And it all boils down to trusting a faithful creator. 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:36.319 But you can't do that if your worldview doesn't include a sovereign God who is a faithful creator. 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:45.039 Some of you are going to be entering new classrooms with new teachers and new instructors in a few weeks. 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:48.640 Are you ready for what you're going to hear? 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:51.039 How are you going to process it? 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:52.400 How are you going to feel about it? 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:58.640 Some of you are going to go back to work tomorrow after being off for the weekend and you're going to encounter strange ideas. 00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:00.880 What are you going to think about it? 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:07.440 Peter shows us the benefit here of a proper worldview. 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:11.759 He shows us, first of all, that a proper worldview keeps us stable. 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.200 It really does. 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:14.880 It keeps us stable. 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:19.759 And that's communicated to us here through the double use of the word surprise. 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:23.920 So we see that in verse 12, but we also saw it last time in verse 4. 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:26.640 There are two stated surprises. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:32.559 The first one in verse 4 is that non-Christians may be surprised. 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:39.519 He says they may be surprised when you don't join them in the same flood of sinful activity. 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:45.599 Then in verse 12, he says Christians might be surprised by fiery trials that come. 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:50.319 There's also an implied surprise. 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:55.519 Verse 5 talks about judgment of the living and the dead. 00:25:55.680 --> 00:26:01.039 Then in verses 17 and 18, he talks about giving an account of life and being judged for it. 00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:03.599 There might be a surprise at judgment. 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:11.440 Peter says to us, don't be surprised when the heat comes. 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:15.680 That's not talking about the sun and humidity. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:19.279 He says, Don't be surprised at the fiery trial. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:29.599 He could be referring to a trial his readers were already experiencing, but I think it seems more likely that he's preparing them for what's going to come, what's likely to come. 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:33.599 There will be trials in your faith. 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:35.599 They are coming. 00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:37.759 Maybe they already are. 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:41.119 And they will be fiery. 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:50.480 He chooses a word here that refers to the process of burning, specifically an intense degree of heat that results in pain. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:55.279 An example of this is in Proverbs 27, 21. 00:26:55.519 --> 00:27:02.799 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:10.400 Implying there's heat behind that testing of silver and gold, and that same kind of heat tests who we are. 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:20.799 In this sense, the focus is on the degree of intensity of the trial, so much so that we might be able to translate it as severe suffering. 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:25.119 I like the idea of fiery because I get a picture of the fire in my head. 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.599 A fiery trial. 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:54.079 That's not what God does. 00:27:54.319 --> 00:28:00.319 God brings those trials to show that our faith and strength rest in Christ, not in ourselves. 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:07.119 That our hope is found in our faithful Creator, not in our own strength. 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:16.319 See, God's children don't see trials as strange occurrences, but as part of God's sin-cursed world. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:27.440 Because when our worldview is formed by truth, we understand that our faith is going to be tested to prove its genuineness. 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:30.400 That's been God's pattern throughout Scripture. 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:35.839 In Psalm 11, verse 5, the psalmist said, The Lord tests the righteous. 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.799 He tests us. 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:48.559 In Isaiah, God told his people, I have refined you, I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. 00:28:50.400 --> 00:29:03.039 And in Malachi chapter 3, God tells his people that he will sit personally as the refiner, as the purifier, as though he's purifying silver, and he's going to purify. 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:07.519 Specifically in that context, the sons of Levi, he's going to refine them. 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:13.680 God's children understand that's a part of who we are, that's a part of belonging to God's family. 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:18.000 But we also recognize that that's part of the curse of sin. 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:24.000 When God cursed the world in Genesis chapter 3, everything was impacted. 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:32.400 But we also know that the purpose of the heat is to cause us to rejoice. 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:36.559 That's where we often falter, isn't it? 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:41.119 We struggle to get to that point, but look at what Peter says in verse 13. 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:44.720 Instead of being surprised, rejoice. 00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:49.519 Rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings. 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:52.000 Now he wants to contrast that with suffering for sin. 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:54.400 He says, don't rejoice when you suffer for sin. 00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.599 That's not the point. 00:29:56.400 --> 00:30:02.000 If it's your faith that is involved, if it's because of who you are in Christ, rejoice. 00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:03.759 Why would he say that? 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:07.359 And he says, we're going to rejoice even more then when Jesus comes. 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:09.359 But why would he say that to us? 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:17.119 Well, practically speaking, suffering and trials break our grip on the things of the world. 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:20.400 It helps us let loose a little bit. 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:25.440 And when our grip on this world is weakened, we begin to desire Christ more. 00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:28.960 We desire to be with him more. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:33.519 And that moves us to rejoice because I'm connected to him. 00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:37.839 I love him, I desire him, I want to be with him. 00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:40.720 That's why he gives us a command in verse 13. 00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:41.279 Rejoice. 00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:43.519 It's not an option thing, it's a command. 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.400 Do this. 00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:59.920 Our worldview is to be so informed by Scripture that suffering for Christ and going through trials is seen as a reason to rejoice because it identifies us more and more with Jesus. 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:14.559 If we have the correct starting place, fulfilled with the knowledge of what's true, then the fires of this life will gradually increase the joy we have of being with Jesus. 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:25.200 He says, rejoice now, insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, so that you may also rejoice and be glad in the future. 00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:28.799 I like the word choice that Peter uses here. 00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:31.519 In the ESV, he uses the word glad. 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:35.359 Probably toned down in our English language a bit. 00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:38.720 It means to jump for joy. 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:41.680 Imagine the old Toyota commercial? 00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:44.079 You know, jumping for joy. 00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:50.319 I know some of you are too old for that commercial, but not all of you. 00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:51.279 Come on. 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:59.839 Jumping with excessive delight and happiness and joy because we're with Jesus. 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:06.160 If we rejoice in trials now, Peter says that's going to increase our rejoicing when Jesus comes. 00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:16.160 Now, when our worldview is informed by Scripture, we see a sovereign God who loves his children, who has a purpose for them. 00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:22.240 He's making them like his son, and he's going to finish that work. 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:29.119 But that work is done in the context of a real world that hates God. 00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:34.240 So suffering and trials are going to come. 00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:37.119 The heat level is going to vary. 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:45.119 But knowing what God says helps keep us stable by taking away the anxiety of being surprised. 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:48.960 It also helps keep us situated. 00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:54.799 A proper worldview keeps us properly situated. 00:32:55.519 --> 00:33:00.000 Let's say that your coworkers hear that you are a Christian. 00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:08.720 And instead of being encouraging, as you would hope, instead of being supportive of your faith, they make fun of you. 00:33:09.440 --> 00:33:13.839 They tease you, they talk about you to other employees. 00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:19.839 They may even tell lies about you that spread like a wildfire on the North Dakota Prairie. 00:33:21.279 --> 00:33:29.440 If you have a secular worldview or even a spiritual worldview, you might conclude that this Christianity thing is nuts. 00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:31.920 It's not worth that. 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:36.559 If it includes fiery trials, then it can't be good. 00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:54.400 If you take a spiritual view rather than a biblical worldview, you might decide that, you know, I, yeah, I like Jesus and I want to be with him, but yeah, I don't like this suffering stuff, so I need to tone down, soften some of my views so that I don't get criticized as much. 00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:58.480 But that's not the way of Christ. 00:33:59.599 --> 00:34:05.759 Because in verse 14, we are told that insults remind us of our position in Christ. 00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:13.280 When we are teased or insulted or talked about because of who we are in Christ, that's a good thing. 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:20.320 It should not move you to think, eh, this Christianity stuff is for the birds. 00:34:21.199 --> 00:34:26.800 It should encourage you because it confirms that you are in Christ. 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:28.320 That is your situation. 00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:30.719 That is your place, that is your foundation. 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.880 You belong to Him. 00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:41.039 Not only should it remind you of your position in Christ, it should remind you of your blessing in Christ. 00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:47.360 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed. 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:50.480 It's a recurrent theme throughout Scripture. 00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:55.039 There is a blessing that comes through suffering for Christ. 00:34:55.280 --> 00:34:59.119 Jesus talked about it in the Beatitudes, Matthew chapter 5, verse 10. 00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:04.480 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:05.840 There's the blessing. 00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:10.079 I particularly like Acts 5, 41. 00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:25.360 The disciples left the presence of the council where they were being questioned about their faith, rejoicing that they were counted worthy, counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name that's code for Jesus. 00:35:27.760 --> 00:35:31.039 We've seen it already here in 1 Peter chapter 3, verse 9. 00:35:31.280 --> 00:35:40.960 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, so that you might receive a blessing. 00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:51.519 The only way that happens, the only way that's possible is if you have been processing your world from a biblical point of view from the very beginning. 00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:56.159 If you don't start there, you're going to get off track at some point. 00:35:56.719 --> 00:36:00.559 Insults even remind us of our enablement in Christ. 00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:06.159 He says the spirit of glory and the God and the end of God rests upon you. 00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:08.800 How does that work? 00:36:10.880 --> 00:36:17.039 His resting on us, his spirit resting on us, enables us to say, you know what? 00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:24.559 These fiery things that I'm going through in life, the fires of this world, it's okay. 00:36:26.159 --> 00:36:28.000 Because God is with me. 00:36:29.360 --> 00:36:30.639 He's never left me. 00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:32.719 He's not going to forsake me. 00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:35.840 He's just proving that I belong to Him. 00:36:36.320 --> 00:36:44.400 And when that thought process starts going around in your head, it revives you to follow in spite of the fiery circumstances. 00:36:45.760 --> 00:36:49.519 Beloved, we're not called to endure the fires alone. 00:36:51.119 --> 00:36:53.920 Think of the three men in the fiery furnace and Daniel. 00:36:54.079 --> 00:36:55.039 They weren't alone. 00:36:55.199 --> 00:36:56.800 There was a fourth one there. 00:36:59.679 --> 00:37:03.920 You have not been given the grace for a trial that's coming tomorrow. 00:37:04.960 --> 00:37:06.639 So don't worry about tomorrow. 00:37:06.880 --> 00:37:08.639 Don't worry about the fires of next week. 00:37:08.719 --> 00:37:11.039 You've not been given the grace to endure that yet. 00:37:11.360 --> 00:37:20.079 But as you rest in him today, his spirit rests on you, and you will be given the grace and the strength for what you need when you need it. 00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:30.400 See, we can be stabilized and properly situated in life when our view of the world is founded in God as our faithful creator. 00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:40.719 And when God is our faithful creator, we have that perspective, we have that mindset, we have that worldview, it also keeps us safe. 00:37:42.559 --> 00:37:44.480 How does it keep us safe? 00:37:44.800 --> 00:37:48.320 Because I thought we were just told we're going through fiery trials or going to. 00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:49.760 Yes, we are. 00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:53.440 This is where verse 15 comes in. 00:37:54.079 --> 00:37:59.599 It keeps us safe by giving us a proper view of sin and blessing. 00:38:00.320 --> 00:38:04.639 Let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:14.159 We've already seen back in chapter 2, verse 20, that we don't get any credit for suffering when we sin. 00:38:14.960 --> 00:38:16.719 No extra credit for that. 00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:19.199 That's just to be expected, right? 00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:22.800 There's no blessing that comes for sin. 00:38:24.239 --> 00:38:29.280 That's just sorry, that's just pain and suffering. 00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:35.280 Only suffering for righteousness' sake brings blessing. 00:38:36.159 --> 00:38:47.840 And that perspective moves us to avoid sin and so be kept safe from sinning and pursue Christ, in which is blessing. 00:38:48.719 --> 00:38:53.199 See, when our worldview is right, we recognize that our time is short. 00:38:53.360 --> 00:38:55.440 That's what Peter said in verse 2 and verse 7. 00:38:55.599 --> 00:38:56.880 The end of all things is at hand. 00:38:57.039 --> 00:38:58.719 We don't have much time, beloved. 00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:04.239 We don't have much time to be suffering for sin. 00:39:06.320 --> 00:39:11.199 We remember that Christ endured great things for our sin. 00:39:12.320 --> 00:39:14.800 Chapter 3, verse 18. 00:39:15.119 --> 00:39:19.119 Christ also suffered once for our sins. 00:39:19.360 --> 00:39:21.199 Why would we want to suffer for our sins? 00:39:21.280 --> 00:39:22.480 Don't suffer for your sins. 00:39:22.639 --> 00:39:32.000 And so that moves us to honor the holiness of Christ our Lord, to pursue Him, to pursue righteousness and holiness, keeping us safe from sin. 00:39:33.119 --> 00:39:35.199 But we're weak people, aren't we? 00:39:36.639 --> 00:39:37.760 We're weak. 00:39:38.400 --> 00:39:40.960 We're weak in the sense of giving in to sin. 00:39:41.440 --> 00:39:44.159 We're tempted and we struggle to resist. 00:39:45.360 --> 00:39:50.880 We have sinful habits that, you know, I'm just not sure I want to be rid of that habit right now. 00:39:54.400 --> 00:40:03.440 And when we don't avoid sin, but we give in to temptation, we give in to sin, we no longer feel safe. 00:40:04.800 --> 00:40:09.280 Giving in to sin removes the blessings of strength found in faith. 00:40:09.840 --> 00:40:14.480 Which is why Peter moves on to tell us that a proper worldview keeps us strong. 00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:17.039