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February 12, 2023
Think Like Jesus; Act Like Jesus, pt 2

The Title of the Sermon is Think Like Jesus; Act Like Jesus, pt 2

Review

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

• 13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? COMMENT
• 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.
• Suffer > for righteousness > blessed
• Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
  • DO NOT FEAR IN LIFE.
• 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy,
  • Fear is contrasted with honoring Christ!
  • When we fear there is a lack of trust and faith.
  • Once we make up our minds about Jesus’ ways being holy AND SOVEREIGN, we will see fear dissipate.
• Look at the result in 15b always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;
  • This type of hopeful confidence will produce will produce inquiries from lost people.
  • This type of hope will spread.
• 15b yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, COMMENT
• 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
  • Suffering because of evil is a good thing, COMMENT
  • Better is suffering for doing God’s will.
  • God allows and causes His saints to suffer at the hands of the unjust. He always has!

Here Peter gives 5 application points on why we should suffer well.

He begins with THE SUPREME CASE STUDY
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

• APPLICATION POINT #1: We should learn to suffer well because Jesus did.
• 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous,
  • When we suffer we follow in His footsteps of suffering.
  • We esteem Jesus’ prayer life, devotion to the Father, care for the helpless, zeal for the house of God, but do we esteem the way He suffered well?
  • Jesus suffered once. > It’s over. God is outside time, but He has a history.
  • Suffered “once” reminds us of suffering’s temporary nature for the saints.
  • Remember, 1 Peter 2:21, For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
• LOOK AGAIN 3:18b the righteous for the unrighteous,
  • The most righteous for the most unrighteous. God bore all human sin.
  • Greater to the lesser.
• Jesus did this for a purpose >> that he might bring us to God,
  • Our salvation hinges on the suffering Christ went through. This is the highest form of returning a blessing for cursing!
  • Jesus’ obedience in suffering brought about the possibility for us to be saved.
  • Suffering saved us!
• being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
  • The worst suffering that could have happened did to Jesus, Death.
  • For us … bearing up with mistreatment and persecution is a witness to the world and accomplishes God’s purpose in our lives in the world.
• We line up with His kingdom purposes when we line our lives up with His will.
• God wants His children to suffer.

RESULT:

3:21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

• 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, -now saves you,
  • Peter doesn’t explain the theology behind what he said.
  • Acts 1:5, for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
  • Church age: Spirit’s baptism. In Roman 8:9b, Paul wrote, “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”
  • This >> The baptism of the Spirit now saves us.
  • not as a removal of dirt from the body
  • physical water baptism is not in view.
  • but as an appeal to God for a good conscience,
  • God’s ministry and indwelling brings about a good conscience.
  • We are saved by grace, therefore we live without guilt. COMMENT
  • He places us in right standing because of our innocence.
• through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
  • All possible through the death AND RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ.
  • We are saved because of the will of the Father, through the Son, and the indwelling of the Spirit.
  • When we witness, we need a God centered salvation message as this one.
  • Make sure we include Jesus’ resurrection in witnessing.
  • Our resurrection is the great Christian hope!

APPLICATION POINT #2: We should suffer well for there is great reward.

• Look at verse 3:22, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
• Not only did Jesus’ suffering bring salvation to us, but His suffering brought great reward to Him.
• Our obediance brings about great reward to us. COMMENT

APPLICATION POINT #3: To suffer well we must think well.

• Chapter 4, v 1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
  • God suffered.
  • “Arm” yourselves with thinking:
    • 1-make oneself a meal ready >> pack a lunch
    • 2-of chariot horses, get ready, harness, equip
    • 3-of persons, especially of soldiers, equip, arm; also, train, exercise (LSJ)
  • These speak to the level of fortitude necessary to think the way we ought.
  • MENTAL TOUGHNESS is needed for the suffering victories.
  • Proverbs 23:7b, For as he thinks within himself, so he is. (NASB)
  • Chambers wrote, “The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control.” (Chambers, Feb. 10)
• Again 4:1b, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
  • Peter said much in his letter regarding our Lord’s sufferings as the payment for sin, but here he looks at them to be the pattern of living an “all worthy life.” (MacLaren)
  • Holiness produces suffering.
  • 2 Timothy 3:12, Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
  • Sin or suffering, choose!
  • Suffer or retaliate, choose!
  • Have we prepared our minds for suffering? Do we have the mind of Christ?

APPLICATION POINT #4: We should suffer well to devote the rest of our lives to God.

• 4:2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
• Living life with our view to obey God’s will in all circumstances of life will cause suffering.
• Often, when the enemy comes and we don’t want to suffer through problems, pain, or hardship we choose humanistic living instead.

• [Cambers wrote,] Or do you say, “I am not willing to be poured out right now, and I don’t want God to tell me how to serve Him. I want to choose the place of my own sacrifice. … ¶ It is one thing to follow God’s way of service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another thing if the road marked out for you by God requires becoming a “doormat” under other people’s feet. God’s purpose may be to teach you to say, “I know how to be brought low,…” (Philippians 4:12). Are you ready to be sacrificed like that? (Feb. 5 devotional)

• Verse 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.
• Let’s make it clear here: God’s will is contrasted with sinful choices and living.
• First century religion = debauchery
• First century cultures = debauchery
• Malign you.
• Less we think we cannot be susceptible to this list—take heed!
  • Look again:
  • sensuality
  • passions
  • drunkenness
  • idolatry
• These happen when we refuse to suffer as taught, but instead embrace worldly behavior to avoid persecution.
• Peter exclaimed, “The flesh had had enough of time given to it.” (MacLaren)
• Think like Jesus; act like Jesus.
• 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;
• The world does not understand the change that believers go through. The world does not think it strange when people wreck their bodies with drugs, destroy their homes, and ruin their lives by running from one sin to another! But let a drunk become sober, or an immoral person become pure, and their family and friends thinks he has lost his mind! (Adapted from Wiersbe, 2:420)
• There is nothing new under the sun.
  • What are America’s growing religions? Sex cult with earth worship.
  • Do we see Christians being maligned if they refuse these base religions?

APPLICATION POINT #5: We should suffer well because we know God knows.

• Verse 4:5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
• Here we see one of the most stabilizing forces that arms Christian with the proper suffering attitude: no one is getting away with anything.
• They will have to answer for their behavior before Almighty God.
• Are we willing to let our Husband–The Lord–to deal with these situations? Or will we continue to allow the flesh to intervene?
• Living and dead get judged.

CLOSING COMMANDS

7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

7 The end of all things is at hand; COMMENT

• We are coming upon two days from the Jesus death and resurrection. The end is near.
• Our lives are 1.8 hours on eternity’s clock. The end is near.
• I have a half hour left of my life. The end is near.
• therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
  • The end is near SO be self-controlled
  • To not be self controlled is to be rebellious and disobedient. The Bible teaches that God will not hear our prayers in this state.
  • Instead we need to be sober-minded = clear thinker. When we are not sober minded our prayers are always selfish. Selfish prayers are not honored.
  • Three times in this letter alone Peter explains how prayers are hindered.
    • 1 Peter 3:7, 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.
    • 1 Peter 3:12, For 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.
    • Here 1 Peter 4:7, The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
• 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
  • Priority one = love >> earnestly
  • Why? Love covers a multitude of sins.
  • 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
• 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
  • Listen to this Proverb, Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. (23:6, 7)
  • I knew a man … Did you see so and so? They got an extra chicken breast.
• 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
  • Each has received >> a gift.
  • Steward >> we are managers of all God has given us. …
  • God expects us to mange well everything He has given us.
  • Our gifts are means of God’s grace to others.

ILLUSTRATIONS

• 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God;
  • Accurately
  • The way God intended
• whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies
  • Do everything with all of your might

BENEFIT

• —in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
• To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Works Cited

Scripture quotations [unless otherwise noted] are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Click here to access the works cited web-page for this document, save those marked as “Notes” or “Other Works Cited”–if any. Most of these cited works correspond to the verses they are outlined with. In the case of general background information and references, one will find cited material with the Bible books the citations are associated with. ¶ Furthermore, all numbered notes that are URL linked are retained numbered notes from Thomas Constable’s, “Dr. Constable’s Expository (Bible Study) Notes.” These links are preserved “as is” at the time of this work’s formation and sometimes include other citation information from Constable.

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