WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.240 Father, we thank you that you are one God in three persons. 00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:10.679 Thank you that it has always been this way, and because it's always been this way, 00:00:11.300 --> 00:00:19.559 the love that you have had for the Son and the Son that you've had for the Father and the Holy Spirit, 00:00:19.980 --> 00:00:25.620 loving both and emanating love, that is what our God is. 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:26.600 That is who you are. 00:00:27.440 --> 00:00:28.780 That you are a God of love. 00:00:28.780 --> 00:00:36.980 It always has been that way, and because of that love, you have invited us through Christ to enjoy that and partake of that 00:00:36.980 --> 00:00:40.500 and to be witness of that forever. 00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:50.320 So Lord, as we open up your word, we pray that we will not have difficulty understanding your word, 00:00:50.400 --> 00:00:55.820 that it will not perplex us, but rather draw us ever closer to yourself, to the God of love. 00:00:55.820 --> 00:01:03.259 Help us to see Christ more gloriously this morning, that we would treasure him in our salvation. 00:01:04.019 --> 00:01:08.739 And ultimately, Lord, we pray that by your Spirit, you would minister to us. 00:01:08.980 --> 00:01:11.280 Lord, we come with arms open. 00:01:11.980 --> 00:01:12.640 They are empty. 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:19.540 We can't bring anything to you that you would take from us and so love us more. 00:01:19.980 --> 00:01:24.620 But we come empty, open, ready to receive, because you delight to give. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:26.280 We pray this in Christ's name. 00:01:27.140 --> 00:01:27.420 Amen. 00:01:27.420 --> 00:01:33.719 Again, if you have a Bible, please turn with me to 1 Peter 3. 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:38.480 There are still a couple Bibles left at the back table. 00:01:40.659 --> 00:01:43.420 So you can grab that at any time or follow along on your phone. 00:01:44.579 --> 00:01:47.560 Before we get into it, just a bit of an introduction. 00:01:47.560 --> 00:01:55.500 So during the week, we're not perfect with this, but we try our best as a family after breakfast to sing a hymn, 00:01:55.640 --> 00:01:57.379 read a chapter of the Bible, and pray together. 00:01:57.600 --> 00:02:00.299 I mean, it's a whole six minutes or seven minutes. 00:02:01.560 --> 00:02:04.300 And seldom do we get through it uninterrupted. 00:02:04.340 --> 00:02:05.320 But it's wonderful. 00:02:05.460 --> 00:02:05.840 It's beautiful. 00:02:05.980 --> 00:02:09.680 That's the plan that we try to have every day. 00:02:10.580 --> 00:02:13.340 And a couple weeks ago, as we were going through the reading plan, 00:02:13.780 --> 00:02:15.099 we were in 1 Samuel. 00:02:16.039 --> 00:02:17.360 And we read chapter 17. 00:02:17.979 --> 00:02:20.219 Fan favorite, David and Goliath. 00:02:21.020 --> 00:02:22.319 It was the first time I read it in a while. 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:30.360 And I was struck by how ridiculously David must have seen to the Philistines and also the Israelites. 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:41.000 This small adolescent boy, man, still growing, definitely not a soldier, not in armor, 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:45.819 no sword, but with a sling, who approaches this enormous, 00:02:45.819 --> 00:02:48.379 grizzled warrior. 00:02:48.379 --> 00:02:55.079 And yet, to my kid's delight, but also to my delight, he slays Goliath. 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:56.360 It's an incredible story. 00:02:56.980 --> 00:02:57.740 But I was... 00:02:57.740 --> 00:02:58.460 I was... 00:02:58.460 --> 00:02:59.260 I really... 00:02:59.260 --> 00:03:02.000 It struck me at how ridiculous this scene must have been. 00:03:02.700 --> 00:03:06.460 And it made me think about how Christianity seems very counterintuitive, 00:03:06.740 --> 00:03:09.180 and it seems counter... 00:03:09.180 --> 00:03:12.560 contradictory to the outside world. 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:15.379 And I would venture to guess also to us as well. 00:03:15.379 --> 00:03:26.140 Apart from the story of David and Goliath, many such stories or teachings have this ridiculousness, 00:03:26.140 --> 00:03:27.420 so to speak, about them. 00:03:27.419 --> 00:03:32.819 They seem irrational or counter to conventional wisdom. 00:03:32.939 --> 00:03:34.839 Think about Jesus' teachings. 00:03:35.119 --> 00:03:36.299 The last will be first. 00:03:37.299 --> 00:03:39.299 If you want to be great, you must serve. 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:41.339 Or Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. 00:03:41.459 --> 00:03:44.099 Blessed are you when others revile and persecute you. 00:03:44.099 --> 00:03:56.959 Even certain stories like God making a promise to a geriatric couple who are barren that through them and through their seed, 00:03:57.060 --> 00:03:58.280 the world would be full. 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:01.240 It is a crazy, ridiculous story. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:05.859 But yet the Bible is full of them. 00:04:05.860 --> 00:04:11.200 I mentioned Jesus' Sermon on the Mount where he says, 00:04:11.480 --> 00:04:17.860 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 00:04:19.259 --> 00:04:23.120 Being cursed is a blessing, is what Jesus is saying. 00:04:24.080 --> 00:04:30.580 That seems so very counter-cultural and counter-intuitive to us. 00:04:30.579 --> 00:04:36.060 And if you're saying, well, no, this is Jesus' teaching. 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:36.959 This is what I believe. 00:04:37.039 --> 00:04:39.300 Of course there's this idea of the servant leader. 00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:48.479 That's only because the Bible has washed over our culture and your mind for your entire life and over generations and generations. 00:04:48.699 --> 00:04:53.740 But the world over, that is a very irrational, counter-cultural thing to say. 00:04:55.560 --> 00:04:58.599 I would say that being cursed isn't a blessing. 00:04:58.599 --> 00:05:00.019 Being blessed is a blessing. 00:05:00.579 --> 00:05:04.519 So, as we enter into 1 Peter, 00:05:05.259 --> 00:05:10.539 and we consider how the Christian life is one full of blessings, 00:05:10.839 --> 00:05:18.479 and yet also full of being reviled, suffering, being persecuted, even death, 00:05:19.180 --> 00:05:21.560 we must ask the question, why is it a blessing? 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:28.000 And why is it not just a blessing for us, but a blessing, an invitation to the entire world, 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:33.339 that we may enjoy divine blessing even though we suffer? 00:05:33.339 --> 00:05:38.159 We're going to look at our text, verses 8 to 22. 00:05:39.779 --> 00:05:41.979 And I've broken it up into three parts. 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:45.919 Verses 8 to 12, we'll take a look at the blessing of our call. 00:05:47.219 --> 00:05:51.799 Verses 13 to 17, I'll take a look at the blessing of our suffering. 00:05:51.800 --> 00:05:57.360 And then finally, we'll take a look at the blessing of our victorious Savior. 00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:05.319 We'll see how, again, this is all on one hand counter-intuitive, counter-cultural. 00:06:05.900 --> 00:06:07.580 It seems irrational. 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:10.800 And yet, it is the greatest news for us and for the world. 00:06:11.240 --> 00:06:14.199 So, if you can jump into it with me, verses 8 to 12, 00:06:14.780 --> 00:06:20.480 we'll take a look at what the blessing of our call truly means. 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:24.280 So, just before we get into it, we're continuing 1 Peter. 00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:31.460 We're reading the concluding section of Peter encouraging the church to use their freedom in Christ 00:06:31.460 --> 00:06:37.520 for the sake of service for others, not from responsibility. 00:06:37.960 --> 00:06:40.720 We've looked at that for a few different weeks now. 00:06:41.040 --> 00:06:41.920 He's addressed citizens. 00:06:42.580 --> 00:06:44.100 He's addressed servants or slaves. 00:06:44.220 --> 00:06:45.060 He's addressed wives. 00:06:45.200 --> 00:06:49.819 He's addressed husbands to bear up under unjust treatment as a part of their calling. 00:06:49.819 --> 00:06:56.339 And now, he addresses how these same Christians are to interact with one another in the church. 00:06:57.219 --> 00:06:58.980 So, look with me, starting in verse 8. 00:06:59.379 --> 00:07:03.519 We'll be in and out of the text the whole morning, but we'll just read verse 8 right now. 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:11.500 Finally, all of you have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 00:07:13.139 --> 00:07:17.300 We have been reminded for seven weeks, that's how long we've been in 1 Peter thus far, 00:07:17.300 --> 00:07:19.459 that Christians are resident aliens. 00:07:19.819 --> 00:07:21.199 We are sojourners. 00:07:21.379 --> 00:07:24.759 We are citizens of heaven, even though we are citizens here on earth. 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:27.360 And that that is fraught with challenges. 00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:31.959 That is fraught with persecutions, frustrations, and sufferings. 00:07:33.420 --> 00:07:41.560 We are reminded that as citizens of heaven, the church then becomes an embassy of heaven, so to speak. 00:07:41.560 --> 00:07:42.560 It's an outpost of heaven. 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:54.480 It's an outpost of heaven, where the culture of heaven, the fragrance of heaven, the ethos and the ethic of heaven is here on earth. 00:07:54.480 --> 00:08:02.980 So, for the weary believer, who is, by God's grace, trying to live faithfully by Christ's call, 00:08:03.660 --> 00:08:08.660 the Christian community is a place of refuge and refreshment and support. 00:08:08.660 --> 00:08:25.900 When we say to come to church, it's not because we have a role where we collect numbers for stats and growth charts and all that stuff. 00:08:25.899 --> 00:08:28.139 We do. It's part of our bylaws. 00:08:28.139 --> 00:08:39.179 But we say come to church because six plus days of the week, you are working and you are interacting with other people. 00:08:39.659 --> 00:08:46.860 And that you are in the world and the world has an ethos and an ethic that on one hand, there's some good things about it. 00:08:46.860 --> 00:08:49.419 But common grace is a real thing. 00:08:49.580 --> 00:08:52.700 God causes the rain to shine on the just and the unjust. 00:08:52.899 --> 00:08:57.000 There's a lot of good about our world, but there's a lot that is counterintuitive to the Christian faith. 00:08:58.300 --> 00:09:04.779 And that beats over you, beats over you daily, week after week, day after day. 00:09:04.779 --> 00:09:15.320 And when you come to church, the idea, the hope, the prayer, is that we gather as God's people and we receive from him. 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:21.360 We encourage one another. We pray to him. We are built up. We are exhorted. We are filled up. 00:09:21.460 --> 00:09:23.480 We are equipped for the week ahead. 00:09:24.920 --> 00:09:30.200 And a part of it, it's like stepping out of Canada and stepping into heaven. 00:09:31.020 --> 00:09:36.860 Listen, it's a gym. You guys are wonderful saints still growing into your sainthood. 00:09:37.220 --> 00:09:40.460 It's not quite heaven, but it's in part. It's a taste of heaven. 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:42.840 It's like getting recharged. 00:09:42.840 --> 00:09:49.420 And here, this is what Peter is trying to remind the church of. 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:58.700 He lists off five characteristics of what it means to be a citizen of heaven. 00:09:59.540 --> 00:10:08.220 And what these five characteristics do, this unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind, 00:10:08.220 --> 00:10:13.440 these counteract our hyper-individualism in our day. 00:10:13.440 --> 00:10:19.160 That was not as pronounced in the Roman world, but certainly existed. 00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:24.080 But especially in our world, it counteracts this hyper-individualism. 00:10:24.899 --> 00:10:26.860 It does not... 00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:31.180 The hyper-individualism that we experience day in and day out, 00:10:31.179 --> 00:10:36.759 it does not promote communal stability and cohesion for very long for... 00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:41.579 It sees the value of community only in what that community can do for me. 00:10:41.580 --> 00:10:45.660 And Peter here in verse 8 is saying, 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:51.139 listen, this situation, you are to receive from God, 00:10:51.220 --> 00:10:53.580 but you are also supposed to give to those around you. 00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:57.240 And it's not about how you are to take, 00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:58.980 it is about how you are to give. 00:10:59.980 --> 00:11:04.200 Once again, we see our freedom in Christ is for service, 00:11:04.200 --> 00:11:05.720 not from service. 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:09.200 We need to be refreshed. 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:11.160 We need to be equipped. 00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:15.980 Which means, ultimately, we need to be real with our shortcomings and our struggles. 00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:21.620 It does not do us a service to pretend like things are always okay. 00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:23.580 And it's great if you've had a fantastic week, 00:11:24.060 --> 00:11:27.980 and you don't want to be fatalistic and see everything as a Debbie Downer, 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:31.640 or everything, you know, shadowed with despair or struggle. 00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:35.279 But to be honest, that life can be difficult, 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:36.759 and that you need help, 00:11:37.179 --> 00:11:39.639 and that you have no ability within yourself 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:41.799 to help yourself in the way you need to be helped. 00:11:45.019 --> 00:11:49.039 The church builds us up 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:53.199 because Christ is in us, working through us by his Spirit. 00:11:54.460 --> 00:11:56.419 Verse 8, again, finally, all of you, 00:11:56.899 --> 00:11:59.399 unity of mind, sympathy, 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:01.539 brotherly love, 00:12:01.659 --> 00:12:02.480 a tender heart, 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:03.519 a humble mind. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:07.059 That is a community that builds up, 00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:08.159 that does not tear down, 00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:09.220 that gives, 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.279 that does not take, 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:13.199 that seeks the betterment 00:12:13.199 --> 00:12:14.620 and the welfare of each other, 00:12:15.220 --> 00:12:16.500 and not for themselves. 00:12:19.419 --> 00:12:22.100 In order to faithfully live out verse 8, 00:12:22.100 --> 00:12:25.420 oh, sorry, 00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:26.560 it goes on to verse 9, 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:29.680 that if we are to live in such a way, 00:12:30.019 --> 00:12:31.840 we are going to see some kind of pushback. 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:33.759 Again, the world, 00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:36.040 although a lot of good things in the world, 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:36.980 a lot of good qualities, 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:39.320 there's beautiful things happening in our city, 00:12:40.040 --> 00:12:41.560 but again, it's counter to the faith, 00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:44.779 and if we are to live as an outpost of heaven, 00:12:45.820 --> 00:12:47.560 Peter tells us to expect pushback. 00:12:47.660 --> 00:12:49.100 In verse 9, he says it plainly. 00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:51.040 He says this, 00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:52.540 do not repay evil for evil, 00:12:53.060 --> 00:12:54.519 or reviling for reviling, 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:55.360 but on the contrary, 00:12:55.540 --> 00:12:55.860 bless, 00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:57.940 for to this you were called, 00:12:58.060 --> 00:13:00.120 that you may obtain a blessing. 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:00.800 I'll say this, 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:03.620 verse 9 can't happen 00:13:03.620 --> 00:13:04.759 unless verse 8 00:13:04.759 --> 00:13:08.820 is going strong in the church. 00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:12.180 How on earth do we not retaliate 00:13:12.180 --> 00:13:15.740 when evil is thrown our way? 00:13:15.740 --> 00:13:18.420 How do we not revile others 00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:20.860 if we are being reviled, 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:23.279 if we are not being built up 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:24.259 by each other 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:26.939 through the Holy Spirit in the church? 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:30.819 This is a hard, hard calling, 00:13:31.299 --> 00:13:33.360 but by God's grace, 00:13:34.019 --> 00:13:36.059 he has equipped us to do just that. 00:13:37.219 --> 00:13:38.620 So Peter is reminding us 00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:40.219 to live as citizens of heaven 00:13:40.219 --> 00:13:41.139 and not as pagans, 00:13:41.699 --> 00:13:45.339 to not seek out vengeance, 00:13:45.340 --> 00:13:47.639 to not go after our enemy, 00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:50.840 to not burn down their home, 00:13:51.040 --> 00:13:51.720 so to speak, 00:13:52.259 --> 00:13:54.440 but rather take the example of Christ. 00:13:55.060 --> 00:13:56.820 And we saw that example of Christ 00:13:56.820 --> 00:13:59.840 in verse 21 to 22 of chapter 2. 00:14:00.280 --> 00:14:01.220 I'm not going to read it, 00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:02.940 but if you go back to it, 00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:05.200 this was Peter, in a sense, 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:07.139 summing up all of Isaiah 53, 00:14:07.280 --> 00:14:08.940 of Christ laying down his life 00:14:08.940 --> 00:14:12.519 willingly for the blessing of others, 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:13.860 for the salvation of others. 00:14:15.419 --> 00:14:17.179 Consider how non-retaliation 00:14:17.179 --> 00:14:18.039 in the early church 00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:19.500 transformed Roman society. 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:22.519 Retribution, revenge killings, 00:14:22.659 --> 00:14:23.819 coups, wars, 00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:27.100 started to regain or maintain honor. 00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:29.039 All such behavior 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:30.860 adding to the ongoing 00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:34.039 and increasingly evil cycle of death. 00:14:34.139 --> 00:14:35.079 It continues on, 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:36.100 it continues on, 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:37.439 it continues on. 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:38.899 But in following Christ's example, 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:40.980 which is verse 9, 00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:43.000 the cycle of death is broken. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:46.680 So Christians repay evil with love. 00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:47.759 Right actions are done 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:51.180 to those who look to malign us 00:14:51.180 --> 00:14:53.600 and to destroy us. 00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:56.379 To bless, in this case, 00:14:56.899 --> 00:14:58.279 means to speak well of, 00:14:58.379 --> 00:15:01.039 to invoke God's favor on somebody. 00:15:01.460 --> 00:15:02.620 The word bless here 00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:04.800 is the word where we get eulogy, 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:06.139 to speak well of. 00:15:06.139 --> 00:15:09.439 It's calling us to speak well 00:15:09.439 --> 00:15:11.860 of those who speak evil against us. 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:12.980 Very hard, very difficult. 00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:14.679 How can we do that? 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:16.620 We can't do it alone. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:18.360 Obviously we need God's help. 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:20.759 But we need to have the encouragement 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:21.419 of one another. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:22.379 And that's why we go back 00:15:22.379 --> 00:15:23.319 to verse 8 here. 00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:25.840 We need a unity of mind. 00:15:26.059 --> 00:15:26.939 We need sympathy, 00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:27.879 brotherly love, 00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:28.600 a tender heart, 00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:29.620 a humble mind. 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:31.259 We need to be praying, 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:32.980 which implies for sure 00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:33.879 praying for one another, 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:35.139 walking with one another, 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:39.139 saying no to maybe times of recreation 00:15:39.139 --> 00:15:40.899 because somebody has given us a call 00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:41.799 or sent us a text. 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:43.639 Hey, I need a call. 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:45.019 Let's grab a drink. 00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:47.080 Let's grab a coffee, whatever. 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:48.960 I need to run through some stuff. 00:15:49.100 --> 00:15:49.639 I need help. 00:15:53.179 --> 00:15:55.019 So it is no surprise that 00:15:55.019 --> 00:15:56.759 as Peter continues on, 00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:59.179 he quotes Psalm 33 00:15:59.179 --> 00:16:00.820 in verses 10 to 12. 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:02.980 And he speaks about 00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:04.480 the power of speech. 00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:06.879 Interestingly, again, 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:08.060 going back to verse 9, 00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:09.660 that we are called to bless 00:16:09.660 --> 00:16:11.060 those that persecute us. 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.100 And that blessing is 00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:13.960 to speak well of 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:15.220 invoking God's favor 00:16:15.220 --> 00:16:16.160 upon their lives. 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:17.980 And then Psalm 33 00:16:17.980 --> 00:16:19.780 is quoted in verses 10 to 12. 00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:20.640 And this is what it says. 00:16:21.420 --> 00:16:23.660 Whoever desires to love life 00:16:23.660 --> 00:16:24.900 and see good deeds, 00:16:25.020 --> 00:16:26.300 that idea of good deeds, 00:16:26.780 --> 00:16:27.960 or sorry, good days rather, 00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:31.720 it is like the end of the age, 00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:33.379 like the culmination of salvation. 00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:40.700 Whoever desires to love life 00:16:40.700 --> 00:16:41.560 and see good days, 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:44.360 let him keep his tongue from evil 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:47.080 and his lips from speaking deceit. 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:49.100 Let him turn away from evil 00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:49.960 and do good. 00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:51.960 Let him seek peace and pursue it. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.220 For the eyes of the Lord 00:16:53.220 --> 00:16:54.379 are on the righteous, 00:16:55.040 --> 00:16:56.120 and his ears are open 00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:56.779 to their prayer. 00:16:57.379 --> 00:16:58.379 But the face of the Lord 00:16:58.379 --> 00:17:00.159 is against those who do evil. 00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:02.460 Friends, right living 00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:04.220 always starts in the heart 00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:05.619 and continues in the mouth 00:17:05.619 --> 00:17:07.059 and then proceeds 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:08.079 to a life lived. 00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:12.400 We see again the call 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.920 to live authentically, 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:15.440 where our inner life 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.740 matches our outer life. 00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:18.579 The Christian life 00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:20.359 is a call of authentic, 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:21.240 godly living. 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:23.079 That is not that we have 00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:24.380 the outside of the bowl 00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:25.579 washed, so to speak, 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:26.779 the outside of the vessel washed, 00:17:26.859 --> 00:17:27.919 but the inside is filthy. 00:17:28.980 --> 00:17:30.039 We have to make sure 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:31.259 the inside is washed, 00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:32.779 and then the outside 00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:34.500 of the vessel, 00:17:34.879 --> 00:17:36.319 when it is clean, 00:17:36.439 --> 00:17:38.059 it's a beautiful vessel, 00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:39.339 worthy of use. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:42.240 Like husbands in the previous section, 00:17:42.879 --> 00:17:44.199 verse 12 reminds us here 00:17:44.199 --> 00:17:45.460 that our spiritual growth 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.259 and vitality 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:47.879 is directly connected 00:17:47.879 --> 00:17:49.159 with responding 00:17:49.159 --> 00:17:50.299 to the grace of Christ 00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:51.319 through faithful living. 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:52.240 If you remember 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:54.599 the end of verse 7, 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.259 when Peter is talking 00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:57.819 to husbands, 00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:59.159 right at the end here, 00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:01.639 he says, 00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:04.059 I'll just read the full thing. 00:18:04.339 --> 00:18:04.559 Likewise, 00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:05.000 husbands, 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:07.259 live with your wives 00:18:07.259 --> 00:18:08.220 in an understanding way, 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:08.980 showing honor 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:09.679 to the woman 00:18:09.679 --> 00:18:10.720 as the weaker vessel, 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:12.299 since they are heirs with you 00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:13.439 of the grace of life. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:14.039 Here it is. 00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:15.259 So that your prayers 00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.139 may not be hindered. 00:18:18.639 --> 00:18:21.839 How we live in secret 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:22.940 will inform 00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:24.259 how we live in public, 00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:26.039 and it is very clear 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:28.440 that our spiritual vitality 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.299 hangs in the balance. 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:32.599 Therefore, friends, 00:18:32.659 --> 00:18:33.680 we must fight against 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:35.460 harboring ill towards anyone, 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:37.299 especially in the church, 00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:39.399 amongst our family, 00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:41.940 amongst those that are close to us 00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:42.920 that have hurt us, 00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:44.920 here, 00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:46.000 the blessing 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:48.900 that Peter is calling for 00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:50.800 isn't thinking 00:18:50.800 --> 00:18:52.080 really nice thoughts 00:18:52.080 --> 00:18:52.740 about somebody, 00:18:52.860 --> 00:18:53.900 but it's actively 00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:55.779 seeking their good 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:58.840 and lifting them up 00:18:58.840 --> 00:19:01.560 and blessing them, 00:19:01.660 --> 00:19:02.800 praying that the Lord 00:19:02.800 --> 00:19:05.480 would meet them. 00:19:05.560 --> 00:19:06.180 And sometimes, 00:19:06.320 --> 00:19:06.840 by the way, 00:19:07.380 --> 00:19:09.320 that means rattling their cage, 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.300 opening their eyes 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:12.460 like the wayward son 00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:13.359 in the story 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:14.480 of the two sons, 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.319 the prodigal son. 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.940 But it ultimately 00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:18.740 is a call 00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.879 that our hearts 00:19:19.879 --> 00:19:20.480 would be turned 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.559 towards their benefit, 00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:22.460 their good, 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.220 their flourishing. 00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:25.359 And how can we do that 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:26.619 if we are harboring 00:19:26.619 --> 00:19:28.119 a bitterness 00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:31.200 in our hearts, 00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:31.779 resentment, 00:19:32.919 --> 00:19:33.299 anger, 00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:35.579 that is not dealt with, 00:19:36.139 --> 00:19:37.460 but is festering. 00:19:38.139 --> 00:19:39.200 You can't bless somebody 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.859 if you hate them. 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:44.079 So we also see here 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:46.440 that implied in this 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:49.299 is that gossip and lying 00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:51.839 are also deeply, 00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:52.899 deeply problematic. 00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:55.599 It says here in verse 11 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:57.000 to pursue peace. 00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:01.059 We serve the Prince of Peace, 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:01.940 Jesus Christ, 00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:04.000 who has given us peace 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:05.400 first in our souls 00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:07.259 and that is why 00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:08.200 we turn to him 00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:09.680 when we feel the struggle 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:11.779 and we ask for help 00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:13.200 as many times 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:14.859 as we have to ask for help. 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:18.880 As we are called 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:20.480 to live such a life, 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:23.900 by faith we will be blessed 00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:25.160 and be a source of blessing 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:27.340 because we are mediating 00:20:27.340 --> 00:20:29.220 the very presence of Christ 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:30.540 in our culture. 00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.680 And our culture is, 00:20:32.820 --> 00:20:34.100 much like in Roman times, 00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:36.340 becoming a culture 00:20:36.340 --> 00:20:37.960 where there's a cycle of death, 00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:39.460 a death spiral 00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.540 that has taken us, 00:20:41.820 --> 00:20:42.600 that we value 00:20:42.600 --> 00:20:43.680 not the things 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.860 that promote life, 00:20:44.920 --> 00:20:45.400 but the things 00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:46.259 that promote death. 00:20:50.060 --> 00:20:51.840 But like any formidable enemy, 00:20:52.800 --> 00:20:54.019 sin, death, 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:55.460 and Satan will not go down 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.139 without a fight. 00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:57.980 Therefore, Christians 00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:59.160 from every generation, 00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:00.900 not just under Nero 00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:02.539 in Peter's day, 00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:03.139 but today 00:21:03.139 --> 00:21:04.299 and in all times, 00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:05.460 should expect 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:06.920 some kind of suffering, 00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:08.920 some kind of struggle, 00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:10.599 some kind of big pushback. 00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:11.660 And this leads us 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:12.460 to our next section, 00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:13.740 verses 13 to 17. 00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:15.879 And we'll see that 00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:16.519 there is blessing 00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:17.379 in our suffering. 00:21:17.700 --> 00:21:18.240 Again, another, 00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:20.700 seems like a contradiction 00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:22.279 or it's counterintuitive, 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:23.059 but let's take a look 00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:23.500 at the text 00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.240 and see what it says. 00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:25.759 We'll look at verse 13 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:28.019 and then we'll continue on. 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:30.319 Now, who is there 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:31.039 to harm you 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:32.139 if you are zealous 00:21:32.139 --> 00:21:32.980 for what is good? 00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:35.639 This is a question 00:21:35.639 --> 00:21:36.619 rhetorically asked 00:21:36.619 --> 00:21:38.339 and the people 00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:40.440 in Asia Minor 00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:41.759 and here this morning, 00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:42.639 we should say, 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.079 no one. 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:46.220 But, my goodness, 00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.460 they're living under Nero. 00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:49.980 Who is there to harm you 00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:50.700 if you are zealous 00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:52.519 for what is good? 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:55.400 The entire apparatus of Rome, 00:21:56.180 --> 00:21:58.440 the entire culture we live in. 00:21:58.819 --> 00:21:59.519 What do you mean 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:01.700 that who is there to harm you? 00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:03.700 How can Peter say this 00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:04.259 to the church 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:05.519 who has suffered so much 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:07.140 but will suffer even more 00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:08.340 in the coming years, 00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:08.860 but especially 00:22:08.860 --> 00:22:09.860 in the coming decades, 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:11.360 in the coming centuries? 00:22:12.840 --> 00:22:13.600 Take a look. 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.380 Let's continue on 00:22:14.380 --> 00:22:15.100 in verse 14. 00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:17.179 I'll read 13 again 00:22:17.179 --> 00:22:19.219 but we'll focus on 14 00:22:19.219 --> 00:22:19.599 and following. 00:22:20.579 --> 00:22:21.379 Now, who is there 00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:21.980 to harm you 00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:22.799 if you are zealous 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.519 for what is good? 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.980 But even if you should suffer 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:27.219 for righteousness' sake, 00:22:27.679 --> 00:22:29.019 you will be blessed. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.899 Have no fear of them 00:22:30.899 --> 00:22:31.579 nor be troubled 00:22:31.579 --> 00:22:32.699 but in your hearts 00:22:32.699 --> 00:22:34.379 honor Christ the Lord as holy, 00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:36.279 always being prepared 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:37.279 to make a defense 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:37.839 to anyone 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:38.919 who asks you 00:22:38.919 --> 00:22:39.579 for a reason 00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:40.159 for the hope 00:22:40.159 --> 00:22:40.859 that is in you. 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.119 Yet do it 00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:42.759 with gentleness 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.439 and respect, 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:45.440 having a good conscience 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:47.820 so that when you are slandered, 00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:48.799 those who revile 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.640 your good behavior 00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:50.140 in Christ 00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:52.259 may be put to shame. 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:53.080 Verse 17. 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:54.220 For it is better 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:55.400 to suffer for doing good 00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:56.779 if that should be 00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:57.380 God's will 00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:58.380 than for doing evil. 00:22:59.380 --> 00:23:00.680 As a general rule, 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.380 as a general principle, 00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:04.600 hope is essential 00:23:04.600 --> 00:23:06.200 for endurance 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:07.320 and mental fortitude 00:23:07.320 --> 00:23:09.140 in the face of stressors 00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:10.100 and difficulties in life. 00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:13.599 Hope is so very important 00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:15.579 to the human existence. 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.659 It's the very idea 00:23:17.659 --> 00:23:18.339 that tomorrow 00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:19.579 will be better than today. 00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:24.339 We see hope is essential. 00:23:25.719 --> 00:23:27.419 But what is more important 00:23:27.419 --> 00:23:28.539 than having hope 00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:30.159 is who is 00:23:30.159 --> 00:23:31.659 or what is our hope in. 00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:34.859 If our hope is in Christ, 00:23:36.139 --> 00:23:37.299 he has conquered death. 00:23:37.299 --> 00:23:39.299 The worst persecution 00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:41.419 that we may experience 00:23:41.419 --> 00:23:43.220 is death 00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:46.039 and nothing more. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:48.599 In the case of verse 15, 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:49.960 but in our hearts 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.619 honor Christ, 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:51.299 the Lord is holy, 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:53.200 always being prepared 00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:54.220 to make a defense 00:23:54.220 --> 00:23:55.700 to anyone who asks you 00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.619 for a reason 00:23:56.619 --> 00:23:57.319 of the hope 00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:58.539 that is in you. 00:24:00.619 --> 00:24:01.440 This hope 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.519 is a future hope 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:03.980 that we have now 00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:06.940 that looks to the final salvation 00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:08.160 where we will experience 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:09.120 in full what we have 00:24:09.120 --> 00:24:09.599 in part now. 00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:10.980 So we are saved. 00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:12.559 We have hope now. 00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:13.940 But the hope 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:14.839 that this envisions 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:15.980 is the hope to come, 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:17.160 the hope at the end of the age. 00:24:17.860 --> 00:24:18.980 When Christ will come back 00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:19.660 for his church 00:24:19.660 --> 00:24:20.319 to the dead 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:21.660 in him will rise. 00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:22.660 He will judge 00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:23.559 the living and the dead 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:24.740 like it says in our creed 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.640 and we will be with him 00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:27.279 glorified for eternity. 00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:28.940 That is our hope. 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:29.860 We are saved. 00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:32.039 But we have that 00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:32.960 in part now. 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:34.700 But not in full. 00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:36.740 Peter is telling us 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.819 to be ready 00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:38.620 to explain 00:24:38.620 --> 00:24:39.640 what our hope is. 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.600 That future hope 00:24:40.600 --> 00:24:41.960 that we have 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:43.460 in the here and now. 00:24:43.740 --> 00:24:44.620 And it would stand 00:24:44.620 --> 00:24:45.519 to reason then 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:47.519 that verse 13, 00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:48.380 this rhetorically 00:24:48.380 --> 00:24:49.220 asked question, 00:24:49.620 --> 00:24:50.759 now who is there 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:51.380 to harm you 00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:52.180 if you are zealous 00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:53.400 for what is good, 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:54.799 would appear 00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:55.819 that Peter is saying, 00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:56.140 listen, 00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:58.120 you are eternally secure. 00:24:59.160 --> 00:25:00.380 They can attack 00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:00.920 your body, 00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:02.279 they can imprison you, 00:25:02.279 --> 00:25:03.839 they can slander you, 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:05.559 you can lose your job, 00:25:05.639 --> 00:25:07.279 you could not have 00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:08.420 a promotion, 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.460 you can suffer 00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:10.759 in a myriad 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.559 of different kind 00:25:11.559 --> 00:25:12.119 of ways, 00:25:12.899 --> 00:25:14.379 but the most 00:25:14.379 --> 00:25:15.119 they can do 00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:16.019 is harm 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:17.339 your temporal body. 00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:19.180 But they can never 00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:19.920 touch your soul. 00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:22.059 Eternity is secure. 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.799 Verse 14, though, 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.359 nevertheless, 00:25:27.099 --> 00:25:27.420 says, 00:25:27.559 --> 00:25:27.700 listen, 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.460 you might suffer 00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:29.920 for righteousness' sake, 00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:31.300 but know that 00:25:31.300 --> 00:25:32.080 you will be blessed. 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.779 Why will you be blessed? 00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:37.400 You'll be blessed 00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.720 because you are 00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:40.279 united with Christ 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:41.320 and you are 00:25:41.320 --> 00:25:42.440 walking in His ways. 00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:44.920 That, like Christ, 00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:46.019 you are suffering 00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:47.480 because you are 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:47.880 choosing 00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:49.860 to proclaim 00:25:49.860 --> 00:25:50.620 the goodness 00:25:50.620 --> 00:25:51.580 of the gospel 00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:52.580 of God. 00:25:53.380 --> 00:25:54.300 That righteousness 00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:56.339 and light 00:25:56.339 --> 00:25:57.200 and life, 00:25:57.639 --> 00:25:59.159 it is far greater 00:25:59.159 --> 00:26:00.059 and more powerful 00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:01.220 than death 00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:01.899 and despair 00:26:01.899 --> 00:26:02.500 and darkness. 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:06.039 This hope 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:06.980 animates our life 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:08.019 so that our existence 00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:09.940 becomes impenetrable 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.839 and imperishable 00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:12.419 because it's in Christ. 00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:13.700 Christ, 00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:14.639 He draws us 00:26:14.639 --> 00:26:15.500 into Himself, 00:26:16.339 --> 00:26:17.039 blessing us 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:18.460 with this eternal hope 00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:19.759 that is to come, 00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:20.680 but that we have 00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:22.180 in part now, 00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:24.299 and we get to 00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:25.500 proclaim this hope 00:26:25.500 --> 00:26:26.080 to others. 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.539 And notice the language here 00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:30.759 in verse 15, 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.539 that as we proclaim 00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:32.940 this hope, 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:33.640 giving a reason 00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:34.180 for this hope, 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:34.720 we are to do it 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:35.340 with gentleness 00:26:35.340 --> 00:26:36.560 and respect. 00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:37.759 And we hearken back, 00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:38.779 it harkens back, 00:26:38.840 --> 00:26:39.019 rather, 00:26:39.120 --> 00:26:40.039 to the previous section 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:40.960 where, 00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:42.360 with husbands and wives, 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.480 where we are to share 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:43.840 our hope 00:26:43.840 --> 00:26:45.380 with those around us 00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:48.940 in the pattern 00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:50.460 as women 00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:53.400 are to show gentleness. 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.960 In verse 2, 00:26:56.060 --> 00:26:56.740 let me read this 00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.380 really quick 00:26:57.380 --> 00:26:58.120 so I'm just not 00:26:58.120 --> 00:26:59.320 stomping on anybody. 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:04.920 Apologies. 00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:05.780 Oh, sorry. 00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:06.320 Here it is. 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:07.760 Do not let your adorning 00:27:07.760 --> 00:27:08.260 be eternal, 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.320 verse 4, 00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:10.120 but let your adorning 00:27:10.120 --> 00:27:11.120 be the hidden person 00:27:11.120 --> 00:27:11.780 of the heart 00:27:11.780 --> 00:27:14.360 with the imperishable beauty 00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:15.599 of a gentle 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:16.519 and quiet spirit. 00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:17.259 We're seeing that 00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:18.259 this is not just 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:18.759 for women 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.659 in verse 3, 00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:21.259 but it's connecting, 00:27:21.399 --> 00:27:22.139 Peter's connecting it 00:27:22.139 --> 00:27:22.939 to all Christians 00:27:22.939 --> 00:27:25.019 here in verse 15. 00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:26.919 And that we 00:27:26.919 --> 00:27:28.899 then are to 00:27:28.899 --> 00:27:30.879 seek people 00:27:30.879 --> 00:27:31.699 out, 00:27:32.159 --> 00:27:32.899 sharing them 00:27:32.899 --> 00:27:34.059 the hope that we have 00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:35.219 in a way 00:27:35.219 --> 00:27:36.419 that they can understand, 00:27:36.899 --> 00:27:38.019 that it is 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:39.139 articulated to them 00:27:39.139 --> 00:27:39.699 in language 00:27:39.699 --> 00:27:41.219 that they can 00:27:41.219 --> 00:27:42.279 grasp, 00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:43.859 so that they would 00:27:43.859 --> 00:27:45.019 understand the 00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:46.479 universal human need 00:27:46.479 --> 00:27:47.079 for forgiveness 00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:47.879 and meaning 00:27:47.879 --> 00:27:48.939 and love, 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:50.579 and that where 00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:51.159 they're searching 00:27:51.159 --> 00:27:51.779 for it, 00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:53.379 they will not find it, 00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.319 for it is only 00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:54.919 in Christ. 00:27:57.159 --> 00:27:57.719 And yet Peter 00:27:57.719 --> 00:27:58.879 reminds us once again 00:27:58.879 --> 00:27:59.859 that doing good 00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:01.159 may very well 00:28:01.159 --> 00:28:02.240 result in suffering, 00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:03.879 and that is 00:28:03.879 --> 00:28:04.599 God's will. 00:28:06.199 --> 00:28:06.779 So what this 00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.319 isn't saying, 00:28:07.399 --> 00:28:07.579 though, 00:28:07.619 --> 00:28:08.359 is that suffering 00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:08.939 is certain, 00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.339 and that God 00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:12.099 delights in us 00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:14.359 being persecuted, 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:16.079 or being hurt, 00:28:16.659 --> 00:28:17.559 or being maimed, 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:18.119 or martyred, 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.259 but rather 00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:20.639 that it is God's 00:28:20.639 --> 00:28:21.500 will that we may 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.199 do good, 00:28:22.699 --> 00:28:24.000 and that very well 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.659 might lead to 00:28:24.659 --> 00:28:25.059 suffering. 00:28:25.719 --> 00:28:26.159 Remember, 00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:26.699 this is an 00:28:26.699 --> 00:28:27.619 encouragement for us, 00:28:27.659 --> 00:28:28.299 and it's a blessing 00:28:28.299 --> 00:28:28.839 for us. 00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:30.619 It is something 00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:31.480 that should build us 00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:33.159 up and not scare us. 00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:35.519 Ultimately, 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.859 everything is under 00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.980 God's sovereign control. 00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:40.440 No one can persecute 00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:41.180 God's children 00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:41.900 apart from 00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:43.360 Him permitting it, 00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:45.500 but He has severely 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.500 handicapped, 00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.099 kneecapped 00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:48.860 our enemies 00:28:48.860 --> 00:28:49.839 through the 00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:51.000 passion of Christ, 00:28:51.779 --> 00:28:52.660 so that all 00:28:52.660 --> 00:28:52.980 they can 00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:54.940 really truly do 00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:55.380 is affect 00:28:55.380 --> 00:28:56.400 our temporal life. 00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:58.059 Our eternal 00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:59.200 hope is secure 00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:01.319 in our Savior, 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:02.279 who has conquered 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:02.940 all and is 00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:03.920 victorious over all. 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:04.539 And this leads us 00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.319 then to our 00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:06.120 final point, 00:29:06.119 --> 00:29:08.039 verses 18 to 22, 00:29:08.399 --> 00:29:09.099 the blessing 00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:10.039 of our victorious 00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:10.659 Savior. 00:29:11.659 --> 00:29:12.439 Let's take a look. 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:15.919 For Christ also 00:29:15.919 --> 00:29:17.500 suffered once 00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:18.479 for sins, 00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:19.459 the righteous 00:29:19.459 --> 00:29:20.419 for the unrighteous, 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.219 that He might 00:29:21.219 --> 00:29:22.239 bring us to God, 00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:24.259 being put to death 00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:24.859 in the flesh, 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:25.759 but made alive 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.359 in the Spirit, 00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:27.619 in which He went 00:29:27.619 --> 00:29:28.239 and proclaimed 00:29:28.239 --> 00:29:28.959 to the spirits 00:29:28.959 --> 00:29:29.459 in prison, 00:29:29.979 --> 00:29:30.959 because they formerly 00:29:30.959 --> 00:29:32.000 did not obey 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:33.439 when God's patience 00:29:33.439 --> 00:29:34.899 waited in the days 00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:35.300 of Noah, 00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:36.440 while the ark 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:37.280 was being prepared, 00:29:37.800 --> 00:29:38.480 in which a few, 00:29:38.580 --> 00:29:38.820 that is, 00:29:38.860 --> 00:29:39.519 eight persons, 00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:40.320 were brought 00:29:40.320 --> 00:29:41.519 safely through water. 00:29:42.340 --> 00:29:42.780 Baptism, 00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:43.440 which corresponds 00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:44.060 to this, 00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:45.400 now saves you, 00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:46.640 not as a removal 00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:47.620 of dirt from the body, 00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:48.440 but as an appeal 00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:48.840 of God 00:29:48.840 --> 00:29:49.780 for a good conscience 00:29:49.780 --> 00:29:51.259 through the resurrection 00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:52.400 of Jesus Christ, 00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:53.820 who has gone 00:29:53.820 --> 00:29:54.480 into heaven 00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.259 and is at the right 00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:56.060 hand of God 00:29:56.060 --> 00:29:57.240 with angels 00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:58.440 and authorities 00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:59.160 and powers 00:29:59.160 --> 00:30:00.140 having been subjected 00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:01.160 to Him. 00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:02.800 This section 00:30:02.800 --> 00:30:04.140 marks the third time 00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:05.480 Peter has 00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:07.500 a big Christological 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:08.440 vision of Jesus, 00:30:08.540 --> 00:30:09.279 which is to say 00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:11.540 this big description 00:30:11.540 --> 00:30:12.060 of Jesus 00:30:12.060 --> 00:30:13.000 connected to 00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:13.779 Old Testament 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:14.800 prophets 00:30:14.800 --> 00:30:16.700 and different allusions. 00:30:19.700 --> 00:30:20.900 In the case 00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:22.259 of verses 18 to 22 00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:22.660 here, 00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:23.540 we see that 00:30:23.540 --> 00:30:24.960 Peter is describing 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:26.340 Christ as the victorious 00:30:26.340 --> 00:30:26.740 one, 00:30:27.200 --> 00:30:27.920 the one who has 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:28.700 conquered all, 00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:30.420 that our blessings 00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:31.279 are in Him 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:32.380 because He 00:30:32.380 --> 00:30:33.740 has destroyed 00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:34.680 our foes. 00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:37.380 I'll just say 00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:38.059 this at the outset. 00:30:39.160 --> 00:30:40.180 This is 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:41.640 quite possibly, 00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:42.180 if not, 00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:43.160 the most difficult 00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:44.340 passage in the New Testament 00:30:44.340 --> 00:30:44.920 to interpret. 00:30:45.840 --> 00:30:46.580 It is tough 00:30:46.580 --> 00:30:47.680 with the reference 00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:49.480 to Noah especially. 00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:52.120 Over church history, 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:52.920 there has not been 00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:53.500 consensus 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.640 about the interpretation 00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:56.220 of this. 00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:57.340 Tertullian, 00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:58.480 Augustine, 00:30:58.700 --> 00:30:59.420 Aquinas, 00:30:59.640 --> 00:30:59.940 Luther, 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:00.580 Calvin, 00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:02.299 contemporary scholars, 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.840 they've labored 00:31:03.840 --> 00:31:04.680 and poured over 00:31:04.680 --> 00:31:05.400 this text 00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:07.259 with great difficulty 00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:07.960 and still 00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:09.480 there is not 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.360 a consensus 00:31:10.360 --> 00:31:11.799 on what this means. 00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:13.900 So as we enter 00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:14.360 into it, 00:31:14.860 --> 00:31:15.680 I humbly ask you 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.460 for some grace 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:17.759 because it's a tough one. 00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:19.299 It really is a tough one. 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:20.519 But I'll suggest 00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.059 to you 00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:21.960 that 00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:26.920 that this is not 00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:28.500 some kind 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:29.059 of 00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:30.740 proof text 00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:31.600 for the 00:31:31.600 --> 00:31:32.700 harrowing of hell, 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:33.259 so to speak, 00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:33.900 where Christ 00:31:33.900 --> 00:31:35.340 descended into 00:31:35.340 --> 00:31:35.980 the hell 00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:36.559 and preached 00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:37.160 the gospel 00:31:37.160 --> 00:31:37.819 to the dead 00:31:37.819 --> 00:31:38.380 that died 00:31:38.380 --> 00:31:39.039 before him. 00:31:41.380 --> 00:31:42.539 It doesn't work 00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:43.000 for a couple 00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:43.720 different reasons. 00:31:43.840 --> 00:31:44.920 A big reason 00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:45.600 is that hell 00:31:45.600 --> 00:31:46.299 is not mentioned 00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:46.680 here. 00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:49.759 It doesn't seem 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:50.279 like that there 00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:51.539 is any 00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:52.700 flow to 00:31:52.700 --> 00:31:53.580 Peter's argument 00:31:53.580 --> 00:31:54.220 for that. 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.700 There's also 00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:57.019 the hypothesis 00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:57.560 that 00:31:57.560 --> 00:31:59.740 the pre-incarnate 00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:00.180 Jesus 00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:01.299 somehow preached 00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:01.900 through Noah 00:32:01.900 --> 00:32:03.779 to the 00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:04.259 sinners 00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:05.500 before the 00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.299 judgment came. 00:32:07.799 --> 00:32:08.240 Again, 00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:09.960 hardest text 00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:10.840 in the New Testament 00:32:10.840 --> 00:32:12.019 to figure out. 00:32:12.299 --> 00:32:12.500 Okay, 00:32:12.620 --> 00:32:13.220 so that sounds 00:32:13.220 --> 00:32:13.799 kind of crazy. 00:32:13.879 --> 00:32:14.379 It might be. 00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:16.299 I don't think 00:32:16.299 --> 00:32:16.700 that's where 00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:17.059 the text 00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:17.559 is going 00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:18.119 either. 00:32:19.659 --> 00:32:20.379 Once again, 00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:21.159 because it seems 00:32:21.159 --> 00:32:21.819 like it's 00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:22.779 a bit of a stretch 00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:23.200 and it doesn't 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:23.619 work out 00:32:23.619 --> 00:32:24.139 in the original 00:32:24.139 --> 00:32:24.559 language 00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:25.079 or again 00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:25.680 in the flow 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:27.180 of 1 Peter. 00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:28.879 Rather, 00:32:29.259 --> 00:32:29.639 and again, 00:32:30.159 --> 00:32:30.539 this is, 00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:31.200 I'll throw this 00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:31.539 out there, 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:32.099 we can wrestle 00:32:32.099 --> 00:32:32.539 with it 00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:33.480 over food 00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:34.200 at the potluck. 00:32:34.740 --> 00:32:35.359 It seems 00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:35.919 that Peter 00:32:35.919 --> 00:32:36.639 is using 00:32:36.639 --> 00:32:37.779 a well-known 00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:38.659 Jewish tradition 00:32:38.659 --> 00:32:39.799 around the Noah 00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:40.339 story 00:32:40.339 --> 00:32:41.399 to communicate 00:32:41.399 --> 00:32:42.079 that Jesus' 00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:42.740 victory 00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:43.779 on the cross 00:32:43.779 --> 00:32:45.579 was a cosmic 00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:46.039 victory. 00:32:46.859 --> 00:32:47.440 That it wasn't 00:32:47.440 --> 00:32:48.599 just him 00:32:48.599 --> 00:32:49.759 atoning for 00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:50.180 our sins, 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:50.599 although it 00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:51.160 certainly was 00:32:51.160 --> 00:32:51.420 that, 00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:51.899 which is 00:32:51.899 --> 00:32:52.720 incredible, 00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:53.039 it's our 00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:53.559 salvation, 00:32:54.139 --> 00:32:54.660 won on the 00:32:54.660 --> 00:32:55.119 cross of 00:32:55.119 --> 00:32:56.940 Calvary. 00:32:57.680 --> 00:32:58.099 But that 00:32:58.099 --> 00:32:59.759 in dying 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.399 on the cross, 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:01.240 being buried, 00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:02.079 and rising 00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:02.660 again, 00:33:03.460 --> 00:33:04.279 Christ is 00:33:04.279 --> 00:33:04.819 victorious 00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:06.339 over all 00:33:06.339 --> 00:33:06.819 powers, 00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:07.619 all spiritual 00:33:07.619 --> 00:33:08.160 forces. 00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:09.299 That there 00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:10.099 is nothing, 00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:11.059 no one, 00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:12.460 no being, 00:33:12.460 --> 00:33:13.519 no corner 00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:13.840 of the 00:33:13.840 --> 00:33:14.160 universe 00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:14.779 that is 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:15.440 somehow 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:16.600 unconquered 00:33:16.600 --> 00:33:17.180 by Jesus, 00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:17.579 that he 00:33:17.579 --> 00:33:18.019 doesn't have 00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:18.539 dominion 00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:18.779 over. 00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:20.880 It's a 00:33:20.880 --> 00:33:21.299 cosmic 00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:21.819 victory 00:33:21.819 --> 00:33:23.100 that this 00:33:23.100 --> 00:33:23.779 text is 00:33:23.779 --> 00:33:24.579 proclaiming. 00:33:26.259 --> 00:33:27.019 And in 00:33:27.019 --> 00:33:27.779 the flow 00:33:27.779 --> 00:33:29.039 of 1 Peter, 00:33:29.140 --> 00:33:29.680 it would seem 00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:30.019 like this 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:30.279 fits, 00:33:30.360 --> 00:33:30.960 because again, 00:33:32.100 --> 00:33:32.559 the church 00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:32.900 is going 00:33:32.900 --> 00:33:33.680 through persecution 00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:34.279 and is 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:35.100 struggling to 00:33:35.100 --> 00:33:36.340 maintain a 00:33:36.340 --> 00:33:38.059 faithful witness 00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:38.680 to the 00:33:38.680 --> 00:33:40.259 world around 00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:40.500 it, 00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.180 to faithfully 00:33:41.180 --> 00:33:41.759 live as 00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:42.079 God's 00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:42.460 people, 00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:44.359 mediating the 00:33:44.359 --> 00:33:44.859 presence of 00:33:44.859 --> 00:33:45.440 God wherever 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:46.880 they're going. 00:33:47.299 --> 00:33:48.099 Nero is 00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:48.859 strong. 00:33:49.380 --> 00:33:50.039 Rome is 00:33:50.039 --> 00:33:50.779 strong. 00:33:50.900 --> 00:33:51.380 Opposition 00:33:51.380 --> 00:33:52.160 is strong. 00:33:52.700 --> 00:33:52.980 And it 00:33:52.980 --> 00:33:53.299 would make 00:33:53.299 --> 00:33:53.819 sense that 00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:54.240 Peter is 00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:54.539 trying to 00:33:54.539 --> 00:33:55.140 encourage his 00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:55.559 people by 00:33:55.559 --> 00:33:55.900 saying, 00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:57.119 but Christ 00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:57.880 is stronger. 00:33:59.279 --> 00:33:59.779 He is 00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:00.400 stronger than 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:00.819 Rome. 00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:02.759 In fact, 00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:03.539 he is 00:34:03.539 --> 00:34:04.240 stronger than 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:05.319 any spiritual 00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:05.859 force that 00:34:05.859 --> 00:34:06.279 has ever 00:34:06.279 --> 00:34:06.799 existed, 00:34:07.420 --> 00:34:08.139 the scariest 00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:08.840 boogeyman, 00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:09.420 the biggest 00:34:09.420 --> 00:34:09.900 devil. 00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:11.219 The scariest 00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:11.940 giant. 00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:13.679 The dragon 00:34:13.679 --> 00:34:15.719 himself is 00:34:15.719 --> 00:34:16.639 nothing compared 00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:18.300 to Christ and 00:34:18.300 --> 00:34:18.960 his victory on 00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:19.460 the cross. 00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:21.260 And you are 00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:21.800 in him, 00:34:21.940 --> 00:34:22.239 church. 00:34:23.059 --> 00:34:23.539 That's what 00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:23.920 Peter is 00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:24.179 saying. 00:34:24.840 --> 00:34:25.219 And I would 00:34:25.219 --> 00:34:26.019 say this to 00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:26.880 us, we 00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:27.760 are in him. 00:34:29.219 --> 00:34:29.900 And if this 00:34:29.900 --> 00:34:30.219 is our 00:34:30.219 --> 00:34:31.639 savior, and 00:34:31.639 --> 00:34:32.019 if this is 00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:32.760 the one who 00:34:32.760 --> 00:34:33.800 has secured 00:34:33.800 --> 00:34:34.239 for us 00:34:34.239 --> 00:34:35.059 eternal 00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:36.139 salvation, I 00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:36.400 mean it 00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:36.880 says it 00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:38.139 right at the 00:34:38.139 --> 00:34:38.579 beginning of 00:34:38.579 --> 00:34:39.360 verse 18, 00:34:39.360 --> 00:34:42.900 chapter 3, 00:34:43.300 --> 00:34:44.099 for Christ 00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:44.900 also suffered 00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:45.380 once for 00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:46.039 sins, the 00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:46.599 righteous for 00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:47.140 the unrighteous, 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:48.019 that he 00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:48.599 might bring 00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:49.059 us to 00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:50.360 God, being 00:34:50.360 --> 00:34:50.860 put to 00:34:50.860 --> 00:34:51.180 death in 00:34:51.180 --> 00:34:51.539 the flesh, 00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:51.920 but being 00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:52.420 made alive 00:34:52.420 --> 00:34:52.599 in the 00:34:52.599 --> 00:34:52.820 spirit. 00:34:53.280 --> 00:34:53.800 If he 00:34:53.800 --> 00:34:54.140 is the 00:34:54.140 --> 00:34:54.660 one who 00:34:54.660 --> 00:34:55.079 has won 00:34:55.079 --> 00:34:55.880 us salvation 00:34:55.880 --> 00:34:56.180 on the 00:34:56.180 --> 00:34:56.559 cross, 00:34:58.140 --> 00:34:58.539 then he's 00:34:58.539 --> 00:34:58.740 in our 00:34:58.740 --> 00:34:59.559 corner, he's 00:34:59.559 --> 00:34:59.820 got our 00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:00.200 back. 00:35:02.280 --> 00:35:02.960 They can 00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:03.539 take our 00:35:03.539 --> 00:35:04.640 body at 00:35:04.640 --> 00:35:05.780 most, but 00:35:05.780 --> 00:35:06.019 they can 00:35:06.019 --> 00:35:06.460 never take 00:35:06.460 --> 00:35:06.940 our soul. 00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:07.320 It is 00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:07.840 hidden in 00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:08.179 Christ. 00:35:09.340 --> 00:35:10.000 So the 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:10.420 whole bit 00:35:10.420 --> 00:35:11.019 about Noah, 00:35:11.240 --> 00:35:11.579 and this 00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:12.019 is where 00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:13.700 it can be 00:35:13.700 --> 00:35:14.619 a bit 00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:15.340 tricky, so 00:35:15.340 --> 00:35:16.940 again, this 00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:17.440 is just what 00:35:17.440 --> 00:35:17.700 I'll put 00:35:17.700 --> 00:35:18.220 forward to 00:35:18.220 --> 00:35:19.420 you, that 00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:19.720 in the 00:35:19.720 --> 00:35:20.280 same way 00:35:20.280 --> 00:35:20.980 that Noah, 00:35:24.780 --> 00:35:25.360 that the 00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:26.260 Noah story 00:35:26.260 --> 00:35:27.079 communicates 00:35:27.079 --> 00:35:28.920 a salvation 00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:30.240 through an 00:35:30.240 --> 00:35:31.200 ark, Christ 00:35:31.200 --> 00:35:32.019 becomes an 00:35:32.019 --> 00:35:33.000 ark himself, 00:35:33.200 --> 00:35:33.639 that if we 00:35:33.639 --> 00:35:34.099 are in 00:35:34.099 --> 00:35:35.800 Jesus, we 00:35:35.800 --> 00:35:36.480 pass through 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:37.000 judgment. 00:35:39.099 --> 00:35:39.659 Judgment 00:35:39.659 --> 00:35:40.059 does not 00:35:40.059 --> 00:35:41.240 have any 00:35:41.240 --> 00:35:42.199 hold upon 00:35:42.199 --> 00:35:42.699 us, we 00:35:42.699 --> 00:35:43.440 are saved, 00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:44.440 and God 00:35:44.440 --> 00:35:44.840 has made 00:35:44.840 --> 00:35:45.639 provision for 00:35:45.639 --> 00:35:46.179 us to be 00:35:46.179 --> 00:35:47.400 saved in a 00:35:47.400 --> 00:35:47.980 very similar 00:35:47.980 --> 00:35:48.559 way as 00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:50.699 Noah, that 00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:51.360 through Christ, 00:35:51.460 --> 00:35:52.119 his life, 00:35:52.280 --> 00:35:52.599 death, and 00:35:52.599 --> 00:35:53.400 resurrection, we 00:35:53.400 --> 00:35:53.900 are baptized 00:35:53.900 --> 00:35:54.699 into him. 00:35:55.559 --> 00:35:56.199 Christ is the 00:35:56.199 --> 00:35:56.659 new ark. 00:35:57.840 --> 00:35:58.420 He shields 00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:58.900 us from 00:35:58.900 --> 00:35:59.500 judgment, he 00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:00.539 brings us to 00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:01.780 God, we 00:36:01.780 --> 00:36:02.380 are saved. 00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:04.860 This bit 00:36:04.860 --> 00:36:05.300 here that 00:36:05.300 --> 00:36:05.840 talks about 00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:06.480 salvation, 00:36:06.940 --> 00:36:08.240 that we 00:36:08.240 --> 00:36:08.559 can be 00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:09.059 saved by 00:36:09.059 --> 00:36:09.539 baptism. 00:36:10.460 --> 00:36:10.980 This doesn't 00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:11.579 mean that 00:36:11.579 --> 00:36:12.140 baptism, 00:36:12.760 --> 00:36:13.559 regardless of 00:36:13.559 --> 00:36:14.140 one's faith 00:36:14.140 --> 00:36:14.820 in Christ, 00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:17.160 grants salvation. 00:36:18.600 --> 00:36:19.360 We are not 00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:19.820 called to 00:36:19.820 --> 00:36:20.460 splash all 00:36:20.460 --> 00:36:20.800 we see. 00:36:20.920 --> 00:36:22.140 Remember, we 00:36:22.140 --> 00:36:22.559 are called to 00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:23.140 give the hope 00:36:23.140 --> 00:36:24.340 to everyone 00:36:24.340 --> 00:36:25.220 that we have, 00:36:25.320 --> 00:36:26.160 not to try to 00:36:26.160 --> 00:36:27.019 baptize everyone 00:36:27.019 --> 00:36:27.620 we have, and I'm 00:36:27.620 --> 00:36:27.940 being a bit 00:36:27.940 --> 00:36:29.500 facetious, but 00:36:29.500 --> 00:36:29.900 just to make 00:36:29.900 --> 00:36:30.660 the point that 00:36:30.660 --> 00:36:31.720 baptism itself 00:36:31.720 --> 00:36:32.680 alone doesn't 00:36:32.679 --> 00:36:33.159 save. 00:36:34.559 --> 00:36:36.619 Peter, he 00:36:36.619 --> 00:36:37.599 qualifies this 00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:38.079 statement by 00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:38.699 saying baptism 00:36:38.699 --> 00:36:40.000 saves, by 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:40.480 saying that 00:36:40.480 --> 00:36:41.059 there must be 00:36:41.059 --> 00:36:42.460 active faith in 00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:43.359 Christ once and 00:36:43.359 --> 00:36:44.639 for all, work on 00:36:44.639 --> 00:36:45.319 the cross through 00:36:45.319 --> 00:36:45.940 his life, death, 00:36:45.960 --> 00:36:46.319 and resurrection. 00:36:46.319 --> 00:36:47.699 We see this in 00:36:47.699 --> 00:36:48.279 verse 3, 00:36:49.819 --> 00:36:52.419 verses 21 and 00:36:52.419 --> 00:36:52.919 following. 00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:54.299 Baptism, which 00:36:54.299 --> 00:36:55.019 corresponds to 00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:55.980 this, now saves 00:36:55.980 --> 00:36:57.859 you, not as a 00:36:57.859 --> 00:36:58.599 removal of dirt 00:36:58.599 --> 00:36:59.500 from the body, but 00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:00.739 as an appeal to 00:37:00.739 --> 00:37:01.679 God for a good 00:37:01.679 --> 00:37:03.339 conscience through 00:37:03.339 --> 00:37:03.939 the resurrection 00:37:03.939 --> 00:37:04.919 of Jesus Christ. 00:37:05.899 --> 00:37:06.699 In our prayer 00:37:06.699 --> 00:37:08.459 book, in the 00:37:08.459 --> 00:37:10.539 original baptism 00:37:10.539 --> 00:37:11.559 liturgy, it says 00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:12.279 that baptism 00:37:12.279 --> 00:37:13.839 regenerates the 00:37:13.839 --> 00:37:15.199 soul, it saves. 00:37:16.879 --> 00:37:17.679 And that can be a 00:37:17.679 --> 00:37:18.439 tricky thing to 00:37:18.439 --> 00:37:19.719 read, because in 00:37:19.719 --> 00:37:22.099 our church, we, and 00:37:22.099 --> 00:37:23.099 I would set forward 00:37:23.099 --> 00:37:23.899 in Anglicanism, 00:37:23.979 --> 00:37:24.859 that's not what we 00:37:24.859 --> 00:37:25.279 believe. 00:37:25.819 --> 00:37:26.379 That would be more 00:37:26.379 --> 00:37:29.000 akin to maybe some 00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:29.899 Lutheran views or 00:37:29.899 --> 00:37:30.719 even some Roman 00:37:30.719 --> 00:37:31.659 Catholic views. 00:37:32.659 --> 00:37:33.879 But that baptism 00:37:33.879 --> 00:37:37.039 is, it is God's 00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:38.419 declaration upon us 00:37:38.419 --> 00:37:39.299 that we are his. 00:37:39.419 --> 00:37:40.319 In this case, 00:37:40.419 --> 00:37:41.299 though, in this 00:37:41.299 --> 00:37:43.599 case, Peter is 00:37:43.599 --> 00:37:44.419 saying that it is 00:37:44.419 --> 00:37:45.599 actually, in addition 00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:46.239 to that, even though 00:37:46.239 --> 00:37:46.759 he's not touching 00:37:46.759 --> 00:37:47.480 that, he is saying 00:37:47.480 --> 00:37:48.739 it is our pledge 00:37:48.739 --> 00:37:51.299 made to God that we 00:37:51.299 --> 00:37:52.559 are obediently 00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:54.179 following him all 00:37:54.179 --> 00:37:54.899 our days. 00:37:56.699 --> 00:37:57.719 That we are looking 00:37:57.719 --> 00:37:58.500 to the cross of 00:37:58.500 --> 00:37:59.199 Christ for our 00:37:59.199 --> 00:37:59.939 salvation and 00:37:59.939 --> 00:38:00.539 nothing else. 00:38:00.719 --> 00:38:02.099 And that through 00:38:02.099 --> 00:38:03.719 baptism, we are 00:38:03.719 --> 00:38:06.279 united to Christ. 00:38:07.039 --> 00:38:08.159 Not only that, but 00:38:08.159 --> 00:38:08.939 it stands to reason 00:38:08.939 --> 00:38:09.639 that the majority, 00:38:10.439 --> 00:38:11.480 if not all, of the 00:38:11.480 --> 00:38:12.619 original recipients of 00:38:12.619 --> 00:38:13.139 this letter were 00:38:13.139 --> 00:38:14.019 Christians already, 00:38:15.139 --> 00:38:16.159 and therefore are 00:38:16.159 --> 00:38:17.399 already, that we're 00:38:17.399 --> 00:38:18.139 already baptized. 00:38:18.500 --> 00:38:19.980 So, also, there's a 00:38:19.980 --> 00:38:20.899 call in this to 00:38:20.899 --> 00:38:22.179 remember your 00:38:22.179 --> 00:38:22.679 baptism. 00:38:22.679 --> 00:38:24.440 to remember that God 00:38:24.440 --> 00:38:27.059 has on you promised 00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:29.059 to bring you 00:38:29.059 --> 00:38:30.739 through this life 00:38:30.739 --> 00:38:32.019 into eternal 00:38:32.019 --> 00:38:33.259 salvation with him. 00:38:35.839 --> 00:38:36.980 Through the ark that 00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:37.619 is his son. 00:38:40.619 --> 00:38:41.579 Lots to talk about 00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:42.759 over a lunch. 00:38:43.219 --> 00:38:44.239 If you are struggling, 00:38:44.839 --> 00:38:45.579 this has been one of 00:38:45.579 --> 00:38:46.579 the hardest texts to 00:38:46.579 --> 00:38:47.119 wrestle through. 00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:48.699 But, again, if we 00:38:48.699 --> 00:38:50.259 see this, remembering 00:38:50.259 --> 00:38:51.019 that this is a 00:38:51.019 --> 00:38:51.960 section to encourage 00:38:51.960 --> 00:38:52.960 us in our faith, 00:38:53.480 --> 00:38:55.400 as we suffer for 00:38:55.400 --> 00:38:56.279 the gospel to 00:38:56.279 --> 00:38:57.839 faithfully live out 00:38:57.839 --> 00:38:59.099 the Christian life, 00:38:59.900 --> 00:39:00.859 that even when we 00:39:00.859 --> 00:39:01.940 suffer by the hands 00:39:01.940 --> 00:39:02.900 of strong forces, 00:39:02.900 --> 00:39:04.119 we seek to live 00:39:04.119 --> 00:39:06.299 this life in the 00:39:06.299 --> 00:39:07.639 cosmic victor, 00:39:08.239 --> 00:39:09.059 the one who has 00:39:09.059 --> 00:39:10.019 conquered all, the 00:39:10.019 --> 00:39:11.839 one who is the 00:39:11.839 --> 00:39:12.679 ultimate champion. 00:39:12.679 --> 00:39:18.299 we must see, 00:39:18.440 --> 00:39:18.960 friends, as we 00:39:18.960 --> 00:39:19.579 wrap things up, 00:39:19.659 --> 00:39:20.339 we must see 00:39:20.339 --> 00:39:22.079 this life of faith 00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:23.519 as eternal 00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:25.299 blessings that 00:39:25.299 --> 00:39:25.960 begin now, 00:39:26.399 --> 00:39:27.539 that come through 00:39:27.539 --> 00:39:28.799 our calling to 00:39:28.799 --> 00:39:29.659 love and serve 00:39:29.659 --> 00:39:31.219 Christ, through the 00:39:31.219 --> 00:39:32.019 suffering that will 00:39:32.019 --> 00:39:33.159 inevitably come as 00:39:33.159 --> 00:39:34.480 we seek to serve 00:39:34.480 --> 00:39:35.359 him in righteousness, 00:39:36.119 --> 00:39:36.539 and because, 00:39:36.659 --> 00:39:37.139 ultimately, 00:39:37.839 --> 00:39:38.980 Christ's victory 00:39:38.980 --> 00:39:39.739 on the cross, 00:39:39.879 --> 00:39:40.719 once and for all, 00:39:41.759 --> 00:39:42.419 won us our 00:39:42.420 --> 00:39:43.159 eternal freedom, 00:39:43.760 --> 00:39:44.680 and now he is 00:39:44.680 --> 00:39:45.599 enthroned in heaven, 00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:46.720 and there is no 00:39:46.720 --> 00:39:47.920 power that is even 00:39:47.920 --> 00:39:49.720 coming close to 00:39:49.720 --> 00:39:50.780 kicking him off the 00:39:50.780 --> 00:39:51.019 throne. 00:39:51.680 --> 00:39:52.480 That's who we serve, 00:39:52.579 --> 00:39:53.460 that's who we are in, 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:54.740 that's who our hope 00:39:54.740 --> 00:39:55.720 is found. 00:39:56.320 --> 00:39:56.920 Let us pray. 00:39:59.220 --> 00:40:00.000 Father in heaven, 00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:02.900 thank you for your 00:40:02.900 --> 00:40:03.820 word, thank you that 00:40:03.820 --> 00:40:04.740 it is an encouragement 00:40:04.740 --> 00:40:06.400 to us, even though 00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:07.519 it is difficult at 00:40:07.519 --> 00:40:08.519 times to figure out 00:40:08.519 --> 00:40:09.320 and to discern and 00:40:09.320 --> 00:40:10.079 to wrestle through, 00:40:10.079 --> 00:40:12.779 but Lord, you've 00:40:12.779 --> 00:40:13.599 given us your word 00:40:13.599 --> 00:40:15.019 not to perplex us, 00:40:15.340 --> 00:40:17.099 not to confuse us, 00:40:17.599 --> 00:40:18.779 not to divide us, 00:40:18.840 --> 00:40:19.759 but to unite us 00:40:19.759 --> 00:40:20.659 and to encourage us 00:40:20.659 --> 00:40:21.500 and to equip us 00:40:21.500 --> 00:40:23.199 and to give us 00:40:23.199 --> 00:40:24.940 strength to endure 00:40:24.940 --> 00:40:25.940 and to obey 00:40:25.940 --> 00:40:28.500 and to lift up your 00:40:28.500 --> 00:40:29.460 name and proclaim 00:40:29.460 --> 00:40:30.199 your goodness 00:40:30.199 --> 00:40:32.000 wherever we may go. 00:40:32.819 --> 00:40:34.000 Lord, remind us 00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:35.199 afresh that this is 00:40:35.199 --> 00:40:35.819 good news, 00:40:36.480 --> 00:40:37.739 this is balm for our 00:40:37.739 --> 00:40:40.059 souls, this is the 00:40:40.059 --> 00:40:41.339 very gas in our 00:40:41.339 --> 00:40:42.219 tank to keep us 00:40:42.219 --> 00:40:42.579 running. 00:40:44.419 --> 00:40:46.000 Lord, help us to 00:40:46.000 --> 00:40:48.139 see you and to see 00:40:48.139 --> 00:40:48.899 the victory of your 00:40:48.899 --> 00:40:50.739 son as no small 00:40:50.739 --> 00:40:52.299 thing, that this 00:40:52.299 --> 00:40:53.139 wasn't just some 00:40:53.139 --> 00:40:54.459 blip in time, but 00:40:54.459 --> 00:40:55.599 all of time now 00:40:55.599 --> 00:40:56.979 revolves around the 00:40:56.979 --> 00:40:59.119 cross, for Christ is 00:40:59.119 --> 00:41:01.239 the truly victorious 00:41:01.239 --> 00:41:01.619 one. 00:41:02.139 --> 00:41:02.619 Thank you. 00:41:03.539 --> 00:41:04.239 We pray this in 00:41:04.239 --> 00:41:04.739 Christ's name. 00:41:05.039 --> 00:41:05.299 Amen. 00:41:05.299 --> 00:41:05.399 Amen.