Matthew 14: 22 – 36
This comes after the feeding of the 5000. Christ is revealed as wonderful then and now.
This is about Jesus walking on the water, verses 22 to 33. it demonstrated the deity of Christ. We can appreciate what he did. He came to people in conflict between faith and unbelief. The disciples were with Jesus and watched and listened to him. Yet they were terrified by a storm. Peter asked Jesus to call him out of the boat, yet asked Jesus to save him. The faith that buoyed him up marries up with the fear that sank him down. Every Christian learns that there is no success without threatened failure. There was a storm here, of fear and of faith.
Why were the disciples in the storm? The lake was prone to storms, they were men who were used to storms. The storm was no accident. In Christ all things hold together, the storm was in God’s hands. The disciples were obedient disciples. Jesus made them get in and go ahead of him across the lake, they found themselves in a violent storm. Some troubles come on us because we deserve it – we are disobedient as Jonah was. Some storms come because we are faithful – criticism or persecution. Some come because of illness, we suffer doubts and confusion. In l Peter 4 we know if we are loyal to the Lord Jesus we will suffer tests and trials. The disciples knew they would have to face the storm.
Where was Jesus? What was he doing while they were suffering? He was watching over them. He had gone into the hills to pray. In Mark 6 we see he was watching over them, he could see they were struggling. He was praying for them because he was aware of their needs. We have a great High Priest who is aware of our needs. He knows our every need and he gives us what we need to face the fears of life when we ask of him in faith. He watches over us and prays for us in our ‘little boat.’
Jesus needed to be alone to pay. He needed to talk to his father, to tell him of his concerns and talk of the needs of his people. He waits until he intervenes, he waist until the storm has served his purpose – they would learn he was watching over them, the best time to teach them dependence on him. It came in the 4th watch, from 3 to 6, they were in the dark. There was the night and the storm, they had to come to an end of themselves. Do we lean too much on our own understanding? We need to come to an end of ourselves. Paul knew this and he was delivered by God. He drew near to them – verse 26. He came not as a ghost but as the Lord of power in omnipotence an d compassion. This is how he comes – in omnipotence as a sovereign protector. He is not an equal of Mohammed or Buddha. He is the great God who is over all
Who is Jesus? He is not just a Spirit being. He is all powerful. This is a picture of Jesus who is never far from us. He draws near us. He moves in a mysterious way, he cares for his people.
In the school of faith we graduate when our faith is no longer needed – in Heaven. Faith is not a leap in the dark or a bold action, it is based and rests on what God says in his word. When Jesus says to Peter ‘come’ faith responds in a sensible way. Faith is a sensible response to what Jesus says. If we do not do as he says we are insulting him because we are rejecting God’s word and offending him by what we say and do. Our faith must reach out as Peter’s did.
Jesus says those who do come to me in faith I will save. We must respond to him in faith unquestioningly trusting him, we have faith in him. Peter walked on the water, this shows how it is meant to be for us. We want to be like Jesus as a saved person. Spurgeon said faith likes to deal in great things, great projects, not in what we can do on our own. Faith is for the deep sea and fixes its compass on the stars – on the Lord Jesus where no human hand can help. How is our faith? We can recall those who had a vision for the planting of a church right here. That all the details were firm and put in place for it to grow. These believers acted in faith.
Where there is a collapse in faith we can find comfort here because Peter is like us all. When we look away from Jesus our faith is destroyed. When we look at the author of our faith all is well. When we look around we say ‘how will it all work out?’ we can look to him and will keep us all in the darkest days, he stills the storm within us. There is a 3 fold remedy. A plea for help – Lord save me, a response – the Lord helped him, the pronouncement of his word – oh ye of little faith, not mockery.
We can call out and the Lord meets our need – sometimes a word of rebuke. It calls forth a right response, the worship of the disciples. This is the right way forward for us when we have a crisis of faith. What do we think of Christ? Our culture dishonours Christ – people despise or devalue Christ very often. Jesus is often diminished by being compared to others.
Our confession of Jesus as Lord is the cornerstone of our faith. Do we believe him, honour him and do as he commands? Are we a disciple of him, under his tuition? As a Christian we want his mind to be our mind.
Is our priest who reconciles us to God? We need him to do this for us because he hates our sin and it must be punished in him – he offered an atonement for our sin, his own body offered on the cross. He is our priest between God and man.
Is he our king? Christ had a 3 fold office, prophet, priest and king. Does he rule over our lives in everything – our family, job, everything. Do we say ‘Lord rule over me.’ Our confession should be ‘Lord we know who you are, be our prophet, priest and king’, so walk in him.
Monday, 19 November 2007
Sunday, 18 November 2007
A gifted church
1 Peter 4
A blessed church has a global vision. We need to look also at ourselves. In verse l0 we are told ‘each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. This verse is packed with challenge and clear instruction. Our church preaches the doctrines of grace, we are a Grace Church. This affects what is preached and what happens between members. The text is clear, ‘faithfully administering God’s grace’ – the grace comes through us to others. Each of us has a gift from God, we must use to see others blessed, see 1
Corinthians 12:4 to 11, there is a diversity of gifting, the gifts are a manifestation of the work of the Spirit, each is as the Spirit determines. Every member has a gift, some have more than one. We need to all use them. The manifold grace of God is revealed by this. Romans 12:6 to 8 refers to a diversity of gifting again. It reveals a spirit filled church when the gifts are being used.
We do not all have the same gifts and all are equally valuable. The manifold gift of God is a manifestation of the Spirit. All gifts are important. We must not down play them. All parts of the body are important – see 1 Corinthians 12:12 – 31. If one suffers, all suffers. If one part of the body is injured it diminishes the whole body. Some are multi-gifted, but we must use ours for the church to be whole. The church is likened to a building or plant. Ephesians 4:6 likens the church to a body and how it is supported by Christ growing in love.
Gifts are for use and not self importance – verse 10. It is not self importance but usefulness. We must steward the gifts God has given us. We are not expected to exercise another person’s gifts, we can’t do what we are not gifted to do. Pastors, elders and deacons have a divine blue print and we can be guilty of putting square pegs in round holes, they fail because they are not suited to the work.
Are our gifts recognised by ourselves and others? What can I do to help build the church? Hospitality can be offered and we can speak when we have the opportunity. It is practical, what CAN I do? And communicating – what can I say? How can I help to build up the church of God? We can talk a lot but not at the deep level that is needed to help others. There is a therapy in this to help others.
Are the gifts recognised by other people? To avoid either square pegs in round holes or people’s gifts not being recognised we can follow the volunteer principle, who will volunteer to help meet need or will we observe the church and ask people to step up and help. Will you think you will help? There are 3 argument for a truly grace church:
a) Motivational – verse 7, the end of all things is near, we live on the edge of eternity, time is short. We won’t have our responsibilities for very long, destruction of Jerusalem or the second coming or a short life span. We have a short time, do we live like that? If we want someone else to do it. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. The whole of life is lived with this awareness, we have today, tomorrow is unknown, we must use our opportunities. When we stand before God in the last day we may have one regret, we didn’t do all we could.
b) Relational. It is not easy to serve others, however sweet life can be we have the little foxes who can spoil things. Above all, love each other deeply in deed, word and truth. We discover faults in ourselves and others, love covers over a multitude of sins. We must not have an unforgiving spirit or we will do more harm than good. The church is a community of love. We should trust and love each other. Do we do this? By love, people know we are his disciples. 1 Corinthians 13, if we do not have love it is worth nothing.
c) Elevational – see verse 11. Everything is done to the praise and glory of God. We should tell each other the very words of God. It puts duties to the very highest levels. We do things with the strength of God. What we do is not ‘to the best of my ability’ but with God’s strength. We need to make ourselves available to God. We need to seek to do more in the church and seek to see all we can do in the church – in the strength God provides. This cancels all excuses. ‘So that in all things God will be praised.’ Why do we exist, what is our primary duty? So that God’s name can be glorified. It is not duty but privilege. God is not praised through neglect or laziness. Why are we Christians? Because Christ died for us. Everything should focus on him. We act in His strength, His gifting, His love. So he gets the glory. We must find our gift and act in his strength and God will bless.
A blessed church has a global vision. We need to look also at ourselves. In verse l0 we are told ‘each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. This verse is packed with challenge and clear instruction. Our church preaches the doctrines of grace, we are a Grace Church. This affects what is preached and what happens between members. The text is clear, ‘faithfully administering God’s grace’ – the grace comes through us to others. Each of us has a gift from God, we must use to see others blessed, see 1
Corinthians 12:4 to 11, there is a diversity of gifting, the gifts are a manifestation of the work of the Spirit, each is as the Spirit determines. Every member has a gift, some have more than one. We need to all use them. The manifold grace of God is revealed by this. Romans 12:6 to 8 refers to a diversity of gifting again. It reveals a spirit filled church when the gifts are being used.
We do not all have the same gifts and all are equally valuable. The manifold gift of God is a manifestation of the Spirit. All gifts are important. We must not down play them. All parts of the body are important – see 1 Corinthians 12:12 – 31. If one suffers, all suffers. If one part of the body is injured it diminishes the whole body. Some are multi-gifted, but we must use ours for the church to be whole. The church is likened to a building or plant. Ephesians 4:6 likens the church to a body and how it is supported by Christ growing in love.
Gifts are for use and not self importance – verse 10. It is not self importance but usefulness. We must steward the gifts God has given us. We are not expected to exercise another person’s gifts, we can’t do what we are not gifted to do. Pastors, elders and deacons have a divine blue print and we can be guilty of putting square pegs in round holes, they fail because they are not suited to the work.
Are our gifts recognised by ourselves and others? What can I do to help build the church? Hospitality can be offered and we can speak when we have the opportunity. It is practical, what CAN I do? And communicating – what can I say? How can I help to build up the church of God? We can talk a lot but not at the deep level that is needed to help others. There is a therapy in this to help others.
Are the gifts recognised by other people? To avoid either square pegs in round holes or people’s gifts not being recognised we can follow the volunteer principle, who will volunteer to help meet need or will we observe the church and ask people to step up and help. Will you think you will help? There are 3 argument for a truly grace church:
a) Motivational – verse 7, the end of all things is near, we live on the edge of eternity, time is short. We won’t have our responsibilities for very long, destruction of Jerusalem or the second coming or a short life span. We have a short time, do we live like that? If we want someone else to do it. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. The whole of life is lived with this awareness, we have today, tomorrow is unknown, we must use our opportunities. When we stand before God in the last day we may have one regret, we didn’t do all we could.
b) Relational. It is not easy to serve others, however sweet life can be we have the little foxes who can spoil things. Above all, love each other deeply in deed, word and truth. We discover faults in ourselves and others, love covers over a multitude of sins. We must not have an unforgiving spirit or we will do more harm than good. The church is a community of love. We should trust and love each other. Do we do this? By love, people know we are his disciples. 1 Corinthians 13, if we do not have love it is worth nothing.
c) Elevational – see verse 11. Everything is done to the praise and glory of God. We should tell each other the very words of God. It puts duties to the very highest levels. We do things with the strength of God. What we do is not ‘to the best of my ability’ but with God’s strength. We need to make ourselves available to God. We need to seek to do more in the church and seek to see all we can do in the church – in the strength God provides. This cancels all excuses. ‘So that in all things God will be praised.’ Why do we exist, what is our primary duty? So that God’s name can be glorified. It is not duty but privilege. God is not praised through neglect or laziness. Why are we Christians? Because Christ died for us. Everything should focus on him. We act in His strength, His gifting, His love. So he gets the glory. We must find our gift and act in his strength and God will bless.
Being good servants and citizens
Genesis 18:9-15, 21:1-7, 1 Peter 3:1-6
Christians should be good, obedient citizens and good workers. Wives should be compliant and submissive. It is hard to be a Christian when the government target you or a wife when you have an unbelieving husband. In the 1st century you were not following a husband’s spiritual lead. Peter is instructing them to live in a way so as to not compromise their faith or unnecessarily antagonise unbelieving husbands. He talks to those who were converted after marriage.
1. WHO ARE THE WIVES PETER IS WRITING TO?
a) These were women who lived hoping in God – Hebrews 11:11. Sarah received power to conceive because she hoped in God. She laughed at God because she was incredulous. God’s rebuke reminded Sarah that nothing was too hard for the Lord and caused her to trust and hope in God. She had no record of anyone else experiencing this. She realised God had blessed her. She said God had brought her laughter. A Christian puts their hope in God and looks away from this world. They have a living hope – Psalm 42:5, the psalmist rebukes his soul and says ‘hope in God’. Sarah did this. The hope drove out fear and we aim to please the Lord. If their husband’s spiritual leadership fails they get strength from the Lord. Have you put your hope in God for the future?
b) These were women whose hope drove out fear. People like Sarah fight anxiety in their hearts by holding the promises of God.
2. WHAT ARE THESE WIVES TO DO?
Peter assumed they would be faithful to their vows. Peter holds up Sarah’s obedience as an example of Biblical submission. Christians are called to live with an unbeliever regardless of whether they were easy or difficult. Sarah viewed Abraham as her master, she respected Abraham as the head of the home. This couple are a good example for Peter to use. Both made mistakes and Sarah was a very beautiful woman.
a) Both made mistakes – Sarah put Abraham up to having a child by Hagar.
b) She had inner and outer beauty.
c) She is not recorded as calling Abraham Lord, but she was respectful in the way she spoke, the respect should be inner and outer. It does not mean she has to agree or believe all he says. She can have her own mind.
3. WHAT DO WIVES DO IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS?
He speaks in particular about disbelieving husbands. What about alcoholics etc?
a) What about submission to an abusive husband? You can call in the law or the elders to protect her life. She should not fear her husband more than she fears God.
b) What about submission when he asks her to do wrong? Abraham tried to pass Sarah off as his sister, he was lying. A wife has to do what is right, obey God. If she has to disobey her husband she should tell him that the love of God is more important.
c) What about being submissive and a husband’s persistent sin? She should confront persistent sin but with discretion so he knows she really cares. Persistent sin is not usually an excuse to leave a spouse. We should pray and stay faithful to our marriage vows.
4. WHAT IS THE ATTRACTIVENESS WIVES ARE TO SHOW SO AS TO WIN OVER THEIR HUSBANDS?
Our conduct is often more powerful a message than our words. The power of a Christ like life is better than pressure tactics, this is a principle rather than a promise. Peter’s hope is that husbands will notice attractive behaviour and through it see the source of it – a relationship with Christ.
a) Attractiveness involves purity – 1 Timothy 5:22, that is moral goodness.
b) Attractiveness involves reverence. That is, the fear of God.
c) Attractiveness involves not nagging – Proverbs 21:9. Solomon said a quarrelsome wife is awful. If he is not won by ‘words of truth’ he may be won by a ‘life of truth’. A husband once nicknamed his wife Peg after Pegasus who was an everlasting nag. He may become resistant to the truth or sullen and withdrawn to prevent nagging. He may be amazed at the change in his wife’s life and what has happened to her after conversion. Wives should pray for their husbands and look for opportunities to witness, but God will convert him. Augustine wrote of his mother Monica and how she witnessed to her husband by her behaviour. At the end of his life he was converted and they walked together in the Lord.
d) Attractiveness involves a gentle and quiet spirit. Gentleness is meekness, quiet means calm, not combative – see Proverbs 15:1. It is a heart that is not easily ruffled. She doesn’t yell back at her husband and keeps calm.
e) Attractiveness is the inner person over outward appearance – verses 3 to 5. Women should not neglect their outward appearance but should aim to win her husband over by the new person within. Peter emphasises inner beauty is attractive to everyone even with the wrinkles of old age. Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, All his wonderful passion and purity; O Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine. Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. Beauty is meaningless unless it is inner beauty it is transitory unless it comes from God. Jesus was never more beautiful than when he suffered.
Christians should be good, obedient citizens and good workers. Wives should be compliant and submissive. It is hard to be a Christian when the government target you or a wife when you have an unbelieving husband. In the 1st century you were not following a husband’s spiritual lead. Peter is instructing them to live in a way so as to not compromise their faith or unnecessarily antagonise unbelieving husbands. He talks to those who were converted after marriage.
1. WHO ARE THE WIVES PETER IS WRITING TO?
a) These were women who lived hoping in God – Hebrews 11:11. Sarah received power to conceive because she hoped in God. She laughed at God because she was incredulous. God’s rebuke reminded Sarah that nothing was too hard for the Lord and caused her to trust and hope in God. She had no record of anyone else experiencing this. She realised God had blessed her. She said God had brought her laughter. A Christian puts their hope in God and looks away from this world. They have a living hope – Psalm 42:5, the psalmist rebukes his soul and says ‘hope in God’. Sarah did this. The hope drove out fear and we aim to please the Lord. If their husband’s spiritual leadership fails they get strength from the Lord. Have you put your hope in God for the future?
b) These were women whose hope drove out fear. People like Sarah fight anxiety in their hearts by holding the promises of God.
2. WHAT ARE THESE WIVES TO DO?
Peter assumed they would be faithful to their vows. Peter holds up Sarah’s obedience as an example of Biblical submission. Christians are called to live with an unbeliever regardless of whether they were easy or difficult. Sarah viewed Abraham as her master, she respected Abraham as the head of the home. This couple are a good example for Peter to use. Both made mistakes and Sarah was a very beautiful woman.
a) Both made mistakes – Sarah put Abraham up to having a child by Hagar.
b) She had inner and outer beauty.
c) She is not recorded as calling Abraham Lord, but she was respectful in the way she spoke, the respect should be inner and outer. It does not mean she has to agree or believe all he says. She can have her own mind.
3. WHAT DO WIVES DO IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS?
He speaks in particular about disbelieving husbands. What about alcoholics etc?
a) What about submission to an abusive husband? You can call in the law or the elders to protect her life. She should not fear her husband more than she fears God.
b) What about submission when he asks her to do wrong? Abraham tried to pass Sarah off as his sister, he was lying. A wife has to do what is right, obey God. If she has to disobey her husband she should tell him that the love of God is more important.
c) What about being submissive and a husband’s persistent sin? She should confront persistent sin but with discretion so he knows she really cares. Persistent sin is not usually an excuse to leave a spouse. We should pray and stay faithful to our marriage vows.
4. WHAT IS THE ATTRACTIVENESS WIVES ARE TO SHOW SO AS TO WIN OVER THEIR HUSBANDS?
Our conduct is often more powerful a message than our words. The power of a Christ like life is better than pressure tactics, this is a principle rather than a promise. Peter’s hope is that husbands will notice attractive behaviour and through it see the source of it – a relationship with Christ.
a) Attractiveness involves purity – 1 Timothy 5:22, that is moral goodness.
b) Attractiveness involves reverence. That is, the fear of God.
c) Attractiveness involves not nagging – Proverbs 21:9. Solomon said a quarrelsome wife is awful. If he is not won by ‘words of truth’ he may be won by a ‘life of truth’. A husband once nicknamed his wife Peg after Pegasus who was an everlasting nag. He may become resistant to the truth or sullen and withdrawn to prevent nagging. He may be amazed at the change in his wife’s life and what has happened to her after conversion. Wives should pray for their husbands and look for opportunities to witness, but God will convert him. Augustine wrote of his mother Monica and how she witnessed to her husband by her behaviour. At the end of his life he was converted and they walked together in the Lord.
d) Attractiveness involves a gentle and quiet spirit. Gentleness is meekness, quiet means calm, not combative – see Proverbs 15:1. It is a heart that is not easily ruffled. She doesn’t yell back at her husband and keeps calm.
e) Attractiveness is the inner person over outward appearance – verses 3 to 5. Women should not neglect their outward appearance but should aim to win her husband over by the new person within. Peter emphasises inner beauty is attractive to everyone even with the wrinkles of old age. Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, All his wonderful passion and purity; O Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine. Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. Beauty is meaningless unless it is inner beauty it is transitory unless it comes from God. Jesus was never more beautiful than when he suffered.
The family that survived
Genesis 6
This is the story of a family that survived. Why did Noah and his family not perish? We can experience the same blessing as Noah and be like him. Verse 8 tells us Noah found grace or favour with God. Grace is a very significant word – UNDESERVED kindness. Noah was born like everyone else, but he found grace.
NOAH FOUND GRACE FROM GOD.
Noah was willing to accept God’s view of his own sin and he turned from that sin to God, seeking His grace. Grace is God’s doing for us what we could never do for ourselves. It is God coming to our rescue. Grace found Noah and saved him and his family. All like him were saved by grace. He was aware of God’s grace in the darkest hour, there was life and hope when we fear for things. We can look to the Lord for forgiveness. It is like being in an impossibly dangerous situation like in a cave that is sealed and we are rescued by others. We chose to sin, God rescued us by his grace. We need to pray ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’
NOAH WAS RIGHT WITH GOD.
Noah believed God and his faith was counted as righteousness. The grace given to him made him live a life that pleased God – Ezekiel l4:l4. Noah was not perfect but was free from obvious faults.
NOAH WALKED WITH GOD.
Only Noah and Enoch are described here as walking with God. He knew God personally and communicated with Him daily. He went in the same direction God went. He was in step with God. He went the same way as God and took his hand like a little child, you go at the same pace. It is a picture of intimacy and friendship. The Christian life is a growing intimacy with God. Amos 3:3 Ezekiel 5:8. Psalm l:l describes Noah. If you walk with God you will be blessed. If you don’t walk with God you will not stand as Noah did. You will lose everything.
NOAH LED HIS FAMILY GOD’S WAY.
He was the spiritual leader of his wife, sons and daughters-in-laws. It was a negative environment and Noah led them and this led to their salvation. The family had enough faith to follow the head. Noah had enough faith to inspire them to follow his example. It should encourage us to believe so deeply that others believe in God. We may save our families and others besides. The Taylor family – including Hudson Taylor of the China Inland Mission – show millions can be saved through the Christian witness of parents. It can be destroyed in one generation as happened to Earnest Hemingway, the novelist. He had an evangelical Christian upbringing but rebelled against and ended up killing himself when he was 6l.
NOAH WAS DIFFERENT FROM HIS CONTEMPORARIES
a) The state of things. God saw the world was corrupt.
Single acts can have unforeseen consequences.
(i) Adam and Eve fell from innocence into sin, slavery and death. The children shared this genetic-spiritual union in the fall with their parents. We call this sin of nature original, because everyone is born with this bias, and it is the actual source of sins – Romans 5:l8. The globalisation of sin is a consequence of Adam. Paul describes two men – Adam who brought sin by one act, Christ, the second Adam, brought righteousness.
(ii) Nobody has a perfectly good heart – Psalm 5l:5. No one is born righteous, we do not naturally want to love God.
(iii) What does the world say we can do? – educate, counsel, prozac. We try to set up a nanny state to cure sin. We also try to redefine sin to get rid of guilt. Everything is a lifestyle choice. We see the idea of sin a medieval. We can try to keep sinning so we don’t feel guilty any more, but people are guilty of sin. Everything is seen as an illness and not really sin at all. This thinking cuts off people from redemption.
(iv) What happens when a society thinks like this? The unthinkable became thinkable, then speak-able, then do-able, then praised. In a civilized society evil thoughts stay thoughts. In the days of the flood thoughts became words then deeds. Leading entertainers lives are often utterly immoral.
b) The state of Noah. Noah was a bright shining light in the prevailing moral darkness, distinguished from the world. Noah stood his ground. He was counter-cultural, as the lives of Christians should be in this age. Noah lived when the World was unprepared for judgement, as people are today.
NOAH WAS AN OBEDIENT MAN – Hebrews ll:7
God said it and that settled it for Noah. He did it simply because God said so. It was a remarkable faith. It had never even rained. All he had was God’s word, and he believed. He could not explain where the water would come from but he had the faith to answer people. Christians have reality present, but the future unseen. We know Heaven and Hell are going to be realities in the future.
NOAH WAS A COURAGEOUS MAN. 2 Peter 2:5
Noah preached righteousness, he warned, he invited them into the Ark. Hoah had places in the ark for people who were willing to repent. Jesus is like an ark. There is willingness to receive people so we can have a better life and hope. How do we react to this?
This is the story of a family that survived. Why did Noah and his family not perish? We can experience the same blessing as Noah and be like him. Verse 8 tells us Noah found grace or favour with God. Grace is a very significant word – UNDESERVED kindness. Noah was born like everyone else, but he found grace.
NOAH FOUND GRACE FROM GOD.
Noah was willing to accept God’s view of his own sin and he turned from that sin to God, seeking His grace. Grace is God’s doing for us what we could never do for ourselves. It is God coming to our rescue. Grace found Noah and saved him and his family. All like him were saved by grace. He was aware of God’s grace in the darkest hour, there was life and hope when we fear for things. We can look to the Lord for forgiveness. It is like being in an impossibly dangerous situation like in a cave that is sealed and we are rescued by others. We chose to sin, God rescued us by his grace. We need to pray ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’
NOAH WAS RIGHT WITH GOD.
Noah believed God and his faith was counted as righteousness. The grace given to him made him live a life that pleased God – Ezekiel l4:l4. Noah was not perfect but was free from obvious faults.
NOAH WALKED WITH GOD.
Only Noah and Enoch are described here as walking with God. He knew God personally and communicated with Him daily. He went in the same direction God went. He was in step with God. He went the same way as God and took his hand like a little child, you go at the same pace. It is a picture of intimacy and friendship. The Christian life is a growing intimacy with God. Amos 3:3 Ezekiel 5:8. Psalm l:l describes Noah. If you walk with God you will be blessed. If you don’t walk with God you will not stand as Noah did. You will lose everything.
NOAH LED HIS FAMILY GOD’S WAY.
He was the spiritual leader of his wife, sons and daughters-in-laws. It was a negative environment and Noah led them and this led to their salvation. The family had enough faith to follow the head. Noah had enough faith to inspire them to follow his example. It should encourage us to believe so deeply that others believe in God. We may save our families and others besides. The Taylor family – including Hudson Taylor of the China Inland Mission – show millions can be saved through the Christian witness of parents. It can be destroyed in one generation as happened to Earnest Hemingway, the novelist. He had an evangelical Christian upbringing but rebelled against and ended up killing himself when he was 6l.
NOAH WAS DIFFERENT FROM HIS CONTEMPORARIES
a) The state of things. God saw the world was corrupt.
Single acts can have unforeseen consequences.
(i) Adam and Eve fell from innocence into sin, slavery and death. The children shared this genetic-spiritual union in the fall with their parents. We call this sin of nature original, because everyone is born with this bias, and it is the actual source of sins – Romans 5:l8. The globalisation of sin is a consequence of Adam. Paul describes two men – Adam who brought sin by one act, Christ, the second Adam, brought righteousness.
(ii) Nobody has a perfectly good heart – Psalm 5l:5. No one is born righteous, we do not naturally want to love God.
(iii) What does the world say we can do? – educate, counsel, prozac. We try to set up a nanny state to cure sin. We also try to redefine sin to get rid of guilt. Everything is a lifestyle choice. We see the idea of sin a medieval. We can try to keep sinning so we don’t feel guilty any more, but people are guilty of sin. Everything is seen as an illness and not really sin at all. This thinking cuts off people from redemption.
(iv) What happens when a society thinks like this? The unthinkable became thinkable, then speak-able, then do-able, then praised. In a civilized society evil thoughts stay thoughts. In the days of the flood thoughts became words then deeds. Leading entertainers lives are often utterly immoral.
b) The state of Noah. Noah was a bright shining light in the prevailing moral darkness, distinguished from the world. Noah stood his ground. He was counter-cultural, as the lives of Christians should be in this age. Noah lived when the World was unprepared for judgement, as people are today.
NOAH WAS AN OBEDIENT MAN – Hebrews ll:7
God said it and that settled it for Noah. He did it simply because God said so. It was a remarkable faith. It had never even rained. All he had was God’s word, and he believed. He could not explain where the water would come from but he had the faith to answer people. Christians have reality present, but the future unseen. We know Heaven and Hell are going to be realities in the future.
NOAH WAS A COURAGEOUS MAN. 2 Peter 2:5
Noah preached righteousness, he warned, he invited them into the Ark. Hoah had places in the ark for people who were willing to repent. Jesus is like an ark. There is willingness to receive people so we can have a better life and hope. How do we react to this?
Why Christ suffered.
John 10:11 – 30, 1 Peter 2: 24 to 25
Peter was writing to people in this section who were slaves. He told them to submit to the established order. For some with oppressive masters this was very hard. To not retaliate but to bear suffering graciously would bring glory to the Lord Jesus who died for them. We want to avoid suffering. Peter reminded them of why Christ suffered. Things are not fair. Sometimes we make bad decisions. Sometimes people are unfair, life is like that. Jesus suffered unfairly, he did no wrong or ever sinned yet he suffered. We should follow his example. What would Jesus do in our place. We should want to be like Christ especially when we suffer for righteousness sake. We suffer only a tiny fraction of what he suffered, he could have escaped his suffering but he silently endured so we could have our sins forgiven. He suffered out of choice – see John 10:11 – 30. To suffer is often the only right choice we can make. We learn the best lessons when we suffer with tears in our eyes. Jesus left judgement to God and did not retaliate. In China Christians suffer much
IN CHRIST’S SUFFERING WAS A PATTERN FOR US – verse 21
It was innocent, silent, a choice and in faith
HIS SUFFERING WAS PERSONAL
He did not make recompense by offering a victim, but was himself the sacrifice. He was the victim of sin, a sinless one who paid the penalty for the sin of his people. Only he could do it.
HIS SUFFERING WAS SUBSTITUTIONARY – Isaiah 53:4
This chapter is full of this sort of language. The Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all etc. In the Old Testament people’s sin were symbolically laid on the animal and it was killed. He was treated as if he had been a sinner, in order that we might be treated as if we had not sinned; as if we were righteous – 1 Corinthians 15:1. It was a legal transaction. God the father transferred to God the son the penalty due to our sin. We do not punish according to what people deserve today. Many think God will overlook their sin when they are compared to others. We are free of sin’s consequences if Christ took our place.
HIS SUFFERING WAS SEVERE – Deuteronomy 21:22, Galatians 3:13
He died on the tree, this term is deliberately chosen by Peter and not the cross. Deuteronomy 21:22 – the dead body on the tree meant he was under a curse. It was a symbol of shame. It was a warning to everyone. Jesus took God’s curse – see Galatians 3:13. Crucifixion was a Roman practice, not Jewish, to be hung on a tree was the maximum curse. Can we ever understand how the holy, harmless and undefiled Son of God felt as he was treated as if he were a vile criminal? He knew and did nothing but good in the world. He was naked and reviled for sins he had not committed.
HIS SUFFERING WAS REDEMPTIVE
The power of sin is so great that we can’t be delivered from it by promising to turn over a new leaf or by sheer will power. Sin has separated us from God. There had to be death of our old attitude to sin and a resurrection to new life in Jesus Christ. Romans 6 to 8. Your old self dies and we have a new life in Christ. The person who is now living is the new you. Colossians 3:l – 4, we have been changed, live like you have been saved.
HIS SUFFERING WAS CURATIVE.
Isaiah 53:5 – his wounds are a synonym for his death. The cross is the place where all the wounds of sin are healed. Sin has brought emotional problems, guilt and depression. If you suffer from emotional problems – guilt, anxiety, depression, anger or whatever – there is healing in the cross of Christ. There is the answer to answer for guilt, hopelessness and depression. Matthew 8:l6. Does it give us the right to expect physical healing because of the atonement? It is a wrong understanding. Jesus healed physically to demonstrate heavenly truths. Jesus healed people to illustrate the physical healing all believers will experience in the glory yet to come. Disease and death cannot be permanently removed until sin is permanently removed. We still see death and sin. We will only be delivered from it at the resurrection. Jesus conquered sin but his people sinned, Jesus conquered sickness but we still get ill. We can only be healed and delivered from death in the new world.
HIS SUFFERING WAS RECONCILING
a) It speaks of our past – you were. We were like sheep going astray. Sheep are silly, gullible, often dirty and defenceless. Domestic sheep need care of a shepherd. If they are not prevented they will constantly wander. Peter sees in these slaves who had been wandering but were now part of a flock. Why do they wander? They need a shepherd to guide them. The lost do not come back when it is lost. We are self willed like a silly lost sheep. Jesus seeks us today.
b) It speaks of our present and future – but now. We can know a bright future if we have his influence. There has been a turning around, a conversion. Luke 22:32.
(i) A coming to Christ the shepherd – Isaiah 40 and John l0. The Christians clung to this image of the Christ the good shepherd, he will never let us down.
(ii) A coming to Christ the overseer. We are under the care of the Good Shepherd. He uses a rod and staff when he must. If you’re seeking to follow Him, then it ought to be a comforting thought. Jesus oversees his sheep and makes sure they are all there and cares for them. Believers have returned to the overseer and shepherd of their souls. Christ is our overseer, it comforts us if we know this. If he is not our shepherd we will not go to Heaven, we will wander and be lost.
Peter was writing to people in this section who were slaves. He told them to submit to the established order. For some with oppressive masters this was very hard. To not retaliate but to bear suffering graciously would bring glory to the Lord Jesus who died for them. We want to avoid suffering. Peter reminded them of why Christ suffered. Things are not fair. Sometimes we make bad decisions. Sometimes people are unfair, life is like that. Jesus suffered unfairly, he did no wrong or ever sinned yet he suffered. We should follow his example. What would Jesus do in our place. We should want to be like Christ especially when we suffer for righteousness sake. We suffer only a tiny fraction of what he suffered, he could have escaped his suffering but he silently endured so we could have our sins forgiven. He suffered out of choice – see John 10:11 – 30. To suffer is often the only right choice we can make. We learn the best lessons when we suffer with tears in our eyes. Jesus left judgement to God and did not retaliate. In China Christians suffer much
IN CHRIST’S SUFFERING WAS A PATTERN FOR US – verse 21
It was innocent, silent, a choice and in faith
HIS SUFFERING WAS PERSONAL
He did not make recompense by offering a victim, but was himself the sacrifice. He was the victim of sin, a sinless one who paid the penalty for the sin of his people. Only he could do it.
HIS SUFFERING WAS SUBSTITUTIONARY – Isaiah 53:4
This chapter is full of this sort of language. The Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all etc. In the Old Testament people’s sin were symbolically laid on the animal and it was killed. He was treated as if he had been a sinner, in order that we might be treated as if we had not sinned; as if we were righteous – 1 Corinthians 15:1. It was a legal transaction. God the father transferred to God the son the penalty due to our sin. We do not punish according to what people deserve today. Many think God will overlook their sin when they are compared to others. We are free of sin’s consequences if Christ took our place.
HIS SUFFERING WAS SEVERE – Deuteronomy 21:22, Galatians 3:13
He died on the tree, this term is deliberately chosen by Peter and not the cross. Deuteronomy 21:22 – the dead body on the tree meant he was under a curse. It was a symbol of shame. It was a warning to everyone. Jesus took God’s curse – see Galatians 3:13. Crucifixion was a Roman practice, not Jewish, to be hung on a tree was the maximum curse. Can we ever understand how the holy, harmless and undefiled Son of God felt as he was treated as if he were a vile criminal? He knew and did nothing but good in the world. He was naked and reviled for sins he had not committed.
HIS SUFFERING WAS REDEMPTIVE
The power of sin is so great that we can’t be delivered from it by promising to turn over a new leaf or by sheer will power. Sin has separated us from God. There had to be death of our old attitude to sin and a resurrection to new life in Jesus Christ. Romans 6 to 8. Your old self dies and we have a new life in Christ. The person who is now living is the new you. Colossians 3:l – 4, we have been changed, live like you have been saved.
HIS SUFFERING WAS CURATIVE.
Isaiah 53:5 – his wounds are a synonym for his death. The cross is the place where all the wounds of sin are healed. Sin has brought emotional problems, guilt and depression. If you suffer from emotional problems – guilt, anxiety, depression, anger or whatever – there is healing in the cross of Christ. There is the answer to answer for guilt, hopelessness and depression. Matthew 8:l6. Does it give us the right to expect physical healing because of the atonement? It is a wrong understanding. Jesus healed physically to demonstrate heavenly truths. Jesus healed people to illustrate the physical healing all believers will experience in the glory yet to come. Disease and death cannot be permanently removed until sin is permanently removed. We still see death and sin. We will only be delivered from it at the resurrection. Jesus conquered sin but his people sinned, Jesus conquered sickness but we still get ill. We can only be healed and delivered from death in the new world.
HIS SUFFERING WAS RECONCILING
a) It speaks of our past – you were. We were like sheep going astray. Sheep are silly, gullible, often dirty and defenceless. Domestic sheep need care of a shepherd. If they are not prevented they will constantly wander. Peter sees in these slaves who had been wandering but were now part of a flock. Why do they wander? They need a shepherd to guide them. The lost do not come back when it is lost. We are self willed like a silly lost sheep. Jesus seeks us today.
b) It speaks of our present and future – but now. We can know a bright future if we have his influence. There has been a turning around, a conversion. Luke 22:32.
(i) A coming to Christ the shepherd – Isaiah 40 and John l0. The Christians clung to this image of the Christ the good shepherd, he will never let us down.
(ii) A coming to Christ the overseer. We are under the care of the Good Shepherd. He uses a rod and staff when he must. If you’re seeking to follow Him, then it ought to be a comforting thought. Jesus oversees his sheep and makes sure they are all there and cares for them. Believers have returned to the overseer and shepherd of their souls. Christ is our overseer, it comforts us if we know this. If he is not our shepherd we will not go to Heaven, we will wander and be lost.
The End of an Era
Matthew 24:32 – 44, Genesis 6:1 – 8
We go back to the early world. We now come to the end of this era. 3 men marked the genealogy, Adam – who was the first sinner; Enoch who shows that if we walk with God we will conquer death and Noah who tells us there will be a judgement. This chapter is intriguing – men had lost part of the likeness to God. This chapter builds up to the Flood.
1. THIS PERIOD IN HISTORY HAD DISTINCT FEATURES – Matthew 24:37.
This speaks of the days before the flood – what men did before the flood. The Bible speaks of ages and how they ended. A time of ignorance before Christ returns. The Dark ages were times of ignorance and moral uncertainty. In His Olivet discourse He speaks of how things will be immediately before he comes for a second time. He compares it to the time of Noah. These are Epochs in history with similar characteristics. The spiritual condition before the flood are the same as they will be before Christ’s return. The record of history has been the collapse of one civilization after another. The Bible speaks of times and seasons. If we are living in the days immediately preceding the return of Jesus Christ we shall find similar conditions to the days of Noah. It was business as usual – marriage, work and supporting family. It was a time of technological advancement. They knew so much but understood very little. Romans l – they professed to be wise but were fools. Today we have achieved so much but it is accompanied by much moral darkness and ignorance. Jesus said people in Noah’s time went about their business oblivious to what Noah was saying – of ‘crazy Noah’ who was building a boat when none was needed, apparently. He warned them of impending judgement but they went their own way. Perhaps they laughed at him, perhaps they got annoyed at him for making a ‘special claim’. None of them took any notice of what he said.
2. THIS PERIOD IN HISTORY SAW COMPROMISE – verse l
Who were the sons of God? There are several views, but the application os the same – men compromised.
a) Human rulers who were despots, striving for fame and fertility? The daughters of men were beautiful, but they were fallen women.
b) They were fallen angels in human bodies who married human women. There a lot of problems here – angels having sex with people, it sounds like Greek mythology – its not really tenable.
c) The best view is that they were the believing descendants if Seth who married the line of Cain. People who compromised. It was the intermarriage of believing men and unbelieving women. It was Satan seeking to turn a generation away from God. It was a sexually promiscuous age where men took the women they wanted. They ignored any character or spiritual traits. The rule is ‘think first and feel later’. The sexual drive is very strong and can neutralise or weaken faith. We can choose what is wrong. The Sethites compromised and chose a faith that led to sin. It contaminated a whole society. In Romans l Paul describes a fallen society, it began in Genesis 6.
3. THIS PERIOD WAS NOTED FOR CORRUPT MEN – verse 4
Who were the Nephalim? There is only one other mention in the Bible – Numbers l3 when the spies went into the land and saw these giant men, they called them Nephalim, they felt dispirited and alarmed by what they saw. The word Nephalim means ‘to fall upon’ and thus points to men of violence who had a reputation of falling upon their enemies. They were malicious and became notorious around the world. They were men who could sway multitudes to do what they wanted - see Genghis Khan, Hitler and Stalin etc, they led their people to kill millions. Al Qaeda will get their people to use dirty bombs. These people were notorious for their violence, they embodied the worst traits in men. They lived a long time – everyone did. They became very skilled in what they did. When good men live a long time it can be good, what if evil men live a long time and become skilled in evil and torture. Unchecked evil is an unimaginable horror. People lived like that in the old world. The Nephalim refined their violence over a long time. For the good of humanity such cancer needs cutting out, so God acts, he uncreates the world and washes away all vestiges of human wickedness that made life so miserable. He brings the Hitlers and Stalins of this world to a short end.
4. THIS PERIOD SAW GOD’S PATIENCE RUN OUT – verse 3.
God only permits wickedness a short reign. God will judge wickedness, he gives them a count down – one hundred and twenty years, then people face judgement. Noah was boat building for all that time. It was a warning. Noah was famous world wide and he was preaching a warning, why did they not listen? Romans l describes the breakdown of society, there have been occurrences of this before, but here it was everywhere. 2 Peter 2:5. Churchill warned politicians and society about the rise of Hitler, that he would be a danger to the world. People ignored him and did not want to listen or contemplate what he was saying. It was too late and Hitler did attack the world and cause harm. God warns us today, we are all accountable to God for what we do. We don’t like to think about this. We don’t like to listen to bad news. God is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. He postpones judgement to give us time to repent. God is calling us and is calling you, he wants you to hear good news, his son has been sent to die on the cross and to rise again so we have the hope of a better world. God’s patience will not last forever. Here a l20 years, is the time limit.
5. THIS PERIOD SAW GOD ANNOUNCE JUDGEMENT – verse 5
Grief is a mixture of love and anger at what causes pain. God’s grief is a sign of his great love. The Lord is not some unfeeling God who watches in benign disinterest while men and women destroy themselves. It grieves Him to see our rebellion and sin, and He only brings judgement after he has warned and appealed to us to turn from our sin. When He does judge, his judgement are always just. He has a right to judge man. Ezekiel 33:ll. He appeals to take account of unpalatable facts, we are accountable to Him. ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways. Why then will you die? We must put our trust in the Son of the Living God so we can live in Heaven with God. May God help us to do this.
We go back to the early world. We now come to the end of this era. 3 men marked the genealogy, Adam – who was the first sinner; Enoch who shows that if we walk with God we will conquer death and Noah who tells us there will be a judgement. This chapter is intriguing – men had lost part of the likeness to God. This chapter builds up to the Flood.
1. THIS PERIOD IN HISTORY HAD DISTINCT FEATURES – Matthew 24:37.
This speaks of the days before the flood – what men did before the flood. The Bible speaks of ages and how they ended. A time of ignorance before Christ returns. The Dark ages were times of ignorance and moral uncertainty. In His Olivet discourse He speaks of how things will be immediately before he comes for a second time. He compares it to the time of Noah. These are Epochs in history with similar characteristics. The spiritual condition before the flood are the same as they will be before Christ’s return. The record of history has been the collapse of one civilization after another. The Bible speaks of times and seasons. If we are living in the days immediately preceding the return of Jesus Christ we shall find similar conditions to the days of Noah. It was business as usual – marriage, work and supporting family. It was a time of technological advancement. They knew so much but understood very little. Romans l – they professed to be wise but were fools. Today we have achieved so much but it is accompanied by much moral darkness and ignorance. Jesus said people in Noah’s time went about their business oblivious to what Noah was saying – of ‘crazy Noah’ who was building a boat when none was needed, apparently. He warned them of impending judgement but they went their own way. Perhaps they laughed at him, perhaps they got annoyed at him for making a ‘special claim’. None of them took any notice of what he said.
2. THIS PERIOD IN HISTORY SAW COMPROMISE – verse l
Who were the sons of God? There are several views, but the application os the same – men compromised.
a) Human rulers who were despots, striving for fame and fertility? The daughters of men were beautiful, but they were fallen women.
b) They were fallen angels in human bodies who married human women. There a lot of problems here – angels having sex with people, it sounds like Greek mythology – its not really tenable.
c) The best view is that they were the believing descendants if Seth who married the line of Cain. People who compromised. It was the intermarriage of believing men and unbelieving women. It was Satan seeking to turn a generation away from God. It was a sexually promiscuous age where men took the women they wanted. They ignored any character or spiritual traits. The rule is ‘think first and feel later’. The sexual drive is very strong and can neutralise or weaken faith. We can choose what is wrong. The Sethites compromised and chose a faith that led to sin. It contaminated a whole society. In Romans l Paul describes a fallen society, it began in Genesis 6.
3. THIS PERIOD WAS NOTED FOR CORRUPT MEN – verse 4
Who were the Nephalim? There is only one other mention in the Bible – Numbers l3 when the spies went into the land and saw these giant men, they called them Nephalim, they felt dispirited and alarmed by what they saw. The word Nephalim means ‘to fall upon’ and thus points to men of violence who had a reputation of falling upon their enemies. They were malicious and became notorious around the world. They were men who could sway multitudes to do what they wanted - see Genghis Khan, Hitler and Stalin etc, they led their people to kill millions. Al Qaeda will get their people to use dirty bombs. These people were notorious for their violence, they embodied the worst traits in men. They lived a long time – everyone did. They became very skilled in what they did. When good men live a long time it can be good, what if evil men live a long time and become skilled in evil and torture. Unchecked evil is an unimaginable horror. People lived like that in the old world. The Nephalim refined their violence over a long time. For the good of humanity such cancer needs cutting out, so God acts, he uncreates the world and washes away all vestiges of human wickedness that made life so miserable. He brings the Hitlers and Stalins of this world to a short end.
4. THIS PERIOD SAW GOD’S PATIENCE RUN OUT – verse 3.
God only permits wickedness a short reign. God will judge wickedness, he gives them a count down – one hundred and twenty years, then people face judgement. Noah was boat building for all that time. It was a warning. Noah was famous world wide and he was preaching a warning, why did they not listen? Romans l describes the breakdown of society, there have been occurrences of this before, but here it was everywhere. 2 Peter 2:5. Churchill warned politicians and society about the rise of Hitler, that he would be a danger to the world. People ignored him and did not want to listen or contemplate what he was saying. It was too late and Hitler did attack the world and cause harm. God warns us today, we are all accountable to God for what we do. We don’t like to think about this. We don’t like to listen to bad news. God is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. He postpones judgement to give us time to repent. God is calling us and is calling you, he wants you to hear good news, his son has been sent to die on the cross and to rise again so we have the hope of a better world. God’s patience will not last forever. Here a l20 years, is the time limit.
5. THIS PERIOD SAW GOD ANNOUNCE JUDGEMENT – verse 5
Grief is a mixture of love and anger at what causes pain. God’s grief is a sign of his great love. The Lord is not some unfeeling God who watches in benign disinterest while men and women destroy themselves. It grieves Him to see our rebellion and sin, and He only brings judgement after he has warned and appealed to us to turn from our sin. When He does judge, his judgement are always just. He has a right to judge man. Ezekiel 33:ll. He appeals to take account of unpalatable facts, we are accountable to Him. ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways. Why then will you die? We must put our trust in the Son of the Living God so we can live in Heaven with God. May God help us to do this.
What to do when life isn’t fair
Reading - 1 Timothy 6:1-5; Colossians 3:22-4:1; Isaiah 50:4-9;
Peter’s theme in this portion is submission. Turning from submission to civil authorities, he now focuses on the submission of slaves to their earthly masters.
If you are a parent of children old enough to talk, you have heard them complain, “But that isn’t fair!” And you respond, “Life isn’t fair!”
We are born with a strong inner sense of fairness and a strong desire to fight for our rights when we have been treated unfairly.
Although we know that life isn’t fair, we don’t like being victims of unfairness.
The important question is, “How do you respond when you’re treated unfairly?” Is it wrong to defend yourself or to stand up for your rights? That is the question.
[1] WHAT IS THE CONTEXT OF THIS TEACHING– 1 Peter 2:18 Servants,
There is more written in the N T to slaves than to any other class. The reason there were so many slaves in the early church, is that there were some sixty million, in the Roman Empire at the time Peter wrote this.
They had come from all parts of the world as a result of Rome's conquests. They came from all classes, many had been governmental figures, doctors, lawyers, and teachers and they were pressed into service for Roman citizens. In fact, all the work of Rome was done by slaves.
The Romans were masters of the world. Why should they work when they had this labour force at their command, and at such little cost?
In the early days of the Empire, slaves had no rights at all. Aristotle said, “ a slave is simply a living tool.” They were treated like animals, even branded. They had no legal rights. They could only cohabit. Their children belonged to their master. Their masters had the right of life and death over them.
However by 1A.D. the slave had most of the legal rights which were granted to the free man. Many had money at their disposal and had rights to wife and family.
Many slaves were loved and trusted members of the family. There is evidence to suggest that the slaves usually lived on the top floor of their owner’s house. The slave was not inferior to the free man of similar skills in regard to food and clothing. Statistics show that the average free man lived no better than the slave. In fact, in time of economic hardship it was the slave and not the free man who was guaranteed the necessities of life for himself and his family."
Into this stratum of society the gospel came, and the question was raised at the very outset, "How should we, as slaves, now respond to our masters? Should we throw off the yoke of slavery? This was especially poignant in the case of a slave whose master was harsh and unreasonable. In most cases, freedom was not an option and escape was difficult. Peter, Paul, and others wrote to answer this question.
[2] WHO DOES THIS MESSAGE APPLY TO 1 Peter 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, At first glance Peter’s words, addressed to slaves may make us feel these words no longer apply to us since slaves and masters no longer exist today. The term Peter uses in our text refers to a broader group than just slaves. The word he uses here is a domestic, a house-slave.
However it is applicable to working and other Christians today, for Peter gives a general principle which applies to all believers. Though we may not be slaves, we may be subject to those with authority and thus face a condition similar to that of a slave. For instance, a low ranked soldier in the armed forces.
Also Our Lord and His apostles consistently taught that every Christian is Christ’s slave. Mark 10:44 “And whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all”.
A] In the NT, slavery is not commended, but neither is it condemned as a social evil the Christian master should cease to practice or the Christian slave should seek to overthrow. Christian masters are instructed not to abuse their power over their slaves Col 4:1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. Col 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord., and they are especially not to abuse their status as Christians in relation to their believing masters 1 Timothy 6: 1 ¶ All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered 2 Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them.
Human government and slavery may both be viewed as “institutions” within society, but of the two, government alone has been divinely instituted for the purpose of executing God’s rule over men. Slavery is not given such a status. Societies function very well without slaves; but they collapse without established governing authority.
B] Christian slaves would especially be targeted for persecution by their unbelieving masters. There are heathen masters like Potiphar, who prospered greatly from the service of Joseph and therefore was delighted to have him as a slave. But it was also Joseph’s righteousness which eventually led to his unjust imprisonment by Potiphar. As Peter says in chap 4, the righteousness of the Christian is threatening to the lifestyle of heathen unbelievers.
The non-Christian master also could very well feel threatened, by the conversion of one of his slaves to faith in Christ, because the church where the slave attended would make the slave an equal with his master. The result was that within the Church the social barriers were broken down. It was quite possible that the slave should be a leader of the congregation and the master a member of it.
Callistus, one of the earliest bishops of Rome, was a slave; and Perpetua, the aristocrat, and Felicitas, the slave-girl, met martyrdom hand in hand.
As a result of his new identity in Christ, the Christian slave would now have moral scruples, and his obedience to his earthly master would always be subordinate to his obedience to Christ. The master no longer had first loyalty. He no longer had the same power to intimidate, because the believing slave’s hope was on heaven.
Slavery indeed provided the opportunity for abuse, but in the sovereign plan and purpose of God that abuse gave the opportunity to shine. If Christian slaves were defiant, critics could have accused Christianity of stirring up rebellion and undermining the whole fabric of the society.
In a similar way, our unjust suffering can reveal the character of Christ in us as we suffer. The attitude of fighting for our rights communicates to the world that we’re living for the things of this world. Submitting to unfair treatment and giving up our rights communicates the truth that we’re on our way to heaven.
Our society is preoccupied with demanding its rights. It campaigns for the rights of students, women, children, homosexuals, illegal immigrants, criminals, employees, and the homeless. When people believe their rights have been denied, they often react with strikes, protests and walk outs.
If believers yield rights in a Christian manner, people will notice and maybe get an opportunity to explain what it means to live under God’s authority, with a view to pleasing Him. Whether in the light of this Christians can belong to trade unions, is a matter of conscience.
[3] WHAT IS THE EXPERIENCE OF CHRISTIANS –1 Peter 2: 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
The fact of the matter is that all humanity suffers at some time and Christians have special sufferings at times.
A] Sometimes we suffer for no apparent reason.
By that I mean that sometimes things happen to us that aren’t connected to anything we do or don’t do. Because we live in a fallen world, bad things sometimes happen to people who don’t seem to deserve it. We don’t understand and we can’t explain why things work out the way they do. One of my sisters has never had good health the other four of us have.
B] Sometimes we suffer because of mistakes we have made. Peter would say it this way: If you break the law and find yourself in jail, don’t complain. You did the crime; now do the time. Bad decisions can be very costly and often irreversible. It may have been a relationship, a job or lack of concentration on the road that has left permanent scars.
C] Sometimes we suffer unjustly at the hands of others. That’s what Peter has in mind in here. We may do right and live by the rules but get in trouble anyway. Or we may work hard and be passed over for promotion. Peter knew from experience that sometimes Christians suffer even when they have done nothing wrong. David was an example under Saul of how we are to submit to injustice. As believers we are to follow David's example of respecting those in authority.
[4] THE CHRISTIANS RESPONSE TO UNFAIR TREATMENT – 1 Peter 2: 19 be subject, For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
A] Suffer! Be subject not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. God has ordained various spheres of authority. Rulers in government, men in the family, elders in the church, and employers in the work place. Peter says we are to submit to those who are harsh, not just to those who are kind to us. The word harsh translates a Greek word from which we get the English word scoliosis, curvature of the spine. Some people are so morally twisted that they intentionally hurt everyone around them. Even in those cases, we are to submit. That’s not the answer we would want to hear. He makes it clear that submission is not only required under favourable conditions but in painful and unpleasant circumstances as well. Christian servants are not only to submit to “good and gentle” masters but to those who are “unreasonable.” Tit 2:9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them.
Unreasonable masters may, like Laban, make promises they do not keep Genesis 31:36-42. They may be unfair in their accusations, punishments, or rewards. They are those against whom we would naturally rebel apart from the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
B] Suffer graciously! this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows How can anyone submit to unfair treatment graciously?
We endure unjust suffering for one reason only—because we are conscious or mindful of God. I am where I am right now by God’s appointment. When God wants me somewhere else, I’ll be somewhere else.
Because God is good, it must be for my good to be where I am right now. The fact that I can’t see any good in my present situation doesn’t mean it isn’t there. I don’t have to understand the big picture in order to believe there is a big picture. God’s promises cover the details of my life even when the details seem random and out of control. God sometimes allows things to happen to me that seem unfair and I won’t understand those things while I am going through them. I can endure because I believe God is right there with me every moment of every day.
H Hendricks tells the story of being on an airliner that was delayed. Passengers grew increasingly impatient. One obnoxious man kept venting his frustrations on the air hostess. But she responded graciously and courteously in spite of his abuse. After they finally got airborne and Hendricks called the woman over and said, “I want to get your name so that I can write a letter of commendation to your employer.” He was surprised when she responded, “Thank you, sir, but I don’t work for Airlines.” “I work for my Lord Jesus Christ.” She went on to explain that before each flight, she and her husband would pray together that she would be a good witness.
Do you believe God has you where you are for a purpose? If you answer yes, then you will endure suffering even though it is painful. When we forget God: We give in to despair or act hastily or retaliate. Paul remembered - 2Tim.1:12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. His whole interests, his life, body, soul and spirit. He leaves all in God’s hands with perfect confidence.
When we endure patiently We demonstrate the power of Christ and prove our confidence in God’s justice. We are not sullen when we are mistreated, because we are conscious of God.
[5] WHO IS THE MODEL FOR CHRISTIANS IN – 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. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
The second focus’s on the OT prophecy concerning the Lord Jesus as the Suffering Servant provides the motivation and the model for all suffering servants. The Suffering Servant is the example for Suffering Servants.
The word example is a school word, referring to how teachers lightly traced letters for students to copy. Christ is that kind of example for us. If we follow how He lived, we will form our lives correctly. Following “in His steps” means if we suffer as we follow Him and respond as He did, people will see Him in us.
Peter had walked with the Lord for three and a half years. He had seen him in every conceivable circumstance -- in the morning when he was tired from inadequate sleep, in the evening when he was weary from a hard day. He had seen him under pressure, under attack, and when people were indifferent to him. Yet he never heard from the Lord one word of complaint. He never did any of the things we would expect from a person who was unjustly treated.
A] Christ’s suffering was a pattern for us. We must suffer because we are called to suffer. This should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the Scriptures, especially the teaching of our Lord and of the apostles: Acts 14:21-22 “Through many troubles we must enter the kingdom of God”. Philippians 1:29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. How should we suffer?
B] Christ’s suffering was innocent, due to His righteousness. Peter uses the words of Isaiah 53:9 to express the fact that He “committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth”. Jesus did not sin in deed or in word, either before His crucifixion or during His suffering. What wrongs would be especially tempting for a servant? The first would be disobedience; another would be disrespect, and yet another laziness. How many people justify taking things because they believe they are not being paid well enough? Christian workers should not suffer because they are late or don’t pull their weight.
C] Christ’s suffering was silent, uncomplaining. When we can do nothing else, we can shout, threaten, and even curse. Jesus remained silent. He made no effort to resist or to retaliate. The silence of our Lord is evident in the words Peter used, and the Isaiah text has even more to say on that silence: Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. He didn’t bend the facts. He was always truthful. He didn’t trade insults. He uttered no threats.
D] Christ’s suffering was a choice and not a tragic fate. Jesus frequently spoke of His suffering and death in advance of the events of Calvary. He chose to take up His cross, and so must we. A Christian boy who had an unbelieving father, asked if he could attend the mid week meeting one evening and the father reluctantly gave permission. As the boy walked home afterwards, a friend saw him and offered him a lift in his car. The father saw his son get out of the friend’s car and accused him of lying and beat him in spite of the boy’s protests of innocence. The boy quietly endured the beating and didn’t grow bitter. A few days later the father was shopping and met the pastor who knowing nothing said, “You sure have a fine son. Last week in prayer meeting, he gave a good word of testimony.” The father said, I thought he went out with his friends, his sons submission shamed him and he soon came to repentance.
E] Christ’s suffering was in faith He “kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously”. Our Lord therefore left judgment to God. He did not need to retaliate against His enemies. Jesus knew that He would be vindicated by being raised from the dead and enthroned at the right hand of the Majesty on high. He knew that His persecutors would be judged and dealt with according to their sins. God is the righteous Judge who will someday right every wrong and bring vengeance on those who resist His authority.
There is a proper place for respectful communication questioning those who mistreated us, through proper channels. Christians don’t always have to endure mistreatment in silence. Jesus in John 8 defended Himself as being sent from the Father. Paul defended his character and ministry. There is a time for moving from a bad employer. But if you move too quickly, you may miss what God is seeking to do in the difficult situation. He may want to teach you some hard lessons of being like Christ. He may want to bear witness
Peter’s theme in this portion is submission. Turning from submission to civil authorities, he now focuses on the submission of slaves to their earthly masters.
If you are a parent of children old enough to talk, you have heard them complain, “But that isn’t fair!” And you respond, “Life isn’t fair!”
We are born with a strong inner sense of fairness and a strong desire to fight for our rights when we have been treated unfairly.
Although we know that life isn’t fair, we don’t like being victims of unfairness.
The important question is, “How do you respond when you’re treated unfairly?” Is it wrong to defend yourself or to stand up for your rights? That is the question.
[1] WHAT IS THE CONTEXT OF THIS TEACHING– 1 Peter 2:18 Servants,
There is more written in the N T to slaves than to any other class. The reason there were so many slaves in the early church, is that there were some sixty million, in the Roman Empire at the time Peter wrote this.
They had come from all parts of the world as a result of Rome's conquests. They came from all classes, many had been governmental figures, doctors, lawyers, and teachers and they were pressed into service for Roman citizens. In fact, all the work of Rome was done by slaves.
The Romans were masters of the world. Why should they work when they had this labour force at their command, and at such little cost?
In the early days of the Empire, slaves had no rights at all. Aristotle said, “ a slave is simply a living tool.” They were treated like animals, even branded. They had no legal rights. They could only cohabit. Their children belonged to their master. Their masters had the right of life and death over them.
However by 1A.D. the slave had most of the legal rights which were granted to the free man. Many had money at their disposal and had rights to wife and family.
Many slaves were loved and trusted members of the family. There is evidence to suggest that the slaves usually lived on the top floor of their owner’s house. The slave was not inferior to the free man of similar skills in regard to food and clothing. Statistics show that the average free man lived no better than the slave. In fact, in time of economic hardship it was the slave and not the free man who was guaranteed the necessities of life for himself and his family."
Into this stratum of society the gospel came, and the question was raised at the very outset, "How should we, as slaves, now respond to our masters? Should we throw off the yoke of slavery? This was especially poignant in the case of a slave whose master was harsh and unreasonable. In most cases, freedom was not an option and escape was difficult. Peter, Paul, and others wrote to answer this question.
[2] WHO DOES THIS MESSAGE APPLY TO 1 Peter 2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, At first glance Peter’s words, addressed to slaves may make us feel these words no longer apply to us since slaves and masters no longer exist today. The term Peter uses in our text refers to a broader group than just slaves. The word he uses here is a domestic, a house-slave.
However it is applicable to working and other Christians today, for Peter gives a general principle which applies to all believers. Though we may not be slaves, we may be subject to those with authority and thus face a condition similar to that of a slave. For instance, a low ranked soldier in the armed forces.
Also Our Lord and His apostles consistently taught that every Christian is Christ’s slave. Mark 10:44 “And whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all”.
A] In the NT, slavery is not commended, but neither is it condemned as a social evil the Christian master should cease to practice or the Christian slave should seek to overthrow. Christian masters are instructed not to abuse their power over their slaves Col 4:1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. Col 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord., and they are especially not to abuse their status as Christians in relation to their believing masters 1 Timothy 6: 1 ¶ All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered 2 Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them.
Human government and slavery may both be viewed as “institutions” within society, but of the two, government alone has been divinely instituted for the purpose of executing God’s rule over men. Slavery is not given such a status. Societies function very well without slaves; but they collapse without established governing authority.
B] Christian slaves would especially be targeted for persecution by their unbelieving masters. There are heathen masters like Potiphar, who prospered greatly from the service of Joseph and therefore was delighted to have him as a slave. But it was also Joseph’s righteousness which eventually led to his unjust imprisonment by Potiphar. As Peter says in chap 4, the righteousness of the Christian is threatening to the lifestyle of heathen unbelievers.
The non-Christian master also could very well feel threatened, by the conversion of one of his slaves to faith in Christ, because the church where the slave attended would make the slave an equal with his master. The result was that within the Church the social barriers were broken down. It was quite possible that the slave should be a leader of the congregation and the master a member of it.
Callistus, one of the earliest bishops of Rome, was a slave; and Perpetua, the aristocrat, and Felicitas, the slave-girl, met martyrdom hand in hand.
As a result of his new identity in Christ, the Christian slave would now have moral scruples, and his obedience to his earthly master would always be subordinate to his obedience to Christ. The master no longer had first loyalty. He no longer had the same power to intimidate, because the believing slave’s hope was on heaven.
Slavery indeed provided the opportunity for abuse, but in the sovereign plan and purpose of God that abuse gave the opportunity to shine. If Christian slaves were defiant, critics could have accused Christianity of stirring up rebellion and undermining the whole fabric of the society.
In a similar way, our unjust suffering can reveal the character of Christ in us as we suffer. The attitude of fighting for our rights communicates to the world that we’re living for the things of this world. Submitting to unfair treatment and giving up our rights communicates the truth that we’re on our way to heaven.
Our society is preoccupied with demanding its rights. It campaigns for the rights of students, women, children, homosexuals, illegal immigrants, criminals, employees, and the homeless. When people believe their rights have been denied, they often react with strikes, protests and walk outs.
If believers yield rights in a Christian manner, people will notice and maybe get an opportunity to explain what it means to live under God’s authority, with a view to pleasing Him. Whether in the light of this Christians can belong to trade unions, is a matter of conscience.
[3] WHAT IS THE EXPERIENCE OF CHRISTIANS –1 Peter 2: 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
The fact of the matter is that all humanity suffers at some time and Christians have special sufferings at times.
A] Sometimes we suffer for no apparent reason.
By that I mean that sometimes things happen to us that aren’t connected to anything we do or don’t do. Because we live in a fallen world, bad things sometimes happen to people who don’t seem to deserve it. We don’t understand and we can’t explain why things work out the way they do. One of my sisters has never had good health the other four of us have.
B] Sometimes we suffer because of mistakes we have made. Peter would say it this way: If you break the law and find yourself in jail, don’t complain. You did the crime; now do the time. Bad decisions can be very costly and often irreversible. It may have been a relationship, a job or lack of concentration on the road that has left permanent scars.
C] Sometimes we suffer unjustly at the hands of others. That’s what Peter has in mind in here. We may do right and live by the rules but get in trouble anyway. Or we may work hard and be passed over for promotion. Peter knew from experience that sometimes Christians suffer even when they have done nothing wrong. David was an example under Saul of how we are to submit to injustice. As believers we are to follow David's example of respecting those in authority.
[4] THE CHRISTIANS RESPONSE TO UNFAIR TREATMENT – 1 Peter 2: 19 be subject, For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
A] Suffer! Be subject not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. God has ordained various spheres of authority. Rulers in government, men in the family, elders in the church, and employers in the work place. Peter says we are to submit to those who are harsh, not just to those who are kind to us. The word harsh translates a Greek word from which we get the English word scoliosis, curvature of the spine. Some people are so morally twisted that they intentionally hurt everyone around them. Even in those cases, we are to submit. That’s not the answer we would want to hear. He makes it clear that submission is not only required under favourable conditions but in painful and unpleasant circumstances as well. Christian servants are not only to submit to “good and gentle” masters but to those who are “unreasonable.” Tit 2:9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them.
Unreasonable masters may, like Laban, make promises they do not keep Genesis 31:36-42. They may be unfair in their accusations, punishments, or rewards. They are those against whom we would naturally rebel apart from the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
B] Suffer graciously! this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows How can anyone submit to unfair treatment graciously?
We endure unjust suffering for one reason only—because we are conscious or mindful of God. I am where I am right now by God’s appointment. When God wants me somewhere else, I’ll be somewhere else.
Because God is good, it must be for my good to be where I am right now. The fact that I can’t see any good in my present situation doesn’t mean it isn’t there. I don’t have to understand the big picture in order to believe there is a big picture. God’s promises cover the details of my life even when the details seem random and out of control. God sometimes allows things to happen to me that seem unfair and I won’t understand those things while I am going through them. I can endure because I believe God is right there with me every moment of every day.
H Hendricks tells the story of being on an airliner that was delayed. Passengers grew increasingly impatient. One obnoxious man kept venting his frustrations on the air hostess. But she responded graciously and courteously in spite of his abuse. After they finally got airborne and Hendricks called the woman over and said, “I want to get your name so that I can write a letter of commendation to your employer.” He was surprised when she responded, “Thank you, sir, but I don’t work for Airlines.” “I work for my Lord Jesus Christ.” She went on to explain that before each flight, she and her husband would pray together that she would be a good witness.
Do you believe God has you where you are for a purpose? If you answer yes, then you will endure suffering even though it is painful. When we forget God: We give in to despair or act hastily or retaliate. Paul remembered - 2Tim.1:12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. His whole interests, his life, body, soul and spirit. He leaves all in God’s hands with perfect confidence.
When we endure patiently We demonstrate the power of Christ and prove our confidence in God’s justice. We are not sullen when we are mistreated, because we are conscious of God.
[5] WHO IS THE MODEL FOR CHRISTIANS IN – 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. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
The second focus’s on the OT prophecy concerning the Lord Jesus as the Suffering Servant provides the motivation and the model for all suffering servants. The Suffering Servant is the example for Suffering Servants.
The word example is a school word, referring to how teachers lightly traced letters for students to copy. Christ is that kind of example for us. If we follow how He lived, we will form our lives correctly. Following “in His steps” means if we suffer as we follow Him and respond as He did, people will see Him in us.
Peter had walked with the Lord for three and a half years. He had seen him in every conceivable circumstance -- in the morning when he was tired from inadequate sleep, in the evening when he was weary from a hard day. He had seen him under pressure, under attack, and when people were indifferent to him. Yet he never heard from the Lord one word of complaint. He never did any of the things we would expect from a person who was unjustly treated.
A] Christ’s suffering was a pattern for us. We must suffer because we are called to suffer. This should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the Scriptures, especially the teaching of our Lord and of the apostles: Acts 14:21-22 “Through many troubles we must enter the kingdom of God”. Philippians 1:29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. How should we suffer?
B] Christ’s suffering was innocent, due to His righteousness. Peter uses the words of Isaiah 53:9 to express the fact that He “committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth”. Jesus did not sin in deed or in word, either before His crucifixion or during His suffering. What wrongs would be especially tempting for a servant? The first would be disobedience; another would be disrespect, and yet another laziness. How many people justify taking things because they believe they are not being paid well enough? Christian workers should not suffer because they are late or don’t pull their weight.
C] Christ’s suffering was silent, uncomplaining. When we can do nothing else, we can shout, threaten, and even curse. Jesus remained silent. He made no effort to resist or to retaliate. The silence of our Lord is evident in the words Peter used, and the Isaiah text has even more to say on that silence: Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. He didn’t bend the facts. He was always truthful. He didn’t trade insults. He uttered no threats.
D] Christ’s suffering was a choice and not a tragic fate. Jesus frequently spoke of His suffering and death in advance of the events of Calvary. He chose to take up His cross, and so must we. A Christian boy who had an unbelieving father, asked if he could attend the mid week meeting one evening and the father reluctantly gave permission. As the boy walked home afterwards, a friend saw him and offered him a lift in his car. The father saw his son get out of the friend’s car and accused him of lying and beat him in spite of the boy’s protests of innocence. The boy quietly endured the beating and didn’t grow bitter. A few days later the father was shopping and met the pastor who knowing nothing said, “You sure have a fine son. Last week in prayer meeting, he gave a good word of testimony.” The father said, I thought he went out with his friends, his sons submission shamed him and he soon came to repentance.
E] Christ’s suffering was in faith He “kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously”. Our Lord therefore left judgment to God. He did not need to retaliate against His enemies. Jesus knew that He would be vindicated by being raised from the dead and enthroned at the right hand of the Majesty on high. He knew that His persecutors would be judged and dealt with according to their sins. God is the righteous Judge who will someday right every wrong and bring vengeance on those who resist His authority.
There is a proper place for respectful communication questioning those who mistreated us, through proper channels. Christians don’t always have to endure mistreatment in silence. Jesus in John 8 defended Himself as being sent from the Father. Paul defended his character and ministry. There is a time for moving from a bad employer. But if you move too quickly, you may miss what God is seeking to do in the difficult situation. He may want to teach you some hard lessons of being like Christ. He may want to bear witness
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