Santified In The Lord - Get In The Boat Series

2011.01.16b.Sermon Sanctified in the LORD (part 2)

1 Peter 3:13-22

Peter’s message on suffering and the hope of our faith continues as a theme throughout the first book. This passage is a difficult passage to traverse without keeping in mind this theme.

Last time: 1 Peter 3:8-15 Peter urges the church body to come together, in the same mind. Our actions and the conversation of our lives should uphold a godly life.

Unity among believers, Righteous Living, What’s your message of hope?

Today continuing from 13-22

SUFFERING

Exposition of 1Peter 3:13-22

Peter’s theme throughout the 1st book is one of suffering. We continue in this difficult passage as a part of the whole. The scripture is not for private interpretation, we are not to pull out parts of verses to make our point to some other interpretation or meaning other than that which is states in the context it is written.

13. God is with you, who can truly harm you?

14 You may be called to suffer for Christ. This happens to many Christians, but understand and be blessed when you suffer. Fear not.

James 1:2-4 (KJV) 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

15 Santify the LORD GOD in your hearts. Let Christ be honored and reverenced in your heart. Make him first place in your heart as your first love. Revelation 2:4-5

Fear not man, but the LORD.

Confess Christ as the grounds for your hope.

Do you have a message of hope to others?

Is it? Christ the savior of your soul, who paid the price of your sin, by suffering on the cross, dying and rising again.

What is your reason for hope? Vs 18, 21-22 spells it out.

18 Christ suffered for yours and my sins. He the Just for me the unjust. He was put to death (to pay penalty for the sin), yet made alive by the Spirit (even though the body was in the grave)

21-22 He arose from the grave ascended into heaven and rules over all with God the Father.

16 Have (Live) a life of good conscience, as before God. A life holy and pure is the best answer to false accusers. When you do something wrong, your conscience typically gets the best of you. You want to get clean as fast as you can. Carrying the guilt will tear you up. We are to live a life of good conscience before the LORD. Clean/right spirit.

Some may falsely accuse your good right living, we must live and do right no matter what.

17 We may suffer for this, if so, we suffer for good (rather than for wrong actions). We do this as unto the LORD. The Father sometimes chastens children. If God wills that we should suffer, it is better to suffer for righteousness than for evil.

2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

WARNING: THIS NEXT SECTION vs 18-22 MUST BE TAKEN IN CONTEXT OF 1st PETER. Scripture is not for private interpretation or singling out of a part of scripture from its context. It must be taken in context. Too many will pull from these verses and give a different message. However I trust the Spirit of the LORD to direct my next thoughts and conveyance based on the context of the scriptures as a whole.

SUFFERING CONTINUED

18 Christ also suffered. Our example, Jesus once suffered on the cross. Once only, and He suffers no more. He was put to death by the wounds inflicted on his fleshly body. His natural, earthly life was ended. Put to death in the body his spirit was quickened. Having life in himself, as soon as the body failed through weakness the power of the indestructible life began to show itself.

CHRIST SUFFERED in the flesh for our sins, TO BRING US TO GOD. He died physically, in the flesh, upon the cross. Yet He was alive by the Spirit.

19 This same Spirit* preached to the lost (Spiritually lost are in spiritual prison. Spiritually saved are captives set free!)

*1 Peter 1:10-12 states that the prophets prophesied of this grace and salvation as it was the “Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” Continuing… “now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven”.

WE MUST READ THESE VERSES 19-20 TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT. Some misconstrue this to mean that when Christ died, preached to the spirits in prison, or hell. This is not what this passage represents. Remember, Suffering. Read on.