SERMON NOTES
SHEET
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Name: Jeff Sandberg
Class: The Way Connection Group Topic: 1 Peter 2:18-25
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INTRODUCTION
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Last week, we take loving each other to the next level, starting with those who were most hated by the Jews - the Gentiles. The following list starts off quite surprisingly as, though we are free from the law, we are now given God’s Holy Spirit in order to keep the law. Therefore, we are to honor those who have been instituted by God, not by man. Ironically, we are to do this because Jesus, himself, submitted himself to them and accepted death as a result of his offending them. It is strikingly acceptable when we “do well, and suffer for it,” as “we take it patiently.”
This week, we continue our down the list of those we are to be in submission to. Whereas last week citizens were to be in subjection to those upholding the law, this week slaves are to be subject to masters. It is inferred that slaves generally suffered under the hand of their masters. Therefore, as Jesus suffered on our behalf in order to “bring us to God,” we are to follow in his example of “being reviled” but who “reviled not again.”
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VERSES
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NOTES
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18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all reverence, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
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Today, we hit part two of the praxis of being “newborn babes,” “having tasted that the Lord is gracious,” being “living stones, built up a spiritual house,” “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people.” Put another way, this is WHO you are. Now, act that way. He doesn’t say act this way so you can be a better version of you. It’s funny that the first positive descriptor of Christians in the beginning of chapter 2 is “newborn babes,” not full-grown adults.
So, because God has changed our hearts through his Holy Spirit, we are to respect, honor, and pray for those whom God has put in authority over us. Peter then works his way down to servants. He doesn’t give servants an out to be disrespectful, nor does he chastise masters. He simply says “be subject to your masters with all fear. And, then, says that suffering isn’t really suffering unless we’re receiving it even when we’ve done good. And, *this* is acceptable to God.
Again, as we’ve notes in previous lessons, this is so Paul that it’s found in Ephesians, Colossians, and both letters to Timothy. Let’s look at one of them.
Eph. 6:5-7
[Col. 3:22-25] READER. Here, we see a parallel in verse 25. Be he that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he’s done. In other words, there is no claim to suffering if you are suffering for something you clearly deserve, like breaking the law.
1 Tim. 6:1-3
Titus 2:9-10
SUFFERING
Matt. 5:10-12. Beatitudes.
John 15:21
Psalm 119:86
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19 Because, this is admirable, if because of conscience toward God a person endures grief, suffering wrongfully.
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20 Because, what glory is it if, when you are punished for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer for it, if you take it patiently, this is acceptable before God.
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Peter explains himself in chapter 4:14-16
Jesus in Matt. 5:47
Jesus’ suffering in Mark 14:65.
Acceptable. Luke 6:32
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21 Because, to this were you called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
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To this were we called. The first cross reference to this passage in the TSK are where Jesus says, to one degree or another, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. It’s curious that Jesus uses the word “cross” prior to his crucifixion. My curiosity is that no one seems to question why he uses this word, neither the disciples/apostles, nor, it seems, anyone who follows. Matthew 10:38 is the first use of the word. And, according to MacArthur, would have evoked a degrading death, implying that crucifixion was already common enough that the word picture would have made sense. This, still, has been yet to be explained by commentators. I remain unsatisfied .
What is clear is that Christians will suffer if we preach the gospel (John 16:33, Acts 14:22, 1 Thess. 3:3, 2 Tim. 3:12). Considering the pulse of the climate, that is definitely *not* happening. When a person’s definition of preaching the gospel is an invitation to a church, that lacks entirely what the gospel means and is. The gospel is the good news of Jesus death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Christ also suffered. Mark 8:34-35, 16:24.
2 Tim. 3:12. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Not some, not a few. All. Endless illustrations and examples abound. It might mean saying “no” to events, or hanging out with certain individuals.
Example. 1 John 2:6. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”
1 John 3:16. “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
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22 Who did no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth:
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This is a quote from Isaiah 53:9, which says, “And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.” His killing was with two thieves, yet his burial was “with the rich” in the form of Joseph of Aramethia’s tomb. Yet, he was innocent: “nor was deceit found in his mouth.”
This qualifier means a great deal, the greatest, in fact. Why? First, because Psalm 49:7-8 says “(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) that he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.” Man’s life is precious. In other words, it costs a lot. Second, Hebrews 10:4 says “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” Remember last week? “Humans are not animals.” Not even the purest of actual lamb-sheep can take away our sins. Jesus is “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
This disgraceful death of his was not deserved, yet it was given as a way to bring us back to God through salvation, AND serves as an example of how we are to lay down our lives for our friends. So, might we experience “persecution?” Possibly. However, we are told we will suffer. Might we suffer when sacrificing our personal wants and desires for those of God and others? Might we take a lower-paying job for family or “religious” reasons? Think of James Dobson’s dad, who, when James was a teenager and in desperate need of a present father, immediately left his travels as a well-known evangelist, took a pastorate at a small church and invested his life in his soon. Though the father never returned to his former state, the results are evident in the life of his son. And, though he himself never experienced “persecution,” so to speak, he did experience great suffering in the sacrifice of his, I guess you could say, “personal interests.”
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23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
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Did not revile in return. In fact, when he was on the cross, he lifted up his voice in petition of these lost souls. Isaiah 53:7. Even the gospel writers say he could have released a legion of angels to rescue him. I’m sure they were in the waiting. Instead, he held them off and obeyed the Father. Psalm 22 in its entirety and Psalm 38:12-14 prophecy of Christ’s predicament on the cross.
Psalm 37:5. “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” What had he just committed to the Father in the Garden? Paul, in the same way, says in 2 Timothy 1:12, “ For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” So as we are commanded in Psalm 37:5, let us so commit our lives to Him that the world sees that we’ve been with and rely on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
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24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live for righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed.
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This verse, alone, could and should take an entire lesson or more. However, let us look at two points. First, this chapter is seemingly a placeholder for Isaiah 53. This was the impetus for the Ethiopian Eunuch’s confusion and later confession. He saw, not a system but, a person redeeming life from death. Isaiah 53:4-6 are some of the most common of verses in that chapter. However, let’s look at verse 11: “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4. “Because, I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: how Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
Tree. This point is interesting, the use of the word “tree” as opposed to Cross. Why would this be the case? Well, wasn’t it fruit from a tree that cursed us in the first place? So, wouldn’t it be - oh, dare I say - “poetic” for the Messiah to hang from a tree? There are a couple of reversals in Scripture. The most obvious being the tree in the Garden that curses to the tree on Calvary that saves. Think also of the Tower of Babel where the languages were confused. Then, think of Pentecost where the Holy Spirit gave utterance to people to speak in their own language the Gospel of the Grace of God.
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25 Because, you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
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This would be one of the few places where my dispensationalist brethren would say, “See?! This was written to Jews and not to Gentiles! Ha!” Sorry, John 10:11 says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” “That proves nothing!” they may say. Well, John 10:16 states, “16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and
they will hear My voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd.” This is often used by Mormons but is incorrectly applied. John 11:45-52, especially verse 51b-52: 51b but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
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SUMMARY: Write 4 or more sentences describing specific learning from these notes.
- The life of the Christian is submission to God and fellow man, especially our Christian brethren.
- That means we will suffer, whether it is directly in the form of persecution or giving up our personal, fleshly desires for the sake of Jesus and our fellow man.
- The greatest servant who ever lived was our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who not only kept his mouth shut at his enemies, but lifted them up in prayer for salvation.
- This is meant for both Jew and Gentile alike. All of mankind is called to “return to the Shepherd and Overseer of [our] souls.”
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