Strangers in a Strange Land:
                                       “Fiery Ordeal”
                                        1 Pet 4:12-19

Four Instructions about Suffering:

1.         Expect Suffering

• Don’t be surprised: 1John. 3:13
•  Persecution is keeping in step with Christ: 1Pet 2:20-21
• Persecution is inevitable: 2 Tim 3:12
• Jesus stressed persecutions inevitability: Jn. 15:20
• The purpose of testing is purified Faith: 1Pet 1:6-7

2.         Exult in Suffering

•   Suffering is proof that we are his possession: Rom 8:17
•  He has already mentioned the abuse: 1 Pet 4:4
• The culture is repelled by our message: Acts 4:12
• Our present may be tenuous, but our future looks bright:Mt. 5:10-12

3.                  Evaluate Suffering

•  God has ordained the practice of law:  1 Pet 2:13-14
• The shame of being seen as a fool: 1Cor 1:18
• We are the very stones of the temple: 1 Pet 2:5
• This brings us back to the concept of the “fiery ordeal” of verse 12; the testing of our faith: Mal 3:1-3
• Judgment starts in the house of God and moves out to the rest of the world, for us it is about salvation not condemnation: 1 Cor 11:32
• The fire that purifies the house of God will consume the wicked: Mal 4:1-2
• It is hard (difficult) to find salvation: Mt. 7:13-14
• The refining fire will separate those who are truly committed to Christ from those whose commitment is shallow or partial:  Heb 10:26-27
•  Peter is saying that the unbelievers eternal suffering compared to the believers temporal suffering, is far greater: Mt. 10:28

4.            Entrust Your Soul to God

•  Follow in his steps: 1Pet 2:21-23; Lk 23:46
• We react with the best interest of our persecutors in mind; we bless not curse: Lk. 23:34

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                             Strangers in a Strange Land:
                                 “Called to Active Duty”

                                           1 Pet 4:7-11

Three Aspects of our Duty:

1.         The Motivation for Duty!

•  Christ's return is imminent and could occur at any moment:  Jam 5:8
• Jesus taught that his return would be imminent:  Mt. 24:37-39
•  Our motivation comes from knowing that we will be accountable at any moment: Luke 12:35-40
• Here is what we know: Acts 1:6-8; 11

2.         The Instructions for Duty

            Three Areas of Instruction:

           1)      Our Attitude: Heavenly perspective!

• Clear minded and self-controlled implies that we are in our right mind.  We are under control and not carried away with error or emotion: 2Cor 10:5
•  You have to understand God’s plan in order to pray effectively: Mt. 6:10

           2)      Relationships: Love Deeply

•  “Above all” emphasizes the supreme importance of love in the Christian life: Mt. 22:37-40
•  Peter is again repeating this command: 1 Pet 1:22
•  Our love is not sentimental but sacrificial:1Jn 3:16
• Peter is thinking of Proverbs 10:12
• We learn to forgive: Mt. 18:21-22
•  Love is about action: Rom 12:13
•  Hospitality is a key characteristic of the true believer; Jesus identifies his sheep: Mt. 25:35-36

            3)  Responsibilities: Faithful Stewardship     

• The steward was the person in a household (often a slave) who was responsible for managing the householder’s business and property, including providing what was needed for the family members, slaves, and hired laborers: Luke 12:42
• We all have been gifted (grace) for service: Rom 12:4-8 also 1 Cor.12
• There are many forms of the gifts all with a function: Eph 4:11-13
• Speaking gifts are never about human opinion, but about the very words of God: Rom 3:2 The Word of God!
• Serving gifts are to be exercised not by human power but by God’s strength: Phil 4:13

3.         The Purpose of our Duty: Glorify God! 

•  Do it all for God’s glory: 1Cor. 10:31   

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                    Strangers in a Strange Land:
                            Readiness for Battle
                                     1 Pet 4:1-6

•  4:1 Ties directly back to 1 Pet 3:18

        Four Empowering Perspectives:

1.         The Attitude of Christ: Done with Sin!

•  Jesus was sinless but bore our sin: 1 Pet 2:24
• Born again believers sin: John 1:8
•  His sacrifice put an end to lifestyle sin: 1 John 3:9
• Back to basics Series: Bearing the Family Resemblance - Episode 7
• He is still thinking about Baptism: 1 Pet 3:21
• Suffering here is referring to death, As Christ dealt with sin and defeated it, so we identify with him in Baptism and are done with sin: Rom 6:1-4

2.         The Will of God

•  We don’t live by human passions but by God’s will: 1 John 2:16
• We live a different standard: Rom 12:2

3.         The Transformed Life

       Two reasons for living not by human passions but by the  will  of God.

      1)      Past Behavior was contrary to God’s will: 1 Pet 1:14

•  We were spiritually Dead: Eph 2:1-3

      2)      Present Behavior seems Strange or Foreign. 

• Drawing the line in a new life will antagonize former friends: John 3:20
• This emphatic clause rings of doom for their persecutors: Mt. 12:36
• Judgment for the blasphemers should fortify the believers against attacks: 2 Thess. 1:6-9

4.                  The Hope of Eternal Life

•  All people, both Christians and non-Christians, still have to die physically: Heb 9:27
• Physical death is not the end of the deceased Christians:2 Cor 4:16-18 

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                        Strangers in a Strange Land:
                          Christ’s Winning Strategy
                                        1 Pet 3:18-22

•   He is our example: 1 Pet 2:21
•  It is our calling: 2 Tim 3:12

            Four Elements of Christ’s Winning Strategy:

1.           Christ’s Example of Suffering/Sin-bearing

•  “For,” points back to last week: 1 Pet 2:17
•  The phrase “once for sins” means that there is no need to repeat the sacrifice: Heb 7:27
• At the heart of the gospel is the fact that Jesus Christ, who was perfectly righteous, died for the utterly unrighteous. (Judicial terms) 2 Cor 5:21
• He suffered for our sins, so that the gulf would be bridged:  Eph 2:13
• His suffering had a victorious purpose: Mt. 27:51
• Both God and evil men had their intentions fulfilled:  Acts 2:23-24

2.             Christ’s Proclamation

•  The answer is two fold; fallen angels described as authorities and powers: 2 Pet 2:4; Jude 6
• He proclaimed to his enemies his victory and their impending doom: Col 2:15
• In 2 Pet 2:5, Noah preached righteousness; thus the need for repentance; it took about 75yrs to build the Ark; thus, God was patient; 2 Pet 3:8-9

3.             Christ’s Salvation

•  Baptism when Peter wrote entailed immersion; it is a symbol of going down into the grave: Rom 6:4
• Thus, our conscience is clear; we know we are     forgiven:  Heb 10:22

4.            Christ’s Supremacy 

• The right hand of a King is a place of prestige and power: Phil 2:9-11
• Believers not only look to Christ as an example of triumph in unjust suffering, they also join fully and forever in that triumph: Rev 3:21

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            Five Keys to living in a Hostile Culture

1.                  A Passion for Goodness:

• The answer is no one; Peter is focused on the prize: Psalm 56:4
• What can a mere mortal do to us?  Rom 8:31
• We belong to God: Mt. 10:28
• Be eager to do good: (William Barclay)

2.         A Willingness to Suffer: It is a blessing!

•  Suffering is not the opposite of Blessing: Mt. 5:10-12
• Suffering leads to maturity: James 1:2-4
• Do not fear the enemies of God: Isaiah 8:12b
• The words frighten means to be shaken: Jn. 14:21

3.                  A Devotion to Christ

•   He is again thinking about Isaiah 8:13

4.                  A Readiness to Defend of the Faith

•   Defending the faith is about personal testimony, not factual proof:  Luke 4:11-12
• Paul says, “Speaking the truth in love…(Eph 4:15)”

5.         A Pure Conscience

•  According to Roman 2:14, even those without God’s written law have an innate moral sense of right and wrong; Yet, human conscience is tainted by sin.
• At salvation, God cleanses the conscience from its lifelong accumulation of guilt, shame, and self-contempt: Heb 9:14
• The purpose is again evangelism: 1 Pet 2:12
• This goes back to the first verse: 1 Pet 3:14; 2:20

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                  Strangers in a Strange Land:
                 “Blessing instead of Cursing”
                                  1 Pet 3:8-12

            Four Keys to Blessing Others:

1.         The Right Mindset:             Phil 2:1-5

              Five Mindsets:

            1)      Like-mindedness: Unity

• Jesus prayed for Unity: John 17:20-23

            2)       Sympathetic: Sharing the same feeling: Rom 12:15

            3)   Love one another: Brotherly love (family love)

• We are children of our heavenly father; thus, we must love our brothers and sisters Heb 2:11
• Love defines us:  John 13:34-35

           4)   Compassionate: tender heart. This word is about feelings.

•  Jesus is Compassionate: Mt. 9:36; 
• Jesus wept.  Jn 13:35

          5)      Humility: Humble-minded.

•  Put the interests of others ahead of one’s own interests: Phil 2:3

2.         The Right Response

•   When we come to Christ we receive the blessing of entering into the family of God; thus, we respond as family members:  Mt. 5:44-48
•  Having received unmerited blessings from God; we should pay it forward: Rom 12:17

3.         The Right Standard

•   He quotes Psalm 34:12-16
• Be thankful: 1 Thes. 5:16-18
• Paul practiced what he preached:  Acts 16:23-25
• What comes from the mouth reflects what lives in the heart: Mt. 12:34

             This verse contains four straightforward imperative commands:

             1)       Turn away from Evil: even when persecuted: Mt. 5:44

             2)       Do Good 

             3)      Seek and Pursue Peace:  Mt. 5:9

4.         The Right Incentive

• His eyes and ears are on us so that He can answer our prayers:  1 John 5:14-15
• Peter does not finish Psalm 34:16
• Judgment from the book of Revelation:  Rev 6:16

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                                        Strangers in a Strange Land:
                                            “Christlike Marriages”
                                                       1 Pet 3:1-7

• Christianity was revolutionary for the life of both slaves & women: Gal 3:28

            Two Keys to Christlike Marriages:

1.            Submission: Moral Purity & Reverence toward God

•  The purpose is always evangelistic: 1 Cor 9:22
• Paul’s is evangelistic: 1 Cor 7:13-16
• We come to Christ through the Word: 1 Pet 1:23
• Live out the Word: Mt. 5:16
•  Moral purity springs from reverence toward God: Eph 5:22
• Submission to God comes before submission to others: Acts 5:29
• God should be the center of attraction: 1 Tim 2:9
• The outward fades; the inward is eternal: 2 Cor 4:16
•  Meekness is coupled with calm or peace, because we have already been promised the world: Mt. 5:5
• They are to continue to be fearless: Proverbs 3:25-27

2.            Respect

•   Paul starts with mutual submission: Eph 5:21

     
      Three ways to show Respect:

      1)      Understanding

     
      2)      Chivalry

                 All humans are vessels: 2 Cor 4:7

      3)  Spiritual Equality: Fellow heirs:  Gal 3:28

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• He blazed a trail for us: Heb 12:2

•  Societal slavery did not exist in the church; all were free in Christ: Gal 3:28
• Free to be slaves of God: 1 Pet 2:16
• Submit in Reverent fear of God…1 Pet 2:13a
• Jacob served his father-in-law, Laban, even though Laban cheated him: Gen 31:6-7
• We don’t serve men, but serve God: Col 3:1

• Suffering leads to joy because you are doing the will of God: 1 Pet 1:6-7
• Justice will be served: Rom 12:19
•  It is commendable because it is inevitable:  2 Tim 3:12
•  Suffering leads to glory: Lk 24:25-26
•  Suffering is discipleship at its core: John 15:20
•   He quotes Isaiah 53:9
•  Scripture declares the sinlessness of Christ: Heb 4:15
• The heart of man expresses sin most often through the mouth:  Mt. 15:18

• Peter again is thinking of Isaiah: Isaiah 53:7
•  Look how he responded to abuse: Mt. 27:12-14
• Jesus not only entrusted himself but also the wrongdoers, and his followers, and the entire situation to God the Father: Col 3:25
• Jesus forgave them: Luke 23:34
• Christ was a substitute for his people, one who stood in our place  and set us free: Rom 6:6-7
• Christ healed us spiritually and morally. Isaiah 53:5
• Peter again quotes a portion of Isaiah 53:6
• The wayward sheep have returned to the Good Shepherd:  John 10:11
•  Isaiah describes the shepherd this way: Isaiah 40:11
•  Paul uses both Shepherd and Overseer in Acts 20:28

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•  Spiritual Privileges:  1 Pet. 2:9
•  Jesus came to serve: Mark 10:43-45

            Two Keys to Living as God’s Slaves:            

1.            Abstain from Sinful Desires

•  Foreigners: 1Pet 1:1
• The word exile or outsider refers to one who dwells beside the native citizen, who is allowed restricted rights, which are less than the naturalized citizens: Heb 11:9
• Sinful desires is more than sexual sin: 1 John 2:16
• Sinful desires wage war against your soul: Jam 4:1

2.         Live Good Lives in Pagan Society

•  Peter has already instructed his readers about their conduct before God:  1 Pet 1:15-16
• The church as misunderstood: Acts 28:22
• Our conduct will have eternal significance:  Mt. 5:14-16
•  It is all about evangelism for Peter: 1 Pet 3:15-16

             Four Behaviors that Define Good Deeds:

            1)   Submit to Human Authority

               For the Lord’s sake emphasizes the theological reason; God has established all 
                authority: Rom 13:1
              
                This does not mean that we submit to evil: Acts 5:29

              Government serves two purposes:

              A.      Punish:   Rom 13:4

              B.      Reward: Rom 13:3

• We must enlighten the ignorant: Acts 17:30
• We are slaves of God: Rom 6:22
• You have to serve someone… 2 Pet 2:19

          2)     Respect Everyone  v.17

                   Humanity is created in God’s image: Gen 1:26

         3)   Love God’s Family v.17    John 13:34-35

       4)  Reverence God:  God is the starting point: Proverbs 1:7

               And our foundation: 1 Pet 2:6

       5) Respect the Emperor v.17

              The Emperor is God’s appointment.

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Strangers in a Strange Land:
“Spiritual Privilege”
1 Pet 2:4-10

• The Living stone: He is all about life. The temple stones were dead; Jesus brings life: John 6:35
• Their rejection does not diminish his relationship to God, just as our rejection by others does not diminish our status before God: Luke 6:22
• Believers are living stones that make up a spiritual temple: Eph 2:19-22
• This has always been God’s plan:  Ex 19:6
• Our Priesthood brings service: Rom. 12:1

             There are two responses to the Messiah:

              1.      Trust: honor not shame…

              2.   Rejection:  Ps 118:22

•  The builders are the Jewish Leaders who rejected Christ: Acts 4:11
• But now Peter writes more broadly about those they influenced. James 3:1

•  Accept God’s control: Rom 9:19-20
• Jesus also quoted Isaiah 8:14, but added to the prophecy: Mt. 21:44
• Again, drawing from the OT: Exodus 19:5-6
•  God is in control: Rom 8:28
•  He gives us real purpose; our purpose is to make God known: Isaiah 52:7
• Peter draws from  Hosea 2:23

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