Sermons – Grace Evangelical Free Church // Wyoming, MN

1 Peter 3:13-17 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

INTRODUCTION

If you’re just joining us, this is our third week in this passage. As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, after writing to a group of exiled, suffering Christians concerning Jesus and all that he accomplished, concerning God’s call for his people to live holy lives, and concerning the need for Christians to continue subjecting themselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, it’s as if—in our passage for this morning—Peter took a deep breath and offered a handful of summary thoughts on how, in light of all of that, Christians ought to think and act in times of suffering if they are to honor God. That is, in short, Peter offered 12 essential thoughts on how God’s people are to navigate the various trials that come our way.

* The deep emotive side of mature Christ-following (3:13).

* The evil-binding role of the unbeliever’s conscience (3:13).

* The judgment of God causing the searing of conscience (3:14).

* Suffering for righteousness’ sake leading to blessing (3:14, 17).

* The inherent fearlessness of the Christian life (3:14).

* The source of Christian fearlessness (3:15).

* The visible nature of genuine, Christian hope (3:15).

* The proper response to persecution (3:15).

* The proper disposition of the proper response to persecution (3:16).

* The proper aim of the proper response to persecution (3:16).

* The relationship between God’s will and your suffering (3:17).

* The Christian’s role in executing justice (3:17).

So far we’ve considered the first six of these. This morning, we’ll consider the next four. Please join me in praying that we’d all be amazed by God’s amazing plan for our lives and his amazing Grace to accomplish it.

THE VISIBLE NATURE OF GENUINE, CHRISTIAN HOPE

Imagine a massive fire spreading throughout a massive building. As the smoke billows and the flames pour out, and as the sirens blare in the background, imagine what the people inside would be doing. Whatever images come to your mind, I’m confident they include running, screaming, crying, and chaos in general. You wouldn’t expect to see people calmly walking around in a scenario like that.

In fact, that’s why it’s all but required that every action movie have a scene where the hero walks calmly away from an explosion. Calm in the midst of chaos really stands out. It’s noticeable. It’s impressive. It’s heroic. And it begs for an explanation.

That brings us back to our text this morning. If God’s people live the way Peter commands, it will have the same effect. The scene for Peter’s readers, once again, was one of chaos and struggle and suffering. They were being persecuted on every side. In the midst of that, Peter wrote to them to call them to fearlessness and peace. Should they obey, like the explosion-backdropped, lonely hero in the movies, they would stand out and people would wonder about the source of their calm, of their peace, and of their hope.

That’s the essence of 1 Peter 3:13-15 “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake,

The recording of the sermon was not initially on this post, but we were able to get it later and add it here.

1 Peter 3:13-17 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

INTRODUCTION

Good morning. Happy Father’s Day. Dads, we’re very grateful to have you here and are glad to celebrate the gospel with you on this day. We’re especially grateful for those of you who do such a remarkable job imaging our true Father in your fathering. However, just like on Mother’s Day where, instead of a Mother’s Day sermon I continued on in 1 Peter, it seems to me that what you need more than a typical Father’s Day message is to continue pressing in to 1 Peter, looking straight at the cross and the glory and transforming power of the One who hung on it in obedience to the Father. With that… 1 Peter.

This is our second week in this remarkable passage. As a brief introduction or reminder, last week we considered three foundational beliefs that Peter built this passage upon. While none of them are explicitly stated in this passage, all are assumed and necessary to understand and obey it. The three beliefs are God’s sovereignty over all things, God’s glory as the goal of all things, and the need to share the good news concerning salvation in Jesus with all people (even those that persecute us). From there we considered the first three (of twelve) essential principles for honoring God in times of suffering. Once again, here’s the list:

* The deep emotive side of mature Christ-following (3:13).

* The evil-binding role of the unbeliever’s conscience (3:13).

* The judgment of God causing the searing of conscience (3:14).

* Suffering for righteousness’ sake leading to blessing (3:14, 17).

* The inherent fearlessness of the Christian life (3:14).

* The source of Christian fearlessness (3:15).

* The visible nature of genuine, Christian hope (3:15).

* The proper response to persecution (3:15).

* The proper disposition of the proper response to persecution (3:16).

* The proper aim of the proper response to persecution (3:16).

* The relationship between God’s will and your suffering (3:17).

* The Christian’s role in executing justice (3:17).

Today we’re going to pick up where we left off by considering the next few of these ideas. Let’s pray that God would drive these things deep into our minds and hearts and then out in our lives.

BLESSING AND FEARLESSNESS

Again, last week we considered the biblical teaching that deep, truth-based emotion is an essential component of the Christian life. In fact, we saw that deep emotion is one of the surest proofs that we are Christians and that we understand the truth-claims of God’s word.

We also considered the fact that God puts a conscience in all people as part of the very core of our personhood/divine image-bearing. Under ordinary circumstances, therefore, Christians doing good, Peter wrote, ought to expect no harm to come upon them.

And yet, the third thing we considered is that at times, as an expression of his most severe earthly judgment, God removes men’s consciences and gives them over to their depravity. When this happens sin is no longer seen as sinful and, worse still, is often seen as good.

1 Peter 3:13-17 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

INTRODUCTION

1 Peter, once again, was written to help Christians know how to honor God in times of suffering. To that end, having clearly communicated the gospel in the first half of chapter 1, the need to respond to the gospel with holy living in the second half, the nature of the new identities of those who trust in Jesus in the first half of chapter 2, and the need for Christians to continue subjecting themselves to every human institution through the first half of chapter 3—having communicated all of that—in our passage for this morning Peter seems to step back, take a breath, and give a few thoughts on the things he’d just written.

Indeed, we’re about to enter into another amazing passage. This is certainly one of the most practically dense paragraphs in the letter. The breadth and glory of the crucial, Christ-following issues raised by Peter are truly awesome. I really could have titled this sermon, “12 Essential Perspectives for Faithful Christian Suffering”. Consider the following 12:

* The deep emotive side of mature Christ-following (3:13).

* The evil-binding role of the unbeliever’s conscience (3:13).

* The judgment of God causing the searing of conscience (3:14).

* Suffering for righteousness’ sake leading to blessing (3:14, 17).

* The inherent fearlessness of the Christian life (3:14).

* The source of Christian fearlessness (3:15).

* The visible nature of genuine, Christian hope (3:15).

* The proper response to persecution (3:15).

* The proper disposition of the proper response to persecution (3:16).

* The proper aim of the proper response to persecution (3:16).

* The relationship between God’s will and your suffering (3:17).

* The Christian’s role in executing justice (3:17).

This morning, I want to remind you all of a few key underlying beliefs that inform and unite all 12 of these issues before working through the first three. Then, in the coming weeks, we’ll continue down the list until we cover them all. Please join me in praying that God would use this passage to renew our minds in order that we might be transformed increasingly into the image of Jesus.

THREE FOUNDATIONAL BELIEFS

If we are to rightly understand and apply Peter’s instructions in this passage (or any passage), we need to be aware of the underlying beliefs that drive them. In other words, there are a few foundational principles which Peter has in mind that cause him to write the things he writes.

Let me give you a quick example of what I mean. Consider a newspaper columnist who wrote a series of articles extolling the virtues of self-sustaining family farms, private wells, well-armed citizens, personal libraries, and the like, culminating with a final article advocating for individuals to quit their jobs, purchase land in remote areas of the country, and begin learning to live off the grid. Without knowing about and sharing in her belief that the government is about to collapse, we’d likely label her as nutty and extreme. Knowledge of her underlying belief in the vulnerability of government is the key that unlocks the fullest meaning of her articles. Anyone who lacked or disagreed with that knowledge would likely br...

1 Peter 3:8-12 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For

“Whoever desires to love life and see good days,

let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;

11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

 

INTRODUCTION

Jesus of Nazareth, in dramatic contradiction to the impotent caricature generally presented by our culture, was and is the Christ, the Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things were created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:15-16).

Grace, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He walked on water, healed the sick, raised the dead, taught with power never before experienced, suffered, died, was buried, and rose from the dead to save God’s elect.

He is “the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:18-20).

He now sits at the Father’s right hand advocating for the people of God and awaiting the fullness of time when he will return to earth, judge the living and the dead, restore all that sin has distorted and killed, and rule forever in goodness and power and love and glory unimaginable. Drink that in, Grace. Be amazed at the nature of Jesus. Indeed, he “is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

It is because this is who Jesus is that he is also “the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:17-18a). As we saw last week from 1 Peter 3:8-9a (which picks up from 2:21-24), Jesus’ headship of the Church—perhaps shockingly—indicates not only that He is the Church’s leader, the one in charge, but also that that God means the Church to be and feel and live in such a way as to match our Head. That is, everyone who looks at the gathered Church must see no contradiction between the Jesus I just described and those who claim to be his followers. Let that sink in for a moment. Our church, along with all of God’s people are meant to look like Jesus.

Last week’s sermon highlighted Peter’s description of what the Church, the body of Christ, must look like (particularly in times of suffering) if we are to match Jesus our Head. We saw that within the Church we must have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, tender hearts, humble minds, and as we relate to non-Christians we must be marked by blessing (not seeking vengeance on), even toward those who cause our suffering.

This morning we’re going to look at the second half of 3:9-3:12. In this section Peter offers a good deal of help to the Church as we fight to match our Head. The help comes primarily in the form of explanation. That is, we’ll see today that we must have the things listed by Peter because they are a part of God’s calling on our lives, for the purpose of gaining God’s blessing, as a part of God’s much larger plan. Let’s pray that God would be pleased to cause the revealing of his grounds, reward, and story to motivate and encourage us to fruitful action.

THE POWER OF EXPLANATION

1 Peter 3:8-12 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For

“Whoever desires to love life and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;
11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever seen one of those cardboard cutouts that has the body of a superhero or an animal or a historical figure printed on it and a hole cut out for you to stick your face through? Our family has pictures with several of these throughout the years. The thing that makes these cutouts fun is how silly our faces look on the painted bodies. The humor is in the fact that face and the body don’t match.

The point of our passage for this morning is that the people of God—the Church—honor God when we live in such a way as to match our head, Jesus Christ. When we claim to be followers of Jesus but live in selfishness and fear and hatred and pride we are like the cardboard cutouts. People can only conclude that Jesus is those things too or that we are hypocrites (like our face on the body of Popeye). On the other hand, when we live in love and holiness and unity and kindness and humility, people instinctively know that we match our head, who is those things as well.

Let’s pray that Peter’s words would help us match our head.

THE CONTEXT

As the first word of our passage (“finally”) indicates, vs.8-12 mark the conclusion of a line of thinking that began back in 2:13. The point of this section, once again, is to call suffering Christians to honor God by being “subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution.” The reason for this charge is that obedience to it puts the effectiveness of Jesus’ cross on brilliant display—it shows that the cross worked as the means of salvation and redemption for mankind. The reason for this charge is that it also puts on display the fact that our hope is in that cross and not in human institutions—it shows that we believe in the effectiveness of the cross. The reason for this charge is that with these two things together serve as a powerful witness to sustain Christians and convert non-Christians—it shows that the power of the cross is available to all who would receive it in faith.

We’ve already seen Peter’s specific instructions in this regard to Christians within the human institutions of government, business, and family. And now, finally, we see his instructions to the Church. That is, the point of this passage is to instruct Christians on how we ought to relate to one another in the midst of trial in such a way as to direct people’s attention to Christ. It describes what the body of Jesus will be like if it is to match our Head, for it is when we match our Head that we most fully show the glory of God and minister to the unbelieving world.

With that, let’s consider Peter’s instructions to the Church.

THE LIST

For those of you who love lists, you’re in luck. Peter gives a list of things suffering Christians must “have” in order to please God…sort of. Remember, the point of the section (and the list) is to call Christians to live in such a way that their belief in the reality of Jesus’ death and resurrection would be the only explanation. Consequently, Peter certainly didn’t mean this to be understood as an exhaustive list. He meant it to teach his readers of the kinds of things that they might pursue as a means of accomplishing that larger goal.

1 Peter 3:1-7 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives- 2when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3Do not let your adorning be external- the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing- 4but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their husbands, 6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. 7Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

INTRODUCTION

Having spent the past several weeks on 1 Peter 3:1-6, which addresses Christian wives, we’re now to 3:7, which addresses Christian husbands.

Before getting to that text and topic, however, I’d like to remind you that that this verse is part of a larger section which goes from 2:13 – 3:12. Peter’s main point in this section is to call Christians, and especially suffering/persecuted Christians, to “be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution” as a means of honoring God in whatever situations in which they might find themselves.

In simplest terms, in these 25 verses, Peter charges his readers (as well as you and I) to respond to the various institutional trials that come their way in light of the gospel rather than in light of anything else (the pursuit of comfort, their “rights,” vengeance, etc.). In other words, Christian, whenever we encounter hardship, Peter calls you and I to ask ourselves not, “how can I get out of this as quickly as possible by whatever means possible?” but “what can I do right now that would most clearly demonstrate the reality and saving power of Jesus’ death on the cross (2:21)?”.

So far Peter has specifically addressed these things to Christian citizens of non-Christian governments, Christian servants of non-Christian masters, and Christian wives of non-Christian husbands. He’s called all of them to look the example of Christ and point to and the saving, sacrificial death of Christ. And he’s given specific instructions to each concerning how they are to do so.

Again, then, in 3:7 Peter turns his attention to Christian husbands, focusing specifically on how they are to honor God within the institution of marriage in spite of the challenging circumstances around them. As you can see, the primary way in which Peter calls Christian husbands to do this is by showing honor to their wives. Men, let’s pray that God would make it clear what this means, give us a love for it, and empower us to carry it out. Let’s also pray that God would fill this church with people praying for the men of God to live this way.

HONOR YOUR WIFE

Christian husbands, once again, the main charge for you and I in this passage is to show honor to our wives as a means of honoring Christ. Consider again Peter’s words, “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman…”.

The main question before us, then, is, “What does it mean to show honor to our wives,” or, “What does this look like in real life”. Peter provides help, but men of Grace, be aware of the fact that Peter’s charge here means a good deal more than may be obvious on the surface. I hope that soon becomes clear as we consider the nature, means, and reasoning behind Peter’s command.

The Nature of Honoring

Showing honor to our wives means submitting to our wives.

1 Peter 3:1-6 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives- 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external- the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing- 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

INTRODUCTION

This morning we’re on our fourth of four sermons on this passage. The main reason that I’ve chosen to spend so many weeks on these few verses is because they are so contrary to so much of what our culture believes. As pervasive as it is, we’d be foolish to believe that none of the world’s wrong thinking on these matters has crept into our minds. We need to read God’s word carefully every time we come to it. But we need to be especially careful in matters with such loud opposing voices.

Once again, in our passage for this morning Peter (1) issued the straight-forward command, “wives, be subject to your own husbands,” (2) offered the straight-forward reason for the command (“so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won [they may be led to trust in Jesus]”), (3) gave the straight-forward means of fulfilling the reason for the command in a God-honoring fashion (“without a word by the conduct of their wives”), (4) was clear on the straight-forward nature of the evangelistic conduct (“respectful and pure”), and (5) was explicit about the straight-forward application of the conduct both negatively (“do not let your adorning be external”) and positively (“but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart”).

Last week we considered the negative side of the fifth point (avoiding focusing on external adornment, v.3). This morning we’re going to look at the positive side of the fourth point (focusing on internal adornment, v.4). This seems like an appropriate message for Mother’s Day and conclusion to this sermon series. Let’s pray that Peter’s message would be clear and, consequently, that our minds and hearts would be stirred to act.

MINISTRY THROUGH INTERNAL ADORNMENT

Christian, our aim in all of life is to use every aspect of our lives to point to the good news that the whole world can be reconciled to God by grace, through faith in Jesus. The bible is filled with commands for all Christians to do this. It is also filled with examples of what it looks like in practice.

What’s more, the bible is also filled with commands and examples for how specific groups of Christians are to point to Jesus in specific ways and under specific circumstances.

This is primarily what 1 Peter is. It was written to explain to persecuted Christians how they are best able to point people to the gospel in the midst of their persecution. More specifically still, in our passage for this morning, we find gospel-pointing instructions for Christian wives who are experiencing a kind of persecution through the effects of the disobedience of their husbands.

In other words, wives, if your husband isn’t honoring God with his life, Peter provides help for you to know what to do. As I mentioned in the introduction his answer is to minister to your husband through your respectful and pure conduct, particularly through your adornment—the things you put on. If you are to honor God in this ministry, Peter wrote, you will not focus on external adornment (hair and jewelry and clothing),

1 Peter 3:1-6 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives- 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external- the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing- 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

INTRODUCTION

Good morning. Having made our way through the first two chapters of Peter’s first letter, we’re now three sermons into chapter three (all of which have focused on 3:1-6).

In the first of these sermons we considered what Peter meant by the command, “wives, be subject to your own husbands” (3:1). Specifically, we saw that he really meant it; that wives really are meant (not in theory only, but also in practice) to be subject to their own husbands. But we also saw that this charge has nothing to do with the value or worth of either the husband or wife. It is not as if, for Peter, men are naturally superior and, therefore, God requires women to submit to them. Indeed, as the surrounding context makes clear, the subjection of a wife to her husband within the institution of marriage isn’t mainly about the husband or wife at all. Instead (according to 2:21-25), it is about ordering our lives (in every area) in such a way as to point most clearly to the sacrificial suffering of Jesus. Instead of making a value distinction, a wife’s submission to her husband is to simultaneously make people think of Jesus’ willing, sacrificial submission to his crucifiers and to the Church’s willing, joyful submission to Jesus. That’s a tall order, ladies, but it’s one God has graciously empowered you to fulfill.

In the second sermon (last week) we looked more closely at the significance of this command (to be subject to your own husbands) for Christian wives of non-Christian husbands—which is the point of the middle part of 3:1 (“so that even if some do not obey…”). For Christian wives of non-Christian husbands especially, Peter wrote, their subjection is meant to be done as a ministry to their husbands (“…they may be won…”). In particular we saw that Peter calls Christian wives to do so (minister to their husbands in their subjection) not primarily through their words, but through their quiet and gentle actions. What’s more, these quiet and gentle actions most directly relate, according to this passage, to the ways Christian wives choose to adorn themselves.

This morning, we’re going to dive a bit deeper into the first of the two types of adornment Peter addresses: external adornment.

With that, let’s pray that the truthfulness, goodness, beauty, and superiority of God’s Word on this matter (and all matters) would be exceedingly evident this morning. And let’s pray that as a result, this room would be filled with wives eager to put this into practice, husbands eager to make it easy and natural, and a church who will help both when that is not the case.

MINISTRY THROUGH MODESTY

If we hadn’t already covered the heart of this passage, and you didn’t already know the answer, how do you think Peter would end the following sentence: “If you are to honor God in your marriage by ministering to your disobedient husband, the first thing you must get right is…”.

I can easily imagine him saying, “the gospel” (make sure he knows how he might be saved from his sin),

1 Peter 3:1-6 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives- 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external- the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing- 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

INTRODUCTION

Before getting to the text itself, I’d like to publically thank Kyle for serving us last week by preaching on Psalm 16. He did an excellent job of explaining the text and its implications for us. I was particularly helped by his drawing our attention to the fact that God’s word isn’t merely to be learned, but also to be loved and lived. I was also challenged to consider the reality that sorrow always increases when chasing after other gods, that God is our great reward, and that our hearts can only instruct us rightly when they are set before the Lord. Again, thanks, Kyle.

With that, let’s pray that God would use even a passage like this to draw people and glory to himself.

A FEW NOTES OF EXPLANATION

In case you missed it and because even for those who didn’t it’s been nearly a month since I preached on part one of this sermon, I’d like to take a minute to bring you all up to speed….4 points.

* The overall message of Peter’s letter is that the gospel (the good news of salvation accomplished by Jesus on the cross) frees and empowers Christians to suffer differently from non-Christians. That is, the gospel frees and empowers Christians to use their suffering as a means of drawing the attention of the watching world to the sacrificial sufferings of Jesus (rather than to avoid it at all costs and attempt to escape it as quickly as possible by any means possible).

* Specifically (within the larger context of our passage for this morning), the gospel frees and empowers Christians to point to the gospel by submitting to the broken (and therefore suffering-causing) human institutions which they are a part of (government, business, marriage, and the Church).

* Even more specifically (within the context of the institution of marriage) Peter calls Christian wives to point to the gospel in their broken marriages (even to unbelieving husbands) by continuing to order themselves according to God’s good design for marriage.

* And even more specifically still, Peter tells Christian wives that they do this (draw the attention of their disobedient husbands and the watching world to the gospel, and order their marriage according to God’s design) by (1) being subject to their own husbands and (2) by ministering to their sinful husbands through their demeanor and conduct. Several weeks ago (check it out online if you missed it) I addressed the first of these (being subject to their own husbands). This morning I’m going to address the second (ministering to their husbands through their demeanor and conduct).

If you’re a guest here and this sounds like an unusual or controversial topic, I suppose you’re right. In our culture, especially of late, what you’ll hear this morning is certainly an unpopular perspective. You may also be wondering why, of all things the pastor might have preached on, he chose this (and for several weeks at that). The key to understanding both (the perspective you’ll hear and the reason for my preaching on it) is our understanding of the bible. Briefly and simply,

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;

I have no good apart from you.”

As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,

in whom is all my delight.

The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;

their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out

or take their names on my lips.

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;

you hold my lot.

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;

in the night also my heart instructs me.

I have set the LORD always before me;

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;

my flesh also dwells secure.

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

or let your holy one see corruption.

You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

– Psalm 16

The last time I preached, the text was from Psalm 130. In that passage we saw that when we sin or when we experience despair, our souls are to wait on the Lord with our whole being through hoping in God’s Word and taking awe in his forgiveness. Psalm 130 is a prayer that is a combination of boldness and humility. It’s a bold pleading for God to do something, yet it is humble acknowledgement of our sinfulness. The ability to combine boldness and humility comes only from hoping in God.

The reason I’m going back to the Psalms (and will probably keep coming back to them) is because the older I get, and the longer I’m an elder, I see a particular struggle time and again in my heart and in your hearts. That struggle is an internal battle between what we know and what we feel. When the hard times hit and the dark nights roll in, when the trials are great and the despair is deep, there’s a battle that rages between knowing what God’s Word promises in our heads and feeling it in our hearts. The battle is to feel rightly what we know from the truth of Scripture.

You were not meant, Christian, to just know Bible and theology. You were meant to feel it. You were meant to love it, treasure it, delight in it, be satisfied with it as a way to know God. The uniqueness of the Psalms though is that it deals with the volatility and power of human emotions within the constancy of God’s sovereignty and his truth. The psalmists never treat human emotions as the ultimate truth that allows them to do whatever they want. The Psalmists describe how they feel and then remind the reader of the truth of who God is and what he will do for his people.

The worship of God is one of the central themes of the book of Psalms. This is a book of praises to God. Moses is the the first contributor to this book (Psalm 90) and David is the most frequent contributor (73 Psalms are attributed to him). There are 13 Psalms that David wrote which are directly contributed to a specific circumstance in his life. He wrote them because of something that happened to him. These are songs that are grounded in the reality of the difficulties he faced. These 150 Psalms were written over a period of 1,000 years and 113 of them are referenced in the New Testament.

CS Lewis famously said about the Psalms, “I had not noticed that just as men spontaneously praise whatever they value, so they spontaneously urge us to join them in praising it: ‘Isn’t she lovely? Wasn’t it glorious? Don’t you think that magnificent?’ The Psalmists in telling everyone to praise God are doing what all men do when they speak of what they care about.” The point he’s making is that we pra...