SMBC Principal's Hour

In 2:11-3:7, Peter addresses three groups who are in a vulnerable position because they are under the authority of others: citizens (to governments), slaves (to masters) and wives (to husbands). And his radical instruction to all three groups is that even when the one with authority over them exercises that authority badly, they should still submit. Why? In this talk, we focus on the instruction to wives to submit (3:1-6), seeking to understand what it means and why it’s important, and then on the instruction to husbands to respect the position their wives are in (3:7). Ultimately, it is an opportunity for all to grow in understanding of what it means to imitate Christ in hard situations.

As well as loving our brothers and sisters in Christ, God also wants his people to honour those who aren’t believers. This will mean, submitting to human authorities and following Christ’s example of enduring the unjust suffering we face, as we live ‘good lives’ wherever God has us. In all of this, God invites us to entrust ourselves to him.

How do we stand firm in the face of suffering: persecution, illness, devastating loss, unfulfilled dreams, or depression. We can stand firm by clinging to the anchors for our souls that God provides in the hope of our salvation, the Bible, Jesus, and a community of believers.

As Christian believers, we have had our sins wiped clean by Jesus’ death, but there is then a new life to live showing our gratitude to God our Father and showing love to our fellow-believers. We have a great future ahead with eternal life, but in this life we all need help in a hostile world, so we need to care for one another. Also, God is at work in us by his Spirit, with the gospel message as the basis and heart of our new life.

As Christians, we know that the gospel has the power to produce a changed life. Which makes it a real grief when we continue in sin, or we see Christians around us continue in sin. What we need is God’s help and empowering to pursue this changed life. In 1 Peter 1:13-21, we have exactly that. In this text, God equips us to pursue the changed life that the gospel requires.

God promises a glorious future for believers and this enables us to press on in hope. Yet, sometimes the trials and challenges of life as a Christian can make us wonder if we can keep trusting in God’s promises. In this text Peter points us to assurances that help us to continue trusting in God’s promises as we press on toward our glorious hope.

Sometimes, we experience difficulties and trials because we are Christian. It might come in the form of social ostracism, slander, financial difficulties or worse. According to Peter, even in the midst of such trials and suffering, we can experience joy – an inexpressible and glorious joy! How so? In this text, Peter provides the answer, equipping us for a life marked by joy and hope.

How do we hold fast to our faith in Christ, when our circumstances in life make that faith seem foolish? Non-believers around us succeed and prosper. While our obedience to Christ leads to loss and trouble. The Israelite exiles in Babylon were asking a similar question. Even though they were God’s people, they were weak and powerless. While the Babylonians, though hostile to God, seemed to be all-powerful and successful. In this closing part of the book of Jeremiah, the prophet speaks powerfully into this dilemma by providing a striking vision of the future, and an urgent exhortation for the present. It is a message we all need to hear.

If you had the possibility of going to a ‘heaven’ where you could enjoy all the blessings God gives (like friends and family, food and fun), but God himself was not there, would you want to go? In Exodus 33-34, Moses is confronted with a situation like this. There is much we can learn from his response and indeed from the remarkable encounter he has with God in this section of Scripture.

In Jeremiah 36, Jeremiah’s scribe, Baruch, writes down all the words God has given to Jeremiah since the start of his ministry. But when Baruch delivers the message, the king refuses to listen, taking the scroll and throwing it in the fire. God’s warnings through Jeremiah were a gracious attempt to spare the people from judgement, if only they would repent. So, too, God’s warnings to us are gracious. We need to hear them and we need to make sure that others hear them too.