Waterbrook Sermons Revisited

When a person suffers real persecution for the sake of Jesus, it almost always profoundly changes their outlook regarding sin and the pursuits of the flesh. Peter realized we have all spent enough time living like the world. Now we are called to live like Christ. If we really understood that we live in the last days, we would spend a lot more time in prayer.

Jesus reminds us in John 15, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. Suffering as a Christian is nothing to be ashamed about, even though the world may despise the suffering Christian. Instead, we should glorify God in times of persecution. 

Why does Peter say that persecution will begin with the house of God?  Let's find out.

The teaching about submission was especially relevant to a first century married woman who had begun to follow Jesus. She would ask questions such as “Should I leave my husband?” or “Should I change my behavior towards him?” or “Should I assume a superior position to him because now I am in Jesus?” Peter carefully observed that wives are called to submit to their own husbands and not to all men in a general sense. Male headship is God’s commanded principle for the home and the church, not for society in general. Peter reminds them that God’s plan is that wives impact their husbands not through persuasive lectures, but through godly submission, chaste conduct, and the fear of God.

Peter described the kind of warm love that should be among the people of God. We should be compassionate, brotherly, tenderhearted, and even polite. The natural response to hostility is retaliation. This is what the terrible ethnic conflicts all over the world are all about – one group wrongs another, and dedicates the rest of its existence to repaying that wrong. Only the love of Jesus for our enemies can break the terrible cycle. 

Though some have regarded the visited spirits as human spirits in 1 Peter 3:19, it is also possible that they were demonic spirits. We know that their disobedience was in the days of Noah (1 Peter 3:20, Gen 6). We have evidence that this was a time of gross sin for both demons and humans, when there was an ungodly mingling of humans and angels. We'll carefully review the text and see what answers we can discern.

Drink spiritual milk and you'll grow up big and strong and holy.  Or be like a stone.  There are some stones that the Jewish leaders didn't think were good enough for building. Jesus was one of those. Believers too.

But these rejected stones will be used to build up a spiritual house, says Peter. He tells us that the stone that everyone hated will become the cornerstone—the most important piece in the whole building. That same stone will trip up those haters and make them fall, and not just the Jews.  There are many throughout history that have tripped over this chosen stone.

Okay, so if you're a believer in Jesus, how should you be acting? Well, first of all, flee from sin. Also, you should try to behave yourself when you're dealing with non-believers. They may think Christians live strangely, but if everyone keeps their behavior on the up and up, it could change their mind. Also, don't go around challenging authority figures on purpose. Be respectful to the emperor and his governors. Peter doesn't want anyone thinking Christians are anarchists. Honor your leaders.

Jesus didn't do anything wrong and Jewish leaders had him beaten and killed. He never even retaliated—he just trusted that God would sort it all out.

Peter is going to describe what it means to be holy.  He's going to call us saints.  Peter spent 3 years with Jesus who modeled for us what it means to live a holy life in fellowship with the Father. He wants us to live a life that is set apart as a response to God's grace.  Peter will go on to describe an internal change that will help us live in this way as we change to live as foreigners, as people preparing to go home. We must mentally engage in setting all of our hope in God's future grace for us. We should choose to act as those who are God's own people, rejecting the evil desires that once drove our actions before we knew better.

Imagine living with Jesus Christ for more than three years.  How much you could learn from the master of all creation? Because the apostle Peter had such such a close look at the life of Jesus, he would know what it looked like to live in holiness amid a hostile world. More than any other man who walked the earth, Jesus modeled that lifestyle. So Peter points his readers to Jesus Himself. In part 1 of 1 Peter chapter 1, we learn that we can have hope in troubled times because of our unique position as children of God.

In Romans 16, Paul sends greetings to those who have helped him spread the message of Jesus Christ in Rome.  Paul warned his followers to beware of those people who wish to divide them by causing infighting and other troubles. Paul also mentioned that the one true God will eventually crush Satan and all his followers. He then prayed a benediction of peace and grace to those who earnestly wished to profess the word of God.

Romans 15 stresses unity within the body of believers. We are to take the encouragement from the scriptures and Christ as our example in how we live accepting one another. Paul reminds us that both Jews and Gentiles have looked forward to the coming Messiah and can both rejoice, together, that he has come.  Now it is our job to share the Gospel with others.

In romans 14, Paul turns to the issue of disputable matters with the potential to divide the church. Paul instructs those who feel free to participate in activities formally forbidden under the law not to flaunt their freedom in front of those who, by conscience, still believe those actions to be wrong. Those strong-faith Christians should be willing to set aside their freedom to keep from leading their weaker brothers and sisters into sin by violating their convictions. Paul addresses this topic with additional comments in 1 Corinthians chapter 10.

Paul begins Romans Chapter 13 by addressing the issue of submitting yourselves to government rulers. He said that believers in Christ should follow the rules set forth by their government while remembering that God is the true authority and, as such, has established these governing bodies. Paul also said that followers of Christ should pay their taxes. Since the people in authority are serving God, the taxes that you pay are actually paying God. According to Paul in Romans Chapter 13, the only debt you should have is a debt of love to your fellow brothers and sisters. If you love one another, he said, you are fulfilling the law. Paul concludes Romans 13 by discussing the day of God’s judgment and that nobody should be stubborn about changing their ways and doing what is right because judgment day is close at hand. 

Romans 12 begins to describe how we should live by virtue of understanding the first 11 chapters of this epistle.  Since we now know our position in Christ by his great mercy and grace, which we did not deserve but desperately needed, how should we then respond? The answer is a life of self-sacrificing worship and service to Jesus Christ and other believers, refusing revenge and overcoming evil with good.