Suffering with Endurance (1 Peter 2:18-3:5)

“Called to Suffer”
1 Peter 2:18-3:5

INTRODUCTION:
Imagine that you are in a country which has barely been touched by Christianity. You are teaching the Gospel and someone wants to become a Christian. One of the first questions they will ask you is: How am I supposed to behave? How is a Christian supposed to live? Those, of course, are appropriate questions. We take those questions for granted because we either grew up in a Christian home or we have grown up in a moral home or a moral country that has been heavily influenced by Christianity.

But the first century Roman Empire was as saturated, if not more saturated, with idolatry than America is saturated with Christianity. Thus, when someone became a Christian, they would ask, “Now, how am I supposed to live?”

For this reason, God guided the NT writers to give a list of virtues in various passages, like the Fruit to the Spirit. But He also guided the writers to give what modern scholars call “household codes.” These are lists of “rules” so-to-speak for husbands, wives, children, slaves, and masters. The most obvious ones are in Ephesians 5:22-6:9 and Colossians 3:18-4:1.

In the text we will look at in this study, Peter specifically sets this discussion in the context of suffering. Life is not always easy. God has never promised us a walk in the park or life as a bed of roses.

Let’s feed our spirts on Peter’s text here and let’s see if we are living the way the Holy Spirit tells us to live…

INSTRUCTIONS TO SERVANTS - 2:18-20:
Slavery was extremely common in the Roman Empire. Paganism was also an integral part of everyday life. One of the speakers at PTP this year spoke about God’s patience. The destruction of slavery in the Roman Empire is an example of God destroying slavery in that country through Christians simply living and teaching the Word of God.

The word for “slave” here is not the general word for slave; it is actually part of the “word-family” with the word for “house.” So, this refers to a household slave, a domestic slave. The word is only used four times in the NT. The word “master” gives us the word “despot.” This word is only used 10 times. In that culture, similar to our own slavery in the US, masters had almost absolute control over their slaves. And you well know that some people can just be unreasonable.

Now, back in 2:13, Peter had told these young Christians to “submit to every human institution.” Practically speaking that means that Christian slaves were to submit to their masters. Some masters are good and “gentle.” That word also means “kind and tolerant” (used five times). Some masters, however, are “crooked.” That Greek word gives us the word for “scoliosis” or “excessive curvature of the spine.” They are crooked, harsh, unjust, mean. The word is used 4 times.

The guide for Christians in these situations is our “conscience toward God” (ver. 19). What would Jesus do? Peter says there is “credit” (the Greek word is “grace”) for those who endure when they suffer. The verb “to endure” means to “bear under.” It's only used 3 times. The verb “to suffer” is used a dozen times in this letter. The whole context of 1 Peter is that of Christians suffering for being a Christian, for trying to do what is right.

On the contrary, in verse 20, Peter looks at the other side; what “glory” or “fame" (only here in NT) is there for one who has sinned (only here in 1 Peter) and been beaten (five times)? This latter verb actually means “to hit with the fist.” Now, it might be used figuratively, to mean being treated harshly. Jesus was struck with the fist in His trial (Matt. 26:67; Mark 14:65). But, rather while doing good and still suffering, the Christian endures, this is “grace” before God! This verb “to endure” is used 17 times in the NT, but only here in 1 Peter.

WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO FOLLOW CHRIST - 2:20-25:
In verse 20, Peter says that we have been called to endure suffering for doing good. Why? Even Christ suffered. Christ suffered on our behalf. Christ suffered, leaving behind (only used here in the NT) an “example” (only used here in the NT), or an “under-writing,” like a child’s writing tablet that has the pattern at the top and the child copies that pattern on the lines down below.

Jesus left us this example so that we might follow His footsteps. In 1 John 2:6, John writes that if we live in Christ, we need to walk in the same manner as Jesus walked. In verse 22, Peter quotes Isaiah 53:9 and applies it directly to Jesus Christ. Peter elaborates on that prophecy in verse 23, saying that when Jesus was abused, He did not “counter-abuse.” He did not respond with “tit-for-tat.” When He was suffering, He was not threatening. Rather, He “handed Himself over” to the One judging righteously. Jesus knew that God would treat Him right and God would work all things together for the good of the Son. These verbs: was not reviling, was not threatening, and was entrusting are all imperfect tense verbs which shows that Jesus kept doing that. He kept making the decision to allow Himself to be abused and He kept controlling His own reaction.

The result of Jesus’ suffering (ver. 24) is that He could bear our sins, but our sin-sacrifice, and then we would die to sin and live to righteousness. To put it simply, by “His strips” - His beatings - we are healed spiritually.

To help encourage us to have a high level of respect and love for Jesus Christ so that we would be motivated to follow His example, in verse 25, Peter tells us that Jesus is our Shepherd when we are like sheep having wandered from the fold, and turning back to the Shepherd and “Bishop” or “Overseer” of our souls. He cares for us. He will provide for us. That’s why we need to endure suffering and stay faithful to Jesus Christ. In 5:4, Peter calls Jesus the “Chief Shepherd.”

INSTRUCTIONS FOR WIVES - 3:1-5:
Now Peter directs his attention to wives but, in contrast to Paul’s instructions, Peter has in mind Christians married to non-Christians. They are to be submissive “to their own” husbands. The Bible does not teach some kind of universal submission, that it is wrong for a woman to be over a man in the business world (for example). But they are to be submissive to their own husbands.

These men might not be receptive to the gospel, but Peter writes they might be receptive to their wives’ godly behavior. Rachel’s grandmother and grandfather are excellent examples of this. He would often sabotage the car, like taking the distributor cap, so that she could not go to worship. But eventually, he submitted to the Lord and was baptized not long before he died. So we have many women who are married to non-Christians. Your goal should be the happiness of your husband - in the same way that his goal should be your happiness - then she should also do her best to live like Christ to the best of her ability, as virtuously as possible. She should only be disobedient to her husband if he were to require her to do something that violated the word of God.

Peter goes on to say in 3:3-5 that women should not be more concerned about their clothes than they are about how they appear to God and their husbands. Physical beauty can and will fade but the beauty of a godly heart grows more beautiful over time. Peter uses women from the OT, specifically Sarah, as examples of one who lived a godly life and - relevant to this context - was submissive to her husband.

CONCLUSION:
One strong test of our faith is whether we can submit quietly and patiently when we suffer for doing what is right. This is especially challenging but especially needed when our employer is harsh or our spouse is not a Christian.

Christ is our example in all things, even in suffering without retaliation.

Take home message: Inspired by Jesus’ example, let’s endure suffering without renouncing our faith.