Title: Following Jesus' Example of Submission and Suffering Text: 1 Peter 2:13-3:7 20 …if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. By: Pastor Micah Adamson January 8, 2016 1 Peter 2:20b-21 (NIV84) Title

1 Peter 5S Outline: Faith/Theology: (1st Half) Introduction (1:1-2) Salvation (1:3–12) Sanctification (1:13–2:3) Selection (2:4–12) Practice/Application: (2nd Half) Submission (2:13–3:12) Suffering (3:13–4:19) Conclusion (5:1-14)

Theology 1 Peter 1:1 (NIV84) 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia… Peter is the official messenger/ambassador of the true King (Christ). He’s writing to people who are resident aliens who don’t belong to the world in which they live.

Theology 1 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV84) 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you… We have new lives from our new Father who gave new life to our elder brother the king! We are inheriting everything that our Father owns when Jesus returns from heaven.

Theology 1 Peter 1:17 (NIV84) 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. We are outside the normal legal jurisdiction. We don’t need to fear the judgement of earthly judges, but only care about the opinion of their heavenly Father.

Theology 1 Peter 2:9-12 (NIV84) 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Peter’s Application: How would you expect Peter to apply these truths to our relationships to earthly authorities: kings, masters, and spouses? “No king but Jesus!” “I deserve to be treated as the child of the King that I am!” “We are all equal in Christ, I don’t have to submit to anyone!” We might be disappointed at what Peter has to tell us.

Overview: Peter speaks to three disadvantaged groups of people: free subjects of the king, slaves of masters, and wives of husbands. Peter doesn’t even give any explicit instructions to kings or masters about how to treat their servants. It looks like Peter expects the Christian life to be more like being a servant than a master.

Disclaimer: These verses have been abused by those in power: including governments, masters, and husbands. Peter seems to be trying to get us to think of ourselves in the role of a servant (like Jesus). Being the one in a God given position of authority can be more challenging. I am only trying to faithfully pass on Peter’s testimony second hand (Peter actually died for His faith in Christ).

Outline of 1 Peter 2:13-3:7 Freemen submit to the king (2:13-17) Slaves submit to your masters (2:18-20) Christ suffered as our example (2:21-25) Wives submit to your husbands (3:1-6) Husbands respect your wives (3:7)

Freemen: 1 Peter 2:13-17 (NIV84) 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

Slaves: 1 Peter 2:18-20 (NIV84) 18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

Christ 1 Peter 2:21-25 (NIV84) 21 To this [suffering for doing good] you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” [Isaiah 53:9] 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. [Is. 53:5-6]

Isaiah 53:7-12 (NIV84) [1 of 3] 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

Isaiah 53:7-12 (NIV84) [2 of 3] 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.

Isaiah 53:7-12 (NIV84) [3 of 3] 11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Wives: 1 Peter 3:1-6 (NIV84) 1 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

Husbands: 1 Peter 3:7 (NIV84) 7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Objection 1: Should citizens, employees, and wives (or husbands) allow themselves to be mistreated by governments, employers, and spouses if they can prevent it? Our attitude should be one of submission and suffering, but there are clear biblical examples of people standing up for their rights. Peter himself was willing to disobey the government when it was in direct conflict with God.

Objection 1: Acts 4:1,5-7a, 18-20a (NIV84) 1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people… 5 The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them... 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After further threats they let them go…

Objection 2: The motive of all this submitting and suffering sounds evangelistic. Does that mean that Christians don’t need to submit to Christian governments, employers, and spouses? No. Obedience to God and following Jesus’ example are higher goals even than evangelism. Peter is addressing our attitude first.

Conclusion: Am I really being treated badly for no fault of my own? Is my attitude really like Jesus’ attitude? Have I used by words to take revenge? Are my words and actions both making the gospel appealing? Do I care more about what God thinks than what people think? Jesus’ willingness to suffer for us for our sin is impressive! May we trust Him more! May we worship Him more! May it motivate us to follow His example more in our attitude, words, and actions.