I Peter Lesson 9

Review “Suffering For Righteousness’ Sake” Purpose: Stand Firm in the True Grace of God Recipients: Scattered, Aliens, Exiles, Suffering Peter wanted to exhort them in their salvation 5:12 Suffering is from God I Peter 1:2-3 Stand firm IN it by: Setting your hope on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1:7, 13 Be holy 1:15 Grow by the Word of God and keep your behavior excellent 2:12 Submit to the proper authorities 2:13

Review “Doing Good” Why were the believers suffering? Because of righteousness, so, it was unjust suffering I Peter 1:6-7 Peter encouraged them to continue in their suffering, in doing what was right/good I Pet. 1:10-11 WHY would these verses bring them AND you, comfort?

I Peter 2:13-25 Doing Good Submitting I Pet. 2:13 Doing good will silence the ignorance of foolish men I Pet. 2:15 It finds favor with God I Pet. 2:19 Jesus did what was right while suffering for right Jesus KEPT entrusting Himself to God, the righteous and impartial Judge I Pet. 2:23 Jesus suffered so that believers could live righteously I Pet. 2:24

What Jesus did (His Good) What have believers died to and been healed of? Died to sin Live for righteousness Healed of sin and its wounds Is. 53 and Matt. 8 Jesus didn’t suffer for His own sin; He suffered for His righteousness, but OUR sin. He took on Himself our infirmities He healed us by His wounds/stripes/suffering Those who believe, no longer stray like sheep, but have come to the Shepherd/Guardian of their souls

I Peter 3:1-6 “In the same way” – Jesus’ example in Chp. 2 Wives are to submit – just like Jesus did to the unjust, unreasonable, disobedient…. “disobedient” – apeitheo: refuse conformity, literally refuse to be persuaded by the Lord. Zod. Spoken of disbelievers in Christ, of those who are disobedient to God “Disobedient” is in the present tense and indicates habitual action; continually disobedient to the Word So: This also indicates that this husband has heard the gospel and rejected it Peter is urging the wife to LIVE the gospel so the husband sees it

I Pet. 3:1-6 How/Why do “right and good” in this situation? So the husband is won to the Lord I Pet. 3:1 By respectful behavior/conduct toward him 3:2 By focusing on internal qualities rather than external 3:3-4 By not having fear 3:6 Fear – “ptoesis”: a fluttering excitement, terror, fearfulness – cowardess, a trembling Why? Because you are entrusting yourself to the righteous and impartial Judge.

Sarah as our example Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: SAME Greek word as in verse 15 “kurios” – lord, master. Properly, a person exercising absolute ownership rights, he to whom a person or thing belongs. Gen. 12 Sarai obeyed. Pharaoh and his household suffered great plagues….Unjustly???? Gen. 16 Hagar was Sarai’s idea Gen. 17 Sarai changed to Sarah, mother of Isaac, through whom the everlasting covenant passed Gen. 18 Sarah obeyed Abraham, laughed, then because of fear, she denied it.

Sarah as our example Gen. 20 Sarah obeyed Abraham, saying she was his sister. Abimelech takes her, but God rescues her telling Abimelech he is a dead man and that his sin is against God. Gen. 21 God told Abraham to listen to SARAH! And he sent Hagar and Ishmael away

NOT Submitting Acts 5:29 The apostles chose to obey God rather than men Be careful: The apostles KNEW they had a direct command from God to speak the gospel They were willing to pay the consequences for their direct disobedience Do not take this out of context and cause it to give you liberties where you have none.

I Peter 3:7 Husbands do right BY: living with their wives in an understanding way – as with a weaker vessel Show her honor as a fellow heir of grace If not, their prayers are hindered Eph. 5 A husband is to love his wife AS Christ loved the church and AS he loves himself Col. 3:19 Husbands are not to be embittered against their wives “pikraino”: to deal bitterly with, exasperate, indignant Only used 4 times in Scripture: 3 in Revelation in reference to the scroll John eats and bitter waters

I Pet. 3:8-12 “Wherever bitterness is, there love is wanting. And where love is wanting in the marital life, there is hell on earth.” Clarke’s commentary ALL believers: Be harmonious: of one mind: Spirit produced unity Be sympathetic: feeling the like with another Be brotherly: loving one’s brethren Be kindhearted: “gut level sympathy” merciful Be humble in spirit: lowminded, the esteeming of ourselves small, the correct estimate of ourselves ALL toward those who give out evil!!!

I Pet. 3:8-12 Do this as a way to BLESS, rather than repay evil for evil, insult for insult… Remember Jesus as our example I Pet. 2:22-23 Keep your tongue from evil and lips from deceit Turn away from evil and DO GOOD Seek peace and pursue it The Lord’s eyes are toward the righteous He hears our prayers His face is against those who DO EVIL 3:12 NO BLESSING FOR THE EVIL

I Pet. 3:13-17 God’s instructions for unjust suffering PROVE that you are zealous vs. 13 Don’t fear or be troubled vs. 14 Sanctify/honor Christ as “Lord”, Master in your hearts vs. 15 Be ready/prepared to defend your hope vs. 16 Be gentle and reverent in your defense vs. 16 Keep/have a good conscience vs. 16

Gentleness Defined “prautes”: meekness, mildness (gentle strength) which expresses power with reserve & gentleness For the believer, meekness – gentle force- begins with the Lord’s inspiration and finishes by His direction and empowerment. It is a divinely-balanced virtue that can only operate through faith. Zod. It is an inwrought grace of the soul, and the expressions of it are primarily toward God. It is that attitude of spirit we accept God’s dealings with us as good and do not dispute or resist……it is a balance born in strength of character.

Application Do you deal with gentleness, as defined in the Greek, toward those who treat you unjustly? DO you accept God’s dealing with you as good and just and you don’t resist? How do you usually respond to those who treat you unjustly or challenge your Christian beliefs? How are you doing with “submitting”? How do you apply all of this when sharing the gospel?