1 Peter Series Suffering for Doing Good

                                                     Suffering for Doing Good

1 Peter 3:13-22

In the midst of all the chaos, inconveniences, power struggles, and even true suffering, we must live a life that demonstrates and speaks of the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Peter’s life and the life of many of the exile was in some form of suffering. Peter’s admonition was to do good and right according to God, not to fear, and give an answer to all who ask us why we hope and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s look at the text for this lesson.  “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”

Doing good and right has always been the hallmark of the religious and self-righteous. Peter knew man’s nature, it was Jesus who told Peter in the garden, when Peter and the others were to stay awake and pray with Jesus. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matt. 26:41 

Peter knew that even on his best day, he fell extremely short of God’s goodness and righteousness, and yet God’s goodness was seen in him and the others because of the work of righteousness through Christ Jesus. It is with this attitude Peter addresses the exiles and us. 

Peter knew suffering for doing good and he knew the inconvenience of suffering. Peter went to jail three times for doing good. Peter would have remembered Jesus’ words to a young man about true goodness, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life? “‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied.’There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.’ ‘Love the  Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matt. 19:16-17; 22:37-40 It is interesting how in Jesus’ time on Earth, people considered themselves able to do good. And when it came to doing right, it had nothing to do with mankind’s rightness. It is always God’s.

The exiled believers were experiencing suffering. Some for following Jesus’ way and others suffered for their acts in the fleshly nature. Peter had already exhorted them to bless those who cursed them and persecuted them, and for the gospel’s sake. They must keep Jesus’ command to love one another as he had loved them. This was the good that Peter mentioned in response to suffering for doing good. “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.” vv.13-15a

The exiled believers needed to remember to have the same mindset as Christ. People would harm them, especially when they were doing good (loving God and others, and sharing the good news). It was to this harm, they would be blessed. The human response would be to fear or to be angry, but Peter warned them not to give in to their threats. The believers were to let their love for Christ Jesus (revere) be their attitude and mindset. 

Application - Jesus said we would face suffering (Matt. 5:10-12, John 16:33, Luke 14:27), James wrote about suffering (1:12 ), Paul wrote about suffering (1 Cor.4:17, 2 Tim. 3:12, Col. 1:24, Rom. 5:3-5; 8:18,35), and Peter was no stranger to suffering for doing good (1 Pet. 1:6-7, 4:12-13). We have been given a command to love one another and to love our enemies. And in doing so, we will face suffering for doing good. In the world today, people are clamoring about all the injustice they are facing or have faced. Most of the suffering and harm is brought on because of the    fleshly sinful acts of the ones who are suffering. All you have to do is read the latest internet news, or social posts, or world controlled news networks. But true suffering comes from persecution from doing good. The enemy of God is like a roaring lion seeking to devour any believer for doing the will and good purpose of God. A simple act of kindness, or word of discipline from God can bring down suffering. It is to the believer’s blessing to endure the suffering, as Paul said “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” 2 Cor. 4: 8-10 and learn from James  “...because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:3-4

Second, Peter gave them a word that is used in evangelism today, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

Peter gave great advice to the suffering believers. When Peter and John were arrested and brought before the authorities (Sanhedrin), Peter filled with the Holy Spirit gave an example of giving a reason for the hope and good works in the name of Jesus Christ. “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed,  then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved...But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:8-12,19-20

Peter understood the power of the Holy Spirit, and to speak with gentleness and respect to those who are slandering and causing suffering. The Sanhedrin and other authorities had no recourse but to let them go after jailing them and threatening them again to be silent about speaking about Jesus.

Application - It is interesting that this verse falls in the context of suffering for doing good. In Bible College, I was taught this verse so that when we went out to evangelize (share our testimony) we would be able to give a reason for why we were out witnessing. No one thought about suffering or persecution. But in the spiritual realm, the battle was in full swing. We were told to speak with gentleness and respect. I can remember some tongue lashings I got from people because they didn’t want to hear about Jesus or my testimony, but that is minor to what Jesus, the Apostles, and early believers faced for sharing their faith, and giving a reason for the hope we have through Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and soon return for all who believed. So, don’t shy away from sharing what Jesus did for you (your testimony) because of suffering and persecution. As Paul told Timothy, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” 2 Tim.3:12

Last, Peter gives them another example: Jesus’ death and the proclamation to the imprisoned spirits from Noah’s day, and how water baptism is a symbol of salvation by the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Chirst. Let’s look at the text. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”

The story of the flood was written about through many different cultures and peoples. Peter uses the story of Noah, who listened and obeyed God and saw his family of eight saved from the flood. Peter, through the Holy Spirit, takes this to another level. Jesus, after his death and resurrection, went to the imprisoned spirits of those who died during the flood. They had no witness except Noah’s preaching (2 Peter 2:5 - “if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others…”)

 The exiled believers needed a reference, an anchor, during their suffering and persecution. The people of the flood were as carnal as those that were living in Peter’s time, if not worse (...every inclination of their hearts were evil. Gen. 6:5) The believers were to standfast in their suffering and preaching of the hope they had in Christ Jesus. For Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father, “with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”

Application -  The focus of these verses is not on the fallen angels (Nephilim), or the increase of wickedness and total depravity of the world. It is in the suffering, Jesus, the son of God, did for all mankind in dying as the sacrifice for all on the cross. It is in this death, He was made alive by the Holy Spirit. It is the victory over sin, death, and Hell that He proclaimed.

The difficulty of this verse (v.20) stems from the proclamation of Christ to the spirits. What does proclamation mean? A public, authoritative, or personal announcement on a matter of great importance. Jesus went and proclaimed He had fulfilled the will of God, had redeemed mankind through the propitiation (substitution) of himself for the sins of all mankind. He fulfilled the will and purpose of God the Father and He had full authority over death and Hell. (Rev.1:8 - I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.) These spirits heard Noah’s answer for the hope he had in God and the message he preached. And now they heard it through Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God. There are those who have taught that Jesus proclaimed forgiveness of sins to the spirits from Noah’s days. This would be inconsistent with (Heb. 9:27, 1 Pet. 1:17, 2 Cor. 5:10) that teaches that after death is the judgment. It is sad that mankind has to face God and give an account of everything he has done, said, and thought. The spirits are no different, they too will be judged at the end of time. (Satan and all those who have followed him. Rev.20)

If you are suffering for doing good, please count it as a blessing that you will be rewarded in Heaven. I know that it is not easy to walk and follow Jesus in suffering, but Jesus told us, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” Matt.16:24

We can take comfort in that He said, “He would not leave us nor forsake us.” He gave us His Holy Spirit to indwell us, comfort us, guide and direct us, especially in times of suffering for doing good. 

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” 

Until next week. In His Service, Mike Davis