1 Peter Archives - Christ Church

God’s Math

Christ Church on April 8, 2018

Sermon Text: 1 Peter 4:12-19

The Problem of Pain is a well known booklet written by C. S. Lewis making the argument for why a good God would allow pain in His universe. One aspect of his argument is our culture’s confusion between kindness and love. We prize kindness with the view that we would prefer a God with more of a benign “grandfatherly” kindness over a father’s disciplinary love. The difference is mainly one of outcome. The former is seen as just watching over us to keep us content and happy, the latter is focused on making us good using whatever means are necessary to achieve that benefit. Lewis in his chapter on God’s Divine Goodness puts it this way:

“When we want to be something other than the thing God wants us to be, we must be wanting what, in fact, will not make us happy.”

Given how much Peter deals with existing and anticipated suffering in his letters, approaching this with the right calculus is extremely important. I’ve labeled it using God’s new math.

How was Peter qualified to teach on this subject?

From verse 15, what is the one way that we are not supposed to suffer?

What Fiery Trial is Peter referencing in verse 12?

What is the timing of Peter’s letter?

How does Nero fit in?

What was the nature of the suffering/persecution?

What does “his glory revealed” mean in verse 13?

What time stamp does Jesus give his disciples in Luke 9:23-27 and Matthew 16:24-28 related to his coming glory?

How does this coming in glory relate to Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew 24?

How was God’s glory revealed in the judgement of Pharaoh?

What is the connection between Christ’s suffering and our own in verses 13, 14, and 16?

What did Jesus accomplish in His suffering?

What is necessary if the Father is going to successfully make us like Jesus?

How are we to process God’s judgment starting with us in verses 17-19?

Who actually goes first: us or God?

Who is clearly in control of our suffering?

What is the role of the church in the midst of persecution?

How does God’s Math apply to us in our time?

Christ’s Victory: Judgment and Salvation

Christ Church on March 18, 2018

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The Text

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us^[a] to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, ¹⁹by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, ²⁰who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited^[b] in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. ²¹There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²²who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him” (1 Peter 3:18-22).

Suffering for an End

Peter has called Christians to be like Christ and to be like Christ even in suffering. An understandable question is whether suffering like Jesus is worth it? Peter has us consider two examples from the story of the Flood of delayed judgment and eventual salvation. This story is not only about the salvation of Noah’s family but also the judgment against the fallen angels. Peter points that both the spirits’ judgment and Noah’s salvation come through the victorious suffering of Jesus.

We learn three principles from these verses. Even though God’s judgment may delay for thousands of years, His justice will come like it was declared to the evil spirits. Even in judgment, God saves his people like he saved Noah in the ark. Even though Christ suffered unjustly to death for doing good, that suffering was not defeat but was instead a victory over all angels, authorities, and powers.

The Just for the Unjust (vs. 18)

Peter begins with the suffering of Christ which is the means of our salvation, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (vs. 18). The essence of the gospel is an exchange––Jesus Christ takes our sins and He gives us His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus accomplishes this salvation “being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit…”

A Journey through the Underworld

What is death? We know that death results from separation from the living God due to our sin (Eph. 2:1-2). Death is also the separation of the soul from the body. Joe Rigney said, “God made human beings to be embodied souls and ensouled bodies. Death rips this asunder.” We are familiar with what happened to Jesus’ body after his death (Mt. 27:57-60). But what about Jesus’ soul? Where did his soul go during this time? Christ’s soul went to Hades to proclaim his victory.

Prior to Jesus’ death and resurrection, the souls of the dead went to Sheol. In the New Testament, Sheol is translated in Greek as “Hades” which, yes, is the Greek mythological underworld of the dead. Hades was divided into two regions, one a place of paradise (called Elysium/Abraham’s Bosom) and the other of torment (called Tartarus/Hades), and these were separated by a great chasm. This is confirmed in the quasi parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31) where both men die and descend to Hades––Lazarus to the Abraham’s bosom and the rich man to torment in flames. Where did Jesus go when he died? To paradise in Hades (Lk. 23:43). And from here, Jesus preaches across the chasm to the imprisoned spirits in Tartarus (2 Pet. 2:4). What was the specific sin that landed these spirits in Tartarus?

Preached Judgment to the Spirits (vs. 19-20)

This takes us back to before the Flood. Genesis 6 begins with man multiplying on the face of the earth. Then, “The sons of God saw that the daughters of man were beautiful. And they took as their wives any they chose” (Gen. 6:2). The phrase “the sons of God” is used to describe angels (Job 2:1). These fallen angels and human woman were breeding, and God responded with a declaration for a fixed lifespan, a definite mortality. This gets at the sin of the rebellious spirits. They tried to generate immortality outside of God––attempting to reach the tree of life without God.

Their rebellion was a big deal in God’s history of the world since they were reserved for judgment (2 Pet. 2:4, Jude vs. 6) and singled out for Christ’s preaching. Jesus triumphed over them that life does not come through rebellion outside of God. How can we live? Peter points to Noah’s ark––only through Christ’s death and resurrection.

Noah and His Saving Baptism (vs. 20-21)

How were Noah and his family saved? There are two right answers––the ark and God. God used the ark as the means to deliver Noah. Those eight souls were saved because they were in the ark. Peter says this is a type of baptism, which now saves us. Jesus Christ is the ark. Those who are in Christ pass though the water of God’s righteous judgment and are saved. We must note that during Noah’s day it was not enough to know about the ark, memorize its blueprints, live in its shadow, stand right next to it every Sunday morning for years while the ark was under construction. You got to be in the ark, just like you got to be in Christ.

Christ’s Victory and Reign (vs. 22)

The ark, which was the scorn of the world, soon came to define the world. Now Christ, the new ark, defines the world. Jesus Christ is the one “who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to him” (vs. 22). And so all these angels, authorities, powers, Caesars, presidents, masters, slaves, husbands, wives, sons, daughters are all under Jesus Christ. We are all under Him, but are we in Him? Christ’s death was his victory. And Christ’s victory is our salvation. And so his victorious suffering should be proclaimed!

1 Peter 2:1-10

Christ Church on January 28, 2018

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Introduction:
Besides the introduction to the book of 1 Peter, Ty has covered three important themes in the first chapter. The first was our identity as chosen by God as one of His children. The second was the fact that this includes a magnificent inheritance that is guarded for us in heaven. And, what follows from this as the necessary expectation that we live as obedient children before our God who saved us in Christ. Finally, chapter one ends on the assurance that this salvation and inheritance is not a passing fancy. It is fixed securely on the fact that we were born again by God’s incorruptible, eternal word, when we believed the gospel — and what is that Gospel? That all our sins, past, present and future we paid for in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Therefore — get rid of sin:
You’ve been born again by God, therefore as his child purify your soul by getting rid of all malice. What is malice? A simple definition is: the desire to inflict injury, harm, or suffering on another. Proverbs warns against this. In Proverbs 24:17 it reads: Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles.

You’ve been born again by God, therefore as his child purify your soul by getting rid of all deceit. What is deceit? This problem is so common that we have all sorts of synonyms for it. Let me share just a few: lying, false witness, falsehoods, shading the truth, cheating, all of which can be connected to the hypocrisy of trying to make yourself “look” better than you really are.

You’ve been born again by God, therefore as his child purify your soul by getting rid of all envy. What is envy? On the surface, it is wanting other people’s stuff. But, it would also including everything that others’ might represent in terms of popularity, looks, gifts, intelligence, relationships. Now, this seems somewhat less serious (in terms of sin) than malice and deceit, but don’t deceive yourself! Paul in Colossians 3:5 identifies covetousness (envy) with idolatry: Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

You’ve been born again by God, therefore as his child purify your soul by getting rid of all evil speaking. We don’t need a definition for evil speaking, but we may need help in identifying when we are doing this. Criticizing others, putting them down, passing on gossip comes so easily that I confess that most of the time we may not be seeing our words in this light. From Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.only speak encouraging words.”

Therefore … grow:
“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,”

God is not just concerned about cleaning house by getting rid of stuff. We don’t want the house cleaned but empty inviting 7 spirits worse than the original to return. We want to put off and then put on. Here, the command is to desire more of the word of God. And, this expectation is built on verse 3 that asks the hypothetical question — IF you have tasted or know that God is gracious!

Cornerstone:
1 Peter 2:4-5 echoes Paul in Ephesians 2:19-22. In both the Peter and Paul passages, the message is clear. Jesus is the cornerstone, chosen by God. What is a cornerstone? What does that “picture” represent? It is the first stone laid in the building. From it every other stone is measured and aligned and fitted. Everything hangs on Him. Hear the echo in Colossians 1:15: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion, A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

Peter is quoting from Psalm 118. Jesus too is recorded as quoting this passage in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke 20:17) when asked about his authority, and Jesus turns the question of the religious leaders on them asking about John the Baptist. Did you believe him? Jesus challenged them with this question about John and then told them a parable about the wicked vine dressers who rejected the son of the owner when he came to collect the rent. It was here that Jesus quotes Ps 118 connecting his calling and authority from the Father with their unbelief. And for Peter this is not the first time that he has used it. Peter and John testify to the truth of this Psalm when they are called before the council in Jerusalem because they continued to preach Jesus’ resurrection from the dead as the sign of Jesus identity and authority.

Outcome of Belief or Unbelief:
In 1 Peter 2:7-8, God confirms that Jesus is His chosen cornerstone and that this stone not only forms the foundation for those who believe but also stumbles those who don’t believe. This verse was an important junction in my road of understanding this doctrine. It is clear, unambiguous, direct. This all in the context of Peter telling us that God’s salvation was also planned from before the foundation of the world in Chapter 1.

God’s sovereignty messes with our desire to be in control — as it should. And, it messes with our sense of fair play. Many argue that it is simply unfair or capricious on God’s part. Or, they would add that it makes us out to be robots so don’t worry about anything as you don’t have any say in the matter. But, to go here is wrong headed. As for being fair, if God was totally fair, we would all be lost. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There is none righteous, no not one. And, the wages of sin are death. This applies to everyone. So, in giving salvation to anyone, God is not being fair and THANK GOD that is so.

Now, having addressed those who deny Christ, what about those who believe?

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

As Ty taught from Chapter 1, Peter emphasizes the election/choosing of both Christ for His role in the salvation of the world and also our election in Christ.

Christ’s role is to be that Cornerstone, the key to everything that follows. And what follows is a reaffirmation of our identity in Christ. Like Christ, we are chosen. Like Christ, our role is given in a picture. Instead of the cornerstone or foundation, we are pictured as living stones of a temple and as the King’s priests. God’s own. And as a result we have a purpose. In chapter 1, we have the link of children of God and Holiness in imitation of our Father. Here, we are royal priests, people of God called to proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness, and that sound like a straightforward mission.

The Shepherd: Humble and Glorious