INTRODUCTION

Far too many people have a compartmentalized view of the cosmos. We’ve sorted things out, and we want them all to stay put. Butterflies over here. Archangels over there. But we cannot seal off one area of life from another. No matter how imaginative secular man gets, he cannot create a world other than what exists. A world in which Christ is Lord over all.

THE TEXT

1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. […] 1 Peter 3:1ff

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

Having just pointed to the example of Christ’s patient sufferings, and exhorting servants to endure even cruel masters by imitating Christ, Peter exhorts wives to adopt a similar manner. A wife is to be submissive to her own husband (v1). Even unbelieving husbands can be won over, not by his wife’s nagging, but by her righteous manner; Peter further details what this righteousness looks like in practice: sexual purity braided with reverence (vv1-2). A wife’s primary adornment is the ornamentation of a meek and quiet spirit; in God’s economy such a demeanor is like a set of rare pearls (vv3-4). Peter puts a compelling example before Christian women: their mother in the faith, Sarah, who obeyed Abraham not only in word but also in deed (vv5-6). Women were especially vulnerable in the ancient world. So, as persecution looms on the horizon, Christian women must be fearless (v6, Cf. Pro. 31:25). The last in the household instructions is the husband, or head of household. Men are also to look to Jesus in determining how to conduct themselves. A man’s spiritual resume is primarily evidenced in how he treats his wife. A husband should not merely share the same dwelling as his wife, he must endeavor to know her entirely. Furthermore, he is to honor her by not crushing her with his strength or misusing her by handing over his responsibilities to her. Above all, a husband is to be mindful that she too is a fellow heir of the grace of life. If he neglects this, his prayers will bounce off the ceiling (v7).

The entire congregation should strive to treat one another with remarkable love and considerate courtesy; instead of a retaliatory culture, they must live as those who are to inherit a blessing (vv8-9). To drive all this home, Peter recites a lengthy stretch of Psalm 34, which reminds us that since God has delivered us, we ought to conduct ourselves according to the new life which that deliverance brought about for us (vv10-12). Peter then reiterates his teaching from the previous chapter. Most of the time, doing good is not met with punishment (v13); but if they do suffer for righteousness, they are to remember Christ’s teaching, that immense blessing rests on those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Therefore, they must not be fearful (vv13-14, Cf. Mt. 5:10 & 10:28). This way of living is going to raise questions. So, Christians should be prepared to point to the hope they have in Christ, even when condemned as evildoers (vv15-17).

The bulk of Peter’s letter has actually been building up to this teaching on baptism. Christ suffered in your place (atonement), in order to bring you to God (justification); He accomplished this by His crucifixion, whereby our flesh is put to death, and by the Spirit vivifying Jesus, whereby our spirits are made alive (sanctification) (v18). Though Christ, the only innocent man, was cruelly mistreated by both earthly rulers and heavenly principalities, he bore that mistreatment silently (2:22); but after His resurrection He was the thunderous Word. He heralded His conquest to all beings, including the imprisoned souls of those disobedient in the corrupt days of Noah (vv19-20). The water of judgement in Noah’s day was a type of baptism. Baptism saves us. Whereas the Jewish washings cleansed ceremonial uncleanness, baptism stands as a binding oath to God of loyalty; your baptism is to make you conscientious that by the resurrection of Jesus you have entered the new life, the new world, which He has made (v20). Baptism delivers you from the old creation, marked by cruelty and corruption, into a new creation in which Jesus rules in heaven, triumphant over all angels, authorities, and powers (vv21-22).

CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS & YOUR MARRIAGE

Modern women are encouraged to be loud. Loud in their defiance of the patriarchy. Loud in shouting their abortions. Loud in their immodesty. They are encouraged to make their voice heard. All of this is undertaken in order to revolutionize the world. Peter sets before Christian women a model for feminine virtue that offends the modern feminist. First, Christ suffered while entrusting Himself to the justice of God. Second, Sarah, as the mother of faithful women, exemplifies the potency of a wife quietly and respectfully following where her husband leads; she now has daughters spread across the entire world. A wife who is sexually faithful to her husband, diligently reveres him, meekly & quietly goes about doing good in her home without fear is making the most potent statement that can be made. She is stating that her faith and hope are in Christ, who suffered cruelly but is now exalted as judge over all heavenly and earthly authorities. Peter says that this “conversation” speaks volumes, and if her husband is disobedient to the Word, her faithful obedience to the Word might just win her husband to the Word. So then, the challenge to wives of Christian husbands is to reflect on this. If unbelieving husbands can be transformed by the radical and unswerving Christlikeness of a submissive wife, how much more a believing husband?

Husbands are also poignantly challenged here. Peter stresses that a husband should be close to his wife not only in proximity, but in attentiveness. A godly husband is called to intricately know his wife, her needs, and her capacity. He must continually bear in mind that she’s a comparatively weaker vessel; like a porcelain tea set compared to rugged camping gear. You husbands did not marry a man, so do not treat your wife as if she were. Instead, fill her with love. Physical, financial, and spiritual love. If you don’t do this, you are sabotaging your own spiritual authority.

CHRIST’S ASCENSION & YOUR SUFFERINGS

Peter’s teaching on baptism is the crescendo of all his other teachings thus far. Your sufferings at the hand of tyrants, your various duties (citizens, slaves, wives, husbands), are all done in light of not only what Christ accomplished by His sufferings, but in light of the glory which followed His sufferings. In your, you are joined to those sufferings and those glories.

Baptism, Peter asserts, is both a certain deliverance and a certain judgement. To illustrate this, he reminds us of the world before Noah’s flood. The world was full of corrupt men who persecuted Noah. The waters which drowned the men of disobedience also bore up the ark which saved Noah and his family. Peter teaches us that Christ, after being vivified by the Spirit, and before appearing to His disciples, went down into Hades to proclaim His conquest over death and evil. He then ascended and is now seated as Lord over all angelic powers.

By faith in Christ you are saved by this baptism. The salvation is not found in merely the outward sign, Peter cautions. The salvation found in baptism is found in fidelity to what that sign binds you to. You are bound in pledge to Christ the King over all angelic and earthly powers. This has pertinent application in regards to infant baptism. A baptized child is set aside, marked out, and tasked to live as becomes a follower of Christ. He is to grow up breathing the air of repentance and faith, confession of sin and love towards God and His people. Baptism is a pledge to God, and puts you in mind to live as a member of this new creation. As you face suffering and temptation, Peter teaches that baptism is to be a continually comfort in distress and a spur towards righteousness. Are you baptized into Christ? Then all your persecutors are heaping up condemnation upon themselves. Are you baptized? Then live like a citizen of this new creation. Judgement & salvation are both displayed in our baptism. As one writer put it: Baptism is spiritual warfare.

TO BRING YOU TO GOD

All of Christ’s sufferings were undertaken to restore you to God. Of course, as Peter has exhorted, we are to live as a holy nation; but this follows the gracious gift of new life which the Word of Christ has brought about in us. God didn’t spread a feast and then command you to go make for yourself a mouth. Rather, He made a feast and gave you a mouth for the feast. He made marvelous light, and then gave you eyes to see that light. He handed you the gift of Christ, and then gave you hands of faith to receive it all. From first to last Salvation is a gift.

Christ’s gift of salvation leaves no aspect of of the cosmos untouched. Your marriage is not disconnected from Christ’s conquest over fallen angels or corrupt men. Your sufferings are not meaningless. Christ has descended to Hades, and bodily heralded His triumph to the damned. Christ has ascended on high. And by your baptism, Christ brings you through the fiery judgement, and into the new heavens and new earth which He inaugurated.

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INTRODUCTION

1 Peter teaches Christians how to endure suffering. Where we might be tempted to shy away from suffering by simply blending in with a culture that despises Christ, Peter exhorts us to embrace what the world deems madness. The wisdom of this world is like stumbling around in the dark. But Christ has led us out of darkness and into marvelous light.

THE TEXT

1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. […] 1Peter 2:1ff

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

As the New Israel, brought into being by the potent Word of Jesus, it is imperative that the saints conduct themselves righteously, setting aside deeds of uncleanness (v1). As an infant craves its mother’s milk, so saints are to desire the Word, because they’ve tasted and seen that the Lord is gracious (vv2-3, Cf. Ps. 34:8). They have come to the Lord Jesus as a stone upon which to build, even though Old Israel had judged this stone as an unsuitable foundation stone. But God has spoken otherwise, ordaining this stone upon which to build His new temple (v4). Since these believers had trusted in Jesus, they are also identified with Him. They are living stones to be used to build a temple in which to serve God (v5). The OT citations pile up to prove Peter’s point. Christ is the foundation stone Isaiah foretold (v6, Is. 28:16 ). For those who entrust themselves to this stone, they will find Him steadfast and precious, whereas those who reject Him will find themselves continually stumbling over this stone (vv7-8, Ps. 118:22, Is. 8:14). In contrast to those tripped up by Christ, believers are set apart as a royal and priestly nation, and as such are to behave accordingly, unlike Israel had done (v9, Ex. 19:5-6). This is also what Hosea foretold:  God would, by His tender-mercies, give the new name of “My people” to those who were once named “not My people” (v10, Hos. 2:23).

Once more, Peter admonishes them, since they are now citizens of this heavenly kingdom, to live according to their King’s law. Holiness is the true subversion (vv11-12). For the rest of this chapter and well into the next, Peter argues that this holiness will be most clearly displayed in how they conduct themselves in the face of severe mistreatment. First, they are to submit to the ordinances of kings for the Lord’s sake; they will most certainly be mistreated, but it should be due to righteousness, not due to smashing mailboxes (vv13-17). Peter commences to give household instructions. But he starts where others would end: servants (v18). Servants should serve their masters well, even abusive tyrants (v18). There is breathtaking glory in enduring injustice patiently (vv19-20). These servants, oft abused, are to model their service on the example of Jesus, who was the suffering Servant (v21).

Jesus did no evil and spoke without guile (Ps. 34:13). Despite this, He was reviled and put through severe suffering. Nevertheless, He trusted that the judgements of God are pure and right always (vv22-23). Christ’s example of righteously enduring unjust suffering is displayed in His crucifixion, where He bore our sins as His own, healing our wounds by His own (v24, Is. 53:5). We were straying sheep (Is. 53:6), but are now gathered by Christ the true Shepherd and Overseer of our souls (v25).

THE LIVING STONE

Peter gives us term for Christ we don’t find elsewhere in Scripture. Simon (reed), the one whom Christ renamed Peter (rock), now returns the favor and honors the Lord with the striking title of Living Stone. Abraham discerned afar off a heavenly city that God was going to build through him (Heb. 11:10, 16). Of old, Jacob prophesied that the Messiah would be ‘the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel’ (Gen. 49:24). David’s Psalms describe Israel’s God as a rock and refuge (Ps. 18:2; 31:2–3; 62:2). Daniel foretold a stone that would grow into a mighty mountain filling all the earth (Dan. 2:34–35, 44–45). Ezekiel foresaw a restored temple (Ez. 40–48).

Christ is the foundation of all God’s work of redemption. Christ is the stone which God has chosen upon which to build His end times temple; a temple made of people. Those who come to Christ, those who look to Him in faith, gladly enduring suffering like He did, are themselves made living stones with which God will construct His temple. Christ’s life of obedient service to His Father not only exemplifies how you should conduct yourself, but also enables you to do so. Faith in Christ writes you into the story of Jesus which God is telling. However, those that reject Christ find Him to be a striking stone. A stone that crushes them. A stone that makes them stumble and fall. No matter what, you will experience Christ as a stone. For those redeemed by His Gospel Word, Christ is a precious cornerstone that turns us into living stones as well. By this we are included in the habitation God is building for Himself. For those who reject this Word, the stone is experienced as a perpetual stumbling block. He is a stone that is alive. This is what His resurrection means. The construction of God’s house will be built upon Christ who died but now lives forevermore. The resurrection of Jesus is the foundational and inescapable truth of the recreation of this world.

OUR NAME

Now, this just so happens to be the text which principally inspires the name of our church. We selected this name in order to set this vision before us. God has elected Christ as the Living Stone whereby He will build a house for His glory to dwell in. As we trust in Christ, we form the walls, pillars, floors, and bulwarks of this temple erected for the Living God to dwell in. Selecting this name for our church sets a vision before us of a long-term building project that is founded on Christ and Him alone. From the quarry of sufferings, God carves stones of faithful saints. Such saints have gone before us, and we are laid next to them even as they were laid down in alignment with the foundation Stone. We also trust that when our fleeting days on earth are done, that God by His grace will continue this building until every nation, tribe and tongue joyfully worships in this temple which God is building. Thus, this name puts before us our connection to Christ and all the faithful saints that have gone before while compelling us to lift our eyes, by faith, to a glorious future. A future where our children’s children will also be set in these glorious walls of Zion, until this city fills all the world. But make no mistake, the Living Stone, which is Christ, is inescapable. The world must be brought to either come to Him in faith, or be stumbled by Him at every turn. What cannot be done is set this stone aside. That is what we as a church aim to believe and live out.

SUFFERING INJUSTICE

One of the most difficult things for us to do is to endure wrong treatment from others. We think it is our right to get back at those who harm us, abuse us, or mistreat us. But Peter wants us to look at the ultimate indignity and injustice of Christ’s sufferings to embolden us to suffer well. Looking in true faith to Christ really does change us. Looking to the wounds of Christ, really does heal our woes.

We must be careful here and couple this what Scripture teaches elsewhere about righteous opposition to tyrants. However, it is a remarkable thing when a Christian is faced with lionlike tyrant. This tyrant may be a king, a spouse, a parent, a pastor, or a boss. First, you must face such tyranny as Christ did: trusting that God will judge righteously. This demands that your faith must not be principally in earthly courts of justice, but in the final court of God’s judgement. As David said in Psalm 34, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry (Ps. 34:15).” Secondly, by not returning evil for evil you are in fact, like Christ, becoming a greater condemnation to your persecutors. They must either repent and reconcile, or face an even greater judgement for continually abusing the innocent.  Again from Psalm 34, “The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.[And] Evil shall slay the wicked (Ps. 34:16, 21a).”

SUBVERTING THE WORLD

To trust in Christ, to walk as His royal priests during our earthly sojourn, to conduct ourselves as He did, to build our life upon the Living Stone of Christ and so be used as living stones ourselves is utterly insane to this world. But, like David’s madness in the courts of Achish, what might appear to be madness in the eyes of the world, is how God delivers us. How were you saved from your sins? By the sinless One taking them as His own. How do you subvert tyrants? By enduring their assaults without responding to their sin with your own sin. What should you build your life on? A Living Stone that worldly wisdom rejects.

After all, God’s plan to overthrow all tyrants and bring them to judgement is to let tyrants cruelly kill the Messiah. And then raise the Messiah to life again in order that He might ascend as their judge. The suffering Christ has subverted the world’s wisdom, and calls us to do the same by living as He did.

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