St. Aidan’s Sermons – Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Rev. Canon Dr. Brett Cane, May 22, 2011
Fifth Sunday of Easter: 8:30 & 10:00 am, Holy Communion
Words of Encouragement #3: “Knowing Who We Are”
1 Peter 2:1-10 (Psalm 34:4-10)
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, in the midst of temptation and suffering, you stood firm knowing your relationship with the Father; help us now, by your Holy Spirit, to grasp who we are in you, that we will not succumb to despair and discouragement in our trials. Amen.
Introduction
In this sermon series from the first letter of Peter, we have been looking at how the apostle spoke words of encouragement to Christians who were a minority, persecuted by a non-comprehending society and who felt insignificant and oppressed. Today, in the midst of the subtle, but clear anti-Christian environment in some circles in the West, to say nothing of the daily pressures of life, we, too, can feel marginalized and we need encouragement. In this third sermon, we will see how Peter speaks God’s word directly into his readers’ (and our) discouragement by setting before them the truth about themselves – who they are in Christ. By giving them God’s perspective on their situation, and showing them who they are in his eyes, Peter gives them the basis for their encouragement. Take heart from these affirmations – because they are just as true for us.
A Word of Challenge
First, though, before affirming us, Peter has a word of challenge. In the midst of all the external pressure, he puts as the highest priority the need to live in harmony with others: “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind” (1 Peter 2:1). Elsewhere in this letter (3:15-16), Peter expresses concern that that there be no excuse for outsiders’ complaints against us. “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 behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Peter 3:15-16). However, he also focuses in on the family of believers: “Love the brothers and sisters” (1 Peter 2:17). How can we possibly be a witness for the truth to outsiders if we are not living it out amongst ourselves? Peter challenges us to live out our calling as a reconciled community and not to allow external pressures to be an excuse for lightening up on our responsibilities to one another.
I have emphasized repeatedly Paul’s admonition to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15); our stand for truth and what is right is deeply undercut when we treat those who differ from us in a sub-human way, especially those of “the household of faith.” In our contending for the truth – whether in person or by letter, it must be done in a way that is respectful and winsome, with humility, yearning to draw the recipient out of error and into truth. I remember one of our previous Primates (with whom I disagreed greatly), telling me about one conservative leader who sent him letters that were so vicious, he eventually refused to open them and threw them at once into the garbage. In the midst of pressure, live in harmony with your brothers and sisters, even if you disagree with them. This we must do before we can receive any affirmation.
Words of Affirmation
Peter then goes on to affirm us in the midst of our struggles by telling us who we are. He begins by using Jesus as our example or pattern. He is the Living Stone – “rejected by human beings” (verse 4). We can take heart that, as the “stone who was rejected” (verse 7), Jesus himself underwent deep misunderstanding and humiliation. If this is how they treated our Lord, then we can not expect much better! Why are we surprised when we find the Christian life tough going – didn’t Jesus call us to “deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow him” (Mark 8:34)? Our rejection is merely an extension of Jesus’ rejection by others.
But our affirmation is also an extension of Jesus’ affirmation by the Father. Just as Jesus was the rejected stone but “chosen by God and precious to him” (verse 4), so are we – “living stones…being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood” (verse 5). Peter continues: “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. 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” (verses 9-10). In these verses there are at least seven things Peter says we are:
1. We are not alone. The first thing is that we are not alone. We are part of a living temple, a people, a priesthood, a nation (verse 5). We need to remember that as Christians we are not in this by ourselves – we have others to stand beside us. Under pressure, do not adopt a “lone martyr” complex! We need one another, especially in times of stress. We are not alone.
2. We are chosen by God. Secondly, we are chosen by God – we are a “chosen people.” It is always good to point out to people who have been adopted that whereas most parents are stuck with their natural children, adopted offspring have been especially picked out. God has taken the effort to reach out to us. We are wanted, chosen by him.
3. We are royalty. Thirdly, we have blue blood – we are “royal.” We have a pedigree that is vastly superior to all the royal houses of history. We are associated with the capstone, the most important part of the building. We belong to the ruler of the universe, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
One of my favourite stories in relation to royalty comes from when the Queen visited Montreal during the 1976 Olympics. She was to attend Sunday service at Christ Church Cathedral downtown. One of my clergy friends, a former Manitoban and an ardent royalist, managed to get someone else to take his services that day so he could be at the cathedral to see the Queen. Afterwards, he was glowing and told me, “I was at the cathedral service today, and the Queen was there!” “Oh, that’s interesting,” I replied, “We had the King at ours.” As brothers and sisters of the King of Kings, we are all of royal blood.
4. We are priests: Fourthly, we are priests. We have an important job – to be go-betweens between God and the world – to bring the needs of the world before him and “declare his praises” before the world. We are the upholders of his glory before others and also to bring others to God. This is such a privilege! God has involved us in the work of re-creation. We are priests.
5. We are holy: Fifthly, we are holy, a holy nation. We have been set apart; we have been cleansed from that which defiles; we have been forgiven, counted as if we had never sinned. We have received infinite mercy through Christ who died for us. We have no need to fear death and judgement. We have received mercy. We are holy, clean.
6. We are in the light of God: Sixthly, we are in the light of God. We have been “called out of darkness into his wonderful light.” We are no longer in the gloom of despair – we can begin to see things from a totally new perspective. By the power and infilling of the Holy Spirit, our minds are being remade and we can see and understand things that those without Christ can not see. We are in the light of God.
7. We are the people of God: Finally, we are the people of God. We belong to someone, to God. The most soul-destroying state in this universe is to not be affirmed as a human being, to think of yourself as nothing, a freak of the universe, with no right even to be alive. This is the devil’s greatest lie. God’s greatest truth is that, in Christ, we belong to him, we have received mercy, we are loved and accepted, we are worth being alive. We are the people of God.
What affirmation we have in Christ!
The Source of our Encouragement – Scripture
In conclusion, we note the source from which we are to receive all this encouragement in the midst of trials – it is Scripture itself. Peter is not giving well-meaning platitudes but the authoritative word of God. His exhortation, “Like new-born babies, crave pure spiritual milk, (or “the milk of the word”) so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,” (verse 2) comes out of his expounding Psalm 34, (verse 8): “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” This Psalm contains all sorts of references by David to God’s deliverance “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears,” (Psalm 34:5) and so on. Peter is pointing to God’s word as the “pure spiritual milk” which gives us strength and helps us grow in our faith in the midst of trials.
So, for example, in his admonitions to live out the holy life Christ has won for us, in the previous chapter he refers to the book of Leviticus (20:7) and its charge, “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Likewise, his citing of Jesus’ sufferings are all from the Scriptures – the rejected stone (1 Peter 2:4, 7 – see Isaiah 28:16 and Psalm 118:22), and the rock that will make others stumble (verse 8 – see Isaiah 8:14). His listing of all our privileges – the royal priesthood, the holy nation, and so on (verse 9), is taken from Exodus 19:6. Scripture stimulates us to a life of purity and encourages us in a time of distress by reminding us of God’s faithfulness and who we are. Find out who you are from God’s word. Peter shows us that Scriptural truth is the basis for how we view ourselves and receive commendation and encouragement.
Conclusion
As you face the challenges of living for God in difficult times, hear what God thinks of you and let that word of affirmation give you courage and hope: You are not alone; You are chosen by God: You are royalty; You are priests; You are holy; You are in the light of God; You are the people of God. This is not wishful thinking, but God’s truth. Find out who you are from God’s word, from God himself, and let that be the basis of how you look at yourself and your situation and receive encouragement.
