St. Aidan’s Sermons
Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Rev. Ken Turnbull, May 29, 2011
Sixth Sunday of Easter: 8:30 & 10:00 am, Holy Communion
Words of Encouragement #4: “Preparing for Victory”
1 Peter 3:13-22
Prelude
I dropped the original title “Overcoming the Forces of Discouragement” because I could only identify one cause of discouragement — fear. Since I have preached on fear before, I focused on what I believe is the main thrust of the passage namely ‘How to Prepare For Victorious Living’. When I consulted William Barclay’s commentary on 1 Peter, I was greeted with the words, “This is not only one of the most difficult passages in Peter’s letter, it is one of the most difficult in the whole New Testament; and it is also the basis of one of the most difficult articles in the creed, He descended into hell.” 1 Ironically, these words could be taken as support for the original sermon title.
Introduction
The apostle Peter presents us, as Christians, with a problem. Why should anyone be punished and suffer for doing what is right? Peter tells us that it is just and right when one is punished for doing something which is evil, but what about when you are punished for doing what is right? This is an issue that many Christians throughout the world experience as a harsh and ever present reality. Those of us here in the West are not used to blatant persecution. However, it seems as if God is gradually removing the hedge of protection which shielded us from the worst of the abuses. Our privileged position is disappearing.
If my observation is correct, it is going to become harder and more costly to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. So the question becomes even more pertinent, ‘Are we going to be defeated or victorious when we are confronted by the vicious attacks of the evil one?’ Peter assures us that the victory is ours, if we will lean on our risen LORD. This means building a proper foundation on Jesus Christ.
The first problem is fear itself. Peter tells us not to be afraid of their threats, not to be frightened. [v.14]. Instead we are to focus on the one we serve, our LORD Jesus Christ. If we are going to fear anyone, let it be Jesus.
As many of you know I live in the northern part of the city. Recently, when I was out for a walk I noticed that our local Tim Horton’s had been bulldozed. It was there one day and gone the next. It seemed incredible, the place was always packed with paying customers. It turns out the actual foundations of the building were in terrible shape. The whole building was sinking. Peter wants us to examine our Christian foundations. Yes, we stand on the Rock of Jesus Christ, but Peter wants us to take a closer look at our foundations.
Suffering For Doing What Is Right [1 Peter 3:13-16]
One of our problems is that we expect to be praised when we do what is right. It comes as a shock when we not only aren’t praised, we are criticized for doing what we know to be right. If we are looking for recognition from the world, we will hesitate the next time we have an opportunity to do what is right. I probably used this illustration before, but it certainly caught my attention. A while back a young man found $10,000 to $15,000 in a shopping mall’s parking lot. There was no identification to indicate to whom the money belonged. As an honest person, he turned the money into the appropriate authorities. Eventually it was claimed by the rightful owner. The reaction from the media was not one of praise. He was ridiculed as impossibly naive. Many who called in to the radio talk shows called him stupid, and left no doubt as to what they would have done, if they had found the money. I never heard if the young man was a Christian or not, but if he was, he had a wonderful opportunity to gently and respectfully share the reason why he had returned the money. If he could get past the hurtful ridicule that had been heaped upon him, he had a wonderful public platform to glorify Jesus as his LORD. Words are powerful, but actions are even more so.
In order to be able to suffer for doing what is right, we have to be able to respond in two different ways. The first is internal. Saint Peter says “But in your hearts set apart Christ as LORD”. We have to make the decision that Jesus is truly LORD of our life. In practical terms this means that you are living your life first and foremost for Jesus. You are actively listening for, and to, the voice of God for opportunities to glorify His name, not yours. This means you are prepared to share the faith that is within you. You have thought about it. You are ready. When the opportunity comes, and it will, you will recognize it.
As I’m saying these words I can’t help thinking about the five young lads soon to be confirmed. Confirmation is so much more than the bishop putting his hands on your head, and the power of the Holy Spirit being released in your life. Don’t get me wrong here that is primary and essential. Yet, as important as that is, if we are not careful the emphasis can be all about getting. Confirmation is first and foremost about offering yourself to God. Peter is reminding us how critical it is to set Christ apart, to offer Him first place in our lives, to acknowledge that He is LORD of everything in our life. I challenge the confirmation candidates, even as I challenge you and myself, to acknowledge Jesus’ rightful lordship in our lives.
The second response to suffering for doing what is right is to “give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have”. This is the external response. This is putting the LORD’s purpose ahead of your own needs. This calls us to forgive our enemies because we know God loves them and wants them to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
What is the Foundation of our Hope? [1 Peter 3:17-22]
If you look closely at verses 18-22, you can’t help thinking that Peter is providing us with an early glimpse of some of the content that would later appear in the Apostles’ Creed. Peter wants us to fully grasp the basis for our faith and hope in Jesus Christ. No one is going to have the courage to stand up and be punished for doing what is right, unless they believe they have something or someone who is so precious that all else pales in comparison. Peter wants to make sure that his listeners are prepared to give an account to the world for the way they chose to live. Peter not only wants us to realize that Jesus is the foundation of our hope, but to discern the different layers of this foundation upon which our lives are built. Please extend me some grace here for I am about to share with you very briefly some of the most important and complex doctrines in Church theology.
Peter begins with the doctrine of atonement, the work that Jesus did on the cross for all believers. The Righteous One offered up his life once and for all for the unrighteous ones — you and me, so that through Christ we can enter into the presence of God. When we acknowledge our sins before God, and invite Jesus to be first in our hearts, we become God’s friends. Peter reminds us that Christ’s atonement was for both the living and the dead. Time and space are not barriers because Jesus is LORD of both the dead and the living. God has given Jesus authority over all creation. The doctrine of atonement, the work Jesus accomplished on the cross is the first layer of the believer’s foundation.
Then Peter tells us that it was by the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus “went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah”. What is Peter saying? Peter is saying there is no place in time or history that Jesus cannot go to extend grace to those who have not heard the Gospel. This means that Jesus can step into the distant past or far into the future, or even into the present. From what I’ve heard and read, it is not that uncommon for Moslems to be directly approached by Jesus in a vision or dream that they might hear the gospel and be saved.
In the Apostles’ Creed we say, “He [meaning Jesus] descended into hell”. We need a right understanding here. Hell here is usually understood as ‘Hades’. In Jewish understanding, ‘Hades’ was a place where all the dead went, a dark shadowy place of waiting. Today we usually understand “hell”’ as the “lake of fire” where the devil and all the fallen angels will be cast, where the enemies of God will be cast after the triumphant return of Jesus. “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” [Rev.20:14-15]. Hell is portrayed as a place of everlasting torment and separation from God. We don’t want to end up there. If the doctrine of atonement is the first layer of our foundation, the power of the Holy Spirit forms the second layer.
Next, Peter wants to make sure his listeners appreciate the crucial significance of baptism. Peter wants us to understand that when Noah built the ark to escape death from the coming flood, it was both an act of faith and God’s provision that some might be saved from divine condemnation. Like Noah and his family, all Christians are joined to Christ in the waters of baptism. We pass through the waters from death to life. Remember that baptism is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. Baptism leads to a good conscience because you have made a decision with God’s help to live a righteous life for Him. Although we fall short of the mark because we sin against God, grace is being extended to us so we can confess our sins and be forgiven. Remember baptism is not only the third layer of our foundation in Christ, but also one of the keys to understanding who we are in Christ. You and I are forgiven sinners.
Peter concludes by briefly referring to the last two layers of our foundation in Jesus Christ. You are saved by the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. As a Christian the resurrection power of Jesus Christ is at work in you. The Holy Spirit is transforming you, helping you to be more Christ-like, to attain the full potential for which you were created. Finally, Jesus ascended into heaven where he reigns until He returns to claim all that is His. We now have Peter’s five-fold foundation upon which we stand as Christians.
Conclusion
Peter wants us to accept and embrace the five essential layers of our foundation in Jesus Christ. First, that Jesus died for us so that the barrier that was between us and God has been removed. Second, that by the power of the Holy Spirit the Father extends his grace to us. Third, through our baptism we become children of God, inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven. Fourth, the same divine power of the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is transforming us into who God intended us to be. Last of all, Jesus has ascended to the right hand of God, while the Holy Spirit prepares us to receive our King. I am comforted by the fact that Jesus is at the seat of all power, pulling for us, interceding on our behalf.
Remember this sermon is about overcoming our fear; being prepared to suffer for our faith so that we can live the victorious life for God through the abundant grace that He so freely gives us. God intends you to live a victorious life through the power of the cross. Jesus has already won the victory over the evil one. Therefore, let us stand firm until Jesus returns.
Footnotes
1 William Barclay, The Letters of James and Peter, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, London, 2003, p. 268
