Peter Vs Fear 1 Peter 3:13-18
The opening of this letter, 1 Peter 1:1, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,” Peter, the same Peter who is one of the original twelve apostles, the same Peter who denied Jesus is writing this letter. 1 Peter 1:2, “To God’s elect…through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood.” Peter is writing this epistle to all believers in Christ, to anyone who has accepted Jesus sacrifice at the cross.
It’s believed that Peter wrote this about 60 AD or about 30 years after Jesus, and its purpose is to encourage suffering Christians. It’s meant to call Christians to live victoriously even in the midst of persecution. It’s meant to remind believers of the great gift of salvation given through Jesus and to focus on this amid their suffering. It also gives advice on how believers can live a Christian life while surrounded by non-believers.
I find it interesting that it is Peter who writes this kind of letter; Matthew 14:29-30, “’Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat and walked on the water…But when he saw the wind he was afraid and began to sink…” Matthew 17 tells us of the transfiguration, Peter was on the mountain with Jesus, James and John when God spoke from the clouds, Matthew 17:6, “When the disciples heard this, they fell face down, terrified.” John 18:17, “’You aren’t one of this man’s disciple’s too, are you,’ she asked Peter. He replied, ‘I am not.’” Luke 22:58, “’You are one of them.’ ‘I am not!’ Peter replied. Luke 22:58, “About an hour later another asserted, ’Certainly you were with him.’ Peter replied, ‘I don’t know what you are talking about!’”
Peter’s not exactly the rock of faith during difficult times or fearful times but this is what makes him uniquely knowledgeable as to letting fear interfere with your faith and trust in Jesus. Peter is uniquely qualified to lecture us on what to do if fear interferes with our faith.
One thing Peter teaches us is, suffering is inevitable. Our readings verse 13, “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?”
Peter’s audience were no strangers to suffering. They suffered in toil just to survive another day. They suffered under the crushing occupation of Rome. As believers in Christ they suffered exile, insults, loss of family and friends, loss of livelihoods and homes all because of their belief. Peter is saying your life is hard, but even if you do good work in Christ’s name, you shouldn’t expect a reward.
Wait, what, isn’t a reward how my life would be blessed? Verse 14, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.” This must have been a shock to his readers, but it is something we must hold tightly to. Even if we suffer in our lives, even if our work for Christ causes us difficulties, we are blessed. God’s blessing doesn’t always mean rainbows and sweet-smelling flowers. God’s blessing does mean peace between you and him, and eternity in his presence.
Peter is telling first century Christians as well as 21st century Christians, you are blessed by God the father if you accept his Son, look beyond the hardships of life because they do not reflect on the great blessing of salvation you have been given. C. S. Lewis was once asked, “Why do the righteous suffer?” He answered, “Why not, they’re the only ones who can take it.”
Verse 14, “Do not fear their threats, do not be frightened.”
I said before, in many places in the world people literally fear for their lives because of their faith. In fact, Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world. It is estimated that up to 160,000 Christians are killed each year. That’s the entire population of Ulster County killed each year. Christ’s asking us to follow him and be faithful in the face of the world’s hate.
I think I’ve told this story before. There was a minister and his wife working with the poor in Iran. They were captured by terrorists, and they put a gun to the minister’s head and told him to renounce Christ or die. When he refused, they put the gun against his wife’s head and told him to renounce Christ or she would die. Before he could say anything she said, “We will never renounce Jesus our Lord.” They killed her in front of him.
We live in the United States and we have little to fear about worshipping Christ, but we should all know what others in the world face because of their faith. And we should know they suffer because they believe Jesus when he says to stand firm against the hate and prejudice of the world. They believe Jesus when he says to stand firm in the face of certain death because you are blessed.
Living here we may never understand that level of faith. How did that minister’s wife hold so strong in the face of her killers? Verse 15, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.” Totally believing that Jesus is Lord and heaven was her reward gave that woman of faith the strength to stand there and hold on to Jesus as her captures pulled the trigger.
Now I sincerely pray none of us must face this kind of challenge to our faith, but even here there are challenges. When we are open with our faith, we can fear many of the same things Peter did; how will others perceive me, do others see me as a fanatic, as one who judges, as one who thinks I’m superior, as one who is weird and should be avoided? The heart of what Peter is saying is we should be strong in Christ, strong enough to risk being misunderstood. We should be strong enough to say, “As a follower of Christ I will let him direct me, let him shape my ethics, let him control my motivation and actions, even if it means I look strange or as an outsider.” If that minister’s wife could have enough confidence in Christ to stand in faith before her killer, we can certainly have enough confidence in Christ to let others think we’re odd.
Verse 17, “For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” This just doesn’t sound right; if it is God’s will for us to suffer? Contrary to prosperity preaching, God’s plan for us may not include wealth, prestige, and privilege. We are told in 2 Timothy 2:3,
“Take with me your share of hardships, passing through the difficulties which you are called to endure, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”
We’re told Jesus suffered immensely for us and as we continue to live in a fallen world we may be called on to suffer for him. Peter explains why this is so a little later in 1 Peter 4:13, “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” In other words, keep focused on Jesus even as you suffer, for it is better to suffer for Christ here and live in heaven than to ignore Christ here and suffer eternal torment. And as we keep strong in faith and worship of Jesus as we suffer, it is a greater testimonial for others to see than just our words.
Verse 18, “He was put to death in body but made alive in the Spirit.” It’s unfortunate but we live in a fallen world, and I know we don’t like to think of it, but as Christians we will suffer, but in the next world our spirits will fly with Jesus.
As we saw in the beginning of this message, Peter was a man who lived in fear. Acts 12:11, “Then Peter said, ‘Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod…’” Accept Jesus and he will send the Holy Spirit to rescue you from Satan and the power of sin.
I know there are things in our world to truly be afraid of but remember that in many countries believers fear being martyred. In the US we may be faced with this reality as we worship our God but that does not mean we are free of fear in regard to our faith. Like Peter we can fear ridicule, or abandonment because of our belief. Scripture never tells us that being among the faithful will be all rosy. The truth of our faith is, it will not. Our faith is putting Christ’s work before your family and friends. It’s putting family and friends behind those who Jesus shows are in need.
Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate their father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, such a person cannot be my disciple.” This is what that means; Christ first, first before family, first before friends, first before yourself. That is what people don’t like. This is what people avoid. This is what our Lord tells us he expects. Christianity is not just going to church; Christianity is how you live.
1 Peter tells Christians Jesus suffered for us, and as his followers we may be expected to suffer for him. That’s the reality of being a follower of Jesus.
The reality of the world is that it is better to know Jesus and suffer in this world for him than to ignore him and suffer in the next world for all eternity. And this reality is a recurring theme in God’s word; Acts 9:16, “…I will show him how he is to suffer for my name’s sake,” Philippians 3:10, “that I may know him and the fellowship of his suffering,” Matthew 5:11, “Blessed are you when people…say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” The reality of Christianity is that our hardships allow our faith to shine as a light for others to see. I put forth for your consideration; what good is our faith to ourselves or to God, if it is never tested?
Accept Christ and you are saved., This makes you a Christian, but it is not Christianity. Christianity is the work done for Christ and others, and the consequences of that work. Being called into God’s family is very special and we who are called should be elated for being called is nothing short of a life of and a life for God, and that is most precious.
Know what Peter tells us in this letter. You are called into fellowship with God, by God. Do not let fear rule your life. Christ first, always.
Amen.