11/16/2024 – Prologue – Tertullian, (c. 155 – c. 222) an early church Father held no patience for those wanting to bridge Christian doctrine to pagan philosophy. “What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?” Some argued the persecution of Christians violated the civil rights of Roman Christians. He called his persecutors inhuman, godless and damned. Tertullian, admiring Christian martyrs, converted to the faith in his late 30s. He was the first to use Trinity to describe God. His philosophy is summed up in the following: “We are equally forbidden to wish ill, do ill, speak ill, think ill of all men (man qua man).
[1 Peter 3:17-22] – Suffering for Doing Right – These five verses may remind us of home assembly toys. We are nearly finished, when we discover an extra part. Where does it fit? Some people sense that when they come upon [v. 19-21] Peter has been warning us - we will suffer; and may be inflicted by the authorities, when we have done nothing. We are in the exact position as the Messiah – a victim of the worst injustice, ever. Peter now tells us four things: 1) After his death Jesus made a proclamation to ‘the spirits in prison’. 2) The spirits had been disappointed in the days of Noah. [Gen. 6-10] 3) Noah’s building of the arc to rescue his family points forward to baptism. 4) Baptism is less about washing clean and more an appeal to God for a good conscience. Where do these pieces belong? It is about those of us who will suffer unjust treatment from human authorities. It is not from random violence or unfortunate happen-stance, but an official, legal persecution. Peter is showing us the gross similarity with the Messiah Himself. Peter makes it clear that after His suffering, Jesus announced God’s victory over all ‘authorities’, including those in heavenly places. The point we are to take from this list is: Human authorities embody ‘spiritual’ authorities standing behind them, even if unseen. Peter is telling us that these complex authorities have been notified that Jesus has overthrown their power. Jesus is now sovereign over the whole world, all authorities included. Note wording [v. 22]; “He has gone into heaven, at God’s right hand, with angels, authorities and powers subject to Him.” Going deeper, we are encouraged to realize that victory over these dark forces has been won – through the Messiah. Jesus after His resurrection (made alive by the spirit, [v. 18]) The Messiah announced to the ‘spirits’ that they had been judged and their power broken. We, as Christians, should be encouraged. These forces had been pushing power they had usurped and now the Messiah has triumphed over them – and they knew it! There is the reason Peter references Noah [Gen. 6-10] Christians were aware of the story of being rescued by the great flood. This is a reference to Baptism [Rom. 6], a dying and rising with the Messiah. Baptism marks the Christian from the world around him and it is not a cleansing from the darkness of Sin; but forms the confrontation that must take place between the Christian community and the watching world. We must acknowledge God’s gift: Baptism is essential to gain the value of the forgiveness of our sins through Jesus’ death. Through Baptism we have access to a ‘good conscience’ so when the confrontation happens the Christian is not ashamed. It may be a struggle, it may be strange working through these verses, but this is what we need to know. When facing trouble or persecu-tion realize that the Messiah has fulfilled the hope of Israel by defeating all the spiritual powers in the world, those responsible for the wickedness and corruption of ancient times. We, in our communities, when facing persecution, it is Baptism that places us alongside the Messiah in His victory. We must keep our heads up, consciences clear and trust His victory will be played out in the world to which we are bearing witness. We need this message, and if we think not, learn to pray for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted and for the day when we may suddenly come into a personal need.
[1 Peter 4:1-11] – Transformed Living – These eleven verses are more easily read and assimilated than the prior six. Here is an arithmetic problem. You buy a new electric toothbrush and are told - two minutes twice a day are required. Wow - 26 hours a year! Now calculate the time spent on TV or Social media. This is far less worthwhile. Compare the value of electronic brushing and the wanton discarding of time on electronic titillation. The latter is a form of gossip and/or voyeurism. What do we gain by lawless behavior? [v. 3] Pagan ways take too much of our time, why waste more. We could be growing as a human being or discovering more about God’s love. Is that why we are here? [v. 8-11] Could we be reflecting God’s love to others? Use other gifts God has given us? We need to reflect on [Prov. 10:12] “Love covers a multitude of sins.” NB - This is not a cover for what we personally want to avoid. It means the minute to minute, day to day efforts we make to transform situations in the lives of others. The ‘multitude …,’ refers to the lives of others. They are forgiven. We can be reconciled! We can stop squabbling and fighting. We can live and work together! All manner of things can go wrong, do not despair. Abandon the old pagan ways and learn the new habit of love. Thus, we find the answers. We make progress. We read [v. 6] and wonder about any relation to [v. 3:19-20]. Peter says the gos-pel was ‘preached to the dead’, [v. 6], and to the ‘spirits in prison’? [v.19] We answer, “No!” Peter is encouraging those who have faced hostility because of their following the Messiah and because they refuse to go along with the dehumanizing behavior(s) recited in [v. 3-4]. This will all be sorted out at judgement when the wicked have to account for themselves. The pagan world looks on, and when the Christian dies exclaims, ‘What has happened to your hope?” The pagan may even think the Christian has lost the struggle. However, the Christian now dead has already received the powerful word of the gospel preached to them during their lifetime [v. 1:23-25] The Christian may experience bodily death that comes with ‘judgement’ [Rom. 8:10] the fact of their belief in the gospel during their lifetime means that now because of the Holy Spirit they are alive in God’s presence awaiting the resurrection yet to come. Peter was informing us and the early Christians, that what happened in Jesus’ death and resurrection, was ushering in a whole new world. ‘The end of all things is upon us.’ [v. 7] This does not mean the end of the space-time universe is coming to an end – that would be spiteful of God who made it and loved it. What God has begun in Jesus, the process of cosmic renewal, is the renewal of human lives via sharing Jesus’ death and resurrection. This comes together in [Chap. 4]. Like Jesus, we must put on the mental armor which will make us strong to face the suffering which we may have to face. This suffering seems to bring about a transformation of character. We are given the opportunity to reevaluate our entire lives. We have the opportunity to realize what matters and what does not. Through suffering for the gospel, many may attain a new clarity which enables them to see sharply the world produced by sin and they know they are done with sin. They gloriously see God’s will is the only course worth following. [v. 2] Peter is not suggesting suffering is glorious or we should seek it. He is saying that the crucifixion of the Messiah was the most wicked thing humans ever did and the most powerfully loving thing God ever did. Thus, the wickedness of those who persecute God’s people creates the framework that allows the power of God’s transforming light to shine more brightly. AMEN
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