Continuing our verse-by-verse studies of 1 Peter, you’ll recall from our previous post that Christians will, in fact, suffer as they live out the Christian life. They will suffer “for righteousness’ sake.” We pick up in verse 14 of Chapter 3:
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
Peter tells Christians that even when they do suffer for righteousness’ sake, they are “blessed.” This teaching calls to remembrance a teaching of our Lord’s that Peter would have heard as he listened to Jesus preach His “Sermon on the Mount”:
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:11-12
When Christians suffer for their faith, Jesus says, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.”
Some of you may suffer for righteousness’ sake this very week. In some countries that means being denied goods & services and healthcare simply because you’re a Christian. You may be shunned, threatened, imprisoned, and, in some cases, even martyred.
Some of you may be refused a position or opportunity because others know of your Christian commitments. Some will hate you, or tell you that you “don’t belong” in their group, clique, or gathering.
Of course, the suffering endured by many of Peter’s earliest readers was rather exceptional. In just a few short years after Peter wrote this letter, many Christians living in the Roman Empire would undergo severe persecution, many killed with the sword, simply because they professed faith in Christ and refused to declare that the Roman Caesar was Lord.
That’s why Peter says in the second part of verse 14, “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” That’s a quote from the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 8:12-14) where Isaiah is essentially saying, “Don’t fear others, fear God.”
To paraphrase, Peter says, “When your life’s on the line for your faith in Christ, don’t be afraid. Better to fear God than to fear others.” And while few of us will face that kind of situation this week–where our lives are on the line for our Christian faith–there are other ways we may fear others:
You may fear speaking up for Christ.
You may fear to take a stand for your Christian principles at work.
You may fear the reaction of your schoolmates or co-workers when they hear that you love Jesus Christ.
You may fear people thinking you’re odd or strange for being a Christian.
Peter says in verse 14, “Do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
Then Peter gets really practical and tells Christians how to do this. He says in the very next verse:
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts… (verse 15)
The text literally reads, “But sanctify Christ as Lord.” The NIV translates the phrase: “In your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord.”
Sanctify Wholeheartedly (15a)
“Sanctify Christ as Lord.” The imperative mood in this phrase requires a decisive action on our part. To “sanctify Christ as Lord” is not an option for the Christian. It is a “must-do.”
But what exactly does it mean to sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts? Peter seems to mean that we are to regard Christ as the greatest treasure of our hearts. To “set apart Christ as Lord” is to recognize that He is the supreme object of our affections, the greatest, holiest, and most wonderful Lord with Whom there is no equal.
Applied to suffering for righteousness’ sake, Peter probably means that we are to recall this reality when the going gets tough. Whatever persecutions we face, we will gladly endure them knowing that our holy and eternal Lord is greater than any short-term sufferings we face in this unholy and temporary world.
It includes believing–really believing–that the Lord Jesus Christ is in control of all things. Those who persecute Christians are not in control. Our Lord Jesus Christ is in control.
Each day, and throughout the day, Christians must “in their hearts, set apart Christ as Lord.” This is either to think or to say something like, “Jesus, I believe You are in control of this day. My enemies are not in control, nor are my circumstances, or my feelings. You are the holy and sovereign Lord before Whom all must bow. In my heart I sanctify you as the greatest possession I ever could possess. You are Lord of everything!”
Speak Courageously (15b-16)
When we sanctify wholeheartedly we’re able to speak courageously. Peter continues in verse 15:
…and always be ready to give a defense (or answer) to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (verse 15)
Always be ready to speak about your faith in Christ. Are you always ready to do that?
If you are in the habit of “in your hearts setting apart Christ as Lord,” then you will be ready to speak about your faith in Christ. You will gladly share with others your love for the holy treasure that is the Lord Jesus Christ. And you will do this confidently and courageously in the presence of unbelievers.
It is important, however, that we speak not in an arrogant or self-righteous way, but rather “with meekness and fear.” That is, “with gentleness and respect (ESV).” Peter adds in verse 16:
16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. (verse 16)
The idea here is to speak and act in such a way as to be as blameless as possible, sharing the truth in an honest, but respectful manner.
As a helpful study Bible puts it:
“You may not be able to keep people from speaking evil against you, but you can at least stop supplying them with ammunition. As long as you do what is right, their accusations will be empty and only embarrass them. Keep your conduct above criticism!”
Life Application Bible (Note on 1 Peter 3:16)
Peter assumes that people will be asking about our faith. Apparently, he also assumes that folks will notice that our behavior is different from others, different in a good way.
It’s a wonderful thing when someone approaches you and says, “Hey, there’s something different about you. What is it?” And you have the opportunity to share with them the gospel.
That opportunity is more likely to come when in your heart you regularly set apart Christ as Lord. When you do that, calmly believing He is in control of all things, people detect a weightiness to your faith and they ask questions like, “What is it about you? You don’t seem to get as rattled as the others here at work. You don’t seem to be as alarmed as others when receiving bad news about your health, or your family, or your finances. What is it about you?”
Then you have an opportunity to give an answer. You tell them about Jesus.
And there’s something really encouraging for us to remember: when we speak for Christ, it is the Spirit of Christ who speaks through us.
You may recall from back in the opening chapter that “the Spirit of Christ” witnessed through believers in the Old Testament. Peter wrote back in Chapter 1:
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. (1 Peter 1:10-11)
This same “Spirit” of Christ who was in the prophets was also in Noah when he preached to the people of of his day while building the ark. Peter says in Chapter 3 that the “Spirit” preached through Noah as he warned the unbelievers, lost souls who are now “in prison” because they refused to heed Noah’s life-saving message. (1 Peter 3:18-20)
We’ll treat those verses more fully in a future post, but for now, note the encouragement here: just as in Old Testament times, when the “Spirit of Christ” did the preaching through faithful followers, so in our day, the Spirit of Christ speaks through us.
Every time you speak about Christ, the Spirit will guide your words. So never fear giving an answer to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope you have in Christ!
Sanctify Wholeheartedly.
Speak Courageously.
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