Good Suffering
1 Peter 2:13-3:7, 3:13-22, 4:12-19

Sermon Notes - April 3, 2022
Good Suffering (1 Peter 2:13-3:7 / 3:13-22 / 4:12-19) - Brian Becker

Good Suffering

1 Peter 1:1 (ESV)
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion…

1 Peter 2:11-16 (NIV)
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Therefore submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.

1 Peter 2:17 (ESV)
Honor everyone. Love the church. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

“Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace.” - Tactitus (Ancient Roman Historian)

1 Peter 2:18-25 (NIV)
Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

Citizens vs Authorities
Slaves vs Masters
Wives vs Husbands

Too many Christians are known for what they are against than what they are for…especially right now.

Romans 12:10, 14, 18, 21 (ESV)
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor…Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them…If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all…Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 Peter 2:21 (NIV)
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Example: Greek - hupogrammos
hupo: “under” // grapho: “to write”

An underwriting. A tracing of letters. Copying the writings of a teacher. An example. The example of Christ enables us to endure and do good when we suffer.

Worry doesn’t work.
Worry can’t change what you can’t control. Worry never fixes tomorrow, but it always ruins today.

1 Peter 2:22-25 (NIV)
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Who is our Jesus?
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
“He himself bore our sins”
“By his wounds we have been healed.”
“We were like sheep going astray,”

“But now we have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.“

Jesus is available for us every step of the way.