[0:00] If you'll turn with me now in the New Testament, we're going to read in 1 Peter chapter 3. 1 Peter chapter 3, we begin reading in verse 8.
[0:36] Let us again hear God's word. Finally, all of you live in harmony with one another. Be sympathetic, love as brothers.
[0:49] Be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called, so that you may inherit a blessing.
[1:02] For whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it.
[1:15] For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
[1:28] But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear. Do not be frightened. But in your heart set apart, Christ is Lord.
[1:41] Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
[1:58] It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
[2:10] He was put to death in the body, but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison, who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ark was being built.
[2:25] In it, only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water. And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you. Not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.
[2:39] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand, with angels, authorities, and powers in submission to him.
[2:53] May God again bless his word. Let us again praise God, singing again in Psalm 44, in the new version of the Psalms.
[3:05] This is on page 56 of the Psalm books. Psalm 44, verses 17 to 26.
[3:18] We sing this to the tune Lyra. Psalm 44, at verse 17. All this has happened to us, though we had not forgotten you.
[3:31] We had not spurned your covenant, to which we had been true. Let us stand and sing Psalm 44. Remember, this is a motion to be approved.
[3:48] Thank you. God bless you. Are you kidding me? Thank you.
[4:26] Thank you.
[4:56] Thank you.
[5:26] Thank you.
[5:56] Thank you.
[6:26] Thank you.
[6:56] Thank you.
[7:26] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[8:00] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[8:32] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[9:08] Thank you. Thank you. Do not fear.
[9:44] Thank you. Thank you. Do not fear.
[10:20] Thank you. Thank you. If you know.
[10:56] Thank you. He is the one. He is the one. Thank you. Peter. Thank you.
[11:08] The only thing. He does. changes. You know. Peter chapter 3. beginning of the beginning.
[11:20] He says. Peter. He says. Peter wrote it. He says. He says.
[11:32] He says. He says. He says. Peter. He says. He says. There's not.
[11:44] He says. As God spoke to Isaiah, he says, do not fear what they fear. Do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy.
[11:59] The only change that Peter made as he quoted that passage was this word, which you see translated here in Isaiah as almighty. As Peter wrote it, Peter replaced that word almighty with the word Christ.
[12:17] Do not fear what they fear and do not dread it. The Lord Christ is the one you are to regard as holy. How is it that you are to respond to these situations?
[12:33] What sort of situation were these people facing in Isaiah's day? We read some of that chapter. Remember, we saw that the nation of Judah in which Isaiah lived was being threatened by two other countries, by Israel and by Syria.
[12:52] And more than that, there was the threat which all of those nations feared of Assyria. And we find in this passage that God actually tells them that one day, a Syria is going to overflow all of them.
[13:06] And so they lived in a time when they had a great deal to fear. But God speaks to these people and he says that he doesn't want his people to behave in the way that the people of this world behave.
[13:22] The Lord spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. God told them not to behave like this people, not to fear the sorts of things that they feared, not to respond in the way that they did with all of their plans, with all of their thoughts, all of their reliance upon themselves.
[13:45] What were they supposed to do? The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy. He is the one you are to fear. He is the one you are to dread.
[13:57] When these people were confronted with situations which were indeed frightening, God tells them that rather than being afraid of those things, rather than fearing them, they should fear him.
[14:13] Realizing that he is far greater than all of these things that they're afraid of. The Apostle Peter was writing to people who were in a very similar situation.
[14:25] As we read through the letter of 1 Peter, we see that Peter was writing to people who were persecuted because of the fact that they were Christians. In fact, it seems that some of them were even persecuted physically.
[14:38] They received physical abuse simply for the fact that they were God's people. And Peter tells them the same thing. He says, That's what that word here translated as Lord.
[15:20] It's translated as Lord as well in Isaiah. That's what that word meant. It was God's name. Jehovah. It would perhaps be better to pronounce it Yahweh.
[15:31] God's own name. Peter declares unambiguously. That Jesus is God in the fullest sense of that word.
[15:43] Jesus is Yahweh. And he is the one you are to regard as holy. He is the one that you are to dread. He is the one that you should fear.
[15:53] Not all of these things around you. All of these people who perhaps intimidate you. Who perhaps ridicule you. situations that you are confronted with.
[16:05] Which are outside of your control. Perhaps you face financial difficulties. Perhaps you face problems with your health. Things that terrify you.
[16:16] Things which legitimately are quite difficult. But in the face of those things. What are you to do? Peter tells you. To regard the Lord Christ as holy.
[16:28] To realize that he is God. To realize that he is far greater. Than all of the things of this world. It's interesting as we consider this.
[16:40] To take Peter as our example. This was something. That Peter had to learn to do. Wasn't it? Think of what Peter was like.
[16:50] For instance. As we read in the gospel accounts. To take one passage. We read. In Mark chapter 14.
[17:03] The same person who wrote. What we are considering tonight. Mark chapter 14. At verse 70. We will begin reading.
[17:14] In verse 69. When the servant girl. Saw him there. She said again. To those standing around. This fellow. That is Peter.
[17:25] This fellow. Is one of them. Again. Peter denied it. After a little while. Those standing near to Peter. Said. Surely you are one of them. For you are a Galilean.
[17:37] He began to call down. Curses on himself. And swore to them. I don't know this man. You are talking about. Peter was afraid. For his life.
[17:48] Wasn't he? Peter had good reason. To be afraid. For his life. And Peter. Responded to that fear. In the way. That the people.
[17:58] Of this world. Naturally do. In the way. That we naturally. Respond to fear. But consider. This same person. Later on. In Acts.
[18:09] Chapter 4. There we read. In Acts. Chapter 4. Verse 18. Again. Speaking about. The same person.
[18:19] The same person. Who had been denying. That he even knew. That he even knew. Jesus. See how he's changed. Then the Sanhedrin.
[18:30] Called them in again. And commanded them. Not to speak. Or teach at all. In the name of Jesus. But Peter. And John replied. Judge for yourselves. Whether it's right. In God's sight.
[18:41] To obey you. Rather than God. For we cannot help. Speaking about. What we have seen. And heard. After further threats. They let them go. They could not decide.
[18:52] How to punish them. Because all the people. Were praising God. For what had happened. For the man. Who had miraculously. Been healed. Was over 40 years old. Peter had learned.
[19:04] To fear Jesus. Hadn't he? To regard Jesus as holy. To regard God as holy. And to realize. That this Jesus. With whom he had spent.
[19:15] All of these years. That he was greater. Than all of the things. That Peter was confronted with. Now. This same Jesus.
[19:27] Called you. To be his disciples. This same Jesus. Calls upon you. To regard him as holy. To recognize.
[19:39] Who he is. Think for instance. Of what happened. When people did realize. Who Jesus was. Think for instance.
[19:50] Of the apostle John. Now remember of course. That John. Knew Jesus very well. Didn't he? Think what happened. When John saw. Jesus.
[20:00] In all of his glory. In the book of the Revelation. We read. In chapter 1. Verse 12. I. That is John. Turned around me.
[20:11] To see the voice. That was speaking to me. And when I turned. I saw seven golden lampstands. And among the lampstands. Was someone like a son of man. Dressed in a robe.
[20:22] Reaching down to his feet. And with a golden sash. Around his chest. His head and hair. Were white like wool. As white as snow. And his eyes. Were like blazing fire.
[20:33] His feet. Were like bronze. Bronze. Glowing in a furnace. And his voice. Was like the sound. Of rushing waters. In his right hand. He held seven stars. And out of his mouth.
[20:44] Came a sharp. Double-edged sword. His face. Was like the sun. Shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him. I fell at his feet.
[20:54] As though dead. Then he placed his right hand. On me. And said. Do not be afraid. I am the first. And the last. I am the living one.
[21:06] I was dead. And behold. I am alive. Forever and ever. And I hold the keys. Of death. And Hades. John.
[21:16] Saw Jesus. In all of his heavenly glory. The glory. That belonged. To Jesus. As Yahweh. As God. And John.
[21:26] Was so overwhelmed. By that. That he fell down. At his feet. As though he were dead. This is that Jesus. Which speaks to you now. Who calls you.
[21:37] To recognize him. As holy. To recognize. That he is the one. Who upholds. All of the universe. Merely by his word. To recognize. That he is the one.
[21:48] Who is king of kings. And lord of lords. To recognize. That he is the one. Who will one day come. In all of his glory. With the father's angels. Before whom.
[21:59] All people will stand. And give an account of yourself. Who is it. Who intimidates you. Who perhaps. Ridicules you.
[22:10] As a Christian. There is no one. Who won't. One day. Have to stand. Before this Jesus. He calls upon you.
[22:23] To regard him. As holy. To fear him. And to dread him. Not with the servile fear. Not with the fear. Of punishment. We see that.
[22:33] Jesus reached out his hand. And put it on John. And told him. In one sense. Not to be afraid. But to fear him. With reverence. And with awe. Realizing.
[22:45] That he is greater. Than all of the situations. That you face. All of the things. Which really are quite difficult. All of the people.
[22:56] Who do intimidate you. But nevertheless. There is someone. Who is greater. Than all of these things. It is Jesus. And Peter.
[23:08] Here calls upon you. To regard him as holy. So as we look at this passage. As we ask. How it is.
[23:18] That we are to deal. With people who mistreat us. With situations. Which frighten us. We see in the first place. That we are called upon. To regard Jesus as holy.
[23:29] To fear him. With the fear of reverence. And with awe. We see in the second place. As we look at this passage. That being a disciple of Jesus.
[23:40] Regarding him as holy. Fearing him. It means. Giving an answer. For your faith. It means understanding. What you believe. But in your heart.
[23:52] Set apart. Christ is Lord. Always being prepared. To give an answer. To everyone who asks you. To give the reason. For the hope. That you have. Part of being a Christian.
[24:06] Means understanding. What the Christian faith is. Peter here tells us. That we should be prepared. To give an answer. To people.
[24:18] Now it's interesting. To notice. What it is. That we're to give an answer for. What it is. That we're to explain. Peter. Peter. Doesn't focus upon. This present life.
[24:30] Perhaps. No wonder. That he doesn't do that. He's writing to people. Who are oppressed. And who are persecuted. But he's been pointing. These people. To their future hope. What they have. In Christ.
[24:41] We think. For instance. Of what he writes. At the beginning. Of the letter. Praise be to the God.
[24:52] And father. Of our Lord. Jesus Christ. His great mercy. He has given us. New birth. Into a living hope. Through the resurrection. Of Jesus Christ. From the dead.
[25:03] And into an inheritance. That can never perish. Spoil or fate. Kept in heaven. For you. Who through faith. Are shielded. By God's power. Until the coming.
[25:14] Of the salvation. That is ready. To be revealed. In the last time. That is your hope. And that is what Peter. Here says.
[25:24] That you should be prepared. To explain to people. Do you think. Through your faith. That doesn't mean. That all of us. Are called upon.
[25:34] To be theologians. All of us. Have differing abilities. All of us. Are at different levels. But at whatever. Point we are at. All of us. Should be able.
[25:45] To be able. To explain. What it is. That Jesus has done. For us. We should be able. To explain. However humbly. What it is. We are hoping for. What we are longing for.
[25:57] So we see. That Peter calls upon you. To be able. To give an answer. For your hope. As we look. At this passage. It is interesting. To ask as well. When is it.
[26:09] That people will ask. Always be prepared. To give an answer. To everyone. Who asks you. To give the reason. For the hope. That you have.
[26:21] It is interesting. To notice. That Peter. Isn't here. Thinking of situations. In which. We take the initiative. In which. We bring up. The subject. Of the gospel. There are situations.
[26:33] In which. You should do that. But here. Peter envisages. A situation. In which. Someone else. Will ask you. About your faith. Now.
[26:44] Why is it. Do you suppose. That they'll do that. When will people. Ask you. About what you believe. Well. We see. Some hint of that.
[26:55] In verse 16. Peter tells us. That we should keep. A clear conscience. So that those. Who speak maliciously. Against your good behavior. In Christ. May be ashamed.
[27:06] Of their slander. Now this. Expression. That Peter here uses. Our good behavior. In Christ. That's actually.
[27:18] Just one word. Good behavior. That Peter uses. Again and again. Throughout his letter. He uses it. For instance. In chapter 1. At verse 15. But just as he.
[27:32] Who called you. Is holy. So be holy. In all you do. In all you do. That's. That same word there. God calls upon you. To be holy.
[27:42] Just as he is holy. In everything. That you do. We see this word. Again. In chapter 2. Verse 12. Live such good lives.
[27:53] 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. There.
[28:04] Peter speaks. About. The good lives. Which we live. As God's people. And it is again. This same word. That he uses. Again. We see it. In chapter 3. In verse 1. Speaking there.
[28:15] To women. Who are married. To husbands. Who have not been converted. Peter says to them. Wives. In the same way. Be submissive. To your husbands. So that. If any of them.
[28:26] Do not believe the word. They may be won over. Without words. By the behavior. Of your. Of their wives. When they see the purity. And reverence. Of your lives. There again.
[28:37] That word. Behavior. It's the same word. That Peter uses. Again. And again. Why is it. That people will ask you. About your faith. Well.
[28:48] They'll ask you. Because they look. At your life. And they see. That it's different. We see that. For instance. In chapter 4.
[28:59] There. Peter doesn't use. The same word. But he's speaking. About the same thing. You have spent. Enough time. Peter says. Doing what. Pagans choose.
[29:09] To do. Living in. In debauchery. Lust. Drunkenness. Orgies. Carousing. And detestable. Idolatry. They think.
[29:19] It's strange. That you do not. Plunge with them. Into the same. Flood of dissipation. And they heap. Abuse on you. They will have. To give an account. To him. Who is ready. To judge. The living. And the dead.
[29:32] There. Peter speaks. Precisely. Of the situation. That non-Christians. Will see the way. That these people. Are living. And they'll realize. That they're different. Now.
[29:43] We notice. They don't like. The way. That the Christians. Are living. They don't say. Oh. What good. Outstanding people. These are. They hate them. They ridicule them. For the way.
[29:53] That they live. Nevertheless. God's people. Are seen. To be different. And that is part. Of our witness. The way.
[30:05] That you live. Your good works. Aren't the basis. Of your salvation. You're not a Christian. Because you've been good enough. You're not saved. By your works. But that doesn't mean.
[30:16] That the way. You live your life. Is unimportant. Because the way. That you live your life. Is part of your witness. To those around you. And God calls upon you.
[30:28] To live in a way. That's different. To repent. To turn away. From the way. That you used to live. As part of this world. To live in a way. Which is holy.
[30:38] Which is in accordance. With his word. So we see. As we consider. How it is. That you have to confront. These situations.
[30:50] Situations. Which frighten you. People. Which. Who intimidate you. We see in the first place. That you are to fear the Lord. That you are to fear. Indeed the Lord Jesus.
[31:01] We see. In the second place. That you are to be ready. To give an answer. For the hope. That you have. And then we see. In the third place. That in all of this.
[31:13] You are to behave honorably. Always be prepared. To give. An answer. To everyone.
[31:24] Who asks you. To give the reason. For the hope. That you have. Then notice. Peter goes on. To say. But do this. With gentleness. And respect. As you give.
[31:35] An answer. For the hope. That is in you. You are to do it. In an honorable way. We see. In the first place. In a way. That is honorable. To those people. Around you. Peter says.
[31:45] That we are to do this. With gentleness. Or with meekness. It is the same word. That Jesus uses. When the Beatitudes. When he tells us. That it is those who are meek. Who are blessed.
[31:58] In everything. That you do. You are to be gentle. You are to be meek. You are not. For instance. To be. Bitter.
[32:09] Or angry. Toward those who mistreat you. That would be. Our natural response. But God calls upon you. Not to behave. In that way. Rather than being bitter.
[32:20] Rather than being angry. You are to be meek. And gentle. Just as Jesus. Behaved. He wasn't. Bitter. Or angry. Toward those who mistreated him.
[32:31] Although that was what they deserved. He was gentle. And he was meek. And so he calls upon you. To behave in that way. You are not to be. Arrogant.
[32:42] Toward those who don't understand. You might think. That something seems. So simple. And so clear. Why don't they understand? It's tempted perhaps.
[32:52] To become arrogant. Because we do understand. But you only understand. Because God has given you understanding. So you are not to be bitter.
[33:03] Or angry. You are not to be. Arrogant. That you understand. And they don't. Finally. You are not to be. Arrogant. That you are saved. And they are not. That you are a Christian.
[33:15] And they are not. As though. That somehow makes you a better person. Rather. You are to behave. With gentleness. With meekness. That is.
[33:26] Toward other people. But we notice as well. That Peter here tells you. To behave honorably. Toward God. Notice that he says.
[33:37] Not only. To do this with gentleness. But also he says. With respect. Now. This word. That's translated here. Is respect. Respect.
[33:47] It is. Quite literally. The word. Fear. Now. Again and again. Throughout this letter. Peter speaks about the idea. Of fear. But I think it would be better.
[33:59] If it had been translated here. As reverence. Reverence for God. Rather than as respect. For other people. For instance. In chapter one. Verse seventeen.
[34:10] Since you call on a father. Who judges each man's work. Impartially. Live your lives. As strangers here. In reverent fear. Again in chapter two.
[34:22] Verse seventeen. Show proper respect. To everyone. Love the brotherhood. Of believers. Fear God. Honor the king.
[34:33] There we notice. That we're to respect. Everyone. We're to honor the king. But it's God. That we're to fear. Again. In chapter. Three. Peter there.
[34:44] Writing to wives. Says. Your beauty. Should not come. From outward adornment. Such as braided hair. And the wearing of gold jewelry. And fine clothes. Instead. Sorry.
[34:58] Rather. Beginning in verse two. Speaking of the husbands. Watching them. When they see the purity. And reverence. Of your lives. There it is. Just simply fear. But it's clearly. Speaking about fear of God.
[35:09] And of course. In this passage. Peter has just been telling us. Not to fear the people. Of this world. So when he tells us. That we're to behave.
[35:19] With fear. Surely he is speaking here. Of the fear of the Lord. Of reverence for God. As you give an answer. For the hope that is in you.
[35:31] As you speak to other people. About your faith. You're to do so. Not simply with respect. For them. With gentleness. And with meekness. But all the while.
[35:42] Here to do that. In reverence for God. Realizing that you speak. As his people. Recognizing. That he is holy.
[35:55] Recognizing. That he is the king. And that you belong to him. So this is what Jesus calls upon you to do. This is how he calls upon you.
[36:07] To respond to situations. Which you find difficult. In the first place. You see that you're to fear him. To regard him as holy.
[36:18] To humble yourselves before him. Realizing that he is greater than all of these things. In the second place. We've seen. That he calls upon you. To be ready. To give an answer.
[36:29] For the hope that you have. In him. And then finally. You see that he's calling you. To do this. Honourably. With gentleness. And meekness. Towards those around you.
[36:41] And with reverence. In all. Of him. And as we consider these things. It's important. That you remember. That in all of this. You are utterly dependent upon him.
[36:56] You're dependent upon him. To enable you to will. And to do his good pleasure. We're not up to this. We don't have the resources within ourselves.
[37:08] To live this sort of life. And so you have to trust in him. And rely upon his strength. Rely upon his holy spirit. Whom he's given to you.
[37:19] So you're dependent upon him. To enable you to do his will. But you're also dependent upon him. To forgive you when you fall short. As we consider this passage.
[37:33] That we've read. As we consider. What Jesus calls us here to. Each one of us can think. Of how we have failed. How we've sinned. So often we behave.
[37:43] The way that Peter did. In the gospels. Fearing. The people of this world. Rather than God. So often we can think of times. When people have asked us about our faith.
[37:56] And we haven't been able to give any sort of answer. So often we can think of times. When we haven't behaved. Gently toward them. In humility. When we haven't behaved in a way.
[38:09] That showed our reverence for God. All of us fall short. But remember. That this Jesus. Is the one. Peter tells us in verse 18.
[38:21] Who died for sins. Once for all. The righteous for the unrighteous. To bring you to God. Jesus is not only the one. Who calls you to obey him.
[38:32] In this way. Jesus is also the one. Who has suffered. And died. So that you can have forgiveness. For the times when you have not obeyed him. So as you go from here.
[38:45] As you go about your lives in this world. Remember who this Jesus is. Remember what he calls you to. We'll conclude this evening.
[39:06] Singing in Psalm 33. We sing Psalm 33 verses 12 to 20.
[39:28] In the traditional version of the Psalms. You'll find this on page 246 of the Psalm book. The tune is St. Ephelreda. Psalm 33 verses 12 to 20.
[39:44] That nation blessed is. Whose God Jehovah is. And those a blessed people are. And for his heritage he chose. Let us stand and sing Psalm 33.
[39:59] Lord God in heaven. We praise you for all of your greatness. We praise you that you are the one who dwells. In inapproachable light. We praise you also that you are the one who is drawn near to us.
[40:13] In Jesus Christ. As we go from here. We pray that each one of us would know your blessing. That we would know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The love of God the Father.
[40:24] And fellowship with your Holy Spirit. Hear our prayers and forgive our many sins. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. I will do it. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[40:38] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[40:49] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[40:59] Amen. Amen.