"THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER"
Preparing For Persecution (3:13-18)
Having described the proper conduct of Christians in various relationships, Peter now turns more specifically to the subject of suffering. That the first recipients of this epistle were experiencing or would experience persecution is evident from 1:6 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials,”; 4:12-19 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you: but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy. If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you. For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men’s matters: but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name. For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear? Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator.”; 5:8-10 “Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world. And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.”
Now, under normal circumstances, what Peter writes in verse 13 is the rule... "And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?" But there are times when Satan will make every effort to bring harm to those who try to follow the will of God (remember Job?) - 1 Pe 5:8-9 “Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour, whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.”; Re 12:17 “And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus:”
How, then, should Christians prepare themselves so that they might be victorious in overcoming whatever persecution might come their way? In verses 14-18, we can glean at least five points in "Preparing For Persecution"... Remember, you are blessed if you suffer for Christ (3:14,17). This truth is stressed twice by Peter in this epistle. In our text - 1 Pe 3:14 “But even if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;”. Even more definitively in 1 Pe 4:14 “If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you.” Where he adds that the "Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you". Those who suffer for the cause of Christ are fortunate, for God is with them.
This reinforces what Christ taught; that those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake are blessed - Mt 5:10-12 “Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.” In this passage, two reasons are given for such blessedness. Your reward will be great in heaven and you are in the company of God's prophets of old.
Certainly you are better off suffering for Christ, than suffering for evil. There are no blessings or promises in the latter. As Peter writes in 1 Pe 3:17 “For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.” Suffering for evil is what WILL happen if we are not willing to stand up for Christ. And suffering for Christ is only temporary, but the suffering for evil is eternal!
Sanctify the Lord in your hearts, (3:14-15) “But even if ye should suffer for righteousness’ sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled; but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:”
What does it mean to "sanctify the Lord God in your hearts"?. The word "sanctify" means "to set apart". Thus it means to set the Lord up on the throne of your heart, to make Him the Lord and Ruler of your life; ruling over your own desires; His Will taking precedent over your own will and that of others. The NU-Text suggests that it is Christ under consideration as referencing the "Lord God".
This is the key to facing persecution without fear or without being troubled. For unless we sanctify the Lord in our hearts, we will be afraid of what man might do, or be troubled by what he threatens. But when we make Christ and God, Lord, we will not fear what man might do - He 13:5-6 “Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee. So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?”
Always be ready to give a defense for the reason of your hope, (3:15) “being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:”
Observe carefully what Peter is not saying. He is NOT saying that we need to be ready to give an answer for EVERY question on religious matters that someone might ask. As some have used this verse as a proof-text. While we should certainly strive to be able to explain why we do what we do in matters of religion, that is not the point Peter is making here.
Instead, Peter is saying to always be ready to give a reason why you have the HOPE you do. To explain the basis of your hope (your strong desire and expectation). This implies that our desire and confidence for the future is so strong that it is observable by others. Even in the midst of persecution, we are demonstrating joy over the hope we have - 1 Pe 1:6 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials”, 8 “whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”. To do so in the proper spirit. In the spirit of MEEKNESS. This pertains to our attitude toward men. We should be humble, not arrogant or angry. In the spirit of FEAR. This pertains to our attitude toward God. It should be reverent, not flippant.
Keep your conscience clean, (3:16) “having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.” reason to keep your conscience clean is given by Peter in our text. That this together with your good conduct will likely cause your enemies to be ashamed for mistreating you. If not ashamed in this life, they will certainly be ashamed on the day of judgment!
Another reason to have a clean conscience is that a guilty conscience will not enable one to face the threat of death without fear and trembling. For before we can stand before men without fear we need to be able to stand before God without fear. That is impossible without a clear conscience! - 1 Jn 3:21 “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God;”
Remember the example of Christ, (3:17-18) “For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing. Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;”
He suffered for our sakes that He might bring us to God - 1 Pe 3:18 “Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;”; also 2:20-25 “For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now". So we see that suffering for good can sometimes accomplish much good in the long run.
We have been called to follow his example. As Peter already indicated in 1 Pe 2:21. And which he does again in 1 Pe 4:1 “Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;”
More will be said later in this epistle on the subject of how to deal with persecution, b ut in this text, we find five good ways to prepare ourselves... applying these five principles to our lives we will be more useful to the Lord, ready for whatever may come. Even if we are not faced with the prospects of physical persecutions in our lifetime, it will help in times of social or verbal persecution.
In this lesson, we noticed the value of having a good conscience; in 1 Pe 3:21, Peter speaks of that which he calls "the answer of of good conscience toward God" (i.e., baptism). Have you considered what else he says about it in that passage...?
