CHRIST SUFFERED IN HIS BODY
1 Peter 3:8-4:11
Key Verse 4:1
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.”
Introduction
In this passage Peter mentions how believers should treat each fellow believers within the church as well as people outside. He also encouraged believers to suffer to do what is right before God showing Jesus’ example. Jesus suffered to save sinners and was lifted up by God. He also encourages believers to live holy life loving one another deeply. This passage shows us a clear picture of the life we should live as believers. It also encourages us to suffer in our body to serve God’s will just as Jesus did.
1. Read verses 3:8-14. What does Peter exhort the Christian community to do? (8-10) Why should we do good and seek peace always? (11-13) Why are we blessed when we suffer for doing what is right? (14)
1-1. Read verses 3:8-14.
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.12 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.” 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
1-2. What does Peter exhort the Christian community to do? (8-10)
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.
Be like-minded : they should be like-minded with one to another, not according to man's pleasure, but according to Christ Jesus and His word.
Romans 15:5-6 reads,
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Most of us are willing to have one mind, as long as that one mind is mine. But to be of one mind is to share the mind of Christ
1 Corinthians 2:16 reads,
For, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
This command brings us back to the need to know God's word. We can't be of one mind, having the mind of Jesus, if we don't know what His mind is. The word of God shows us the mind of Jesus.
This speaks to the essential unity of God's people. We are one; but we are not all the same. While we should all be of one mind, we can't expect everyone to be like us. God has built both unity and diversity among His people.
It is like our body. Every cell of your body is different, and each one has its role to play. But every cell in your body has the same DNA code written in it, the master plan for the whole body. Every cell in your body has the same "mind."
It is also like a choir. Each one sings with their own voice, and some sing different parts, but everyone sings to the same music and in harmony with one another.
· be sympathetic : Though Christians may not be exactly of the same mind, yet
they should have sympathy and compassion, one for another.
· love one another
· be compassionate and humble
Christians should treat each other with love, for this was the commandment Jesus gave His disciples.
John 13:34-35 reads,
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Jesus did not command us to like our brothers and sisters in Christ. But we are commanded to love them, and once we start loving them, we will start liking them.
By being like–minded, sympathetic, loving one another, and being compassionate, believers can be united and become one.
On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
The greatest challenge to our love for others comes when we are wronged. At those times, we are called to not return evil for evil, but to give a blessing instead.
No dispute, argument, or personality conflict among believers should hinder us in our pursuit of being of one mind in Christ.
Even if one Christian gets out of line, the loving response of other Christians should keep the problem small and short-lived.
The natural response to hostility is retaliation. One group wrongs another, and dedicates the rest of its existence to repaying that wrong. Only the love of Jesus for our enemies can break this terrible cycle.
Jesus reminded us that it is no great credit if we love those who love us in return; the real test of love is to demonstrate compassion towards our enemies
Matthew 5:43-48 reads,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
- We were called to overcome evil by doing good to evil-doers. We will inherit a blessing by doing it.
We love one another, but not only for the sake of Jesus or for the sake of our brother or sister, but also for our own sake.
If you can't love for the sake of Jesus, or for the sake of your brother, then do it for your own sake!
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech
Psalm 34:12-16 reads,
“Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. 14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; 16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.”
To have life and see good days, we must keep our tongue from evil and our lips from deceitful speech.
We can commit a lot of sins through what we say.
We should be careful about what we say and make every effort to say words that can please God.
If we earnestly desire that our life should be long, and our days peaceable and prosperous, we should keep our tongue from speaking evil, slandering, and our lips from lying and deceit.
Avoid doing damage to or hurting our neighbors, but be ready to say good and godly words.
1-3. Why should we do good and seek peace always? (11-13)
They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.12 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.” 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
· For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayers
- God pays attention to those who do good and takes care of them. He shows his favor towards them, listens to their prayers, and answers them.
· The face of the Lord is against those who do evil - God shows his anger toward those who do evil and his punishment will follow.
· In most cases people don’t harm those who are eager to do good. And God protects those who do good.
· God never hurts those who do good. Rather he protects them from any kind of harmful attack.
1-4. Why are we blessed when we suffer for doing what is right? (14)
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
There will be reward from God for our suffering for what is right.
Matthews 5:10-12 reads,
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Believers suffer for a while but their suffering is temporary.
Suffering for good brings us God’s blessing and eternal glory. We can suffer with joy rather than becoming fearful.
We should stand firm with confidence by believing in God’s blessing of suffering for doing good.
Doing good is often difficult because usually evil is rewarded immediately. But the reward for doing good is often delayed.
But the rewards of good are better, and far more secure than the rewards of doing evil.
2. Read verses 3:15-22. How can we prepare ourselves as the Lord’s witnesses? (15,16) In what respect is suffering for doing good better than suffering for doing evil? (17) What does Christ’s example reveal about suffering? (18-22)
2-1.Read verses 3:15-22.
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 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, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive,[d] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
2-2. How can we prepare ourselves as the Lord’s witnesses? (15,16)
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.
· Believers should revere Christ in their hearts.
- We should let Jesus rule our hearts by revering him in our hearts as Lord.
- We should also be ready to witness about Jesus to others as well.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
· We have a living hope in Jesus, the hope of resurrection, and the hope of kingdom of God. God gave us hope through Jesus’ death and resurrection, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:3-5 reads,
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
· We should be able to explain the reason for our hope to anyone who open to listening to our testimony. It means we should be able to share the gospel of Jesus with anyone who wants to hear about it.
But do this with gentleness and respect,
When we share the gospel of Jesus with others, we should do it with gentleness and respect, not pride, aggressive coercion or by despising anyone.
- Some people could argue because they have difficulty accepting the gospel. But we should share the gospel with a gentle heart, with patience, and respect.
keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
· keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
- As we share the gospel of Jesus, we should keep a clear conscience; we should do it with a right motive and with a good purpose, keeping genuine love.
- A clear conscience is the basis for our witnessing about Jesus Christ.
- Some people could attack us by speaking maliciously against our message and us. But if we keep doing it with clear conscience before God, they will be ashamed of their slander about us.
2-3. In what respect is suffering for doing good better than suffering for doing evil? (17)
For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
· Suffering for doing good brings us great reward and benefits others as well. It is considered as righteousness before God that pleases him.
· We should not be ashamed or sad about suffering for doing good. It is an honor and glory for us.
· Doing evil brings God’s judgment and destruction to us. Doing evil also damages and hurts others. Suffering for doing evil is meaningless and useless.
· We should feel ashamed if we suffer for doing evil.
2-4. What does Christ’s example reveal about suffering? (18-22)
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
· Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
· Jesus suffered on the cross once for all for our sins. He was righteous but suffered for the unrighteous, for sinners like us.
· Through his suffering he brought us to God by restoring the broken relationship with God caused by our sins. He enabled us to approach a holy God and have fellowship with him, bestowing upon us his righteousness. We can come to God without hindrance through Jesus because of his redemptive sacrifice on the cross.
· He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits
· Jesus made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits, to those who were disobedient in the days of Noah. Jesus was the Messiah throughout God’s redemptive history, even for the people before his incarnation.
20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,
· The people in the days of Noah didn’t believe God’s word and his warning. They disobeyed him. They had a chance to be saved while the ark was being built. But they lost their chance due to unbelief and disobedience. Only Noah’s family believed, obeyed, and were saved.
· Jesus is the real ark of salvation. Jesus proclaimed that he is the ark of the salvation through his death and resurrection
· But many people still didn’t believe Him and disobeyed the good news of Jesus. But God is patiently waiting for people to come into the ark, just he did for the people in Noah’s age.
21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
· For the people who didn’t obey the water of flood was God’s judgment. But for Noah’s family, the water was a baptism that led them to salvation.
· The waters of the flood were a symbol of baptism, and Jesus established real baptism that enables us to have clear conscience toward God.
· The meaning of baptism is being united with Jesus by dying together with him and rising up together with him, receiving new life.
· Baptism saves us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
· Baptism is not just cleansing our outside but cleansing our inside and the cleansing of our hearts. As a result of Jesus’ cleansing, we can have good conscience.
· Jesus is sitting at God’s right hand with angels, authorities, and powers in submission to God.
· Jesus showed a good example of suffering for doing good. Through his suffering he served God’s will and brought salvation to sinners. And God glorified him to sit at his right hand, which is the highest glory.
Jesus is our role model as well as our roadmap!
Philippians 2:9-10 reads,
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
3. Read verses 4:1-11. Why should we have Jesus’ attitude toward suffering? (1,2) How were our past lives before we knew the gospel? (3-6) What does Peter further encourage us to do? (7-11)
3-1. Read verses 4:1-11.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
3-2. Why should we have Jesus’ attitude toward suffering? (1, 2)
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
· Jesus suffered in his body to serve God’s will.
- While living in his body, Jesus suffered to serve God’s will
- His suffering was real, not theoretical. We should be able to participate in His suffering in our practical life.
- We should keep the same attitude that Jesus had, which is to suffer in our body to serve God’s will
- When we suffer to serve God’s will, we can overcome the power of sin and live a holy life.
- If we don’t suffer to serve God’s will, we will suffer with our sin.
· We should not live the rest of our lives for our evil human desires. Rather we should live and suffer for the will of God just as Jesus did.
- God saved us so we might suffer to serve God’s will during our life on earth, no longer living to serve our sinful desires.
3-3. How were our past lives before we knew the gospel? (3-6)
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
· People in the world could wonder why we are different. They will most likely persecute us.
- People might get angry at us, seeing that we live differently.
· But they will receive God’s judgment for what they are doing, especially if they try to harm or persecute believers of Jesus.
· The gospel should be preached to those who are dead spiritually, so that they might not be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live a spiritual life.
- The gospel of Jesus is the power that enables sinners to live eternally together with God by saving them from eternal death.
- We would die physically but live eternally with the new life that God gives us through the gospel of Jesus.
- It is our duty to share the gospel of Jesus with sinners who are under the power of death.
3-4. What does Peter further encourage us to do? (7-11)
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
· “be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray”
- we should be alert in the last days, waiting for Jesus’ coming, not being distracted or shaken by the things of this world.
· “above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins”
- The love we should have is one that covers other’s sin and supports others.
- It is not an emotional love but love that involves a firm decision and practical action.
· “offer hospitality to one another without grumbling”
- Our offering hospitality is not just for the guest but fundamentally for Jesus Christ. We should offer hospitality to others just as we would for Christ.
· “each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as
faithful stewards of God’s grace”
- God gave us the gift of serving others and his church. We should make all effort
to serve others and the church with whatever gifts we have. We are all stewards and all gifts were given to serve Jesus’ church.
· “if anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.”
- We are representatives of God. We should glorify God’s name through how we
speak.
· “if anyone serves they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all
things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”
- When we do serve, we should believe that God would provide the strength that we need. When we do the work of service by faith, God enables us to do this work with his power so that he may be praised and glorified.
· To him be the glory and power forever and ever.
- The ultimate purpose of service and work is to reveal God’s glory and power.
Conclusion
God saved us to live holy life, to love one another, and to suffer for doing God’s will. We should treat each other with deep love, be generous to unbelievers, and share the gospel of Jesus with the world. Also we must suffer to serve God’s will, following Jesus who suffered in serving God’s will, even to the point of death. Later He was lifted up and seated at God’s right hand.
One word: Whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
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