GRACE TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST
Turn the Other Cheek
1 Peter 2:18-25
Jerry A Collins
SCC
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How can I
respect authority over me that is unreasonable?
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Why should
I submit to unreasonable authority?
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What does
Christ teach me about suffering unjustly?
One of the most challenging tests of our spiritual walk, is the test of submitting to authority. That testing begins from a very young age in the home. It progresses to teachers, coaches, aunts, uncles, govt and employers. The problem comes when we believe that we are being unjustly treated by any of these authorities. How are we to respond? What is the kind of response that is pleasing to God? In our passage we will learn that God expects us to patiently endure personal injustice. Our old nature patched, and nailed, and knotted together with it’s experiences, learned behaviors, and garnished with home-spun wisdom learned on the way, will want to take over and guide us in our response to personal injustices. God still expects us, demands of us, that we patiently endure unjust treatment from superiors. The setting here for this discussion is the servant-master, paralleling today, the employer-employee relationship. So what is Peter conveying to us about this issue?
1. PATIENTLY ENDURE UNJUST TREATMENT BECAUSE THAT IS PLEASING TO GOD
18-20
Patiently endure unjust treatment 18
Servants The word for
servant suggests one doing service within a household. Not comparable to the 18th-19th
century degrading of slaves in
Submissive To be sure, there were some good and considerate
masters. But there may have been the possibility of as many unreasonable. The
description is skolios
meaning crooked, curved or bent. So they could be dishonest, or morally evil
(Acts
Patiently endure because God is pleased 19-20 Commendable Twice it refers to being in God’s favor when we do this. What finds favor with God we sometimes find very strange. God surprises us but let’s us know what He is thinking and it is not the way we would think to do.
Praiseworthy if we do so for conscious sake toward God 19
So it is the kind of action that is endured while one is mindful of God. It is not just enduring personal injustice with a stoic tenacity. But a trusting awareness of God’s presence and loving care. It is the confidence that God will ultimately right all wrongs that enables me to submit to an unjust master without resentment, self-pity or despair. And this is done when injustice produces suffering that is sorrowful or brings us grief. This word is never used for physicals pain in the NT. It is the mental anguish that the injustice produces which we experience. It brings grief into my life that is undeserved but I endure it with God in mind. Living vertically. This, God says, gains God’s approval—the recipient of His favor in your life.
No virtue in deserved suffering 20 There is no credit that accrues to your account for enduring punishment when you are wrong. Many know they are getting what they deserve when they have done something wrong and bear the punishment without complaint. It is far different when you do right and suffer. Patiently enduring that is a surprising response mindful of God. All of this used by God to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ. So, for employees; (1) Treat employers with respect. (2) Treat bad employers the same as good ones. (3) Suffer injustice knowing God is pleased. (4) Work for God not your employer.
2. WE ARE CALLED TO SUFFER, LIKE CHRIST SUFFERED, TO SAVE US 21-25
We are called to suffer 21 We have also been called by God out of
darkness into His marvelous light 2:9; called to return blessing for cursing
3:9; called to His eternal glory in Christ 5:10. Here we are called to trusting
God while suffering unjustly (1 Pt 5:9; 1 Thess 3:3;
2 Tim
(1) Jesus was completely innocent in word and deed 22 The NT
affirms Jesus sinlessness in Mt 27:4; Jn
(2) Jesus never retaliated suffering silently before God 23 He made no threats to get even some day. He did not resist with a riot or takeover. He suffered in silence leaving judgment to His Father. He was not insulting or abusive. God is in control and Jesus knew it. The entire situation was given to His Father. And He kept doing that. When we understand that God has our bests interests at heart in every situation we can entrust it to Him. When we don’t—we threaten, seek revenge, desire to retaliate and get even. Jesus did not believe in therapeutic value of expressing your anger when wronged nor trying to merely suppress it—but proactively place it in God’s hands. Jesus was conscious that God is the judge.
(3) Jesus suffered unjustly with higher purpose of giving salvation 24 The humiliation associated with the cross and His patient
endurance of it brot us the wonderful gift of salvation. The Father counted our sins against Christ
and then punished Him for them. The purpose was to bear our sin and free us to
be righteous in God’s eyes. Christ took our punishment and thru that we were
spiritually healed. The cross equals humiliation
(4) Jesus now guides and protects those
committed to His care 25 We had no
direction—straying but now we have returned in salvation to Him. This one who suffered unjustly, now comforts, guards and guides
us as we suffer injustice too.
1.
God is more interested in the process than the problem. God wants us to honor
the process suffering brings our way expecially
associated with unfairness, of superiors with authority. It is theru this process and not around it that God’s work of
conforming us to Christ is accomplished.
2.
God can make good out of unjust treatment. God has given us a roadmap for
suffering—the example of His own Son. Follow it, study it, apply it, live it.
3.
God may use your example to bring one to Himself. God
can use our innocent suffering to draw others to faith 2:12.
4.
Since this is not heaven yet we must expect unjust treatment. Thank the Lord
that there will be none in heaven. In meantime expect it and respond as Jesus
did—then you will be approved by God.