Monday: Suffering and the Example of Christ
Read through 1 Peter 3:13-22. How should Christians respond to those who would bring them suffering because of their faith? What is the connection between the sufferings of Jesus and the sufferings experienced by the believers because of their faith?
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When Peter says, “if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed” (1 Pet. 3:14, NKJV), he is but echoing the words of Jesus: “‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake’” (Matt. 5:10, NKJV). He then says that Christians should not fear those who are attacking them, but they should sanctify (revere) Christ as Lord in their hearts (1 Pet. 3:15). This affirmation of Jesus in their own hearts will help to stanch the fear that they face from those opposing them.
He then suggests that Christians always should be able to explain the hope that they have, but to do so in an appealing way-with meekness and fear (“fear” is sometimes translated “reverence”; see 1 Pet. 3:15-16).
Peter insists that Christians should make sure that they do not provide others with a reason to accuse them. They must keep their consciences clear (1 Pet. 3:16). This is important, because then those who accuse a Christian will be put to shame by the blameless life of the Christian who is being accused.
Clearly, there is no merit in suffering for being a wrongdoer (1 Pet. 3:17). It is suffering for doing good, for doing the right thing, that makes the crucial difference. “For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Pet. 3:17, NKJV).
Peter then used the example of Jesus. Christ Himself suffered for His righteousness; the holiness and purity of His life stood as a constant rebuke to those who hated Him. If anyone suffered for doing right and not wrong, it was Jesus.
But His suffering also brought about the only means of salvation. He died in the place of sinners (“the just for the unjust,” 1 Pet. 3:18), so that those who believe in Him will have the promise of eternal life.
| Have you ever suffered, not because you had done wrong, but because you had done right? What was the experience, and what did you learn about what it means to be a Christian and to reflect the character of Christ? |
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It is hard, but I know my sufferings are developing my character. I would not be the person I am today, and would not have learned the things that I have if I had been spared the suffering I am going through each and every day. Moving ever closer to Christ enables me to not only understand this but to praise and honour him during this process. It also allows me to pray that he helps me to continually push my will to the side so that the process he began in me can continue.
I believe that in verse 19 of 1Peter 3, the pronoun "HE," is referring to God THE FATHER and not to GOD THE SON JESUS. It was God, the father's LONG SUFFERING that "Waited," via HIS HOLY SPIRIT, in the days of Noah, and that also "Preached," via NOAH and THE FATHER'S HOLY SPIRIT to THE SPIRITS IN THE PRISON OF SIN in NOAH'S DAY while Noah was building THE ARK.
I was just reading in the book written by Robert k.McIvER that goes with the Sabbath School lesson abd he wrote....
"When exactly did Jesus make a proclamation to the spiritsame in prison
(vs19),& who were they?
Peter elsewhere talks of the resurrection of Jesus, abd throughout the rest of his letter appears to share the attitude to death and resurrection that is found elsewhere in the NT (see2 peter 1:12-15: Putting off the body? In chapter 9). So it is highly unlikely that he would wish to imply that Jesus made His visit to the spirits in prison as a disembodied ghost. Nor is the rest of Scripture that helpful in determining what Peter was meaning, as there is no discussion of such spirits elsewhere in the books that make up the Bible. Many conclusion will be unsatisfactory to some, but I think this is one of the passages in the Bible where we lack key information that would enable us to understand what is meant here."
Then you gave a good answer on what you thought it meant,foe me I did not understand the verse.
That just goes to show who we look at the Bible in different ways. God Bless
Hi Pete, this is quoting from a modern paraphrase version, which may help.
" V 18 Look at Christ. He was innocent and good, but in order to bring us back to God, He had to die for our sins once and for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous. They killed his body, but it was made alive by the Holy Spirir.
V 19. It was also through the Holy Spirit that Christ worked for the salvation of people in the past, offering to set them free from the prison of sin."
Hi Pete,
Perhaps reading Isaiah 9:6 will help shed a little light on Who is Who.
God bless you as you study to come to find Jesus 🙂
As I read this morning lesson my heart is sadden not for me but for young people who are struggling for their faith. As a parent, it difficult to watch what's happening with Christian youth. They want to live according to the truth that they know but are suffering inside. Their desire is to please Jesus but they are caught up in a world and at times even church that sends mix messages. Please pray for our youth and for all parents that we will separate ourselves from the world. Pray that we will with Jesus, give our youth a more solid example of holiness, of godliness.
As a 22 year old women, I have to agree. The one thing I pray for the most is that God will aide me in making my faith stronger. I still have trouble applying the word to my lifestyle. I pray and read the word every night, but I still struggle with which scriptures to read. I have a bible journal, and I have trouble being able to come to sense with what to write on the margins of my bible. I read the word, but I want to be able to feel the word. I know I have a lot to work on, I just wanted to agree with you.
Keep persevering. God knows your honest desire to know Him better. Trust that His word is true ... if you seek Him, you will find Him.
Dear Lopez,
Thanks for being an understanding parent, what you did was opening and reading my heart.Please please pray for us and may the Holy spirit continue to guide you and deliver us from evil.
I had suffered for Jesus because I let a group of people know the Sabbath is not Sunday, Saturday is. What happened was that the help that I use to get from them I no longer had it anymore. God had seen that I stood up for Him, and He blessed me abundantly. Jesus did not let me down. This trail was endured almost for 7 months. I had no one to help me, exept Jesus and I had to depend on Him only. The help I was suppose to have was deep serious help for my children and me. I thank God for giving me strength with love for standing up for Him. I could feel the Holy Spirit during my trial, in my soul, I felt so strong, it was absolutely a different kind of feeling. I can't explain it, it's inexplicable. There are more trials I have had in my life because of my best friend Jesus Christ, my only very best friend.
From that experience I learned to live for Christ joyfully without doubts and trust Him more and more every day and depending on Him only.