Lesson 52
Study of
First Peter Chapter 3
Review:
There
is a key difference between responding to the various situations encountered in
life as we've
already noted and what we are seeing here in this context which is suffering
that is directly the result of one's living out the truth in their life.
Here
the "if" clause is But even if perchance you should suffer for the sake of righteousness
Next
we have an incomplete "then" clause you are blessed
Blessed maka,rioj points to a state which the
believer is able to experience in his/her life even amid adverse external
circumstances.
blessed Grk maka,rioj
or Heb. asheri yrev.a; both are plural nouns that describe the
state of happiness, contentment or satisfaction in life; it is used of a spiritual quality or
characteristic in one's life.
- How do we get from this walking straight to happy or content?
So what is a straight walk?? Walking by faith, walking by the Spirit, Gal
5:16, 25
Need
to remember that God vindicates His Word in time as we use the principles and
promises in life, blessed in time and He also vindicates His Word in eternity,
blessed at the JSC, rewarded based on the use of the Word in time.
Mechanics of blessing:
Point
is we need to be under the authority of God's revelation, His instruction, the torah.
- Our trust in God and His word are the focus of blessing
- Prov 16:20; Psa 119:1-2; 112:1; 128:1; Prov. 8:32-36
While we
as believers have a heavenly position and an eternal inheritance secured by the
work of Jesus Christ, the experience
of blessings, being blessed in time is related to the increase of our capacity
to appreciate the Lord, and our capacity for happiness which is directly
proportional to our knowledge and application of the Word.
Psa 1:1-3
Psalm 1
presents two ways of life: the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked.
However,
the key idea is the centrality of God’s Word to the life and fruitfulness of
the righteous who truly love His Word and therefore
have the capacity to love Him.
This
context is a beatitude which pronounces blessing upon a certain group of
people. It is not, however, an unconditional pronouncement, nor a pronouncement
of bliss or a life without problems.
vs:1 points out the reality that if we're not advancing as believers we
are retrogressing, we never stand still.
Verse
one portrays this truth in three aspects of degeneration, each a little more
permanent, settled, and embedded into one’s life.
(1)
There are three aspects of ones conduct: walk / stand / sit.
(2)
There are three aspects of openness to, fellowship with, or involvement
in evil: counsel / path /
seat.
(3)
There are three aspects of evil that are described: wicked / sinners /
scoffers.
The exhortation in Psalm 1 or 1
Pet 3 is directed toward the same objective, that we might be prepared to take
the known word and use it to discern the situation we're facing and then to
make decisions based on the Word all to the glory of God.
3:14a But even if perchance you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed.
Observations 3:14a
1. With
this 4th class conditional statement Peter is not saying But even if perchance you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, I wish you were but
your not. This would imply that their
suffering is because they had failed to apply BD, therefore is punitive, its
discipline.
2. What Peter is saying is that there is a possibility of
UNDSF as a result of your application of the truth but not a definite
anticipation of this suffering being realized.
3. The
exhortation from the context is that the advancing believer is to be zealous
for what is good which requires consistent inhale of truth and its application
as it is pertinent.
4. The
bottom line I believe Peter is trying to get across to us is summarized here
which is that the pattern we are to follow no matter what the external
circumstances we're facing is to do what is right, to be zealous for the truth.
5. In
the context the major suffering or test that these believers were facing was
verbal abuse and slander. (
6.
Because of this pattern of verbal abuse Peter exhorted them to not fall into
the trap of rendering evil for evil, instead of good for evil, the highest
virtue.
7. The phrase "suffering
because of righteousness" refers to UNDSF related to the overt
reprisals by society as a result of your living out the truth, taking a stand
on the norms and standards of the Word of God.
8. This righteousness speaks of experiential righteousness
which is an increment of divine good produced in life as you live out the truth, this is what will become evident at the JSC.
9. Therefore in vs:14 Peter is
considering the possibility of overt persecution in spite of their consistent
"doing what is right" producing DGP and that they should not be
surprised.
10. He has also
made the point that if such UNDSF does occur that your continued application
brings with it the promise of blessing.
11. This 4th class conditional statement also
expresses Peter's desire that they be spared overt persecution.
12. But if they do, it is no matter, since they have the
spiritual resources to handle the persecution and they would be blessed.