Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in issue no. 10 (weeks 37-40; September 15—October 6, 2019) of The Lookout magazine, and is also available online at www.lookoutmag.com.
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Lesson Aim: Do what is right as a Christian even if it leads to suffering.
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By Mark Scott
Be
honest—much of what we call suffering in the western world is inconvenience. But
there is such a thing as genuine suffering. Believers who go through it,
because of the gospel, learn to leverage it for the world’s good and for God’s
glory. Ultimately the devil is to blame for suffering (Job 1:11). Sometimes we
cause our own suffering (Genesis 3:16-19). And sometimes other people cause our
suffering (Joshua 7:10-26). When God brings suffering, he internalizes it on
himself (Isaiah 53:10).
Our text
begins where we left off in the last lesson. We move from the subject of
submission to the subject of suffering. Suffering seems to be the backdrop of
this general epistle. Because people love darkness rather than the light (John
3:19), doing right can bring about suffering to the people who are doing right.
Sometimes it comes because of what Christians do, and sometimes it comes
because of who Christians are.
Suffering Because of What We Do | 1 Peter 3:8-17
Christians
do good. This phrase appears twice in this passage (11,
13, but “what is right” and “good behavior” are similar phrases and they appear
in 14 and 16). People who do good can get thrown in jail (Acts 4:3) or even put
on a cross (Acts 10:38-40). Peter called the Christian exiles to
do good even if they were the recipients of evil because this would ensure that
they would inherit the blessing of God (a concept that appears in this passage
three times).
There are
at least five virtues (framed up as verbs) that contribute to returning good
for evil to experience the blessing of God. They are like-mindedness, sympathy,
love, compassion, and humility. When these are embraced, doing good becomes the default
setting. To underscore this truth Peter drew upon a lengthy citation from Psalm
34:12-16. The value of this Old Testament text for Peter’s argument is that it
deals with King David living in the midst of Abimelech (a believer living in
the midst of an unbeliever). When Christians live in non-Christian environments
it is important for them to love life and keep their tongue
from evil and
seek peace and pursue it. After all, God will
hear their prayers while turning his face against the evil ones.
One thing for sure that followers of Jesus
do not want to do is suffer for the wrong thing. When they suffer for right
things then they do not need to be frightened. The best
posture is that famous Scripture
1 Peter 3:15. Often used as a verse to justify the study of apologetics (and it
fits in application) it probably more accurately is an apologetic for Christian
living without a spirit of retaliation—and for the hope that is in believers. This
is done by reverence to Christ and gentleness and respect for others. The best
way to handle slander is to give
adversaries a clear (good) conscience and good behavior. Verse 17 provides the thesis
of the entire lesson: suffer for doing good.
Suffering Because of Who We Are | 1 Peter 4:12-16
The word Christian appears only
three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26; 26:28; and here). It describes
one who is a Christ follower. We do not just act Christianly; we are
Christians. It describes “who” we are. So if suffering comes to Christians, and
it will (2 Timothy 3:12), make sure that God is glorified through that name.
Peter
again addressed them as dear friends (beloved). The term is
one of endearment. But he called for them not to be surprised at suffering
(described as the fiery ordeal). As ugly as
suffering is, it can be leveraged as a way to test (and thereby mature)
believers. The idea of suffering
not seeming like something strange reminds one of what
Jesus promised (John 15:18, 19). In fact, when we are “participating” (having
fellowship) in the sufferings of Christ there is a solidarity that exists
between the teacher and his disciples. The joy of this solidarity will only be
surpassed when his glory is revealed (when Jesus returns).
Then Peter returned to a theme developed earlier in chapter three (the blessing). Two words for blessing are used in this lesson. One word means “to speak well of” (3:9—twice), and the other word means “congratulations” (3:14; 4:14). When we take our licks for Jesus, Heaven congratulates us since that gives evidence of God’s Spirit resting on us. Peter reminded us that if we are to suffer at all, it should not be for the four-fold of evil (murderer, thief, criminal, or meddler). Rather it should be as a Christian—a name under which God can be praised.
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Lesson study ©2019, Christian Standard Media. Print and digital subscribers are permitted to make one print copy per week of lesson material for personal use. Lesson based on the scope and sequence, ©2019 by Christian Standard Media. Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, ©2011, unless otherwise indicated.
Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. He also serves as minister with Park Plaza Christian Church in Joplin.
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