A man’s car stalled in the heavy traffic as the light turned green. All his efforts to start the engine failed, and a chorus of honking behind him made matters worse. He finally got out of his car and walked back to the first driver and said, “I’m sorry, but I can’t seem to get my car started. If you’ll go up there and give it a try, I’ll stay here and blow your horn for you.” James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited

In this little story, we find two responses to a trial. The driver of the stalled car responded calmly. The drivers of the cars behind were impatient and unkind. Any time we face a trial in life, we have at least two ways we can respond. Unfortunately, it is easiest to respond in a wrong way.

In this section, Peter turns his attention to servants (literally Christian household servants). These household servants were living in the humiliation and bondage of slavery to a master. They had not rights. Many masters were godless unbelievers that treated them very roughly. Notice how Peter describes their hardships. Their masters were often froward or crooked and unfair (v.18). They endured grief and suffered (v.19). They were buffeted or beaten (v.20). It was to these poor, abused, enslaved saints that Peter addresses this portion of his letter. The Holy Spirit had Peter tell them they were to submit to mistreatment.

Transition

This morning we are going to discover the three reasons that God expects us to submit to mistreatment.

The first reason we should submit to mistreatment is because…

Submission Shows God’s Grace (v.19-20)

Slave owners were often unreasonable and so are many employers. Slaves were often beaten unjustly and unmercifully.

  1. Note the words “thankworthy” and “acceptable.”
    1. Both of these are from the same Greek word which is usually translated grace. Grace is divine help. The word “endure” means to bear it patiently. When a Christian patiently endures grief and suffers some injustice because of his faith in Christ that illustrates God’s grace. It is staying calm when people call you a Bible banger or laugh at your modest clothing or call you a preacher or swear at you when you offer them a Gospel tract.
    2. If you live a godly life, you will be treated harshly by ungodly people. Jesus said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you” (John 15:18). Paul wrote, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). John added, “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you” (1 John 3:13).
    3. In verse 20, the phrase “take it patiently” means to remain calm. When we do something that is helpful and we suffer for it, if we remain calm, that is grace from God. God knows that it is part of our sinful nature to get upset or angry when we are mistreated. That is why He gives us His grace or divine help to remain calm.
  2. Peter explained suffering for doing wrong.
    1. There nothing commendable about suffering for wrong doing (v.20). When we do wrong and are punished for it, we get what we deserve.
    2. The principle that Peter is teaching here is to do right, be submissive, work hard, but when you are unjustly persecuted, take it patiently and God will be pleased.
      The second reason we should submit to mistreatment is because…

Submission is God’s Calling for Us (v.21-24)

  1. Suffering injustice is part of our calling.
    1. When a sinner answers God’s call to salvation, he is entering the family of God (Jn 1:12).
    2. Upon entering God’s family, those outside the family will treat us like they treated Christ. Jesus said the world would hate us (Jn 15:18, 1Jn 3:13).
  2. Suffering injustice follows Christ’s example.
    1. This word “example” literally refers to a sample of letters for a student to trace or copy as he learns to write. Thus Christ is our example for remaining calm during suffering. We ought to trace His life with ours and use Him as the pattern of a perfect life.
    2. As our example, Christ lived a perfect life. Quoting from Isaiah 53:9, Peter pointed out that Christ never did any wrong that deserved punishment (v.22).
      1. Christ never sinned by action or attitude. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
      2. Christ never allowed guile, deceit, or hypocrisy to come out of his mouth. No one could justly accuse Him of an evil deed. He was a perfect example for us (cf. 1Pe 1:15).
    3. As our example, Christ never reviled anyone when he suffered unjustly. The word “reviled” (v.23) means to verbally abuse. Men frequently spoke evil of Christ. They mocked His deity. They claimed His power came from the devil. They condemned Him as a blasphemer. In all this Christ never verbally abused. Instead He left His unjust suffering for God to judge. What an awesome example!
    4. As our example, Christ forgave His persecutors and offered them spiritual healing through His atonement (v.24). While on the cross Jesus said, …Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34)
      1. He took our sins on His own body upon the tree (anything made of wood, wooden cross). He died for the sins of others that all who repentantly believe might live righteously. (Romans 5:6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
      2. His stripes or wounds provided our spiritual healing.
        ² Christ never said His atonement provided physical healing as many Charismatics claim. God can and does heal when it glorifies Him, but He did not have to die in order to heal a person physically. The Bible say, “without the shedding of blood there is no remission. It does not say without it there is no “physical healing.”
        The third reason we should submit to mistreatment is because…

Submission Shows Christ Rescued Us (v.25)

  1. Before Christ saved us, we were led astray.
    1. This verse is from Isaiah 53:6. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
    2. The picture is a pathetic one of a sheep who had been led away from his shepherd by tempting grass. He was lost. He had no guidance, no protection, and no hope of survival. What a perfect picture of our lives before coming to Christ!
  2. BUT now you are brought back.
    1. This emphasizes the radical change that takes place when a person comes to Christ. We are no longer led astray and lost. Now we have been brought back upon the Shepherd, as a shepherd carried home a wayward lamb.
    2. Christ is the Shepherd who feeds and protects us. He is also the Bishop who overseers our activities of our souls.
    3. This new life calls for new actions: including a new attitude toward suffering for Christ. When we submit to mistreatment, we show others that Christ has changed our lives.

Conclusion

When we are tempted to demand our “rights”, we need to recall Peter’s words to domestic servants. We are to submit to both fair and unfair people. This is especially important when we are persecuted for being a Christian. If you take a stand for Christ, people will mock you. Don’t be afraid to stand up for Jesus!

Have your reactions displayed God’s grace by depending on God to help you remain calm? Have you been following Christ’s example of not returning verbal abuse? Have you forgiven those who abuse you? Have your actions and words shown others that Christ has rescued you from your former sinful life?

If you never face persecution for Christ, it is possible that you are not truly one of His children. If you are not 100% positive Christ has saved you from hell and made you His child, let us help you today.

Song: More Like the Master – 325
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Submit to Mistreatment
12 July 2015 AM – 1 Peter 2:18-25 – 1Pe15 – Scott Childs