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What is God inviting you to believe?

Last week we talked about what it means to believe in Jesus for salvation. To illustrate my point, I professed that I believed the chair could hold me, but if I didn’t act on that belief by stepping on the chair, no one would believe that I actually believed that (see Romans 10:9). Believing always requires a response, an action or a step of faith that follows belief. 

In Matthew 2, we read about a group of wise men who simply believed—and acted in response to that belief. 

Who Were the Wise Men?

To understand why the wise men’s active belief is significant, we first need to understand who they were.Our cultural and traditional Christmas scenes get two things wrong about the wise men, which are also called magi: 

1. The wise men did not arrive along with the shepherds. When they visited Jesus in Bethlehem, he was not a newborn, and Mary and Joseph were not living in a stable. Their visit likely occurred six to eighteen months after the birth of Jesus. 
2. The number of wise men. Though tradition says three, we do not actually know how many magi there were. From the three gifts listed in Matthew 2:11, many people have assumed there were three kings from the Orient, but this is not certain. What we do know is that when their caravan arrived in Jerusalem, there were enough of them to trouble the whole city.

In addition to these common misconceptions, it’s also important to understand that these wise men were not Jewish. They were Gentiles, outside the covenant people of God. By bringing these wise men to the feet of Jesus, God was revealing right from his birth that Jesus was the Savior of the whole world (see John 4:42).

Romans 15:12 says, “…The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” 

What Did the Wise Men Do?

The magi responded in faith—to the sight of a star in the sky. They traveled for months, crossing thousands of miles of desert and mountain and harsh conditions, to see the “king of the Jews”, though they themselves weren’t Jews (see Matthew 2:2). 

Just consider the journey that the magi took. It was a huge undertaking to travel great distances 2000 years ago. There was no air travel or trains, no Holiday Inn Express, no Quick trip to buy a snack on the run. They had to plan and carry all their provisions. Journeys were dangerous, not to mention expensive. These men had to spend a huge sum of money to travel to a small insignificant town in Israel. 

What did the Wise Men Bring?

The wise men didn’t come empty handed. They brought gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These seem like strange gifts for a one-year old. Why not a car seat or changing table or some other culturally appropriate baby gift?

The gifts, though strange to us, were actually symbolically significant and probably provided the money for Mary and Joseph to take Jesus to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. The gifts are also prophetic. The wise men knew what many people celebrating Christmas today don’t know—the purpose and the mission of the life of Jesus. 

• Gold: the precious metal represents that Jesus is the King
• Frankincense: the strong smelling fragrance indicates that as Jesus lived, the fragrance of his life impacted many with miracles and teaching (see 2 Corinthians 2:15). 
• Myrrh: the embalming substance used at burials was a prophetic declaration that Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for many. He came with the purpose of being a sacrifice for our sins. 

Why Did the Wise Men Do It?

Why did they make such a remarkable journey? Because they believed.

They had read the ancient Hebrew manuscripts; they were astronomers and scholars, who saw the signs and believed. What they saw in the sky lined up with what they read in the ancient texts. Scripture doesn’t tell us how exactly they knew that the star was “his star”; it just says that they followed it to worship him. 

We don’t know exactly what they saw. It was not a naturally occurring phenomenon. It was a light in the heavens that they noted and caused them to believe. 

Could it be that “the star” which the Magi saw, and which led them to a specific house, was the Shekinah glory of God? That same glory had led the children of Israel through the wilderness for 40 years as a pillar of fire and cloud.

When almost everyone in Israel missed the signs, these men from the East recognized the signs and believed. In faith, they responded by embarking on an arduous journey. They read, they noted, they saw, they believed, and they responded by moving into action. 

How do we respond?

Today, when God speaks, He speaks in different ways, primarily through His word and by His Spirit. But the Lord’s voice will never contradict His word. 

When God asks you to do something, how do you respond? 

Are you quick to respond, give your yes to the Lord and do what He calls you to do? That takes believing in His word and in His promises.

Maybe you, like most people, are too busy with the day to day, and you miss the signs, the call of God. 

God is still calling, inviting people today. When God directs, we are invited to respond. But in order to respond, we have to believe. 

Do you believe that God is able to provide for you where He sends you and what He calls you to do? Believing is intensely practical, 

Maybe you have never given your life to Jesus. Take that first step of believing that he is your savior today. 

Maybe you are facing a significant decision and you are not sure what to do. Or perhaps you do know what to do, but your belief is weak. 

What is God inviting you to believe today? And what action do you need to take to respond to that belief?

Click on the camera to view the full message video.

What does the word “believe” mean? The dictionary answers, “To consider to be true or honest, to accept the word or evidence of someone or something.” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/believe)

No Work Needed

By definition, a Christian is someone who believes on Jesus for righteousness. Romans 10:6-7 says, “But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”

These verses sound a bit confusing, but what Paul is saying is that there is nothing we need to do to earn our salvation. We don’t need to go anywhere or do anything. This is righteousness based on faith in the risen Lord Jesus. Faith in the truth of God’s word and the Gospel.

Our salvation is through faith in Jesus alone (see Ephesians 2:8).

Confess and Believe

How do we place our faith in Jesus?

Romans 10:9 tell us, “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”

We have established that it takes faith to be saved. From this verse we see that there are two things that we have do: confess and believe.

Confess

To confess Jesus as Lord, we must first acknowledge our need for a Savior, turning from our sins and repenting of them (see Matthew 4:17 and Acts 2:38). We confess Jesus’s saving Lordship privately to him and publicly to others.

A new believer’s baptism is a public confession, a testimony to others. Baptism doesn’t save you, but it is a public declaration of what Jesus has already done in your life. This is why, before someone is baptized, we always have them confess before the congregation what Jesus has done in their life. There is power in our confession.

Believe

But believing is more than simply saying a few words. Anyone can say a sentence without believing it. Faith on Jesus is believing that he can save me from my sin and then trusting him for my salvation. There is a difference between believing in something and believing on something.

One can believe in the historical Jesus, the fact that a man was born and lived in Israel 2000 years ago, without believing that he is the Christ and the only way of salvation.

Believing is more than declaring; it is evidenced in how you live. When we truly believe on Jesus for salvation, it changes the way we live so that our decisions and lifestyle flow from a Christian perspective—what we would call a Biblical worldview (see John 8:31-32). 

We must believe that Jesus died in our place, but we must go further and trust him with our lives now and in eternity. We must believe on him for salvation and for our transformation.

Belief That Saves

Salvation is not based on giving verbal ascent to certain truths. Our salvation is based on fully trusting on Jesus, leaning on him, resting on his completed work—believing that Jesus has saved you and that he will save you. This is belief that saves.

We, by nature, believe in things and people all the time, but sometimes our belief is unfounded. The person or thing we believe in lets us down.

• We believe in our strength, until it is gone.
• We believe in our wealth, only to find it fleeting.
• We believe in our medical professionals, until they have no answers.
• We believe in our friends and family, until they desert us in hard times.
• We believe in our political leaders, only to find that they don’t share our values.
• We believe in our military, until our nation, like every great nation one history, crumbles.
• We believe in our intellect and learning, until we encounter a problem we cannot solve.

Ultimately, everything we believe in is fleeting. Only Jesus remains. He is the only eternal God, who can handle all of our problems and our cares (see 1 Peter 5:7).

Does your belief match your confession?

The Role of the Church

We have the truth, and we have our belief, but what is our responsibility as the church? 

Romans 10:14-15a says, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?”

Every day we interact with people who do not believe on Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Our role as the church is to declare the Gospel, to tell others about him. There is tremendous importance in speaking the truth of God’s word.

But why don’t we share the Gospel?

The excuses are plentiful, “I am not an evangelist”, “I am too shy”, “They might reject me”, “I might lose my job”, and many more.

However, may I suggest that the real reason that we don’t share the Gospel is that we don’t believe it?

If we truly believe that we are all eternal beings, destined for either heaven or hell, and that the only way to be saved—from suffering in hell and eternal separation from God—is to confess and believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, then we would take every opportunity the Holy Spirit gives us to share this truth with those around us.

Do You Believe?

Are you living like you believe? Or are you living like a practical atheist? Professing to be a Christian, but in the practical issues of life—finances, career decisions, relationships, etc.—relying on your instincts, your intellect or even Google!

Do you trust Jesus in everyday life, or do you live as if he doesn’t even exist?

Do you believe the truth of the gospel enough to want to share it with others?

If you don’t believe on the name of Jesus for the every day life issues, then he is not Lord of your life, and it is an indication that you may not be not saved. 

Being a Christian is not coming to church, carrying a Bible or attending meetings; it is believing on the name of Jesus for everything. It is having a personal relationship with him that governs your every decision. And it is believing the good news of the gospel is so good you want others to believe it, too.

Do you believe? Have you confessed that belief?

No one is immune to suffering, but Christians have the hope of glory to look forward to in and through their suffering. If you are experiencing extended periods of hardship, you might struggle to hope in that future glory, but the promises of God’s Word do not fail. The apostle Peter knew that the early church was going to experience trials of persecution, and he wanted them to be prepared. As he ended his letter, Peter gave the church family three important instructions to obey so that they could glorify God in the difficulties to come

Be Humble (1 Peter 5:5-7)

Submitting to Elders

Peter exhorted the young people to submit to their elders in humility. A healthy church honors the voice of all generations. Submission requires humility (see v. 6). As we submit to God, we are to humbly submit to and prefer one another in love.

Clothing in Humility

Peter exhorts all of us to clothe ourselves in humility, the same humility that Jesus displayed as he walked the earth (see Philippians 2:6-8).

Pride is the root of all sin; therefore, humility is the most powerful weapon in our arsenal. Humility is not thinking poorly of ourselves; it is simply thinking of ourselves less and preferring others first.

Treating Our Pride

Verse 6 begins with the following phrase, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God…”   When God begins to do a powerful work in our lives that brings Him glory, sometimes we feel God’s mighty hand as a heavy weight. God allows us to feel the heavy weight of suffering, which is naturally humbling. Suffering can serve as a remedy for pride. 

Learning Patience

The glorious hope we have is the promise of the rest of that verse, “…so that at the proper time he may exalt you” (see v. 6b). The key, of course, is the phrase “at the proper time.”

The hardest part of suffering is learning patience. Our impatience is a remnant of pride that God is working out through suffering.

Giving Over Our Worries

God doesn’t simply put us under His heavy hand like a cruel master; He gives a promise in verse 7, “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

Giving God our anxieties must come from the realization that we cannot handle them ourselves. God does not forcefully take our worries and our anxieties; He invites us to hand them over to Him in humility.

Holding on to our anxieties is prideful, and the heavy hand of God lovingly gets heavier until we release our burdens to Him.

When we are suffering, we struggle to believe what Peter says in verse 7—that He cares for us. We don’t trust that He is good. These are lies from Satan.

As we give Him our concerns, God promises to minister to us in four ways: 

(a) He gives us the courage to face our cares honestly and not run          away (Isaiah. 41:10).

(b) He gives us the wisdom to understand the situation (James 1:5).

(c) He gives us the strength to do what He has called us to do (Philippians. 4:13).

(d) He gives us the faith to trust Him to do the rest (Psalm. 37:5)

Be Watchful (1 Peter 5:8-9)

We have an enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (see John 10:10). Peter writes, “be sober minded”. In other words, he wants us to think rightly about the situation we face. This is hard when we are suffering, but it is crucial. To have right thinking is to have God’s perspective, keeping His promises and the scope of eternity in view.

We give the enemy a foothold when we are not watchful. Satan devours by bad thinking: discouragement, hopelessness, pridefulness, and arrogance. These are just some of the tools that Satan uses when we don’t adopt sober mindedness.

Whatever God designs for good, Satan produces a counterfeit, and the fruit of the counterfeit is death. Be watchful.

One of Satan’s most effective tools is twisting the Scriptures. He knows the Bible, and he is a master at twisting the Word to deceive. This is why we need to be people who know the Word (see Psalm 119:105).

We are to be watchful, and, at the same time, resist the enemy,standing firm on the promises of the Word of God (1 Peter 5:9). We see this in the letter that Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus (see Ephesians 6:10-11). When we stand on the Word of God, we can stand firm.

Peter reminds his readers at the end of the verse, “you are not alone in this”; many believers around the world are wrestling with the same struggles.

Be Hopeful (1 Peter 5:10-11)

Peter ends the letter with the powerful and glorious conclusion about suffering: no matter how difficult the trial, we always have hope of a certain victory. Verse 10 reads, “When you have suffered a little while…” For some people, the suffering feels like it has lasted their whole lives.  But when seen in the light of eternity, it is just for a “little while” (see 2 Corinthians 4:17).

The reality for many is that the burden doesn’t feel light, and it certainly doesn’t seem to be momentary. So, does God lie in His Word? Not at all; God sees all of eternity. Someday we will see it from His perspective(see Romans 8:18).

 The Christian’s Hope in Trial

Our Heavenly Father is incredibly invested in developing our character in this life. He is intent on preparing the church as a bride for Christ by constantly refining and equipping us. His methods of building Christian character in us often involve suffering.

Peter used four words to underline the promise of God to all believers in verse 10:

He will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish His children.

This is the Christian’s glorious hope in times of Suffering!

In the year 304, Emperor Diocletian declared that he had destroyed the Christian church. Today over two billion people identify as Christians, and few people remember the emperor.

Over 200 years before Diocletian’s Great Persecution, Peter wrote to the early church to prepare them for extraordinary persecution. He warned them that even though persecution was coming, they would benefit from it.  

Over 365 million believers face intense persecution everyday in 2024, and I don’t think it is a stretch to expect persecution to come on the Western Church soon.  

How are we to prepare for and even respond to persecution?

In 1 Peter 4:12-19, Peter gives the church four instructions to follow in preparation for the persecution that is to come.

1: Expect Suffering (1 Peter 4:12)

Throughout history, persecution has been normative for those who live for Jesus. In Genesis 3, God declared war on Satan, and as a result, Satan has been attacking those who worship the one true God.

Persecution is not a strange thing for believers; in fact, the absence of persecution should be strange. But when we do experience persecution, we must remember who our enemy is. The person persecuting us is not our enemy; our enemy is Satan and his demons. Jesus died for the persecuted and for the persecutor.

2: Rejoice in Suffering (1 Peter 4:13-14)

Peter writes that we should rejoice when we are insulted for the name of Jesus.

Peter lists several privileges that come with persecution; these are reasons why we can rejoice in the midst of it.

i: Our suffering is fellowship with Christ.

As we read in Isaiah 53, Jesus came as the suffering servant; he is not removed from or unfamiliar with pain and suffering (see Philippians 1:29). God uses the refining fire for our good, and when we do suffer, Christ is with us in the fire. It is in those times of intense persecution that many Christians testify to the incredible nearness and fellowship with Jesus, and that is  a reason to rejoice.

ii: Our suffering means future glory.

In our Western mindset, we tend to believe that suffering is to be avoided, and the absence of suffering is glorious. But for the Christian, hardship is the path to glory. God doesn’t remove the suffering; He transforms it into something glorious (see John 16:20-22)

We see this displayed on the cross—the pain and agony that Jesus went through was changed into something glorious and powerful. There is always a purpose and a glorious outcome to the suffering we endure as a result of persecution. Sometimes we don’t see the outcome in this life, but it is always glorious, and that is a reason to rejoice.

iii: Our suffering leads to the Holy Spirit’s ministry (1 Peter 4:14)

There are many testimonies of persecuted Christians who say things that no human would normally say, even while being put to death for the name of Jesus. By the power of the Holy Spirit, they are filled with courage and boldness (see Acts 7:55).

This has been the experience of many believers, boldly singing, and declaring the Gospel even while they are losing their lives in an excruciating way. This supernatural power is a reason to rejoice.

iv: Our suffering glorifies the name of Jesus (1 Peter 4:16)

In our modern context, we lose the impact this verse would have had on the original readers. In the 1st century, being called a Christian was a term of ridicule, a slur. It is becoming increasingly more so today. Do you boldly bear the name of Jesus? Are you willing to suffer ridicule for claiming his name? This verse promises there is glory in bearing his name, and that is a reason to rejoice.

3: Let Suffering Refine You (1 Peter 4:17)

When in the furnace of persecution, the frivolous things of this world melt away, and we see the reality of where we stand with regards to holiness. God uses persecution to refine the church. We saw a little glimpse of this during 2020. Many people left the church when the authorities told us we were not allowed to gather to worship. Sadly, there was a falling away, an exposing of the heart.

The persecution of the church is used as God’s judgment to refine the Bride of Christ.

Every loving parent knows that shaping your child in the right direction involves times of discomfort. God the Father loves us enough to allow discomfort to come upon the church for our holiness, for our refining. If we don’t experience some opposition, we should be concerned. If we proclaim the whole truth of God’s Word, we will offend and experience opposition in this world.

4: Commit Suffering to God (1 Peter 4:19)

When called upon to experience persecution, we can commit our souls to our Heavenly Father. That word “entrust” is a banking term meaning to deposit a treasure for safekeeping in a trusted place.

When you commit your life to the Lord, you can be absolutely certain that you have a guaranteed eternal inheritance. The great news is that you can continue to add to that deposit in heaven, storing up treasures for eternity. 

Are you living today with eternity in mind? This is difficult because the present temporal world is so loud. We so easily get caught up in its trappings that we forget we are living for so much more than what we see around us.

It has been said, “unsaved people have a present that is controlled by their past, but Christians have a present that is controlled by the future.”  

Are you living with an eternal perspective?

Healthy community is a goal for every church, but cultivating it is challenging. Even the first century church that the Apostle Peter wrote to in 1 Peter had to be encouraged to work towards a healthy community. 

Watch and Pray

In 1 Peter 4:7, Peter writes, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”

The state of the world today indicates that we are rapidly getting closer to the day of Christ’s return. As we see “the day” approaching, we need to be mindful of how we live. Preparing for Christ’s return does not mean hiding in a cave and isolating from the world while stockpiling food.  Rather, it means focusing on living as the salt and light of the world, being self-controlled and sober minded. To be sober minded is to use right judgment, to have steady and clear thinking. If you are sober minded in this world, you will not be drawn to false teaching regarding the return of Christ. Instead, you will be focused on preparing for his return. 

If our minds are confused, we will have an unfocused prayer life. It is crucial that we are people of prayer, watchful, alert, and sober minded as we see the day of the Lord approaching. Peter wrote these words with his own painful memory in mind. Jesus asked him to watch and pray, but Peter fell asleep and couldn’t pray with Jesus as he fought the greatest battle in human history before going to the Cross (see Mark 14). 

There is no place for listless prayers in the Church; we need to be alert and energized in our prayer warfare. 

Love One Another

Peter continued in verse 8, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins”.

Within the body of Christ, we must prioritize loving one another earnestly and with intentionality. We can only love with the love that comes from God; it is a supernatural love by the Spirit of God. It is not an optional extra (see John 13:34). 

It is always humbling to realize how little grace we have for someone we don’t know and love, yet for someone we love, we are quick to overlook an offense. Out of relationship comes grace.

If someone is bothering you, take the time to learn about them. Get to know them and see how God has uniquely designed them to be a blessing to the church—including to you. 

Show Hospitality to One Another

In verse 9, Peter exhorts the church to be hospitable, which is a spiritual gift and essential for a healthy church community. This is not the sole function of a small team in the church; it is everyone’s responsibility. We cannot outsource this command. 

Serve One Another

In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul teaches about the spiritual gifts given to the church for the health of the church. Peter underlines the fact that these gifts are for us to steward within the church family (see 1 Peter 4:10). 

If you are not serving one another, you are missing out by not exercising the gift God has given you. Everyone is gifted differently, and we all have differing roles to play. 

Two Spiritual Gifts

In verse 11 Peter highlights two gifts, “Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies…”

• Teaching: This is more than simply information transfer; this is declaration of the truths of God’s word. This is the crucial declaration of the Bible in the church. 
• Serving: Serving one another in the Body of Christ. 

Why are these two so important?

In 1 Corinthians 12:31, Paul wrote, “…But earnestly desire the higher gifts.”

What are the higher gifts?

I would like to propose that the higher gifts are the servant gifts. The gifts done in secret, the “non-platform” gifts (see what Jesus said in Matthew 20:26). 

Prescription for a Healthy Church

In the context of the church, we value worship, prayer, missions, compassion and various forms of ministry, but what did the early church value?

In Acts 2 we see that the early church devoted themselves to a few things. 

Preaching of the Word

Acts 2:42, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Recently, an increasingly loud group of voices say that we don’t need preaching in the church. They suggest that we simply gather, worship, and discuss the Bible together. 

But the Bible constantly shows us that preaching or declaring God’s Word has always been God’s method for equipping His people, even in the Old Testament. 

As the Apostle Paul trained and encouraged Timothy, his young church planter, he never focused on the worship band, the building aesthetics, the welcome team and the free coffee… no, he instructed Timothy to, “preach the word” (see 2 Timothy 4:1-2). 

Eric Spady preached on this text at my ordination in 2014, and it has always been my primary goal, to faithfully declare the truths of God’s Word by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

A church without declaration of the Word of God will starve to death. 

Sacrificial Community

Acts 2:44-45, “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need”

This is not communism, rather it is how they voluntarily showed each other that they valued one another above earthly things. 

One of the most valued commodities in our culture is our time. We value “me time”; we want flexibility to do our own thing when we want to. But when we value community, we give of our time and serve one another. 

When you are serving the Lord, you have the promise of the Lord’s supply. You are tapping into a supernatural resource, and it brings glory to God (see 1 Peter 4:11). 

All for His Glory

This is what we were created for. This is our God ordained purpose, to declare the Gospel and to serve one another. 

And it is all for His glory. 

Everyone goes through suffering; no one is exempt. As Christians, we can be assured that God uses every moment of our suffering for a greater purpose. 

In Chapter 4, Peter encourages the believers to endure suffering because there is a purpose in it. He reminds them and us that while Jesus lived on the earth, he was a man of sorrows (see Isaiah 53:3-5). There was a purpose to Jesus’s suffering—our salvation—and there is a purpose to our suffering—our sanctification.

Armoring Up

Peter writes in verse 1, “…arm yourselves with the same way of thinking,”

To arm oneself is to prepare for battle. Arming ourselves with the knowledge of the Bible—the Sword of the Spirit—is the greatest way we can prepare for life’s battles. Peter wants us to arm ourselves with the same attitude Jesus had toward the world, sin, and suffering. 

If we face suffering without a biblical worldview, suffering will embitter rather than purify us. The Bible clearly says we will endure hardship in this world (John 16:33); we cannot dodge that bullet. If we want to live victoriously in the face of suffering, we must embrace a biblical worldview of the challenges we face. Restraining Sin Verse 1 ends with a somewhat confusing statement, “…for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.”

This doesn’t mean that the person who has suffered is no longer capable of sinning. Rather, it means that they are no longer enticed by temptations the way or to the degree that they once were. 

In Luke 15, the prodigal son came to his senses while in the literal pigpen of his sin. He realized that he was made for more; the slops and corn husks were not desirable to him. He left the pigpen and returned home to his father.

If you are a child of God, you will no longer enjoy living in the pigpen of your sin. Your tastes will have changed; sin will no longer hold the appeal it once did (see 1 Peter 4:2 & 1 Corinthians 5:17). When you find yourself tempted toward or back in the pigpen of your life before Christ, you will quickly run from it and return to the Father.

If, however, you live in willful sin without conviction, you are most likely not saved. You cannot be a child of God and enjoy living in the pigpen. 

Coming Judgment 

Peter looks to the future: our lives are short, and we must not waste time going back to play in the pigpen of sin and brokenness. 

He writes in verse 3, “For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.”

Peter lists the specific sins that his audience saw all around them, the sins that enticed them. We can add to his list the sins we see all around us, the sins that entice us—gossip, lying on our tax returns, pornography, etc. 

The time is past for living in that pigpen. Walk in purity because life is short. The world is rapidly moving towards the judgment of God. 

Suffering Witness 

As you walk in purity, you will be countercultural, and that may attract attention, good or bad. “With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you,” 1 Peter 4:4 says.

When you live for Jesus, walking out the new life he has given you, your life will raise questions. Some people will be drawn to the peace of God in you by the power of the Holy Spirit. Never underestimate the example of your lifestyle.  

Other people will be offended by you. They will be convicted of their own sin, made aware of their own pigpen. As a result, they will try to pull you back. They will mock and scorn you. 

If you are a true follower of Jesus, you have a new nature—the nature of Christ, you have a higher calling to glorify the name of Jesus with your life. You have the Holy Spirit, who gives you the strength to live out that new nature regardless of what circumstances and opposition you face. 

Living for Eternity

Peter looks ahead with an eternal perspective, writing, “but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead” (1 Peter 4:5).

Every person must give an account before Jesus one day—even those who are in Christ for believers, this judgment will not determine salvation—that took place on the Cross—but it will determine our eternal rewards. In light of eternity and the day of judgment, what does it matter what someone thinks of you? They won’t stand next to you when you stand before Jesus.

Live for a higher purpose and r calling. 

Refining Purpose 

“For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does” (1 Peter 4:6). 

Peter was referring to the fact that the Gospel was preached to people while they were physically alive yet spiritually dead. Some responded and were saved. Others rejected Christ and are eternally separated from God, facing eternal suffering in hell—this is the second death that Revelation 20 speaks of. 

These are the stakes. This is why we need an eternal perspective on every moment and the life that we are called to live. Often, that calling includes suffering by the grace and purposes of God. Many reading this are very much aware of this; you can see in your own life how God has used your suffering for His purposes and your good. 

Sometimes God uses suffering to discipline His children. Sometimes we suffer because of our own poor choices. But Peter is writing about the suffering God intentionally allows for the purpose of refining us and realigning our lives with Him. 

If that is you today, I encourage you to embrace the purposes of God for your life. Turn towards God in your suffering, and don’t give into the temptation to become bitter. God loves you and will not abandon the good work He is doing in you. 

This passage is one of the more challenging portions of Scripture to understand, but it declares wonderful truths. 

Glorious Access

Baptism and Communion are the two ordinances that Jesus gave to the church. Two seemingly simple activities, but they proclaim the reason why we exist as believers. This is the Gospel, the good news about what Jesus has done. 

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,” 1 Peter 3:18. 

Jesus suffered more than any human being has ever suffered, but the purpose of his suffering was to reconcile us to God so that we could have a relationship with God the Father.

The phrase “bring us to God” is a legal term that means to gain an audience in a court. Because of what Jesus has done on the cross, we now have access to the throne of God (see Hebrews 10:19). 

The victory that Jesus won transformed the way believers relate to our Heavenly Father. The Old Testament prophets longed for the access that we have been granted by the Holy Spirit. We take for granted this glorious access. 

Glorious Proclamation. 

1 Peter 3:18b-20 continues, “being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.”

Who are the spirits that Jesus went to visit?

Theologians propose three possibilities: 

1: Some propose that Jesus went to preach to those who died in the flood of Noah. They suggest that Jesus gave them a second chance for salvation. But this goes against the teaching of the rest of the Bible (see Hebrews 9:27).

2: Others suggest Peter is saying that the Holy Spirit preached through Noah already and that when Jesus died, between his death and resurrection, he visited these people. Jesus didn’t go to preach the Gospel but rather to simply declare his victory over sin and death. 

3: Another commonly accepted explanation proposes that Jesus proclaimed his victory to fallen angelic spirits. Proponents of this viewpoint to the fact that Peter used the word “spirits” and not souls in verse 19. One of the reasons for this explanation is found in the little letter of Jude verse 6 and 7. Some believe Paul was referring to the account in Genesis 6 as he wrote the letter to Jude. In Genesis 6 we read that fallen angels had sexual relations with women, procreating a race of giants. God placed these fallen angels in confinement until the final judgment, and hence it may be that Jesus went and declared his glorious victory to these imprisoned spirits. Regardless of which interpretation is correct, the point remains clear: Jesus has won the victory, and he himself proclaimed it. Glorious Witness

1 Peter 3:21 continues, “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Peter connects the relationship between Noah and the topic of baptism. 

At first reading, Peter seems to be saying that baptism saves us. The rest of Scripture tells us this is not true. For example, the thief on the cross who was crucified next to Jesus, repented and was saved. He was never baptized. 

The Bible teaches that it is through faith in the saving work of Jesus that we are saved. There is no further work needed. Baptism is a public witness of something that has already taken place—a glorious witness, declaring to all that we have been saved by the blood of Jesus. 

Glorious Savior

Chapter 3 ends with a powerful and encouraging declaration. 

“…Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him,” 1 Peter 3:21b-22.

Our savior is at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. But he is not remote and distant. He is present with us by his Spirit in us and we are with him, (see Ephesians 2:4-7). 

Jesus is our advocate, high priest, savior and redeemer, who is constantly interceding for us (see Romans 8:34). 

When you are struggling and God seems far off, remember that we have Glorious Access. 

When you are surrounded by negative voices and it seems that all around you the world is spiraling into darkness, remember the Glorious Proclamation that Jesus has victory over sin and death. 

When the enemy tries to tempt you into doubting your salvation, remember the Glorious Witness of your baptism.

When you are tempted to think that the enemy is gaining the upper hand in the world, remember our Glorious Savior who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth (see Matthew 28:18-20). 

And it is in that authority that he commands us not to retreat or run and hide but to go and proclaim Jesus Christ: crucified, risen and victorious over sin and death. 

We have a Glorious Victory! Walk in that victory this week.

The Apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 3:1, “…wives, be subject to your own husbands.” This is a topic that most people in Western culture would say is irrelevant and out of touch.

But this verse is only contentious because the more we drift from Biblical morality and authority, the more foreign and out of date the Bible seems to be.

God designed marriage for healthy families and society.

Another similar passage relating to marriage is found in Ephesians 5, where Paul writes that the real purpose of marriage is to reflect the relationship between Christ and the Church (see Ephesians 5:32).

The Pattern of Marriage

In the Bible, headship or rulership is not defined by authoritarian style leadership, but rather by Christlike sacrifice (see Ephesians 5:25).

In the Garden of Eden, men and women were given dominion over the animals, but they were never given dominion over each other. Headship in a marriage does not refer to power, but rather responsibility – responsibility to lead and be accountable for the spiritual direction of the family.

Wives are called to submit to their husband’s leadership, but husbands are called to daily give their lives for their wives, preferring them over themselves.

“Headship is not dictatorship, but the loving exercise of divine authority under the lordship of Jesus Christ” – Warren Wiersbe.

It is important to point out that for a wife to submit to the authority of her husband does not mean that she must submit to abuse. Abuse of any kind has no place in marriage or society. The Bible does not encourage us to ignore or cover over abuse.

But healthy submission to godly leadership is God’s design for a healthy marriage. It does not mean that the wife is inferior to the husband (see 1 Peter 3:7). Husbands and wives are called to be partners, not competitors.

The Unbelieving Spouse

In verse 1, Peter encourages women who are married to unbelievers to conduct their lives in a manner that would win their husbands to Christ.

In the Roman empire, women had a very low position, but the church was growing, and many women were beginning to understand their value in the kingdom of God. 

Many of these women were married to unbelievers, and they were trying to figure out how to live with their unbelieving husband. The Bible clearly states that a believer should not marry an unbeliever (see 2 Corinthians 6:14). As a follower of Jesus, he is the most important relationship in your life. To marry an unbeliever will lead to pain and heartache. 

However, if you are married to an unbeliever, Peter writes that you have an opportunity to win over your spouse to Christ, not by preaching or arguing, but by your lifestyle. The character of the believing wife will win her husband over, and the qualities of her character must be the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23).

This applies to all our witnessing for Christ. People are not brought to the point of conversion because of our good arguments; rather, as we proclaim the Gospel and live a lifestyle that displays the fruit of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit draws the unbeliever to salvation.

The Beauty of the Heart

In verses 3 to 5, Peter writes about the way women were relying on external adorning, such as jewelry and fine clothing, to look beautiful. Peter warns the Christian wives to not be too focused on external decorations, but rather on internal character (see 1 Peter 3:4). 

The Bible says internal beauty is imperishable. Some of the most beautiful people in the world are the elderly who poignantly exhibit the beauty and the character of Christ. That is precious in God’s sight. 

In verse 5, Peter writes that this inner adorning is part of submitting to one’s husband.  Things that align with God’s original design are beautiful. 

The Fearlessness of Submission

The submission Peter calls wives to is willing submission, not unhealthy subjection out of fear of punishment or abuse. A woman who is subjected to an unhealthy relationship, who walks in fear, loses some of her inner beauty and joy. 

In a healthy God-honoring marriage, the wife should not need to walk in fear of abuse in the marriage or fear of external threats to the home. God calls men to protect and lead their families in such a way that their wives do not fear such threats. 

The Godly Husband

In verse 7, Peter addresses believing husbands and gives them three instructions; 

1: Live with your wives in an understanding way 

This is more than simply sharing the same address; it is being present at home, spending quality time as a couple, “in an understanding way”. 

There was a recent survey that revealed that the average American couple spends 37 minutes a week in actual communication. No wonder so many marriages are in trouble. 

You can never understand someone unless you make the effort to spend time with them and even disagree with them at times. Marriages will not grow without wrestling through what makes us different. 

2: Show honor to the weaker vessel

Chivalry is not outdated. Women are usually weaker physically, but not in any way inferior mentally, morally, and spiritually. 

Giving honor is showing respect, preferring your wife. This does not mean you have to always agree, but you must listen to and respect her opinion. 

3: Unhindered prayers 

Peter assumes that men are praying. Men, your primary responsibility in the home is to lead and to shepherd your home in the ways of the Lord. 

If you are not praying together as a family, it is your responsibility. If you are not leading your family to pray, you are neglecting your duty. This is critical and probably the primary reason why Christian marriages are struggling. 

The Mystery of Marriage

Marriage is designed to proclaim the Gospel. It is a mystery. God ordained marriage, and He desires for us to proclaim the beauty of the Gospel through our marriage. 

God designed the human body with incredible detail. Each part relies on and connects to the rest of the whole for a specific purpose. When one part fails or becomes disconnected, the entire body is aware that something is wrong. 

In 1 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul uses the human body as an illustration for the church. The picture of the church as a body is helpful, as every member of the church has been given spiritual gifts for the health and growth of the body. 

The Members of the Body

The church consists only of followers of Jesus who are filled with his Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 12:13). Sadly, most churches have people on the membership role who are not true followers of Jesus. 

It is imperative that we as the church proclaim God’s Word in truth and challenge people to really know what it means to give their life to the Lordship of Jesus. 

As the Body of Christ, as fellow believers, we need to be committed to one another. We are called to gather regularly for fellowship, worship, and the preaching of the Word.  

The Lies of the Enemy

We know from the Bible that the enemy of our souls is a liar and the father of lies. From this passage we see two lies that Satan uses in the church. 

Lie #1: “I don’t belong” 

“If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body…” 1 Corinthians 12:15-16a.

Sometimes we are tempted to think that if we are not on a committee or lack a title, we are not really important to the Body. The pastor, deacons, life group facilitators, and other leaders in the church are the valuable members, but we think we don’t really fit if we don’t have a title or an official role. 

That is a lie. 1 Corinthians 12:17 reads, “If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?”

God has designed you and uniquely gifted you for His church (see 1 Corinthians 12:18). 

Lie #2   “I am not needed”

“The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 1 Corinthians 12:21.

One of the negative consequences of the mega church/seeker sensitive model is that church has become a place where people sit down and are entertained. We want people to attend, but we never encourage people to use their gifts. As a result, the subtle message we are conveying is that “we don’t need you”. We need your attendance, we need your money, we need your likes on Facebook, but just sit there and be “blessed”while we take care of the rest. That is not the Body of Christ; that is not the Church. 

We read in verse 18 and verse 24 that God has arranged and composed the members of the Body, the church,  with giftings and purpose for His glory and for the ministry of the church. Exercise your gifts; don’t wait to be nominated or asked to be on a committee. 

• If your gift is hospitality, invite someone you don’t know over to your house and bless them. 
• If your gift is mercy, find out who is sick or homebound in the church, go visit them. 
• If you have the gift of helping, ask an elderly person in the church if they need help with anything. 

Don’t believe the lie of the enemy by thinking that because  you are not apostolic, prophetic, healing, or speaking in tongues then you are lesser than in the body of Christ. 

We have to get away from the destructive culture of spiritual elitism. There is great danger in being in a group that makes other Christians seem “lesser than” because “they don’t have the revelation that we have. We are the mature ones; we have the special ear of the Lord.”

We are all sinners saved by grace, and we are all gifted by the Holy Spirit to be a part of the Church. Use the gift that God has given you. The church will be blessed, and you will be fulfilled in your walk. 

The Result of Our Gifts “That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.” 1 Corinthians 12:25. 

Unity is always under attack in any church because it is incredibly powerful. Unity grows as we utilize and encourage our individual gifts. 

David Prior wrote, “we differ from one another, and only God, who made us different, can hold us together”. The result of using our gifts well is unity and mutual care in the Body of Christ.. 

The Desire for Higher Gifts

Paul explains that we each have different gifts, but he says in verse 31, “but earnestly desire the higher gifts.”  What are the higher gifts?

I would like to propose that the higher gifts are the servant gifts. The gifts done in secret, the “non-platform” gifts. 

It seems there was a competitiveness in the church in Corinth that is still in our churches today. People with the more visible, the more demonstrative and supernatural gifts, tend to be elevated to super-Christian status. This can lead to pride and that spiritual elitism. 

Jesus said in Matthew 20:26, “It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant.”

What if that is what Paul was talking about in verses 21-25, about the unseen or the weaker parts of the Body? In verse 24, we read, “…but God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it.”

Learn your spiritual gift and exercise that gift. You will be fulfilled, and the church will be blessed.

To play on a sports team, you must have the talent and the skill required to play a particular position on the team. If you don’t have the talent or skill set, you might not be chosen for the team, and you will have to become a spectator. 

However, if you are a follower of Jesus, you have been chosen to be a part of the Body of Christ; you are already “on the team”. There’s more good news— you have been equipped by the Holy Spirit with spiritual gifts so that you can play an integral role in the church. 

Spiritual Gifts Are Vital

Some people choose to be passive in the church, even though God has equipped every believer to participate. When a believer chooses not to actively participate in the church, we all miss out on their God-given gifts. Sadly, many people in the church act as spectators, not active players on the team. What if every believer actually took the Word of God seriously, believing themselves to be an integral member of the church and exercising their God-given gifts for the ministry of the church and the glory of God? 

Spiritual Gifts are God-Given

“A spiritual gift is any ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and used in any ministry of the church.”

Wayne Grudem

The gifts of the Spirit are a measure of God’s grace. They are not based on our worthiness or ability to earn them. When we receive the Holy Spirit at conversion, He imparts spiritual gifts to us. In verses 4-6 we note that the whole Trinity is involved in the gifts. “The same Spirit… the same Lord…the same God.” The Triune God has been acting in unity for all eternity, and the Triune God is now actively working in each believer’s life.

Spiritual gifts are given to be used.As we utilize our gifts in the church, we must keep three things in mind. 

Spiritual Gifts Require Effort 

Just because these gifts are God-given doesn’t mean it is easy to use them in the church, nor is it a passive endeavor in which we are effortlessly carried along by the Spirit.

Using our gifts requires obedience and takes effort on our part. But as we expend energy to activate the gift, God infuses our effort with His power  so that the impact of the gift brings Him glory. 

Spiritual Gifts are Not a Competition 

God has uniquely gifted every believer for certain roles in the Church. Don’t look at someone else exercising their gift and covet them because they are getting accolades, or you think their gift is cooler than yours. 

If you try to operate in a gift that you don’t have, you will burn out and others may be hurt. 

Spiritual Gifts are Others-Oriented 

2 Corinthians 12:7 reads, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

God gives us spiritual gifts for the good of the whole church. Our gifts are not to be exercised only for our own benefit. We may benefit from using them, but their primary focus is the building up of the church. 

Paul rebuked the church in Corinth because some were using their gifts for selfish purposes, manipulating others for their own benefit. Sadly, history has shown us repeated examples of incredibly gifted people using their gifts for immoral and sinful purposes.

Several passages list gifts of the Spirit: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 7, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4. There is some overlap between the passages, but most scholars agree that the lists are not intended to be exhaustive. God can supernaturally give gifts of any kind to His children; whatever gifts He gives are always purposed for the common good of the Body of Christ. 

Neglecting Spiritual Gifts

The tragic reality is that many people hold back from exercising their God-given gifts. Consequently, they are not fulfilling their God-given design. 

When people don’t actively use their gifts, the church becomes ineffective and apathetic in ministry. Church members and the church in general become stagnant because a few people are doing all the work. Often this means those few people are trying to do things they are not gifted to do. This leads to burnout. 

In addition, when people don’t exercise their gifts, they don’t mature spiritually (see Hebrews 4:12-14). 

Why People Neglect Spiritual Gifts  

What holds people back?  I can think of at least three possible reasons. 

Fear of failure 

“What if I fail and am unable to meet my obligations?” 

Fear of failure is a subtle form of pride. I don’t want to make a fool of myself, so I will just sit back and let everyone else do the work. 

We fall prey to fear of failure if we think that we are responsible for the results. These are the gifts of the Spirit and the Holy Spirit is responsible to empower our gifts. The pressure is off. 

Apathy 

“Someone else can do it.”

If the Holy Spirit has empowered you, gifted you, and called you, it is terrible to sit back and remain apathetic. You will never regret serving the Lord when He calls you. 

Fear of commitment 

This is one of the evils of our generation, the terror of commitment.  

People don’t want to step into a role in the church, exercising their gifts, because it means commitment and possibly limits their options. 

Again, that is prideful and idolatrous; thinking that I know what is better for me than the perfect will of God. 

Exercise Your Gifts

The church will be healthy, the community will be blessed, and you will be fulfilled when you use your spiritual gifts. 

One of the best ways to discover your spiritual gifts is to sit down with another believer who knows you well, someone who can be honest and pray with you. Allow that person to affirm or coach you to understand your spiritual gifts. Then study that gift and ask how your particular gift can be used in the church. 

We will all be blessed as a result.