Series: Peter
Title: Serving the Master
Text: 1 Peter 2: 18-25
Date: April 17, 2011
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
Our text is written to believers. Those born of the Spirit of God, of the Son of life, have eternal life and are free indeed. We are the servants of Christ walking by faith, no more looking upon the outward appearance, led of the Spirit of God. We submit to Christ.
Psalm 22: 28: For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations.
Proposition: Believers submit to Christ our King by submitting to those Christ has put in authority over us in this life.
Last time we begin at the top, working our way down through the chain of command: 1 Peter 2: 13: Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15: For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Now to Servants and Masters
1 Peter 2: 18: Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear;
Servants includes those hired, or bought with money, or taken in wars, or born into a house, or those who served by contract, such as apprentices. But this principle applies to students toward teachers, wives toward husbands, workers toward employers and so on. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear (with all reverence, respect.)
The believer—all without exception--is to serve all our superiors without exception?
1 Timothy 6: 1: Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
If a believer has a master who is a believer, they too, should be served though we are equally brothers in the Lord?
1 Timothy 6: 2: And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
Lesson: Faith does not stop the chain of command and dedicated service but rather we are to serve with respect, with singleness of heart (loyally), as unto Christ.
Ephesians 6: 6: Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.
What about overbearing, hard masters?
1 Peter 2: 18:…not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19: For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
Be sure we have done our job. Make sure our suffering is not because of insubordination
I Peter 2: 20: For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently?
If we endure hardship from our superior but it is due to us being rebellious, or lazy, or disloyal then there is no glory or honor in that.
Illustration: Folks speak of bearing their cross. When in reality, they have been rebellious in some way—not in submission to the Lord Jesus or to man—not bearing a cross at all.
1 Peter 2: 20:…but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
If a believer has shown good, obedient, respectful conduct and is still treated badly by a superior—if we endure this grief—yet continue in good conduct, with a good attitude, doing our job, this is acceptable with God.
1 Peter 2: 21: For even hereunto were ye called:
· Called to subjection to our Lord Jesus Christ
· Called to serve Christ in all good fidelity
· Called to obey what Christ teaches such as this very exhortation
· Called to good works for the Lord’s sake—to be honest, loyal workers in this life
· Called to endure suffering for the sake of Christ
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
I. CHRIST OUR EXAMPLE
1 Peter 2: 21:…because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Christ took the form of a servant
Philippians 2: 5: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
v21:…Christ also suffered for us
· Contradiction of sinners
· Tempting of Satan
· Reviled by religion—scribes and astute leaders
· Kings and governors rejected him
· Courts mocked him
· Crowds of strangers railed on him
The Character of Christ as he Suffered?
1 Peter 2: 22: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
We know that our Savior was holy and without sin in his nature—being that Holy Thing conceived in the womb of the virgin. And in his dealings with harsh men, our Savior did no sin. Neither was guile—deceit, craftiness, lies, exaggeration--in his mouth.
John 8:46: Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
1 Peter 2: 23: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not;
Sinful men called the God of heaven and earth, the Prince of life:
· A devil,
· A wine-bibber,
· A friend of sinners
But he reviled not in return
Matthew 27: 39: And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40: And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41: Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, 42: He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43: He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. 44: The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Psalm 38: 12: They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. 13: But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. 14: Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
1 Peter 2: 23:…but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
· So very often we see him go off alone to pray.
· Facing the awful weight of sin he would bear for his people, he committed himself to the Judge (John 12 27-28.)
· In the garden of Gethsemene he prayed (Mt 26:42)
· As some of his elect—dead in sins—mocked him and crucified him, he yet prayed Luke 23: 34: Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Application: Follow his example.
· As we serve don’t rob your employers: of their time, or products—
· Do not speak craftily with guile--do the job we are given.
· Don’t threaten back
· Committ yourself to your true Master, all things are in his hands.
2 Timothy 3: 10:…what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12: Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
II. CHRIST MORE THAN AN EXAMPLE—LEST WE THINK OF CHRIST AS ONLY AN EXAMPLE, PETER DECLARES THE UNIMAGINABLE WORK CHRIST WAS PERFORMING.
1 Peter 2: 24: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,
Who his own self—
not another, he suffered for others, he is the Substitute THOSE GIVEN HIM OF THE FATHER BEFORE THE WORLD WAS MADE
Christ his own self bare our sins in his own body—
Christ had none of his own sins in his own body, but he bore all the sins of God’s elect in his own body
On the tree—
Galatians 3: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Note: All the enemies who mocked him—from the king to the governors to the priest and masters—they had no idea what a weighty work Christ was finishing. Christ was the servant of God the Father. Suffered the iniquity of his people laid on him—the filth, the guilt, and the punishment of sin was on this Substittue.
Illustration: Cleaning out the grease traps and the sewer pit
· Suffered separation from God to satisfy eternal justice. Yet, even after crying out, “My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me,” he said,
Luke 23: 46:…Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
III. THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF CHRIST--what did our Savior accomplish for us by his perfect obedience unto death?
1 Peter 2: 24:…that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
· Every believer is dead to sins
· Every believer is alive unto righteousness—unto God truly righteous
· Every believer is healed by the stripes Christ endured for us
Ro 6:6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7: For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8: Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10: For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12: Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13: Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 7: 1-6--And he died, and by his death, we died to sins.
By his suffering you who believe by his grace are washed, justified, and made whole! He sought us and made us alive and he is our Master.
1 Peter 2: 25: For ye were as sheep going astray—enemies in our minds, hated God, yet he did this for us while we were enemies
Illustration: Sheep can’t find his way home
He reconciled us to God then came gave us life
1 Peter 2: 25:…but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
· We were dead to righteousness and alive to sin, now we are dead to sin and alive to righteousness
· We were serving sin, now we serve our Sucessful Savior
· We were as sheep going astray, our Shepherd and Master, the Lord Jesus Christ returned us and leads us
2 Corinthians 5: 14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 ¶ Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1 Peter 4:19: Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
AMEN!