1 Pet 2:1–12 Thriving even under Persecution

 There are different opinions on how much persecution Christians endure in America. To avoid trivializing the real horrific persecution that Christians face around the world we must not use the word “persecution” lightly. At the same time, since people hated Jesus, we can assume they will also hate his followers (John 15:18). Surveys suggest discrimination against Christians in America. In 2019, a survey revealed that half of all Americans believe that evangelicals face discrimination. Another survey reveals that 32 percent of all Americans like conservative Christians much less than other social groups. A group of wealthy, educated, and irreligious people were asked about what they thought of Christians in America and their answers were scary. One of the more mild answers was, “I am only too well aware of their horrific attitudes and beliefs, and those make me see them as subhuman.” I am sure that this is a minority perspective in our society. But, this kind of unreasonable hatred can lead to discrimination. Discrimination is most evident in academia. About half the academics surveyed said they would be less willing to hire an evangelical. There is also a bias against Christians in the media. Some research revealed that the media “are less sympathetic to stories where Christians face hate speech or violence than same stories where other groups are victimized.” Having said all this, our biggest concern should not be whether we are persecuted or not, but what God’s word tells us to do when we are persecuted. 1 Peter is dedicated to teaching Christians who are living in a land that is not their own, how to thrive in a culture that opposes Christianity. In 1 Pet 2:1–12, we see that, A Holy People thrives in a hostile society by (1) growing in faith (1 Pet 2:2–3), (2) understanding (a) our salvation, (b) our identity, (c) our purpose (1 Pet 2:4–10), (3) living to please God (1 Pet 2:1, 11–12).

First, A Holy People Thrives in a Hostile Society by Growing in faith (1 Pet 2:2–3).

In 1 Pet 2:2, Peter writes, “like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” In societies that mistreat Christians, there are no advantages in being a Christian. Anyone who dares to be called a Christian does so because they have tastes that the Lord is good! When we live in a society, perhaps like the Bible-Belt that accepts Christianity, the distinction between Christians and non Christians is not always clear. Everything becomes “Christianish” but nothing is purely Christian. In a culture where everything is “Christianish,” many who have not been saved are church members. Many claim to have always been Christian, but were never born again. Jesus says, “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). You can be saved in your mother’s womb, or at a young age so that you may not remember being born-again. However, it is necessary to be born-again to enter into the kingdom of God. If you were raised in a Christian home, if you have attended church your whole life, and do not remember a particular time God saved you and transformed you, this is how you can know that you were born again. Peter writes, “if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good,” then “long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” The Spirit of God inhabits all who are born-again. If you are born again you desire to read the Bible and experience God’s transformation.

Christians will thrive in a hostile society by feeding on spiritual milk to grow up into salvation. Immaturity affects our well-being, our relationships, and our witness. Christians must grow. We grow by feeding on spiritual food. Deut 8:3 teaches us that this spiritual food is the word of God, Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. We feed on it by reading it, studying it, meditating upon it, praying it, focusing on it while at times abstaining from physical food, and we apply it. Spiritual growth happens in Christian community. We are to read the Bible, ask questions, and learn from how others apply the Bible. The goal is to be shaped by God’s word and be mature Christians. This an awkward but detailed definition.. A mature Christian lives under - the control of the Holy Spirit, - the direction of the Word of God, - and the motivation of the love of Christ. Has discovered, developed and is using his/her spiritual gift(s). Has learned to effectively share his/her faith in both word and deed. Gives strong evidence of being, - A faithful member of God’s church, - An effective manager of life, relationships and resources, - A willing minister to others, especially “the least and lost,” - An available messenger to non-kingdom people. Demonstrates a life striving to be - Gospel driven - Worship focused - Morally pure - Evangelistically bold - Discipleship grounded - Family faithful - Socially responsible. (Life on life Missional Disc.)

Second, We Respond to Hostility by Understanding our salvation (v.4), our identity (vv.5–9),our purpose (v.5, 10).

These three elements of 1 Pet 2:4–10 are connected because it is our salvation that defines our identity, and gives our lives purpose. In order to thrive in a hostile society, a Holy People must stay true to its faith and calling. There are many ways that we can lose our “Christianity” by becoming like the hostile society. When Israel came out of Egypt, they worshiped the Golden Calf. In Acts 7:39, Stephen interprets the Golden Calf incident as Israel’s hearts still being in Egypt. We see continually in the history of Israel that God’s people worshipped the gods of their neighbors. We do this when we care more about politics than the Great Commission or when we care more about health, wealth, and comfort than holiness. Peter begins (1 Pet 2:1) and ends (1 Pet 2:11–12) with his goal, that they would live in a Holy manner. In the body of this section, he teaches on their salvation, their identity, and their purpose. These foundational truths keep us grounded to live according to our callings as ambassadors of the message of reconciliation.

We must have a correct understanding of salvation. Jesus is the cornerstone. He is the foundation of faith and the game-changer. Our relationship to Jesus effects whether we are saved or not. 1 Pet 2:4 describes salvation as “coming to Christ.” 1 Pet 2:6 quotes Isa 28:16 and teaches that “whoever believes in [Christ] will not be put to shame.” Those who believe in Jesus stand on his foundation. Then quoting Psalm 118:22 and Isa 8:14, Peter teaches that those who do not believe reject Christ and disobey God. To them, Jesus is a stumbling block. Salvation is more than doing the right things, believing the right things, going to the right church service. We must have a relationship with Jesus and relate to him as a friend, savior, and Lord. Understanding salvation is fundamental to thrive in a hostile culture so that we continue to focus on what matters: proclaiming the Gospel that people would believe and have a relationship with Jesus and submit to his Lordship for salvation. If we stop marveling at our Salvation, we stop sharing the gospel and become like the culture.

Next, Peter talks of our identity. In 1 Pet 2:5, he writes that we are “living stones… built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” In the OT, God dwelled in the temple made with stones. In the first century, the Romans destroyed the physical structure of the temple. Peter writes that God now has a better temple! The stones are no longer of rock, but living! Christians are “being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.” Our identity now as Christians is the temple of God. The Holy Spirit lives within us. Wherever we are, we can worship God. Still, on our identity, 1 Pet 2:9 calls us “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.” God’s people were described this way in Exod 19:6. The New Covenant community is the continuation of God’s Old Covenant Community. An important element of our identity is that we are separate from the world. If we forget who we are, we become like the culture and can no longer serve them as priests, for their access to God. To be who God says we are, we must stay separate from worldly things, which are malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander according to 1 Pet 2:1.

Our salvation also gives us a purpose. When Israel was in bondage in Egypt, Moses asked Pharaoh to release Israel so they could worship in the wilderness (Exod 7:16). This is still God’s purpose in salvation. He saves us to worship him. Peter writes that God saves us “to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 2:5). In 1 Pet 2:9 “that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Our purpose is to worship God. We offer spiritual sacrifices to God. While in the Old Covenant, people offered animal sacrifices, our spiritual offerings are a life in the spirit, which includes praise and thanksgiving, and a life of doing God’s work. When we think about thriving in a culture that hates God, we are reminded that God saves us so that we can worship him for bringing us out of the darkness of the hostile culture. If we then start acting like the world, it would be like God saved us for in vain. When we worship by sharing the gospel we are fulfilling God’s will.   

Third, A Holy People Thrives in a Hostile Society by Living to Please God (1 Pet 2:1, 11–12).

For a Holy People to thrive in a hostile society, we must grow in our faith, understand our salvation, our identity, and our purpose. Now, more than intellectual understanding, we must live out our faith. The passage begins and ends emphasizing our way of life: 1 Pet 2:1, Put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Then in 1 Pet 2:11–12, Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exile to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” Once we are saved, we must live as saved people. The list of good works in this passage is all-encompassing. We must have no ill-will toward others. We must be real, honest about our own sin, and struggles, praising God for the good things others have. Slander happens but it is wrong. When we slander, we think it is justified because we think something is wrong with others. However, it reveals our sinful hearts. When we do sin, we always have a Father in heaven who pursues us and wants us to turn to him in repentance, and we are forgiven! Good works have different purposes. They do not save us. No one is saved because they were good enough, or not as bad as other people. In 1 Pet 2:12, the purpose of good works is for witness. When unbelievers evaluate our conduct, when they appreciate our good deeds, without even knowing it they are beginning to give glory to God. People are saved because they hear the gospel, the message of salvation. But often they want to listen to the gospel because Christians have been gracious, quick to forgive and tried to love them.

Conclusion

It is possible that persecution against Christians could rise in America. Remember that the Christian church has always thrived under persecution. Peter wrote to a group of churches who lived under persecution, and taught them how to thrive. First, we are to become mature in our faith. We are called to stay true to our salvation, our identity, our purpose. Finally, we do good. Our purpose is that the worst kinds of sinners in any society would experience the cleansing of their sins, which occurs when people place their faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins and submit to Jesus as the new Lord of their lives. In persecution we do not try to escape the world, we do not try to become like the world. We are to call people to follow Jesus and be added on to God’s temple of living stones being built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.