Hope Fully: Week 3
Hope Fully: Week 3
1 Peter 3
Main Idea: Don't lose sight of Jesus.
1 Peter 3:13-17 (ESV)
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
I. What is "Good" is shaped by Christ
How would you describe the ideal good life? Most of the time, descriptions of a good life are idealistic fantasies where there is no suffering, strife, or conflict.
1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV) - "but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:17-19 (ESV) "17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."
Peter doesn't say something like, "You'll be ok." or "This too shall pass." Instead, he says something like, "If you want to live a good life, live like Christ, because he paid a costly price for your salvation and freedom."
Peter's idea of a "Good Life" is a "Holy Life."
Titus 3:3-5 (ESV) - "3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,"
A worldly definition of "good" pales in comparison to Jesus's definition.
II. A life shaped by Christ is one that endures
1 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV) - "8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing."
Matthew 5:43-45 (ESV) - "43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
III. Live a life of invitation
1 Peter 2:19-20 (ESV) - "19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God."
Dr. Robert Mulholland's definition of spiritual formation - "a process of being formed into the image of Christ for the sake of others."
We are not being formed individualistically, but for the purpose of what the Bible calls "good works."
The Critical Journey
Drs. Janet Hagberg and Robert Guelich from Fuller Seminary defined what they called the Critical Journey. This was developed after analyzing the data collected of thousands of Christians. Drs. Hagberg and Guelich were trying to define the process where we become more like Jesus over our lifetimes.
Six Stages of the Critical Journey
-Recognition of Jesus (salvation)
-Life of Discipleship (goes to church regularly, still new and fresh)
-Productive Life (serving, giving, active in church)
-Journey Inward
- This "great unsettling" is part of healing and repentance.
The "Wall"
- Belongs to stage #4 Journey Inward
- Painful part of the journey.
- Most cannot get past this point because it is too hard.
-Journey Outward
- "This is the next stage after rediscovering God and accepting love. We are fully surrendered, with eyes wide open to the great and painful mysteries of life. We now begin to reemerge from our inward journey with a fresh focus on others and a renewed sense of calling, but from a new, grounded center and from a sense of fullness. We become aware that God’s purpose for our inner lives is lived out in the world. We don’t burn out, we live from a place of deep calm and stillness. Our inner stillness is the source of our outward journey."
-Life of Love
- "In this stage, we reflect God to others more clearly and consistently than we ever thought possible. We have entirely lost ourselves and yet have truly found ourselves in God."
We need a faith that can endure.
One of these tests is to determine if you can love your enemies.