Bible Passage: 1 Peter 3:13-16
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: May 14, 2023

Bulletin May 14, 2023

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

Are you ready?  Jesus told us to be.  He told his followers:  You will be hated by all nations because of my name. (Matthew 24:9)  Do you feel the hatred of the nations?  Here is the honest truth.  We in our nation have been living a sort of “divine exemption” from all of this.  By God’s grace and protection, our experience as Christians has been almost persecution-free.

Are you ready?  Are you ready for this protection to go away?  I am not trying to be a “shock preacher” or to be provocative with that question.  I am only trying to call attention to the largely persecution-free life we have had, and to raise the point that there are some things happening in our culture that may signal the “winds of change” are blowing.

So are you ready?  Peter writes our text so that we are ready when persecution or push-back come.  Let’s listen and learn today that we might be Ready Always!

Peter begins with a question for us to ponder.  Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? (v. 13)  Nature and common norms know of no such thing.  Where is it normal to say, “Look!  There’s the guy who feeds the hungry and houses the homeless!  Get him!”  But Peter wants Christians to realize this is the very thing they can expect.  We can expect to suffer for leading a righteous life.  It’s not the righteousness that gets people.  It’s that Christians do it for the love of Jesus.  THAT the world cannot abide!

But Peter reminds us that even though the world may curse and say horrible things about what we do, you are blessed (v. 14).  Maybe Peter is here thinking about the day he sat on a hillside and listened to Jesus say, Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  (Matthew 5:10-11)

 Knowing that this is coming, how can we ready ourselves?  Peter offers this, Do not be afraid of what they fear, and do not be troubled.  But regard the Lord, the Christ, as holy in your hearts. (v. 14b-15)  What things make most people afraid?  Pain makes people afraid.  Death makes people afraid.  Rejection makes people afraid.  Exposure to shame or humiliation makes people afraid.  Losing their money makes people afraid.  Many decisions in life are made because people are afraid of these things.  Peter says to Christians, “Don’t be afraid of these things that others fear so much!”  Something else governs the Christian.  Or maybe we should say, SOMEONE else governs the Christian.

“In your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord.”  Peter’s words remind me of what happened a week ago.  Did any of you watch the coronation of King Charles?  There was a moment when the crown was very slowly and ceremoniously placed upon his head.  That is what has happened in your heart.  Jesus sits on the throne.  Jesus wears the crown.  He is your Lord.  He comes by his title justly.  He went to battle for you.  He fought for your soul, for your body, for your eternity!  He died for you!  And he rose again.  All to rescue you from the tyrants of sin and death and hell.  He now has the title above all titles:  King of kings and Lord of lords.  It is personal with you, too.  With Thomas you say of the risen Jesus, My Lord and my God.

Peter, the author of our text, provides an example both of what it means to set apart Christ as Lord in the heart and what it means NOT to set apart Christ as Lord.  On Maundy Thursday, Peter was governed by fear.  He was in a hostile environment and he panicked.  He denied Jesus.  By contrast, we can remember Peter after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension standing before the Jewish ruling council that had sentenced Jesus to death.  They commanded Peter to stop telling people about the risen Jesus.  Peter replied, Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.  For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:19-20)  The Jesus on the throne in his heart meant more to him than the Sanhedrin sitting in their prestigious chairs!  Peter had more love for Jesus than fear of the Sanhedrin.  That is setting Jesus apart as Lord in the heart!

Does this mean the Lordship of Jesus and our allegiance to him is to remain a secret thing?  Not at all!  Peter adds, Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is in you. (v. 15)  Peter says to be ready any time, anywhere to give an answer to anyone who asks you about your Christian hope.

Are you ready?  Ready to answer everyone who asks you?  Ready for your next door neighbor’s question?  Ready for the question of the garage door tech who comes and replaces your garage door spring?  Ready for the classmate at school who asks you why you go to church?  Ready for the belittling question asked clearly to make you look silly and stupid for being a Christian?  Are you ready to confess the Christ who is sitting on the throne in your heart?

If so, how are you going to confess?  Peter helps us here, too.  But speak with gentleness and respect, while maintaining a clear conscience. (v. 16) The Christian does not resort to sub-Christian tactics when speaking.  “Gentleness” – that quality of reserved strength.  We do not witness from a position of weakness.  But the strength of our case is not in how loud we yell it.   We know the very good news we speak IS the power of God for the salvation of all who believe!  We speak with “respect.”  We never lose sight that the person we are talking to is a person for whom Jesus was willing to die.  That deserves respect on my part.

Friends, we are ready.  We are ready for whatever the world and the devil throw at us!  With Christ on the throne in heaven, and in our hearts, with gentleness and respect, we are ready always to tell the hope that we have, in Jesus.

Amen.