Mark Braune

Hye Fraternal Gathering 2003

Tuesday, July 22

Good morning brothers and sisters. Loving greetings from the Austin ecclesia. This morning’s reading and discussion is over the first epistle of Peter, chapters 2 and 3. This epistle was directed to the pilgrims scattered throughout the five Roman provinces in Asia Minor: Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. This region is in modern day Turkey, just north of the Taurus Mountains. The original audience of the letter was under intense and increasing persecution, and this epistle was intended to prepare them for the difficult times that were soon to fall upon them. Peter uses Jesus’ own suffering as the cornerstone of his exhortation: admonishing believers to suffer as brethren in Christ, not as lawbreakers.

Chapter two continues Peter’s exhortation to holiness that began in the first chapter. This exhortation is enforced using several reasons taken from the foundation on which the believer’s faith is built, Jesus Christ, and from their spiritual blessings and privileges in him. The means of obtaining holiness, the word of God, which is an incorruptible seed, is necessary, and we should desire the word, even as newborn babes desire their mother’s milk.

Peter’s description of Christ in verse four, as "a living stone", may seem rough and harsh to people today. Yet to the Jews of the time, who placed much of their religion in their magnificent temple, and who understood the prophecy of Isaiah, which calls the Messiah a stone, it is very elegant and proper. Jesus was "disallowed … of men", rejected by his own people and by the generality of mankind; but chosen of God, and foreordained, or foreknown, "before the foundation of the world". The setting-up of Christ Jesus as the head of the ecclesia is an eminent work of God, while the setting up of the pope as the head of the church is a human work, and therefore subject to all of the shortcomings of the human race.

Peter also writes that Christ is a "stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence" "unto them which be disobedient". Christ is the cornerstone for the support and salvation of no one, except those that are his sincere people. Even this "chosen generation" to which Peter is writing had to be warned of fleshly lusts – to abstain from, and to suppress their first inclinations. These fleshly lusts "war against the soul". This is what sin does to mankind: it impairs conscience, and we must war back at it. The more we yield to these fleshly lusts, the harder it is to resist them. The more we ignore our conscience, the more it fades until it is eventually silent.

Peter also exhorts to let "your conversation [be] honest among the Gentiles". They were pilgrims living among the Gentiles, people of another religion, and who were enemies to them. The Gentiles were already slandering them and constantly speaking evil of them. However, a clean, just, good conversation may not only stop the slandering by the disobedient, but may cause them to glorify God. We can also use this same lesson today. Are we only being Christadelphians when we are around other Christadelphians? Many of us must interact with the world on a daily basis. Do we view this as a break from sanctity? It should be an opportunity to spread the truth. Jesus said, in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven". We should treat everyone as if they were our brothers in Christ because, one day, they might be.

The people of God are also supposed to submit themselves "to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake". People normally object to those whose rule is tyrannical, oppressive, and ungodly. However, we are told in verse 17 to "[h]onor the king". We should submit to the worldly leadership "for the Lord’s sake". The Lord has ordained them for the good of mankind. Those who rule over us have also been placed there by the Lord "for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well", and it is the will of God that we submit to them. This should be easy nowadays. None of us are subject to a tyrannical dictator, or chased to the nether regions of our country and slain for our beliefs. Usually the worst thing we face from our governments is increased taxation. Look to Christ as an example. Christ suffered wrongfully, and without cause. He committed "no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth". When he was persecuted, he did not even threaten back, "but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously". The ruling of God will be a just determination upon every man and every cause. Therefore, we should, with patience and resignation, submit ourselves to the kings of men, and in so doing, we will be submitting ourselves to God’s will.

Chapter 2 concludes the apostle’s advice to the brethren, reminding them of the differences between their present and former conditions. Formerly, they "were as sheep going astray". They were sinful, straying from the will of God, and straying from the pasture, the flock, and from the shepherd, exposing themselves to innumerable dangers and temptations. They were recovered from this by conversion. They "are now returned". The word "returned" here is passive; therefore, showing that the return of a sinner to godliness is by divine grace, and not only of one’s own accord.

Chapter 3 begins with Peter’s description of the duties of husbands and wives. He begins with the duties of the wives, instructing them to "be in subjection to [their] own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives." (I Pet 3:1). He does not instruct wives to be slaves to their husbands. He does, however, suggest that a loving subjection and chaste conversation would be the most likely way to win those disobedient and unbelieving husbands who had rejected the truth. There is nothing so powerful to display our love for God as what we say and how we say it. Again, we see that conversation must be clean, just, and good. Wives should prefer the ornaments of the mind to those of the body. At the time this epistle was written, plaiting of hair and wearing of gold and ornaments made of gold was the attire chiefly worn by harlots and wicked people. Putting on of pleasant apparel is not strictly forbidden, but too much nicety and costliness in it is. Those in Christ should be holy in all manners on conversation, and apparel that is too excessive conveys a proud, puffed-up position – imitating the vanity of the worst people.

Instead, Peter directs wives to put on much more excellent and beautiful ornaments. The part to be adorned is "the hidden man of the heart", and the ornaments should not be corruptible, that is, the virtues of God’s Holy Spirit. Meekness and calmness of spirit are of great price in the sight of God. This is how the holy women of old, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands. These are the women that should be imitated.

Peter also instructs husbands in their duties towards their wife. A husband is told to dwell with his wife, forbidding unnecessary separation. This also implies a mutual sharing of goods with gladness and harmony. A husband should honor his wife, giving her due respect, protecting her, delighting in her conversation, and placing trust in her. Husbands and wives are "heirs together of the grace of life", and should behave lovingly and peaceable one to another, that they should not, through conflicts, quarrels and fights, hinder the success of their prayers.

Peter teaches us that brethren should "be of one mind". We should be unanimous in our belief in the great points of faith. Peter exhorts the brethren to unity, love, compassion, peace, and patience under sufferings. Though we cannot all have exactly the same mind, we should have compassion and love towards each other, and ought not hate nor persecute one another.

He also instructs us on how to act towards those that would do us evil. Those who are in Christ will oppose the slanders of their enemies, not by returning evil for evil, but by blessing, a ready account of their faith and hope, and by keeping a good conscience. The apostle knew that those in Christ would be hated of all men for Christ’s sake. To render evil for evil or railing for railing is a sinful practice. "The face of the Lord is against them that do evil". He is more an enemy to those who do wickedly than are men. To suffer for righteousness’ sake is our honor. We read in Matthew 5:10, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.". Instead of fearing men, we should sanctify the Lord in our hearts. We do this when we with sincerity adore Him, when we have complete faith in Him, when we submit to His wisdom, and when we, through our acts and deeds, encourage others to glorify Him.

It may seem a bit harsh to suffer for well-doing, but sometimes it is the will of God that good people should suffer. However, Peter uses the example of Christ’s suffering to encourage the brethren to patience under the burden of afflictions. Christ himself was not exempted from sufferings in this life. These sufferings were necessary to make atonement for sin, just as our sufferings are necessary for trial and correction and to shape us during this period of probation, for His use now and in His kingdom. We can also take comfort knowing that God will not try anyone beyond what they can bear.

I Peter 3 verses 18 through 20 are frequently cited by modern-day Christians to prove the conscious existence of the dead as "disembodied spirits". Let’s read these verses again:

It is alleged that when Jesus died, he went to an unseen world to preach to the disobedient dead. However, what would be the purpose of preaching to these souls? Could they somehow obtain salvation? No. "They that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth." (Isa. 38:18): "the dead know not anything". (Ecc. 9:5). The passage does not state that Jesus personally preached to the spirits in prison, but rather, "by which also he went and preached". It was the "Spirit of Christ" in Noah which preached to the spirits in prison (who were live persons in bondage to sin and death) many years before Jesus was born. By means of the Holy Spirit given to the prophets they were able to speak as Christ.

The whole human race stands as a community of prisoners condemned to death on account of sin. Even while awaiting the impending sentence, the responsible are "all their life-time subject to bondage". (Heb. 2:15). The way of escape from this prison is by baptism into Jesus Christ. Noah’s salvation in the ark upon the water prefigured the salvation by baptism into Christ. The external participation of baptism will save no one without "the answer of a good conscience toward God" (v21).

We can still use Peter’s words of exhortation today to help us through our own trials and sufferings. While we are not persecuted in near the same magnitude in which the believers to whom this epistle was originally written, we do not have an easier path to God’s Kingdom. The unparalleled wealth and innumerable distractions that exist today to draw us away from our studies and our brethren can, and do, cause a lax attitude toward the truth. Without continually and eagerly resorting to the word of God, it would be much too easy to fall into the cares and imitations of the world. Thank you for your attention.