Kathy's Bible StudyCourtesy Of Firequill Publications email: FireQuill@cox.net

by Kathy Kearney

Verse 11

Beloved. . .abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. Notice that this verse is written as an appeal to a much loved company of believers.  While Peter empathizes with their current sorrow, he also reminds them that though they are aliens and strangers in this world, their conduct must represent the world they will one day inhabit, and indeed which they now spiritually inhabit through Christ.

Years ago, during the sixties or late fifties, there was a book out called “The Ugly American.”  It discussed at length the ways in which Americans traveling abroad were offending the people in countries they visited.  They were guilty of arrogance and condescension in their attitudes, and earning a reputation as smelly visitors.  Mark Twain once joked that foreign countries would be alright, if they just didn’t have so many foreigners living there.  Well, that’s what Americans were acting like.  We must be careful as we live in this world that we represent Christ.  In fact, Paul referred to him self as an ambassador in chains when he was imprisoned in Caesar’s palace.  Even though, he was wrongfully jailed, he never ceased to represent the King and the kingdom of heaven.

Peter warns these dispersed ones to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.  There’s a great list in Galatians 5:19-21.  There’s a good list in the beginning of this chapter: malice, guile, hypocrisy, etc.  So many people always tie the word lust to sexual misconduct, and they say, “Well, I’m faithful to my spouse, or I don’t indulge in illicit sex.”  But they excuse other sins in their life.  They gossip, they judge and condemn, they hold grudges, they lie, but comfort themselves on their sexual fidelity.  Sorry.

Notice that these lusts wage war.  They array themselves against us daily, moment by moment.  They lay siege to our thoughts and actions at every turn.  They mean business, and we had better mean business in fighting and resisting them.

Look how the media pounces with glee upon fallen religious leaders, or churches that fight and squabble.  The world loves to bring down a moral person, they rejoice when someone who stands for good falls for evil.

There’s a lot in the news now about Thomas Jefferson having an affair with Sally Hemmings, his slave.  So people are using that to say that we should excuse Bill Clinton because he’s no worse.  But do we want to choose between bad and worse behavior as a standard, or do we choose God’s holiness as our behavioral standard?  We can’t control what sinners do, but we must, and can control what we do because God’s grace enables the choice.

How do we control these things. Paul writes in II Corinthians 10: 3-5 that the weapons of our warfare our not of the flesh.  In other words, good resolves, promises to do better, self-help programs aren’t going to do it.  In fact, they sometimes make it worse because what we think about is what we give in to.  No, we are to take the thought captive that exalts itself against Christ and then agree with God that it’s a wicked thought.  How can we recognize it? It rises up against the knowledge of God.  How can we know that? By knowing the Word, so you’ll recognize it when it comes along.  How can I take it captive to the obedience of Christ? By calling on His power and grace and giving it to him.  Simple as that.  But it takes a knowledge of the Word to fight the battle because the attacks become more insidious and more devious as we get older.  Once again familiarity with the Word is the weapon of choice.

Remember Paul wrote in Romans 12:1 to not be conformed to the world, but to be transformed by God’s power in Christ, and that power comes through the living Word.

Verse 12:

. . .excellent behavior among the Gentiles. Honorable conduct in a dishonorable world.  The Greek word here for excellent is kalos, meaning honest. It conveys a sense of that which is good, beautiful, harmonious, and lovely.  It means our behavior is to be refreshing to those who come to know us.

I have a friend who was once a fashion model.  She’s often told me of modeling’s grubby immorality.  But God used her as a light in darkness for Christ.  There was one model in particular that she had been praying for and witnessing to.  But at each turn the woman rejected her faith and moral life.  After a conversation, in which this woman once again refused Christ, my friend smiled sadly and walked from the room.  Later the woman said to her and said, “When you walked away, I felt as though I was left in darkness because you had taken the light with you.”  That’s how our lives should shine among unbelievers.  That’s how our lives can glorify God.

Expect to be slandered, and falsely accused.  Didn’t they do the same to our Savior?  And didn’t he say, “If they hate me, they will hate you.”?  But there is a day coming in which they will glorify God.  And it may come in one of two ways. One, forced to acknowledge your belief in Christ as they face eternity without him. I believe that’s what the verses in Philippians 2 mean when it says every tongue shall confess and every knee bow to Christ’s glory.  However, the word used here is doxazo, which means willing glorification. It is used no where else in Scripture.  So we can conclude that this is willing.  Meaning: Two, gladly give glory because your life led them to faith in Christ, and as they stand beside you at the judgment seat of Christ, they will glorify Him with you because the life you lived was true, honest and refreshing. Once again, the choice is ours.

Verse 13:

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution. . . This is written to people who have had loved ones slaughtered, property confiscated, and friends tortured by the infamous emperor, Nero.  Yet Peter says submit to the institution, not the person.  If we don’t have order and law in the world, we have anarchy and chaos.  It may be hard to submit to human institutions, but we must for the sake of our witness and orderliness.  However, we do have the option of prayer as stated in II Tim. 2:1-2. We should pray for those in high positions.  Because according to Daniel 2: 20-21, it is God who removes and places men in authority according to His perfect will.  We are not to trust in human institutions, but to trust in God to direct in the affairs of men.  And in our country we can also do this at the polls.  Someone said if all Christians would get out and vote, we could turn this country around to what the founding fathers intended.  God has given us the privilege of voting, if we treat it lightly one day it will be removed, and we will be to blame.

There are times when we must disobey governments. The disciples did this in the book of Acts when they were commanded to stop speaking about Christ.  We must obey God rather than man, is what Peter said.  The government cannot order you to do something immoral or against the known will and character of God.

You’ve probably heard of Brother Andrew who smuggles Bibles into countries where it is against the law to have Bibles.  He is working on the command of God that supersedes human law.  The law in China says that if a woman gets pregnant a third time, she must abort that baby.  If she bears the third child, the child is killed at birth by hospital personnel.  That’s wrong, and Christians must disobey such edicts.

In our country we can petition to change laws, and we should with great respect use our right to do so.  We aren’t into government overthrowing, but overhauling.

Verse 14:

God’s intent is that Government is to protect citizens from evil people.  So we must pray and submit for that reason.  The outline of a perfect government: it punishes the lawbreakers, and commends the law keepers.

Verse 15:

By doing the right thing we may silence wicked men who slander us.  I think during this time, rumors were circulating that Christians were lawbreakers and subversives seeking to overthrow the government and institute a new one based on their beliefs.  Remember how Pilate asked Jesus about his kingdom, and Christ said he belonged to another.  But by submitting more zealously to the government that exists it silences this accusation.  We should lead the way in being law abiding citizens.  After all, when you go to another country, you are subject to the laws of that country as long as you are there.  It’s the same for people who come to our country.

Verse 16:

Act as free men. Why?  Because we are free.  We’re aren’t pretending we’re free.  When Christ was being questioned by Pilate, Pilate said, “Don’t you realize I hold the power of life and death over you.”  Christ answered, “You can only do what my heavenly Father permits.”  Christ had never broken any laws of Roman government, and it was that very government that illegally put him to death, but he knew God was orchestrating the events, not Rome, not the Jewish council, but God.  Therefore we can trust in the same way.

When Peter reminds us of our freedom, it isn’t that we’re free from the law or free to break them, but free to do as we ought without fear.  We aren’t to say, I’m free to do as I wish, but I am free to serve.  Use your freedom to act as bond slaves of God.

Verse 17:

Honor all men: Don’t play favorites give the same treatment to everyone.  Treat a beggar as a king, and a king no better than a beggar.  Equal in love and service.

Love the brotherhood: Christ’s admonition was to love each other.  In fact he said that all men would know that we are his disciples if we love one another.  When Christians fight and sue one another in court, we let down the cause of Christ before the world.  The Bible says better to allow ourselves to be wronged that wage war on one another before the world.  If we can’t love each other, how can we love the world?

Fear God: Means to be in awe of Him, and recognize that he’s worthy of our love and obedience.   It’s a healthy fear that engenders respect, not flippancy or disrespect.

Honor the king: Acts 23:1-5. Paul was struck by order of the high priest.  This was against the law.  Paul’s eyesight may have been so bad that he didn’t recognize the high priest before his outburst.  When he realizes who it was, he corrects himself as he apologizes.  If he had not done this, what he said afterward would have fallen on deaf ears.

If we fight the king or the government with a bad attitude, no one will listen to our words about Christ.  They are opposed.  There is a right way and a wrong way to make a point, and they originate in our attitudes.

Notice the command is to submit to human institutions, not to trust them.  We do not submit in spite of our trust in God, but rather because of our trust.  Big difference.

Verse 18:

Servants to your masters: Notice the orderliness that Peter builds into his argument.  First, submit to God, Second to human institutions, Third, to masters, or employers in our modern world. This attitude of submission is to permeate our lives and conduct.

Verse 19-20:

Remember that slavery in that day was more like being employed.  There were strict laws on treatment of slaves, and it didn’t compare to our American slavery system.  In fact, many slaves during this time were considered part of the family and treated accordingly.

Peter continues by saying that if you suffer unjustly, count it glory, but if you deserve punishment and you take it patiently, there’s no reward for that.

If a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly, this finds favor with God.  Look at David and his words in Ps. 37.  He ran for 20 years from Saul, persecuted for doing good.  He never once did evil to Saul.  Actually, he loved Saul.

Look at Paul, languishing in prisons, whipped, starved, stoned.  He never did anything wrong either.  Did he blow up the senate, lead an insurrection?  No, he trusted himself to God and suffered.  Suffered how?  With teeth gritting, anger suppressing stress?  No, he suffered patiently.  Because how long does suffering last? I Peter 1:6: just a little while.

We hate suffering.  We hate injustice.  Our first inclination is to lash out and defend ourselves, but God says let him do his work.

Verse 21:

For you have been called for this purpose: We have been called to suffer.  If you want to check that out, just look up the word suffer in your concordance.

We have been called for suffering for several reasons:

Romans 8:29, We suffer so that Christ will be formed within us.

Hebrews 11-12, we suffer to be taught lessons that we would not otherwise learn.  And remember that suffering is custom tailored to each of our needs.

I Timothy 1: we suffer for those who will come to believe.  My faithfulness is part of someone else’s coming to know Christ.  Look at Corrie ten Boom suffering in a concentration camp, not only did many of those women there come to know Christ, but thousands came to know Him through her books and speeches long after the war ended.

Philippians 2:17, & Colossians 1: 24 we suffer to help other Christians become better and more mature servants of Christ. So we suffer on behalf of the body of Christ.

Colossians 1:24, we are part of suffering along with Christ for His body the church.  We begin to identify with what he went through because He loved us so.

There are probably many more reasons for suffering, but no matter the reason or the outcome we can knowing these three things:  first, we are called to do it, second, it’s God’s will and therefore he has made provision for us, and third, he is pleased by what it brings out in our lives, so it has purpose and we can rest securely in the knowledge that we are a chosen part of a grand plan.  This plan is so glorious that when we stand before our Savior we won’t remember the pain, only revel in the glory of love revealed.

Verse 22-23:

Christ left us an example of how to suffer, and he didn’t deserve one iota of what happened to him because he was sinless and only spoke the truth.

One, he didn’t return evil for evil, he just entrusted himself to God.  Why?  Because he knew the outcome would be our salvation.  He could have called down 10 legions of angels and wiped every Roman soldier off the face of the earth.  What he didn’t do is just as great as what he did do. He stayed on that cross and finished our salvation. What a savior!!

Verse 24:

By his wounds we are healed.  This is in regards to sin.  You can’t take it out of context and make it mean healing from sickness as some have done.  The greatest sickness afflicting mankind is sin, but because he suffered from and for sin, we are now healed and whole in Him.

Verse 25:

He is our great Shepherd, he will always lead us correctly.  We can trust him implicitly with our lives.  He is the guardian of our souls.  No one, absolutely no one can get at us and take us from his great love.  Romans 8: 30- (Read).  What a Savior!  What a Salvation!  What a life!!!

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By Kathy Kearney

Section 2

Verses 10 – 11 – 12:

Peter is quoting from Psalm 34. David wrote this psalm.  It assures us that the most important thing in life is to seek peace, not only seek it but pursue it.  Ephesians 4 says we should diligently seek to preserve the unity of the body.  Being a peacemaker and peacekeeper is not easy work but it is so restful.  Have you ever been so upset by an injustice to yourself or someone you love that you can’t sleep at night.  Me too.  I wake in the morning just worn out and kind of queasy to my stomach.  Better to trust in God.

David wrote this song when he was running from Saul.  Saul, the king of Israel, hated David.  But David had never done Saul any wrong.  For 20 years Saul chased David and tried to kill him.  David lived as an outcast and often lived in caves and the wilderness. It was not an easy or pleasant life.  Yet he had been anointed as king by Samuel the prophet.  Was this any way for a king to live?  Who’s in charge?  I think David’s words assure us that God is.

Verse 13:

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? There is a case in Scripture of building a life of good repute among men.  Jesus did in that.  When Peter preached about Christ in Jerusalem, he said he went around doing good, and the people knew that to be true.  If you have a reputation as being zealous for good, it will stand you in good stead when times are bad, or someone maligns you.

Verse 14:

But even. . . There will be times when we will suffer for the sake of righteousness.  But the Word says we are blessed and advises us not to fear their intimidation.  Intimidation means someone trying to make you be quiet when you’re cause is just.  When Peter and other disciples were beaten for preaching Christ, the book of Acts records that they rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer.

We look at suffering for Christ as a downer, but it’s an upper. I can’t say if I ever have.  My natural reaction is to fight back or avoid the situation.  But Peter says it’s a blessing to suffer for righteousness’ sake.  Maybe one day, we Christians here in America will discover that.

We talked about Brother Andrew who smuggles Bibles into persecuted countries.  He told Hal Lindsey that Americans needed to suffer, and Lindsay said we do.  “You Americans aren’t persecuted,” Brother Andrew retorted.  “You’re intimidated!”  I think he’s right.  Look at our fancy churches, our six translations of Bibles on our shelves, and seminars and rallies that we freely attend.  We are blessed to have such things, but we take them for granted and one day may lose them.

Verse 15:

. . .but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. . . Peter says to do this to be ready to give an answer to those who challenge our faith or just ask about our beliefs.  Sanctify means to set aside for a specific purpose.  He also says to do it with gentleness and reverence.

When we speak of Christ we should be praying that God will reveal to us where that person is really standing. Remember when we studied John, both Nicodemus and the woman at the well had questions for the Lord, but they weren’t the real issues that needed attention.  Christ went right to the point.

Dewey says when someone questions me, I give quick answers.  He thinks I should learn the art of asking probing questions that reveal the real problem, need or thinking.  I think he is right.

Years ago a well known writer served on the mission field.  One of the girls she served with did not seem to be a Christian.  For months Rosalind struggled over asking her, “Have you been born again?”  She prayed for courage, and then chickened out, prayed for courage only to wimp out again.  On the day this girl was to return to the states, Rosalind walked to the ship with her.  She finally  worked up all her courage and blurted out, “Have you been born again?”  The girl turned, looked at her and calmly answered, “No.”  Rosalind didn’t know how to respond, and watched helplessly as the girl boarded the ship for home.

She wrote of this incident years later.  “I never got to know this girl.  I didn’t know her needs, what she dreamed of, who she was.” she related.

She was just obsessed with getting her “witness” in.  It taught her something new about how to share Christ.  And the book was the result of that lesson.

Learn people.  They really are hungry for who you have in your heart.  They just don’t know it.  So approach from that attitude of love that longs to share Christ, you’ll always have an audience.

Verses 16 – 17:

a good conscience. . . Paul said a good conscience was a most desirable thing to have.  Notice it says, “in the thing in which you are slandered.”  I think Peter is saying, “Check your files and see whether or not they have a case against you.”  If they don’t, trust God.  If they do, make it right.  Either one can’t put slander to shame.  Even things said in anger by others may carry a grain of truth, so don’t be afraid to check it out.

Verse 17 says it’s better to suffer doing right than doing wrong.  Nuff said.

Verses 18 – 19 – 20:

These verses have been used to make a case for a second chance after death, but we know from the story Christ told of the rich man and Lazarus (true because of names) that there is no second chance.  Hebrews says, it is appointed for a man to die once and then the judgment. So what is Peter getting at.

I think he is making a case for the constancy and method of presenting the gospel from the beginning of time until the end of time.  Christ was crucified and now lives within us through his Spirit.  That is the same Spirit in which prophets preached in the OT.  (Verse 10,11,12 of chapter one.) Noah preached this same gospel to wayward society during the 120 years it took him to build the ark.  The same Spirit in him guided his message, just as the same Spirit in us reveals the message of Christ today.

The mention of Noah gives us a definitive time line, and from 3:16 we could even infer that Noah suffered a lot of persecution for what he was doing (building an ark for some unseen thing called rain) and for preaching (repentance and holiness, how boring).  But he kept on doing what God said.

I believe some other keys are here to point to the way: This spirit in Noah, which was Christ, made proclamation to these disobedient people who perished in the flood. They are now in the place where the rich man Christ taught about–a place of tortured.  I don’t believe Christ went there after his death and preached again to them.  For what reason?

I have a friend who believes that Christ did go to hell after his death and before his resurrection.  He believes that Christ not only died in my place, but ascended to the pit of hell and suffered my damnation.  I don’t know.  All I know is that He did everything that was necessary to complete my salvation.  I remember seeing a B.C. comic strip where two characters were talking and one said to the other, “Did you know Christ went to hell when he died?” The other character said “No, I didn’t know that”. Then the first character said “Yes, He just went long enough to cancel our reservation”. That about sums it up. But I honestly don’t think these passages support that premise.

But back to Noah.  Noah suffered for what he did.  He was slandered, but in the end those who slandered him were “put to shame” as it says in verse 16.  And Noah and his family, eight persons in all, came safely through the waters in the ark.

Verses 21-22 Baptism represents that passing through the waters safely to new life, and the ark represents our safety in the Christ.

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