February 22nd 2015
Have You Ever Suffered For Being Called A Christian?
1 Peter 3:18-22 (NIV)
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also— not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience towards God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
There are too many controversial statements in the selected verses, for this commentary to try to cover all of them; it would require several pages to ever attempt such an endeavor! So, this commentary will only allude to some parts of the selected verses. The main point from these verses that caused me to select them is the references to how complete the salvation offer is to all people. The first verse is very important for us to understand that the offer of salvation is extended to all, because “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
Still writing about Jesus, Peter wrote, “He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.” Next Peter wrote about exactly how His followers are saved through His resurrection from the dead. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. Jesus’ ascension into heaven was the final piece of proof that He was, and is, the Savior of the world. Believe that and you will be saved!
As a practicing young earth creationist, I’d be remiss not to mention that it is obvious that Peter believed in the worldwide flood, as he wrote, “long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water.” There are too many different beliefs about exactly what Baptism does or is needed for me to try and write some explanation in this commentary! Sometime soon, I plan to write a commentary about baptism. It may require a multipart series to try to cover the different beliefs, stay tuned!
Jesus said some interesting things when He walked this earth and ministered with His disciples. One such statement is the following found in the book by Matthew. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. (Matthew 12:30) Jesus left no gray areas in His teaching, as here, He plainly tells us all that there really is no such a position as a nominal Christian, you either are or you are not! You either accept the whole Bible as God’s Word, or you believe it is a book(s) written by men, just like every other book you will ever read!
What about this name that many people profess, which is “I am a Christian!” If you were being sued and taken into a court of law, and you were charged with being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to find you guilty? If the courts viewed your life would it render a verdict of guilty, and say this court finds you guilty of being a follower of Jesus Christ, commonly known as a Christian. In the book of Acts we read about Jesus’ followers who referenced the Name to indicate whom they followed. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. (Acts 5:40b-41) When some of them were accused of being followers of Jesus and were taken to court, and then punished, it made them begin, “rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”
We read about when the Name group first became known as Christians in the book of Acts. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Acts 11:25-26) The suffering related to being called a Christian still remains today, as many non-Christians do not like to associate with professing Christians. In many countries around this world today people are taken into courts of law, and if they are found guilty of being a Christian, they are imprisoned or even put to death.
With most of the Politically Correct movements in the USA, it may not be long before Christians will not be allowed to read or quote certain verse from the Bible. Some verse may be considered as evidence of hate crimes! Peter wrote about such treatment in his time on this earth. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. (1 Peter 4:16) Can we think of being called a Christian as a good thing, even when it may cause us to be mistreated or scorned? Peter tells us to “praise God that you bear that name,” even “if you suffer as a Christian.”
When you tell someone about Jesus, in the hope of saving them from eternal damnation, you may meet with some scorn, or they may start to avoid you. We read about the reaction from King Agrippa to Paul’s witness to him and his wife. Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" (Acts 26:28) Here we see a negative reaction to having the Gospel being presented to him, and questioning if Paul thought he had convinced King Agrippa to become a Christian.
Always remember the “big” picture in your life of being a Christian, and believe the promises of God. The picture of life is greatly expanded for anyone who is actually a Christian. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18) The writer of Hebrews also wrote about this view of overcoming the world. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3)
Tell the story of Jesus Christ to those who did not hear it, or to those who have heard it, but have not yet accepted it. Christians are commanded to do so, and your story may save the immortal soul of your neighbor.
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
1 Peter 3:18-22 (NIV)
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also— not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience towards God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
There are too many controversial statements in the selected verses, for this commentary to try to cover all of them; it would require several pages to ever attempt such an endeavor! So, this commentary will only allude to some parts of the selected verses. The main point from these verses that caused me to select them is the references to how complete the salvation offer is to all people. The first verse is very important for us to understand that the offer of salvation is extended to all, because “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
Still writing about Jesus, Peter wrote, “He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.” Next Peter wrote about exactly how His followers are saved through His resurrection from the dead. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. Jesus’ ascension into heaven was the final piece of proof that He was, and is, the Savior of the world. Believe that and you will be saved!
As a practicing young earth creationist, I’d be remiss not to mention that it is obvious that Peter believed in the worldwide flood, as he wrote, “long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water.” There are too many different beliefs about exactly what Baptism does or is needed for me to try and write some explanation in this commentary! Sometime soon, I plan to write a commentary about baptism. It may require a multipart series to try to cover the different beliefs, stay tuned!
Jesus said some interesting things when He walked this earth and ministered with His disciples. One such statement is the following found in the book by Matthew. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. (Matthew 12:30) Jesus left no gray areas in His teaching, as here, He plainly tells us all that there really is no such a position as a nominal Christian, you either are or you are not! You either accept the whole Bible as God’s Word, or you believe it is a book(s) written by men, just like every other book you will ever read!
What about this name that many people profess, which is “I am a Christian!” If you were being sued and taken into a court of law, and you were charged with being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to find you guilty? If the courts viewed your life would it render a verdict of guilty, and say this court finds you guilty of being a follower of Jesus Christ, commonly known as a Christian. In the book of Acts we read about Jesus’ followers who referenced the Name to indicate whom they followed. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. (Acts 5:40b-41) When some of them were accused of being followers of Jesus and were taken to court, and then punished, it made them begin, “rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”
We read about when the Name group first became known as Christians in the book of Acts. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Acts 11:25-26) The suffering related to being called a Christian still remains today, as many non-Christians do not like to associate with professing Christians. In many countries around this world today people are taken into courts of law, and if they are found guilty of being a Christian, they are imprisoned or even put to death.
With most of the Politically Correct movements in the USA, it may not be long before Christians will not be allowed to read or quote certain verse from the Bible. Some verse may be considered as evidence of hate crimes! Peter wrote about such treatment in his time on this earth. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. (1 Peter 4:16) Can we think of being called a Christian as a good thing, even when it may cause us to be mistreated or scorned? Peter tells us to “praise God that you bear that name,” even “if you suffer as a Christian.”
When you tell someone about Jesus, in the hope of saving them from eternal damnation, you may meet with some scorn, or they may start to avoid you. We read about the reaction from King Agrippa to Paul’s witness to him and his wife. Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" (Acts 26:28) Here we see a negative reaction to having the Gospel being presented to him, and questioning if Paul thought he had convinced King Agrippa to become a Christian.
Always remember the “big” picture in your life of being a Christian, and believe the promises of God. The picture of life is greatly expanded for anyone who is actually a Christian. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18) The writer of Hebrews also wrote about this view of overcoming the world. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3)
Tell the story of Jesus Christ to those who did not hear it, or to those who have heard it, but have not yet accepted it. Christians are commanded to do so, and your story may save the immortal soul of your neighbor.
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
|
|
|