Introduction
Good morning, my respected sir or madam, and my beloved brothers and sisters. I greet you all in the mighty name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful to stand in front of you to deliver God’s living word, and for it, I thank my living father, Jesus Christ, and I thank my mentor, who helped me stand with a sermon. I thank you all for this invaluable opportunity.
Text: 1 Peter 2:20–21, 3:9
Authorship
Peter wrote this epistle in 64 AD. We can know him by different names, like Cephas (Rock) and Simon. He has one brother, Andrew, and a mother-in-law. He was the son of John and was married (John 21:15; 1 Cor 9:5). He was from Bethsaida in Galilee (John 1:44). He was an uneducated man. He was a fisherman by profession. He wrote this letter to all groups of Christian people (1:1). This epistle is also known as the "Book of Job in the New Testament because it is full of Christian relationships with the persecutor. It is said that Peter died during the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero, who killed him.
Topic: Calling
I believe we all have different callings in our lives because we are different. Some of us are called to be teachers, scholars, preachers, shepherds, pastors, evangelists, missionaries, prophets, apostles, and so on (Ephesians 4:11), but I am not preaching about that. Here, calling means God has called us to do something. In the epistle of Peter, he says God has called us to bless and to Suffer in order to inherit the blessing from him and to complete the task.
- God called us to endure suffering.
2:20–21, but how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps.
Explain
People can suffer for two main reasons: one is due to their own misdeeds, and another is due to others deeds. Being Christian, if we are Suffering because of disobeying God’s word, will bring a curse into our lives, and there is no reward for family. There is no virtue in patiently suffering for our own misdeeds. There is no glory for God in it; such suffering will never mark us out as Christians or make others become Christians. But if we suffer for righteousness’ sake, it will bring blessings, for example, the life of a job and reward as well. We have been called to act as he did. Our Lord did not suffer for his own sins because he had done none. He knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). He committed no sin; in him there is no sin (1 John 3:5). There is no blessing for doing wrong, but there will always be punishment or judgment for it. But if you and I are suffering for doing well, there is a blessing. There is a reward for all of us from God. Do you think that it was possible for Jesus to fulfill his vision without suffering? No right. He suffered a lot, then he succeeded in saying it was finished (John.19:30).No more surprises in our lives if we are suffering for doing good because we are called by God to suffer and there is reward for it.
The person who suffered has ceased to sin. Suffering helped me be close to God. Suffering helps us cry out to the Lord. Being Christian, I suffered a lot emotionally and physically. My parents left me, and my friends started mocking me, saying he is a Christian who eats cow meat and follows a foreign religion. They used to stare at me and say that I was their enemy. I was full of questions about whether what they said was right or wrong. I was face-paralyzed for 3 years. I suffered a lot before, and I don’t know why I am suffering. What am I doing wrong? But now I have come to know that I have been called to suffer to finish my race or to accomplish my vision.
Illustration
A few years ago, my sister and I were studying when we left the house. I started working part-time. My monthly salary was $4,000 during that time. I used to work from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. My sister used to cook for me, and I was a boy and thought like a boy. One day I returned from work, and my sister was cooking, and I was helping her. At the time, my sister asked me, "Do you prefer suffering or happiness in your life?" I replied, "Happiness," but my sister replied, "Suffering." I was surprised, "Why, my sister, is this much suffering not enough for you?" But she told me that in happiness and a sufficient life, people easily forget the Lord, and suffering is the only way that leads us to God and closeness to him. I was surprised. Yes, throughout the Bible, the people whom God called suffered. Their suffering made them remember their God, like judges.
Application
- Suffering makes us original.
- Suffering helps us to stop doing sin (1 Peter 4:1).
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.
- Suffering teaches us to be obedient (Hebrew 5:8).
Though he was a son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.
- Suffering helps us to live according to the will of God (1 Peter 4:2).
that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men but for the will of God.
- Suffering leads to the glory of God (Romans 8:17–18).
If children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together, for I consider that the suffering of this present time is not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. NKJV
- God can allow suffering in our lives but never allows it to destroy us; nevertheless, he makes us more sharp and holy through suffering than before.
- God has called us to bless others.
3:9 Do not repay evil for evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit blessing.
Explain
Do not repay Evil, for evil is like an eye for an eye in the Old Testament (Exo 21:24). In the Old Testament, we can see
Doing evil for evil was one of the parts of the law in the Old Testament. Jesus modified this teaching and taught his disciples a new teaching.
This whole epistle is written during the time of persecution and suffering. We are urged to suffer for righteousness’ sake without retaliating. We are not to repay evil for evil. Instead, we are to bless those who mistreat us and to repay insults with kindness. As Christians, we are not called to harm others but to do them well, not to curse but to bless. As a result, God rewards this type of behavior with a blessing.
Never return evil for evil or insult for insult—scolding, tongue-lashing, or berating. If we are returning evil for evil, that is called revenge. Taking revenge is not our duty, but God’s. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to take venge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:19–21). We are not called to take revenge on or curse the creations of God, but to bless them. On the contrary, blessings include praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them. For now, to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing from God—obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare, happiness, and protection. We are chosen to bless others, not only those we love but also those we hate. We can find the answer in the book of Matthew 5:44, where Jesus says to pray for those who curse or persecute you and to love your enemies. As a result, God will bless us, our family, and our generation. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says our work in God will not go in vain.
Illustration
Joseph was one of the sons of Jacob. In his childhood, he suffered from his own brother, even though he was right. Jacob used to love Joseph and gave the colorful robe to him. He had a special dream in which his brothers and family bowed down before him. That made his brother jealous of him. His brother put him inside the pit and sold him to traders as a slave. But later, he forgave his brother and helped them with their needs. The most obvious example is that Christ, being God, came in the form of man and suffered for us; as a result, God exalted him, gave him, and made him superior to everything and everyone (Phil 2:9–11).
Application
- We have to bless everyone in every situation, for God has called us to this.
- We should not discriminate or judge right and wrong.
- We should not do evil for evil but bless them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, God called us to bless others and to suffer. If we bless others for that, God will reward us and bring us blessings in our lives. God has called us to suffer for doing right, not for doing wrong. We are called to suffer to complete the task that God has given us. Therefore, knowing we should not wander thinking, "Why am I suffering? We must bless everyone in every situation, even if some of them mistreat us. We must pray for their welfare, happiness, and protection. Thank you
