2013년 11월 10일 주일 영어예배 설교
베드로전서 3:13-15)

(1 Peter 3:13-15)

     In this world, there have been two realms – God’s realm and evil’s realm. There is no twilight zone between the two realms. In spite of and regardless of many humanists’ clamor for the humanized, harmonious, and peaceful coexistence of all the realms in this world by human efforts, the crystal clear and tremendous distinction between the two realms declared by the Bible is forming the underpinning of all the principles of the universe. And this severe antagonistic relationship between them will go till the Judge Day of Jesus’ Second Coming. Everybody will clearly see the ultimate annihilation of evil on the very day as a completion of the Kingdom of God that has been gradually spreading like leaven. Therefore, people who respectively exist in the two realms are totally different entities from each other. And naturally they also have different values and senses on the world from each other.

In light of this view, today’s text tells us about the collision that has necessarily happened between the two realms called “suffering for righteousness’ sake.” And also we can reconfirm the nature of a faithful life in the text. Now, through today’s text, we are going to be listening to what the suffering for righteousness’ sake is and what attitudes toward the suffering we need to have as Christians is.

First, the suffering is necessarily entailed in doing for righteousness’ sake, and for Christians, it is the blessedness itself. In verse 13, “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?” Peter, in the previous chapters, encouraged believing servants and wives with unbelieving masters and husbands to serve their masters and husbands with endurance as Christians. And in this chapter, that message of his is directed more expansively to a Christian audience whose status in the world is analogous to that of slaves and wives in Greco-Roman society. The atmosphere then was hostile to Christianity. So actually there were a lot of harmful factors to Christian people, and many Christians have even been killed in history just due to the fact that they believed in Jesus Christ. Then how can Peter say that if one is zealous for what is good, nobody can harm him? Here, we need to clarify meanings of two expressions: ‘zealous for what is good’ and ‘harm.’ “Zealous” refers to eager devotion, not simply to “good work” but to the Lord. When it comes to what good is, what the Bible always takes as the most, ultimate good is acknowledging and believing in Jesus Christ. At the same time, the most evil work is to not acknowledge and believe in Jesus Christ as the savior, creator, and sustainer. So here when Peter says “zealous for what is good”, this expression means eager devotion to the Lord.

And the word, ‘harm’ in the text doesn’t mean just physical, psychological harm. This should be understood in terms of essential and eternal perspective. In fact, Jesus Christ, the Lord himself, even was harmed by evil influence. In the light of the real meaning of the harm, however, nobody was able to harm Him because he in fact rose again from the dead and still have had the life power. Peter might remember Jesus’ teaching addressed to the disciples during the His living with them on the earth; in Luke 12:4-5, “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!” Real harm is to be cast into hell without Jesus, losing the real goal of human beings – devotion to the Lord.

In verse 14, “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.” This verse tell us that in fact for the people who really believe in and follow Jesus Christ, the suffering is inevitable in this world. Here, “for righteousness’ sake”, as briefly mentioned above, means for pursuing and keeping Christian principles and values in this world that is antagonistic against God of Christianity, their creator and sustainer. And Peter says that suffering for the righteousness’ sake is the blessedness. In some sense, it sounds strange, but it is clearly true. This teaching is in line with Jesus’ declaration, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” (Matt 5:10-11). Peter is encouraging Christian people under the hostile settings and persecutions of the 1^st century then to not fear nor to be troubled. Here, Peter claims that suffering in the present does not jeopardize one’s status before God. Present suffering produces no ultimate harm. Rather, righteous suffering in the present qualifies one as inhabiting a state of blessedness and is better than the eternal suffering of the wicked who never acknowledge and believe Jesus Christ. Peter strives to make clear that when set within the grand story of God’s will, the severity of present-day suffering is assuaged.

In this world today, there are regions that are hostile to Christianity and Christian people and try to harm them while there are regions that are friendly to Christianity like the US and South Korea. But wherever the region is, there should be two influences, God’s realm and evil’s realm. The righteous suffering should be understood in the light of this view as Peter encouraged the 1^st century Christian people in the Greco-Roman society in terms of the Biblical spiritual view not from the perspective of socio-political dimension. What can be the present-day suffering for righteousness’ sake to us? As always in history, it must be the matter of values and worldview. There cannot help but be a collision between the two influences, believers and unbelievers, or the reborn in Christ and the un-reborn separated from Christ. In the midst of the people who are dreaming elaborate paradise without God, considering human reasoning power and morality the highest value raising them to God’s authority, Christian people live keeping the principles and teachings of the Bible. Christian people are only holding crucified and resurrected Jesus Christ as the unique hope and life savior failing to behave according to expected norms of unbelieving society. In history, Christians’ behaviors have been considered moving against the traffic in a major street coopted by non-Christians’ intent on “doing evil in the sight of God.” There should be suffering beyond just difficulties as Christian people who live in this world. So the Bible calls the Christian life ‘war’, which is always an alarming message. There’s never any implication or nuances of an easy Christian life in this world. If any message gives any impression that Christian life is an easy and comfortable way, it is not the Christian message, or gospel of Christianity. It can be just religious relief or the suggestion of positive thinking, but not the main message of Christianity.

Don’t avoid the collision of worldview and values with non-Christians in this world. Please willingly accept the suffering for righteousness’ sake as believers in this world. Don’t be bewildered among seemingly proper the newest thoughts and ideas that are rebellious against God, their creator. Be strong in Christ and hold the old rugged cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Again, clearly remember Peter’s direction to us, “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.” You and I win. You and I, Christian people are never ruined under the prevalence of humanism without God. Nothing can harm us, God’s people. The triumph is ours. It will be completed and clear on the finish day. I hope you become one who does not fear the suffering, or collision and recognize it as the blessedness itself as today’s text teaches us.

Second, we can always be prepared to make a defense for this hope in us by honoring Christ the Lord. In verse 15, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” Peter is suggesting that they should be prepared to defend their unique Christian hope they have. Here, we first need to define ‘the hope’ even briefly. There can be various definitions and examples of Christian hope, but here the hope means the hope of resurrection. The hope of eternal life. Because of this real hope of Christianity, they never fear of anyone in doing for righteousness’ sake, or devotion to the Lord and have confidence that nothing can harm them. So if somebody ask them reason for this unique and powerful hope that is in them, they should make a defense for it. Here, the expression, ‘make a defense’, apologia in Greek, originally means reasoning or presentation of indisputable evidence to support something in legal settings. But this expression doesn’t necessarily mean that all Christian people should be able to give syllogistic reasoning and verbal defense to support their truth of the Christian faith, especially the hope in them. Of course, if possible for someone it would be much better. Then how can Christians make a defense for their hope like that? Today’s text says that believers are able to do so through ‘honoring Christ’. How do we honor Christ? It is realized in this world in this way that in both behaviors including words and mind-set, Christian people should acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Lord and embody His image as His children in this world. At the very spot that you are living every day, at the very field you are working your daily life, you should do so. In fact, in the same letter, Peter urges Christian people to be holy, in other words, to be distinguished from non-Christians in all aspects of their lives as God is holy. In this way, we are always in readiness as a witness to Christ, and through this, in Christ we are able to make a defense for our living hope of resurrection in us.

And the text tells us that in doing so, gentleness and respect must be entailed. Making a defense with gentleness and respect means that Christian people do it with unpretentiousness and humility. In other words, they should make a defense for the hope in Christ, for Christ, relying on Christ. It should be carried in honoring Christ.

We, Christian people’s life is in fact the reflector itself. Reflect what? God’s glory and the light of life. We should always reflect acknowledging Jesus Christ as the Lord and embodying His image as distinguished people in this world. Non-Christians are always wondering why we have that kind of values, principles, and hope. Even though they do not ask directly, it is definitely true that they are wondering about our firm and powerful hope. Here, you and I are called to make a defense for their asking about our hope. Through and by acknowledging Jesus Christ as the Lord of all the universe, and embodying His image through being distinguished from them in all aspects including mind-set, the way of thinking, the goal of life, outlook, and values in behaviors and words. This is because being a Christian does not mean to be a more improved person religiously, morally, and intellectually. It does not just mean to be a more exemplary person towards this world. Being a Christian means to be the new creation, new entity, regeneration, a totally different and new one. They are in Christ. They are in God’s realm. That’s why they are totally different entities from ones separated from Christ and in evil’s realm. I say again there is no mid-zone, twilight zone. It is useless to insist that they do not belong to any realms of both before Jesus’ declaring, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” I hope you are the people who properly, rightly function as Christians in making a defense for the Christian hope of resurrection by faithfully reflecting acknowledgement of Jesus Christ the Lord and embodying His image as His children through being holy.

Everyone, are you always ready? If you are not ready for this, your life is worthless before the living God even though you are fully ready for anything in your life. It is because real blessedness and real harm depends on whether or not you are ready for this. Don’t have fear of anything but God. Don’t avoid the suffering for the righteousness’ sake in this world as a Christian and realize it is a real blessing and guarantee for your safety. Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you! And do it through your daily life itself!