Climactic Directive to Suffering Saints

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the sermon by likening Peter's teaching method in 1 Peter 3:13-4:19 to that of a good teacher: announcing the subject, leading step-by-step, and providing a…

Martin uses the analogy of a survey on what makes a good teacher (knowing the subject, being excited, clearly outlining and summarizing the journey) to illustrate how Peter, as an inspired apostle, has effectively taught the subject of suffering in his epistle.

Now imagine with me at this point in the service that I were to ask the ushers to come down the various aisles as they did to receive our offering, and to distribute a piece of paper to all of you who could write. For you, who just would draw pictures and doodle, no paper for you. But if you're old enough to be able to write, we would encourage you to take a piece of paper, and then to write down your answers to a little survey that I were to do on the subject of what makes a good teacher. Now I'm sure that most of us have an opinion with respect to the issue of what makes a good teacher.

2:21 - 3:03 Read in full sermon

The point: As you wrestle with your fears, grief, and pain of suffering for Christ's sake, remember who God is: a faithful Creator.

A story of a little girl stuck in a tree, scared to jump, and her father reassuring her by reminding her of his strong arms and trustworthy words before telling her to jump. This illustrates how God, as a 'faithful Creator,' reassures believers of His power and trustworthiness before calling them to commit their souls to Him in suffering.

Here's a little girl, just old enough to be able to go out, with her older siblings, she's got three or four rough-and-tumble brothers, and she tries to mix it up with them and play with them. So one day, they're trying to get up into a tree in the backyard, and they get her to stand on their shoulders, and she gets perched up in the tree beyond now where they can help her down, and she begins to look down from a height of about 10 feet up, and she's scared witless, and she begins to cry, and the boys are torn. Shall we go in and get help from them? Shall we go in and get help from Dad, or sha...

36:04 - 36:41 Read in full sermon

The point: Continually be entrusting to God the entirety of your whole being in the midst of suffering.

An analogy of a man who keeps precious jewels in his pocket, leading to constant anxiety, until a friend persuades him to entrust them to a secure bank. This illustrates how committing one's 'soul' (entire being) to God, the faithful Creator, frees believers from anxiety and enables them to live and relate with confidence, even amidst suffering.

Peter says, this is what you're to do. You are to commit your souls to Him, knowing that in that posture, the believer's demeanor, the believer's whole bearing, will be a monumental testimony to the transforming power of the grace of God. Again, let me try to illustrate. Here's a man who's been given a bag full of very rare and precious jewels.

46:22 - 46:54 Read in full sermon

The point: Beware of willful pollutions and unholy ways, lest you discredit your protector and move Him to be ashamed of you and disclaim you.

A lengthy quote from Bishop Leighton's commentary on 1 Peter, emphasizing that an unholy soul is not a 'fit commodity' for God's keeping, and that 'loose ways will loosen your hold of him and your confidence in him.' This reinforces the necessity of 'well-doing' as the context for committing one's soul to God.

That's what he's saying. That's to be the context within which this duty by the grace of God is to be continually performed. And here I must share with you a quote from old Bishop Layton. If you're doing any serious studies in first Peter, you will find almost every commentary of the 20 or so that I consult quite regularly.

54:59 - 55:24 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The final component of the directive is the 'assumed context': 'in well-doing.' Martin explains that this is not a command to do well, but an assumption that suffering believers…

A quote from John Brown, stating that 'it is only he who is continuing well doing that in the day of severe trial can commit the keeping of his soul to God as to a faithful creator,' and vice-versa. This highlights the intimate, reciprocal connection between well-doing and committing one's soul to God.

One brief quote from John Brown, who makes this observation. These two injunctions are most intimately connected. Commit the souls in well doing. He regards them as two injunctions.

58:56 - 59:07 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize that your sufferings are ordered by the will of God, the faithful Creator, and afford the luxury of again and again committing the entirety of your being unto Him, holding to the path of well-doing by His grace…

A quote from F.B. Meyer, describing God's hands as 'safe and strong, tender and true,' and encouraging believers to 'drop down into them' for sustenance and ultimate glory. This serves as a comforting summary of the call to commit one's soul to the faithful Creator.

That's what God has called us to. Safe and strong, writes F.B. Meyer, tender and true are the hands of our faithful God.

63:12 - 63:22 Read in full sermon