Kress Biblical Resources :: Part Three—The True Grace of God Sustains You in Your Suffering (1Pe 3:13-5:14)

Detailed Outline of 1 Peter—Part Three (1Pe 3:13-5:14)

Standing firm in the true grace of God.

Part Three—The True Grace of God Sustains You in Your Suffering (1Pe 3:13-5:14)

1. The true grace of God (your hope of glory) compels you to entrust your soul to God’s perfect will in suffering for righteousness [Things to remember when faced with suffering for righteousness] (1Pe 3:13-4:19)
   1. You must understand the will of God in relation to suffering for doing what is right (1Pe 3:13-17)
      1. You will not normally [or ultimately—cf. 1Pe 3:12] suffer for doing what is right [it is not God’s original design for mankind, or His usual way of governing the universe] (1Pe 3:13)
      2. You are blessed if you suffer for doing what is right (1Pe 3:14a)
      3. You must fight the fear of man when you suffer for doing what is right (1Pe 3:14b)
      4. You must cherish Christ above all else even when you suffer for doing what is right (1Pe 3:15-16)
         1. In private devotion [in your hearts] (1Pe 3:15a)
         2. In public witness (1Pe 3:15b)
            1. At all times
            2. With words of hope that can be biblically defended
            3. In front of anyone
            4. In a spirit of gentleness and reverence
         3. In practical holiness: With a good conscience and godly life (1Pe 3:16)
      5. You must understand God’s sovereignty when you suffer for doing what is right (1Pe 3:17)
   2. You must look at the glorious results of Christ’s suffering [according to the will of God] in the midst of your suffering for doing what is right (1Pe 3:18-22)
      1. The foundational truths of Christ’s sufferings (1Pe 3:18)
         1. Sympathetic High Priest [also]
         2. Sinless, substitutionary death
         3. Salvation—complete and final
      2. The fruit of Christ’s sufferings (1Pe 3:18-21)
         1. Victory over death in the spiritual and physical realm (1Pe 3:18)
         2. Vindication of God’s plan in the demonic realm (1Pe 3:19-20)
         3. Verification of salvation in the human realm (1Pe 3:20-21)
      3. The final outcome of Christ’s sufferings—exaltation in the heavenly realm (1Pe 3:22)
   3. You must decidedly live for the will of God, even if it means suffering unto death for doing what is right (1Pe 4:1-6)
      1. Because Christ viewed obedience to God’s will as of much greater importance than His suffering unto death (1Pe 4:1a)
      2. Because the one who is committed to God’s will, even in suffering unto death, has broken free from sin’s control (1Pe 4:1b-3)
         1. Perfect freedom from sin’s control ultimately: Suffering unto death brings a perfect release from sin (1Pe 4:1b)
         2. Practical freedom from sin’s control now (1Pe 4:2-3)
            1. God’s will is now more important than the lusts of men (1Pe 4:2)
            2. Pagan pursuits are now a thing of the past (1Pe 4:3)
               1. Sensuality
               2. Lusts
               3. Drunkenness
               4. Carousing
               5. Drinking parties
               6. Abominable idolatries
      3. Because the one who is committed to God’s will, even in suffering unto death, will be vindicated by God when He judges the living and dead (1Pe 4:4-6)
         1. You may be maligned for your pursuit of holiness, but your accusers will answer to God (1Pe 4:4-5)
            1. Your pursuit of holiness will bring a measure of conviction (1Pe 4:4a)
            2. Your pursuit of holiness will elicit hostility from unbelievers (1Pe 4:4b)
            3. Your accusers will have to give an account to the Judge of all the earth (1Pe 4:5)
         2. You may be judged in death according to men, but the true Judge will give you life through the gospel (1Pe 4:6)
   4. You must actively pursue ministry, love and the glory of God in the midst of your suffering for doing what is right, because the end is near (1Pe 4:7-11)
      1. Protect your mind for intimacy with God (1Pe 4:7)
         1. Think clearly (1Pe 4:7a)
         2. Be alert (1Pe 4:7b)
         3. Unto prayer (1Pe 4:7c)
      2. Purpose to actively love one another in the body of Christ, especially through forgiveness and hospitality (1Pe 4:8-9)
         1. Fervently love one another (1Pe 4:8a)
         2. Cover sins (1Pe 4:8b)
         3. Be hospitable to one another (1Pe 4:9)
      3. Pursue service within the body of Christ (1Pe 4:10-11c)
         1. Serve one another with your unique giftedness (1Pe 4:10-11b)
            1. All of us are stewards of God’s multifaceted grace (1Pe 4:10)
            2. If you speak, do so as God would (1Pe 4:11a)
            3. If you serve, do so in God’s strength (1Pe 4:11b)
         2. Serve one another with the purpose of glorifying God in all things (1Pe 4:11c)
      4. Praise and proclaim the glory and dominion of God in Christ as Peter did (1Pe 4:11d)
   5. You must persevere and commit yourself to God in the midst of your suffering for doing what is right (1Pe 4:12-19)
      1. Realize the blessed purposes and results of being tested by fire [Expect testing to come to prove your faith] (1Pe 4:12)
         1. Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you (1Pe 4:12a)
         2. It comes upon you for your testing (1Pe 4:12b)
         3. It is not to be considered something alien to the Christian life (1Pe 4:12c)
      2. Rejoice in the blessed fellowship of Christ’s sufferings and the blessed hope of His return [Experience the joy of fellowship with Christ in both His suffering and His promised return] (1Pe 4:13)
         1. The fellowship of Christ’s sufferings (1Pe 4:13a)
         2. The command to “keep on rejoicing” (1Pe 4:13b)
         3. The result of rejoicing now, is exultation at Christ’s return (1Pe 4:13b)
      3. Revere/Respect the blessed Name of Christ [Exalt the Name of Christ above all else in your suffering] (1Pe 4:14-16)
         1. If you’re reviled for the Name of Christ, you are blessed (1Pe 4:14)
         2. If you suffer in your own name—because of your own sin—there is cause for shame (1Pe 4:15)
         3. If you suffer for the Name of Christ, you need not be ashamed, but rather glorify God in that Name (1Pe 4:16)
      4. Receive God’s blessed chastening now, instead of terrifying judgment later [Embrace God’s chastening now, instead of eternal judgment later] (1Pe 4:17-18)
         1. The refining judgment of the household of God (1Pe 4:17a)
         2. The eternal judgment of those who do not obey the gospel of God (1Pe 4:17b)
         3. The temporal difficulties of the righteous now (1Pe 4:18a)
         4. The eternal difficulties of the godless and the sinner (1Pe 4:18b)
      5. Render yourself as wholly committed to the blessed will and authority of God as faithful Creator, and keep on doing what is right [Entrust yourself wholly to God’s will and authority as faithful Creator, and keep on doing what is right] (1Pe 4:19)
2. The true grace of God (your hope of glory) equips you for victory in the spiritual battle involved in suffering (1Pe 5:1-14)
   1. The true grace of God (your hope of glory) should govern your relations with other believers in light of the spiritual battle and suffering (1Pe 5:1-5)
      1. Elders: Shepherd the flock of God (1Pe 5:1-4)
         1. Peter’s example of hope-driven, gracious, voluntary oversight (1Pe 5:1)
         2. Peter’s exhortation to hope-driven gracious, voluntary oversight (1Pe 5:2-4)
            1. Shepherd willingly: Put away sloth (1Pe 5:2a)
            2. Shepherd honestly: Put away greed (1Pe 5:2b)
            3. Shepherd humbly: Put away pride/lust for power (1Pe 5:3)
               1. Not lording it over those allotted to your charge (1Pe 5:3a)
               2. Proving to be examples to the flock (1Pe 5:3b)
            4. Shepherd hopefully: Put away earthly motivations (1Pe 5:4)
               1. When the Chief Shepherd appears (1Pe 5:4a)
               2. You will receive the unfading crown of glory (1Pe 5:4b)
      2. Younger men: Be submissive to the elders (1Pe 5:5a)
      3. All: Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another (1Pe 5:5b)
   2. The true grace of God (your hope of glory) should govern your attitudes in the midst of the spiritual battle and suffering (1Pe 5:6-11)
      1. Be submissive to the sovereignty of God (1Pe 5:6-7)
         1. By remembering His character as revealed in the Scriptures (1Pe 5:6ab)
            1. He opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble [Therefore]
            2. He is sovereign and all-powerful
         2. By remembering the final outcome—exaltation (1Pe 5:6c)
         3. By remembering to cast your burden upon Him, because He cares for you (1Pe 5:7)
      2. Be sober and alert in view of the spiritual battle (1Pe 5:8)
         1. Know your responsibility
            1. Be sober
            2. Be watchful
         2. Know your adversary
            1. His character
            2. His intent
      3. Be strong in the Faith (1Pe 5:9-11)
         1. Know your responsibility (1Pe 5:9a)
         2. Know you’re not alone (1Pe 5:9b)
         3. Know and rest in the promises, Person and praise of God (1Pe 5:10-11)
            1. The promises of God (1Pe 5:10)
               1. Suffering for a little while
               2. Eternal glory in Christ
               3. Personal oversight of your perseverance and sanctification
            2. The Person of God (1Pe 5:10)
               1. The God of all grace
               2. The God of sovereign grace
               3. The God of eternal glory
               4. The God of power and faithfulness (perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you)
            3. The praise of God (1Pe 5:11)
   3. The true grace of God (your hope of glory) is able to make you stand firm (1Pe 5:12-14)
      1. Silvanus’ ministry: Faithfulness and teamwork (1Pe 5:12a)
      2. Peter’s ministry: The written Word of God—faithfulness to Christ’s commission (1Pe 5:12b)
      3. The believer’s charge: Stand firm in the true grace of God (1Pe 5:12c)
      4. The Church’s wider ministry: Greetings of love (1Pe 5:13-14a)
      5. Christ’s ministry: Peace to all who are in Him (1Pe 5:14b)