Over the past few weeks we have been looking at passages from
Peter’s first letter. Now I can’t speak for all of you, but I know when I hear those passages read; even if I
follow along in the Bible, sometimes I get a little lost. If that’s the way you are… Don’t Panic!
What we forget is that these letters were written at a very different time in history than
our own. Christianity was something brand new and in some places only scarcely tolerated. When Peter was writing these things
time was short and he had a huge task to accomplish. If he’d put down all his thoughts it would take volumes the size
of Encyclopedias. Instead he condensed his teachings into these Biblical books we call Peter’s epistles.
When these letters were circulated in the churches, every phrase and every concept would
be a topic for discussion, something the local church leaders would unpack and build upon. It’s much the same today.
If you go along to a Christian bookshop and glance at the Biblical Commentaries section, you’ll see that huge volumes
have been written to bring out the message of these little letters.
So don’t be discouraged if you find these passages difficult. They sprang out of
particular situations and circumstances. They were designed to be studied and discussed. They are packed solid with teaching
and wisdom. It takes time and effort to unpack them. They were never meant to be easy reading or listening.
The passage we heard this morning has been called “Peter’s Perplexing Passage.”
Elsewhere Peter complains that much of what Paul writes can be obscure. Peter gives him a run for his money in this section!
Yet, the genius of both of them lies in the fact that they can take all this rich Christian thought and, in passage after
passage, lay it all out for us in all it’s complexity yet still have an underlying theme or message that holds it all
together.
The underlying theme of this morning’s passage is that being a Christian is not easy.
That in a world that crucified Jesus, following the way of the Cross means having to work at our relationship with God. In
this task we should not be discouraged. Why? Because the love of God that has been revealed to us in Jesus Christ is a powerful
one, powerful enough to help us stand for Christ and powerful enough to carry us through.
Along the way Peter throws in some thoughts about baptism and it’s relation to the
story of Noah plus a few words that connect with a statement in the Apostles’ Creed about Jesus ‘descending into
hell’, not to mention reflecting on the nature of the Ascension and words about the angels and the limited power of
earthly authorities. Now we are not going to cover all that in the remaining time we have for our message; but again, that’s
all-right. If today we can get hold of one of the essential thoughts of this passage, then we are going to take away something
of great value. The one that hit me amongst all the others was that Peter is
calling Christians to be “Ready Defenders.”
In the sport saturated world in which we live, the role of the “Defender” is
not lost on us. Be it basketball, or Football, or Soccer, a strong defense is a necessary part of the game. If you are playing
in a defensive position you have to be ready. Be ready to take the knocks and to withstand the assaults of the opposition.
When the cheerleaders and the crowd are shouting, “Defense! Defense!” and you are out on the field, you know that
it is time for action!
We live our Christian lives on the playing field of the world. Sometimes if we do what
is right we will receive praise for it. At others times it will seem that everything is against us. Regardless of whether
the winds blow for us or against us,
Peter’s advice remains the same: verse 15 “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make
a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account of the hope that is in you.”
Peter then gives us the ‘Game Plan’. He advises us as how we can become ready
defenders. His first word of advice is summed up by the modern phrase “Walk the Talk.” He advises us to:-
Keep a Good Conscience. (verse 16)
When the mud starts flying it’s not going to find it so easy to stick if you’ve
got nothing to hide. It’s hard to defend the faith if much of your energy is spent on having to defend your own lack
of faith. If you’re playing in the game, you had better have practiced, because if you haven’t, then when trouble
comes you are not going to be able to stand up to it. If you are facing a test in the classroom and you haven’t put
in the homework, then you are not going to get good results.
The best way to stand up to those who say that faith doesn’t count for anything is
by living a life of faith. To not do so is playing right into their hands. We were thinking a few weeks ago on how Peter spoke
about faith. He called it “Precious Gold” – something of tremendous value. Such an image challenges us to
think about what our faith means to us. Is it that ‘Pearl of Great Price’ that Jesus referred to in one of His
parables, or are we spiritually just playing games?
Living a good life is not what makes us acceptable to God. Our salvation is through faith
in Christ. However, those without faith only see the practical results of what God is doing in our lives. Jesus spoke about
faith being recognized by the fruits it produced.
Maybe the problem is not so much that we aren’t willing to “Walk the Talk,”
but that the things Jesus talks about are hard to live up to. We agree that such
things as loving our neighbors and living faithfully before God are wonderful ideals, but in our lives they appear to be unreachable.
Maybe we sometimes give up trying because what we seek for seems to be beyond our reach.
It’s a question of focus. If we focus on our own abilities and achievements, then
we can easily be discouraged. Instead, Peter advises us to…
Make Jesus our focus.
Verse 22 speaks of Jesus as being “at the right hand of God, having gone into
heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.”
Whilst realizing that the aim of most games is for us to find our enjoyment in the playing,
the fact is that it is usually more encouraging to be on the winning side than it is to be on the losing side. There is no
greater winner over life and death and sin and evil than Jesus Christ. Think of some of the imagery of our hymns: Christ the
Victor, the Lord of Lord’s, the King of King’s. Focus on ourselves and we focus on the losing side. Focus on Jesus
and we are on to a winner.
Peter further elaborates on this idea in verses 19 and 20 when he speaks about Jesus being
the One ‘who made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God
kept waiting in the days of Noah.” Here we are into one of those passages that have aroused much curiosity and speculation
for theologians throughout the centuries. That’s not a journey we’re going to take this morning!
The idea that we are meant to get a hold on is that the victory of Jesus Christ was one
of cosmic dimensions. What happened at Calvary not only had to do with life as we understand it on earth, but it had an impact
on the structure of unseen things and the realities we struggle to make sense of. What happened on Easter morning was a witness
extending beyond history.
It would be easy to become bogged down in questions such as “Who were these spirits
Peter’s talking about?” or “Why were they in prison?” or even in speculations about heaven and hell
and mortals and angels. For sure there is a time and place for such things. Right
now it is enough to know that whatever bad is out there, the power of God’s love is a cosmic overcoming power that ultimately
nothing can or will stand against. It’s good to be on the winning team!
Finally Peter tells us to remember that we have a position to play in that winning team,
that we are called to play our part, that there is if you like, a team outfit that has our name on it. What do I mean? Peter
advises us to…
Remember our baptismal
promises.
When we are baptized, the person baptizing us speaks our name and we are marked by water
as belonging to God. The significance of baptism is not that the water of baptism removes physical dirt from us. We can take
a bath to do that! Baptism is a sacrament that carries God’s Grace. Baptism is not something we do to ourselves but
something done to us. We are baptized into the family of God.
It is the action of the living Lord, Jesus Christ, upon us that brings salvation. Peter
links baptism not to Christ’s death, as do some, but to His resurrection. Verse 21 speaks about baptism as being “an
appeal to God for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
I invite you to remember the promises that
were made on your behalf at your baptism. Your baptism was a sign that God claims you as His own. He has called you by name.
He desires that you take your place on the team as a ready defender of the faith.
So… are we ready? Can we hear the angels in the outfield? They’re urging us
on saying “Defense! Defense!” The game has already started. We’re
already on the field. Remember Peter’s game play… because it’s not an easy game.
Keep a Good Conscience. Walk the Talk. Put in the
preparation. Make the practice. Do the homework. But when you still don’t feel like you are making the grade,
remember whose side you are on. So…
Make Jesus your focus. Focus only on yourself and you are
limited. This is a team game. And we’re on the winning side. Jesus is the Victor. The King of the Cosmos. Focus on how
the love of Jesus Christ can work in your heart through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Remember your baptismal promises. You’re on the team.
You’re not left back in the changing rooms or on the sidelines. You are in the game. When you were baptized the roster
was spoken out for the world to hear. Your name was there on the list and we heard it called.
Get out there and let’s win this game.
Make your stand for Jesus Christ.
God promises to help you to be a
"Ready Defender."
