Jesus from first and second books of Peter.

Jesus from the first and second books of Peter.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is revealed in  first and second books of Peter as the epitome of exemplary godliness in  persecutions.

1 Peter  2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:  

Our Lord taught us what He himself did.

Acts  1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

Jesus taught His followers of all generations to expect persecutions and be godly to persecutors.

First, expect persecutions.

Matthew  5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.  

Luke  6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.  6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

2. Be godly to persecutors.

Matthew  5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

We shall consider the topic under three subheadings.

1. Christ epitome of godliness in persecutions.

2. Christian’s experience of gruesome persecutions.

3. Christian’s expressions  of godliness to  persecutors 

3.Compliments for exemplary godliness in persecutions.

1. Christ epitome of godliness in persecutions.

1 Peter  2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:  2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:  

Luke  22:49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?  22:50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.  22:51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. 

Luke  23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

2. Christian’s experiences of gruesome persecutions.

The Bible reveals divers gruesome persecutions that Christians of all ages and you will go through before living eternally with God.

Matthew  10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;  10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.  10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.  10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.  10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.  10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Luke  6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.  6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

John  15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.  15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.  15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.  15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.  15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.  15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

John  16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John  17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.  17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Acts  14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

1 Peter  1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:  1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter  4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

1 John  3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

Revelation  2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

3. Christian’s expressions  of godliness to  persecutors 

Believers are to respond with love to their persecutors and be praying for them to be forgiven and saved by God.

Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  

Acts  7:54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.  7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,  7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.  7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,  7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.  7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.  7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Romans  12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

1 Thessalonians  5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

1 Peter  3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

His grace is sufficient for you to do all these till He comes.

Let us pray.