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The Call to Suffer for Righteousness

And who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good? But if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye, and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear, having a good conscience, that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, and so on.

And particularly verse 14, we maybe just remind ourselves of the Beatitudes that we were endeavoring to consider over the days of preparation for the communion. You may be wondering why it would be such an emphasis on that particular part of the Word of God, and it’s very simply this, we might say that it is there that you learn and discover what a Christian is, what it is to be a child of God. And that’s the great matter to be examining and inquiring into, and seeking to know and be assured of, and seeking to discover the privileges of, and the blessings of, and to be asking for God’s blessing on your life, on your soul, and on your congregation, on your family. Surely we would be wise to inquire who it is that he blesses, and who it is that he pronounces blessed. And he is the blessing God, and he is the one who blessed Abraham, the father of the faithful, and in him all the families of the earth will be blessed in his seed, that is Christ. And so Christ coming to bless men as the promised Messiah, and as the Son of God, who not only pronounces but confers the blessing. Oh, what a privilege to hear what his blessings are, to know them, and to discover them for ourselves. Can we say today, can we say tonight, of that blessing which is proclaimed in the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation, can we say with Jacob, I will not let thee go except thou bless me. Children here, we hope that’s your language as the communion season now comes to an end, that you would be crying to God tonight in your soul and in your heart. I will not let thee go. I will not let this communion pass, yet another communion season go. I will not let it go. I will not let thee go, except thou bless me, except thou give me what the blessing of God brings.

Revisiting the Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Understanding Persecution for Righteousness’ Sake

Some have, are of the view that the, the words of the, what we would call the, the eighth beatitude in Matthew chapter 5, verse 10 to 12, some have described this as a, like an appendix to the beatitudes, something we might say if, by way of addition or perhaps by way of application of them to the circumstances and the calling of the church of God in this world, where they were going to meet with the very opposite of what they had, they would meet the world’s enmity, and the world wouldn’t recognize them, the world wouldn’t know them, and so they were to expect persecution, as the Savior often told them.

The Eighth Beatitude: Blessed are the Persecuted

And so that what he says here, blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. He’s going back to the, what he promised to those who were poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven, and the very possession of these characteristics, these graces will bring them into persecution, and the enmity, and the hatred of the devil, and the world, and the flesh, everything will be against them, because they are of this character. They’re not to forget, in the midst of that, that they’re still blessed, even though the world hates them. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted there the prophets which were before you.

The Nature and Source of Persecution

And if we were to look at these words, as we did on the other occasions, when we looked at the attitudes, we might observe the nature of persecution. What is it? What is it to be persecuted in this sense? It’s for righteousness’ sake. It’s not to suffer just for religion. It’s not to suffer just in any way. It’s not just to suffer from others. It’s to suffer for righteousness’ sake. Somebody who suffers for evildoing cannot say he is persecuted. Somebody who suffers for a false religion or false principles, yes, we might more generally, and perhaps in one sense, call it persecution, but it’s not the persecution that’s blessed. Blessed persecution is for righteousness’ sake.

We would think, too, of the source of persecution. It’s from the devil. Every form of persecution of Christ’s people and God’s people is from hell. It’s from the devil. That’s where it comes from. And they’re doing the work of the devil who persecute the saints. And God knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall be cut off. Those who persecute God’s people are in the most dangerous place on earth. They are the most vulnerable people in the world. They are most exposed to God’s anger. Very often he cuts them off. Very often he hears the cry of his people and avenges them on their enemies.

The Pattern and Honor of Persecution

We could think, too, of the pattern of persecution. That’s the prophets which were before you and the people of God in the past. We could remember and we should remember the martyrs, the saints of God of old, who shed their blood. We were singing in the psalm some of their language, though as thou breakest in dragon’s place. Children, were you wondering what that meant when we were singing that in the psalm? What’s the dragon’s place? Breaking God’s people in the place of the dragon. Well, the Bible tells us who the dragon is. It’s Satan, the devil. And he has a seat. He has many seats in the world. One of the churches, St. Smyrna, I can’t remember exactly now in the book of Revelation, he reminds them that they dwell where Satan’s seat is, that there his faithful martyr suffered. That’s what the people of God are to remember, that they have an honor, indeed, to be persecuted for Christ’s sake. They are in that role of honor that the saints of God who are martyrs for Jesus shall have in heaven, who shed their blood for the sake of Christ. And what a large picture, large story the Bible tells of them. And what a large story church history tells of them. And so the honor of persecution, that’s really what Christ is reminding his disciples about. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you. There’s a variety of degrees and methods of persecution in every age and generation, but blessed are ye. It’s an honor. It’s part of the fellowship of Christ, the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his death. It’s part of the calling, the life, the grace given to them.

There was a godly preacher in Scotland, Robert Bruce, and perhaps we’ve mentioned his name here many times, but he’s one of our great heroes of the Reformation in Scotland, a most godly man. And he heard a story about another godly man who had been severely treated by the enemies of Christ and the enemies of the gospel down in England. And he was so afflicted when he heard this story that he went aside to weep for the dear saint of God who had suffered torture for Christ. And when he came back into the company, his face was red with weeping, and he was asked as to what it was that troubled him, and he said, shame. Shame that I was not counted worthy, that I was not faithful enough enough to shed my blood for Christ. And that is the view that the people of God once did have, and in times of persecution we believe they do have, of this great calling and this great duty and this great honor of being persecuted for the sake of Christ. They shed their blood for him. They are not, they count not their lives dear unto themselves, but that they might finish their course with joy and fulfill that which God has called them to.

The Reward of Persecution

Well, there’s this too, the reward of persecution. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. And that is underlined very beautifully in the Gospel of Luke, where this same sermon is given in briefer terms, but the Savior is said by Luke to have said, 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. Rejoice ye in that day and leap for joy, leap for joy, for behold your reward is great in heaven, for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

And so we have throughout the Bible, as we know, in the teaching of the Savior, a much reference to the persecution of his people for his sake. We have it very prominently, and I could just remind you, I’m sure you could find these places yourselves, but perhaps one of the most striking pictures of it is in Matthew chapter 10. And sending his disciples out as sheep in the midst of wolves, be ye harmless as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they shall deliver you up to the councils, and they shall scourge you in their synagogues. You shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for testimony against them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you up, take no thought, however, what ye shall speak, for it shall be given you in that same hour what you shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. The brother shall deliver up the brother to death, the father the child, the children shall rise up against their parents, cause them to be put to death, and ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But he that endureth to the end shall be saved. When they persecute you in one city, flee ye into another. For I verily, I say unto you, shall not go over the cities of Israel till the Son of Man become what they were to expect.

Historical Witnesses to Persecution

And the history of the Christian church, of course, brings it out and proves it and demonstrates it, confirms it. The great persecution in the early church is a most remarkable story of love to Christ. It’s a remarkable account of suffering. Hundreds and thousands and tens of thousands cast into the den of lions. It’s a cloud of witnesses were given in the Bible and in the history of the church were compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses. Don’t let us ever forget them. The time would fail us. Books, volumes have been written. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. We may be familiar with an abridged version, but it goes to eight large volumes. Eight large volumes. That’s just part of the Reformation and early period of persecution, but the time would fail us.

The time would fail us, Paul says, to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance. They might obtain a better resurrection. Others a trial of cruel mockings, scourgings. Yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonments, they were stoned, they were sawn asunder. They were slain with his tempted, slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth.

The Enduring Reality of Persecution

That’s what it means to be a Christian. That’s what Christianity looks like in most parts of the world, in most ages of the world, in most places where it is. And it’s still true to this day. This country was populated by Europeans on account of persecution, religious persecution of various kinds, and many fled from the nation of Scotland, with the heritage of the Gospel in their hearts, to establish a land where freedom would prosper. And yet, alas, alas, the devil indeed is the same, the heart of man is the same, whatever nation under heaven you live in. And they that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. We are not to think we will ever be free of it while we’re here on earth. That is the time when we might well be in the greatest danger, if we come to think that we can evade it, escape it, find a place to live without it. It cannot be.

The Christian’s Calling and Preparation

Well, it is the Christians calling, and it’s how the people of God are to view this matter, that the Savior teaches them and speaks to them so plainly about it. But more than that, how they are to behave under it. And that’s a great matter, a great part of the Bible deals with that, and a great part of the calling of believers in all their relations with each other is a great attention is given to that in these, all the epistles. You can see that the wives, the husbands, the servants, the fathers, the children, nearly all the epistles have something to say on all these subjects, human relations. And it’s all in the light of this, the power of sin and the power of corruption, yes, but the power of the enemy, the power of the adversary. Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. And we’re not just to think of that as individual, we’re to think of that collectively as well. Whole congregations can be destroyed by the devil and his roaring persecution and enmity. And they’re to be prepared for it, they’re to be ready for it, they’re to be equipped for it. They’re not to be ignorant of his devices, they’re not to be they’re not to be taken by surprise, think it not strange. And there is much to be learnt in times of peace and civil peace and quiet, much that needs to be laid to heart and planted deep in the soil of our souls, so that in the day of trouble, we know where to go.

Blessed be God’s name that these precious sweet Psalms of David are the church’s song and the church’s prayers and the church’s cries. And they go down into the very depths of human emotion and grief and grief and suffering and sorrow. Yes, they go deeper than mere human emotion, they go deep, deep, deep, deep, calling unto deep. Because God’s people’s sufferings and God’s people’s sorrows, they are far deeper than the world knows anything of, because the holier a person is, the more sensitive they will be to sin and sorrow and Satan and themselves and their dangers and the world and its enmity and the hatred of Christ that’s in the world. It’ll be a sword in their bones when their foes upbraid them and say, where is thy God? And they need to know that, and they need to be able to call upon the resources that the Bible provides, and they need to be exercised in the use of their weapons. They need to put on the whole armor of God. They need to have the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace and the sword of the Spirit and all prayer. They need it all, all the time, and they need to be exercising their armory. Samuel Rutherford, one of the great Scottish divines, called the devil Christ’s master fencer. His master fencer, he was teaching his soldiers, Christ’s soldiers, how to fight. The devil was being used by Christ to teach his people how to fight, how to use their sword. That’s what makes them more than conquerors. The devil is put to work for them, to exercise their graces and exercise faith and hope and love and patience and long suffering and meekness and gentleness. The devil himself, in persecuting them, makes them stronger. Makes them stronger. Isn’t that very wonderful?

But that doesn’t mean that persecution will not be hard. Though it be a high and holy and heavenly calling, though it be such a honor and a blessing indeed, and such a reward is given to it, that’s all consoling, that’s all comforting. But there’s warning. Many have fallen by it. Many have been ensnared by it. Many have been shown to be failures, shown to be something that they did not profess to be. Many have turned back and walked no more with Jesus. When persecution arises because of the word, by and by, many shall be offended. We fear greatly that if some of the persecution that Christians are suffering in other places were to come to us in this comfortable life that we live, the congregations of the United States of America would be very thin. Very thin. And in Britain, too. We hope and pray that that day doesn’t find us sleeping and find us wanting and find us in rioting and wantonness, chambering and wantonness, living like the world, so that we’re not ready to be stripped. We’re not ready to be tortured. We’re not ready to be buffeted and put to death for the sake of Jesus whom we profess to love. We do not say these things to frighten anybody. We merely draw attention to them because they’re in the Bible, and they’re in the history of the church writ large. We are to be prepared, and we are to be warned. We are to remember the high dignity to which God’s people are called, and the blessing of heaven pronounced on them, and not to lose sight of it, not to be afraid of it, not to be afraid of this. That’s part of what’s here.

Practical Guidance for Enduring Persecution

And so we would like to turn then in trying to perhaps very briefly set before you something of what’s in that, the last of these beatitudes, if we can think of it that way, by considering the fact that by considering what’s in the passage here, you can see how, you can just see how similar the language is even. In verse 14, Peter is drawing from the very language, but if ye, but and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye, blessed are ye, blessed are ye, if ye suffer for righteousness sake. And how wide that is, and how extensive that is, it’s righteousness in all its forms. Righteousness is simply the rule, keeping to the rule of God’s word in all things. What is right is informed, we are informed as to what is right by the word of God, and people have died for just one principle, the word of God. That’s what we’re called to. Are we willing to suffer for truth because it’s truth, because it’s righteousness? Are we willing to suffer shame, reproach, dishonor, slander, mockery, scorn, hate, reviling? Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. That’s it, sin. If it’s sin, we’re to strive against it even unto blood, even if it costs us our blood. That’s the righteousness which the word of God defines and describes.

Well, there’s something here we believe of, in the context of these words, which is a very beautiful encouragement or calling to the church that will and does equip them for this suffering. That’s the first thing we would like to refer to very briefly, and it’s in the language of the Psalm.

Living Godly Lives (Psalm 34)

We were singing Psalm 34, Psalm 34. You may have noticed that when he speaks, we read from verse 8, Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous, not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrarywise blessing, knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, so it’s having exhorted them to that beautiful array of Christian graces in relation to each other and the bonds of gospel love and fellowship, he is then turning to Psalm 34. For he that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil. It’s as though he’s proving it or establishing it from the Bible, from the Old Testament, from the Psalms again. It’s a very significant Psalm, because it was the Psalm that David wrote when he had to flee from the face of the Philistines, the Philistines in Gath, and he had to change his behavior before Achish, the king of Gath, and he was in a great crisis. He was ready to be destroyed, he was ready to be persecuted to death. His life was on the line, and yet he says, my soul doth boast in God. He’s rejoicing in that Psalm, extol the Lord with me, let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, he heard and did me from all fears deliver. He’s learned a lesson, and this is the lesson. This is what he tells the church that they should do in such circumstances, in these situations, to be equipped for this kind of danger. He that loveth life and shall see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile, let him eschew evil and do good. Let him seek peace and ensue it, for the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil. In other words, live godly lives. That will equip you, that’s the best equipment and preparation for suffering, to live godly lives among yourselves, to live godly in Christ Jesus, and avoid these things that will be a snare to you, that will do harm to yourselves, that will divide you, that will separate brethren from one another, that will be of harm and danger to the comfort of your conscience and peace in your heart. Put these things away. Be all of one mind, have compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous, not rendering evil for evil, railing for railing, that’s that’s what David is really saying, he’s, Paul is drawing from David as to confirm these things. What man is he that life desires, the children I’m sure know the psalm, we hope, at least some of you will know the psalm by heart. What man is he that life desires to see good would live long, thy lips refrain from speaking guile and from ill words, thy tongue depart from ill, do good, seek peace, pursue it earnestly, for God’s eyes are on the just, his ears are open to their cry, the face of God is set against those that do wickedly. Come children, I will teach you, he said, the fear of the Lord, I will teach you what it is to fear the Lord, that’s the greatest shield, it’s the beginning of wisdom, it’s the best preparation for suffering, it’s the way that the church is to meet suffering and to be ready for it collectively, as a body, as a people, that’s the high and heavenly calling of the church. The devil’s business is to do the opposite, to sow discord, to be accusing and evil speaking and railing, cursing, but you’re called to inherit a blessing in fearing God in these ways, and that’s a very precious thing, inheriting the blessing. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good, practice that, learn habits that will make that something that you would find and discover desirable and pleasing and precious and lovely. That’s the first thing then, the calling to peace and the calling to inherit the blessing of these, yes, these beatitudes. So that they would be equipped for persecution.

Sanctifying the Lord God in Your Hearts (Isaiah 8)

The second thing that we would notice here is this godly fear that does prepare the people of God for persecution in this sense, that they are to sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Who is he that will harm you if you be followers of that which is good? But if you suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye, and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Here again he’s drawing from the Old Testament. Perhaps some of you will be aware of the chapter. It’s not exactly as we have it in our rendering, in our English version, and there’s maybe been some question over exactly what the, what the intention of the apostle is, but if we would just turn to Isaiah chapter 8, we’ll find the Lord speaking in the time of the king of Assyria’s threatened invasion, and Remaliah’s son and Rezin, the king of Syria, were confederate with the children of Israel. And the Lord speak thus to me with a strong hand in verse 11 chapter 8, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, say ye not a confederacy to all them to whom this people shall say a confederacy. In other words, don’t join them in their confederacy trying to defend the country from the Assyrians. Don’t join them. He’s saying that to Judah. Don’t join them. They say a confederacy. We’ll join with Syria, the idolatrous Assyrians, and the idolatrous Israel. No. Say not a confederacy to all them to whom this people shall say a confederacy. Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary, but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a jinn, and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Many among them shall stumble and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples, and I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. Behold, I and the children, the Lord hath given me shall be for signs and for wonders in Israel, and the Lord of hosts that dwelleth in Mount Zion. Fear, fear, neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. That’s what Peter is saying. Be not afraid of their terror. It comes across in the English as though it’s, in Peter, as though it’s be not afraid of the terror that they cause to you, when they’re terrorizing you. But if we understand it right, it’s really be not afraid of what they’re afraid of. Do not have their kind of fear. Fear not their fear. Neither be troubled, neither be afraid. But who are you to fear? Sanctify the Lord God of hosts in your heart, and let him be your fear, let him be your dread. Don’t fear what they’re afraid of. In other words, don’t be fearing man, don’t be fearing the king of Assyria with all his mighty hosts. Don’t be afraid of a man that shall perish. Don’t be acting as though this proud king of Assyria is stronger than God. That would be to profane the name of God, and allure the holy majesty and glory and power and wisdom and strength of the God of Israel, who dwelleth between the cherubims. That would be to profane his name, to count him too weak to defend you from this proud host of the kings of Assyria. Don’t fear their fear, but sanctify the Lord. The opposite of profaning his name is to sanctify it, set it apart, lift it up, honor it, give glory to God. Let him be your fear. Fear always. Fear his holy name. Raise up his name, honor his name by trusting in him, by waiting on him, by trusting in him, by waiting on him, by confiding in his word, by taking his word as true. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. That’s where religion resides, that’s where true religion resides, the pure in heart. They shall see God. The meek, blessed are the meek, blessed are they that are poor and in spirit. They have a king and a kingdom and an honor and a glory and a defense. God in the midst of her doth dwell. Nothing shall her remove. The Lord to her and help her will, and that right early prove.

Being Ready to Give an Answer (Apologetics)

And he says, be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. This is a text of scripture that we derive the word apology, apologetics from. The word apologetics, we might be mistaken into thinking that it’s trying to say sorry, but that’s not what it means. To apologize in our colloquial speech is to say sorry, but to make an apology for the Christian faith is to answer it, to answer those who contradict it. And it comes from the very word that’s used here, be ready always to give an answer. Apologia, apology. It’s an answer. It’s to answer with words, but it’s to answer with a life that is consistent with these words. To be ready to give the answer to everyone that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear, having a good conscience that whereas they speak evil of you as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. The word conversation is not about talk. It’s about your lifestyle. And if your words and your life don’t match up, you’re not making any apology or answer for Christianity. You’re giving the enemy cause to reproach the name of Christ. If your life and your words don’t match, that’s why many so-called apologists who live like the world and who live worldly lives and pursue the entertainments of the world, they’re undermining the very religion they’re trying to defend. They’re exposing it to ridicule. The world looks on and laughs and says, if that’s the kind of religion that Christ is to be suffered for, they don’t want it. They know very well that the church of God is called to suffer for righteousness sake and holiness and purity of heart. They see through the shallow religion of our generation. The world isn’t that foolish. But a good conscience toward God and a good conscience void of offense toward men, they will have an answer in the life as well as in the world. And that’s why in the life as well as in the words that they speak. And be ready always to give an answer. That’s what he means. That’s why he’s saying, be all of one mind, have compassion, one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous, not rendering evil for evil. That will make you ready in your life to give an answer because you’ll have a good conscience. You’ll have a good conscience. Your conscience won’t be accusing you of corrupt practice and sinful deeds yourself when the world comes to challenge you and question you and try to hinder you or trip you up. Do it with meekness and fear, trembling, not a proud, haughty, scornful boasting. Not in a way that the world does it, but with meekness and fear. Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you. Oh, have a good hope. Know where your good hope is resting. Dig deep for the foundation. Get a good hope through grace. Find that ground of your sure hope on which God would cause you to rest. This word of thine my comfort is in mine affliction, for in my straits I am revived by this. Cause it me to hope. Are you hoping on the promises of God tonight? Well, that be ready, be ready to use that. Be ready to resort to that. Flee for refuge to that. Find safety there. The glorious hope of a reason for the hope, a reason for the hope. He has brought you to that rock on which your feet are set. He took me from a fearful pit. Many shall see that and fear, and on the Lord rely. O blessed is the man whose trust upon the Lord relies, respecting not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Maintaining a Good Conscience

So have a good conscience then, that’s the third thing that Paul is, that Peter is here calling them to, to be ready to give an answer, having a good conscience that whereas they speak against you, they speak evil of you as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better if the will of God be so that he suffer for well-doing than for evildoing. A good conscience is a, James Durham calls a good conscience the best companion. Though you live all alone in the world without friends, without helpers, though you have many troubles and afflictions to meet with, to live with a good conscience toward God, void of offence toward God and men is the best companion. He calls it heaven on earth. If you’ve got something in your life and in your past which is, you know, to be a sin, unrepented of, unmortified, you have injured somebody else perhaps, you’ve harmed the Church of God perhaps, you’ve abused trust, you’ve done something that you ought not to have done, you’re not thinking of anything in particular, but no doubt we can all find things in our lives. Bring your gift to the altar and you remember your brother has ought against you. There’s so many things we do which, if we had tender consciences, awake and alive to the sin of which we are guilty, we would indeed be concerned to remove these obstacles and hindrances. War to the world because of offences. While a good conscience is a conscience that is sprinkled by the blood of Christ for pardon and peace, but a conscience that is endeavouring to be void of offence, to remove causes of offence or stumbling to others. And that’s a good companion to seek. And that’s what makes a man ready to answer everyone that asketh him a reason of the hope that is in him with meekness and fear, lest he defile his conscience again, lest he stumble others to defile their conscience.

The Securing Knowledge of Christ’s Suffering

Well, the last thing that’s here is the knowledge of Christ that does indeed and will indeed secure the people of God in the time of persecution. There is what equips them for it in their life, there is that which gives them an answer to those who ask a reason, there is the good conscience which in many ways is the answer to those who ask and who persecute. But there’s this, the knowledge of Christ, for Christ also hath once suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God. It’s not just that Christ is here an example, he is of suffering. Christ also suffered for sins the just for the unjust. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, they are to know that Christ suffered before them. Let’s say what the Bible says, they persecute me, they will also persecute you. There’s that following his steps. But there’s a partaking of Christ’s sufferings. Rejoice inasmuch, chapter 4, verse 13, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye, for he says, the Spirit of glory and of God resteth on you. Any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, let him glorify God in this behalf. The Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.

It’s not just that, it’s not just that they are following the example of Christ, but Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. What they have of Christ’s blessing, what they have of salvation, what they know of being reconciled to God by the death of his Son, the just for the unjust, what they experience, what they know of justification, has an influence by the Holy Spirit upon their heart and life, such that they are both willing and enabled by grace to suffer. And indeed, it’s on account of their justification, and it is because they are justified and into, in a relation of peace with God through Christ, that the Spirit of glory and of God resteth on them. He has purchased the Holy Spirit for them through his atoning death, and it’s because he died for them that he lives in them. It’s because he suffered for them, the just for the unjust, that he brings them to God. He brings them near to God. He brings them into the dwelling place of the Most High, and he that doth in the secret place of the Most High reside under the shade of him that is the Almighty shall abide. I of the Lord my God will say, he is my refuge still, he is my fortress and my God, and in him trust I will, and assuredly he shall be saved, and give deliverance from subtle foul or snare. The Spirit of glory and of God resteth on you through the death of Christ, and through your acquaintance with it, through your trusting to the merit of his death and his suffering for you, you will discover his life and his grace living in you, preparing you, equipping you, enabling you to endure what, yes, what he suffered, to take up your cross and follow him. It’s the Holy Spirit alone that will make you do that. The Spirit of glory, that’s where you have fellowship with him in his sufferings, conformable to his death, conformable to it. It’s the Holy Spirit that makes men martyrs. It’s the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, the glory of God transforming them into Christ-likeness that makes them fuel for burning, able to endure the tortures, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection of whom the world is not worthy. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust.

Conclusion and Prayer

Oh, let us conclude on that note then. Here is indeed the glorious gospel of the blessed God committed to our trust, and men shall be blessed in him. Men are blessed in him. Blessed are the poor in spirit who are trusting in him. Blessed are they that mourn for sin when they see it as that which pierced him. Blessed are the meek who are down, down in the dust from rebellious pride and arrogance, humbling themselves under the mighty hand of God. It’s all flowing from this glorious death that he died, the just for the unjust. All blessing and glory and honor belongs to the people of God on account of that. Is that not the blessing you’re to be seeking tonight? My young friends, is that not what you’re to ask God for? I will not let thee go except thou bless me. Bless me with that, and then whatever comes, whatever the devil will try to do to destroy my life, to rob me of my privileges, to expose me to danger, to tempt me, the world, and the flesh, and the devil. Oh, here is the armor of God on the right hand and on the left. Here is my sure and all-sufficient help in Jehovah’s name. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. And then my yoke shall be easy, and my burden shall be light. And though you pass through fire and water, he will bring you to a wealthy place. Great shall be your reward in heaven. Rejoice and be exceeding glad. Ask that the Lord would give you that blessing, that you would not let him go until he does.

Speaker: Rev David Campbell

Congregation Santa Fe

Text: 1 Peter 3:13-14

Date: 9 June 2025

Series: Texas Communion June 2025