Sermon - Lent Midweek 3, 2023 - 1 Peter 3

The Triumph of Christianity Over Paganism, Gustave Dore, 1886

Zeal for what is good

1. Christ was zealous for good, so He willingly suffered for righteousness sake, saved us, and now reigns in heaven.

2. We too ought to be zealous for what is good, since we have been saved by Christ’s sufferings. 

“Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it… Who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?” I suppose we do live in a somewhat apathetic age; there’s a sort of listlessness and depression that seems to be quite pervasive in our culture. This is demonstrated by how much smaller many organizations are today than they used to be and how we dress in public. That said, there’s still a certain level of zeal in which people are quite passionate about some things. This is demonstrated at athletic competitions, protests or riots, and by how much money or time we invest in various things. So what St. Peter teaches us today about living a Christian life as exiles and sojourners in a foreign land, is that we are to have zeal for what is good.

The source of our zeal is Christ. Jesus is very zealous for what is good! It is written of Him: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” So much so that He was willing to suffer for righteousness’ sake and save us. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” Though He was perfectly innocent of every crime, He was crushed for our iniquities, by His wounds we are healed. He willingly and zealously suffered unjustly in order to justify us sinners. Jesus’ zeal was directed at the greatest good: the salvation of the world.

Indeed Jesus’ zealous sacrifice does save us! “Baptism... now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Christ’s work on the cross and resurrection from the grave is applied to you through the waters of baptism. Since Jesus was zealous for what is good and willing to suffer for righteousness’ sake, His righteousness is now yours through baptism; baptism now saves you! Even now! Your baptism is an ongoing reality. Even this night, years after you’ve been baptized, it is still God’s zealous guarantee that you are saved through Him! 

Jesus’ zeal for righteousness is so powerful that after He was crucified, before He rose, “He went and preached to the spirits in prison.” He descended to hell, not in order to suffer there, but in order to conquer the devil, destroy the power of hell, and take the devil’s might! Very little is known about this, so it doesn’t do any good to speculate, thus suffice it to say that Christ’s descent to hell is a comforting doctrine because He went there victoriously to defeat the devil in his own prison and declare victory for us against the devil’s kingdom.

After His descent to prison and resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven. He “has gone into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to Him.” Although He submitted Himself here upon the earth and became a servant to all, He now reigns in paradise above and is seated upon the throne of heaven at the Father’s right hand. Nevertheless, it’s notable that even in heaven Jesus subordinates Himself to the Father; He is equal with respect to His divinity, yet He is  less than the Father with respect to His humanity.

Understanding that subordination isn’t a question of who is better, rather it’s a question of authority and order, it helps us to properly order our lives. We, like Christ, are to be zealous for what is good, since we’ve been saved by Christ’s sufferings. Last week St. Peter spoke about submission to human institutions and masters, but this week he brings it into the home and into the church.

He begins with women: “Wives, be subject to your own husbands.” This is the same word so hated in our culture: submission or subordination. Nevertheless, it is a holy and godly word, and just as Christ zealously subordinates Himself so too are wives to zealously subordinate themselves to their husbands. The order of creation as ordained by God at creation is the order for men and women still today. It’s not about one being better or worse than the other, this isn’t a value judgment, it’s about God given order and authority in the household. Think about it in terms of military ranking, if that’s helpful; it’s not that the colonel is better than the sergeant major, it’s just that there are direct and clear lines of authority and responsibility. This is perhaps more helpful even in the home than in the military because the home is the most important realm in life, so it’s necessary to know who is responsible and has authority in a given situation. 

But what’s more, by zealously living according to God’s design, there’s a promise that wives may even actually bring their unbelieving husbands to faith. “Even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.” What is that respectful and pure conduct? “Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” This doesn’t mean that women shouldn’t dress up, rather it’s reorienting the focus from external beauty to internal beauty. Every woman wants to be beautiful, and the most important beauty is the faith zealously held in her heart.

Next St. Peter addresses men: “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” Headship over the household has been given to husbands. While the challenge for women is to subordinate themselves, the challenge for men is to lead in an understanding and gentle way. Men tend to be loud and rough, but St. Peter reminds men that their wives aren’t to be treated roughly but delicately, like a weaker vessel. If humans are cookware, men may be metal and women glass, and both need to be treated appropriately. Men are given headship for the sake of zealously ordering their households under God, not to be domineering and harsh.

St. Peter concludes by giving directions to all Christians within the household of faith: “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” The Christian congregation, made up of various sinful individuals, is prone to conflict and controversy, just like the home and elsewhere. So within the congregation we are instructed to zealously subordinate ourselves beneath each other, living humbly and lovingly, with gentleness and sympathy, and enduring suffering. We bless each other instead of cursing each other, so that in the end we may receive a blessing. Just as Christ suffered many evils for our salvation, so too must we willingly suffer with Him in love for Christ and each other, and in the end we shall be blessed with an imperishable reward kept in heaven for us.