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Gospel Light Christian Church

Gospel Light Christian Church

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Armed to Suffer Well [1 Peter 4:1-6]

By Pastor Jason Lim There is only 1 command in this passage- to arm ourselves with the Jesus way of thinking to suffer well. Why? 1. EXAMPLE OF CHRIST Whilst it is never easy to suffer, it's easier knowing we are not pioneers, but followers of suffering. 2. EXPECTATION OF CONFLICT The world around us hates Christ and His church. Persecution is not strange, because we have become strange to the world. 3. EXONERATION OF THE CHRISTIAN Whilst the world may judge us, God will vindicate us, and raise us to new life, like how He raised Jesus in the Spirit. As Christ suffered before us, let us suffer well: do good, bless others, trust God, and glorify Him through the way of the cross.

The Way of Jesus: Victory Through Suffering [1 Peter 3:18-22]

By Pastor Jason Lim Suffering is not a curse. It is the path of Jesus. Peter thus exhorts his readers to endure, to do good: 1. PROCLAMATION. Jesus, after His death & resurrection, proclaimed His victory, by the Spirit, to fallen angels in Tartarus. 2. PROTECTION. Peter uses the same Noahic story to show just as God saved the 8 in the ark from the waters, He will save His people in Christ from His judgment, through Christ’s death & resurrection. 3. PRE-EMINENCE. Jesus shows that suffering injustice is the path to glory. God wants us to be priests who glorify him. And it is via surprising ways of submission and suffering.

Shining in Suffering [1 Peter 3:13-17]

By Pastor Jason Lim God can bring good to people as they suffer. 1. REASSURANCE Whilst Christians will suffer even when we do good, there is no ultimate harm. We can trust God, like David, and our greater David, Jesus. 2. RESPONSE We are called to: Replace our Fear (fear God instead of man's threat). Relate our Faith (give a defence of the hope that is in us). We are fishers of men in all circumstances. 3. RESULTS Peter summarises how suffering injustice is good. It brings good to us (promised inheritance), and good for others (present influence). God wants us to be priests who glorify him. And it is via surprising ways of submission and suffering. This is the way of Jesus

Bless, That You May Obtain A Blessing [1 Peter 3:8-12]

By Pastor Jason Lim Jesus said, "Love your enemies." Peter carries this ethos into His letter here in 1st Peter. 1. VALUES Embrace the 5 inward values of harmony, sympathy, charity, pity & humility, so that they will be expressed in outward blessing to others. 2. VOCATION To follow Jesus, is to withhold retaliation and to bless instead. This is what it means to be spiritual priests offering sacrifices. 3. VINDICATION Whilst we may think non-retaliation will mean that we lose out, it will ultimately pay off when we receive our future inheritance and glory. Christians are free from vindictiveness because God is our vindication.

The Sweet Husband [1 Peter 3:7]

By Pastor Jason Lim Husbands are commanded to subject themselves to their wives too- not in obeying them, but in understanding and honoring them. 1. UNDERSTANDING Husbands are to live with their wives in an understanding way- Study your wife! Be an expert on your wife! Do a PhD on her! 2. UNDERTAKING Instead of abusing their wives, husbands are to undertake the role of lifting her up. He is to honor her. 3. UNDERPINNING There are 2 reasons why: 1) God values your wife. 2) God values your witness. She is a fellow heir with you. She is precious. How you honor your wife will be a "sermon" people will watch and hear about Christ.

The Submissive Wife [1 Peter 3:1-6]

By Pastor Jason Lim Wives are commanded to subject themselves to their husbands as an expression of their priesthood (2:9). 1. PRINCIPLE Wives submit as part of God’s created order, doing so for the Lord’s sake and in reverence to Him—not by nagging, belittling, or “mothering” their husbands, but by appreciating, praying for, and supporting them. 2. PRIORITY Wives should prize inner, soul-deep beauty over outward appearance, because it is imperishable, precious to God, and a powerful witness that can draw a husband to the Lord. 3. PATTERN Holy women like Sarah submitted to their husbands because their hope was in God, not man. Trusting Him to make all things right in His time, they found freedom from the “what ifs” that threaten quiet confidence in submission.

Our Boss And The Cross [1 Peter 2:18-25]

By Pastor Jason Lim Apostle Peter teaches the need to suffer injustice as a means of glorifying God. 1. COMMAND Slaves must obey even unjust, harsh, wicked, and perverse masters. The fear of God is their motivation. 2. COMMENDATION Suffering injustice in the hands of unjust masters is not meaningless but beautiful because God is honoured. 3. CALLING We are called to follow Jesus, suffering injustice without retaliation. 4. CONFIDENCE Jesus entrusted Himself to God who judges justly. And so can we. 5. CONSEQUENCE Through our obedience (enduring in the face of injustice), people may be saved too, by the grace of God. Suffering injustice is not a weakness, nor a waste, nor a wrong. It is the surprising plan of God to witness to and to win the lost.

You Abstain That They May Attain [1 Peter 2:11-12]

By Pastor Jason Lim The church is to be like a spiritual temple and a royal priesthood to proclaim God's excellencies. What is the best way to do so? Apostle Peter's emphasis is for the whole church to live rightly: 1. ABSTAIN We are commanded to constantly abstain or hold away the fleshly lusts- lust, greed, anger, wrath, addiction, pride etc. 2. MAINTAIN We abstain because we want to maintain a beautiful and attractive conduct before a watching world. 3. ATTAIN The end goal is so that God may use our testimony to lead the unsaved to find salvation in His Son. Peter is not teaching legalism but sanctification that leads to evangelism and glorification. May our church be a lighthouse for the world we live in today.

Be Subject For the Lord's Sake [1 Peter 2:13-17]

By Pastor Jason Lim Apostle Peter's emphasis is for the whole church to live rightly. And it is first seen in the way we submit ourselves to the authorities over us: 1. PRINCIPLE We submit to our government not because of their performance (though that will make it easier!), but because of their position. Whilst we should not obey if they call us to sin, we are called to obey even unjust rulers. 2. PURPOSE We subject so that we may shine that godly beautiful life of biblical submission. Peter is singular in his motivation here. It is about God's glory. 3. PARADOX Whilst we are free in the gospel, we are to make ourselves slaves for God. So we honour all, including the emperor.

Jesus The Cornerstone, Stumbling Stone & Living Stone [1 Peter 2:4-10]

By Pastor Jason Lim In the Old Testament, we are told God is the Rock. In the New Testament, we also see that Jesus is the stone or rock: 1. THE CORNERSTONE Jesus is the foundation of the church. Rejected by Israel, He is the head of the church. He is chosen and precious. He gives life to those who come to Him. 2. THE STUMBLING STONE Sinful man rejects and disbelieves Him. They disobey His word and take offence with Him, and thus will trip and fall over Him. This is both their choice and God’s will. 3. THE LIVING STONE The resurrected Jesus is alive today, and He gives life to those who will come (and keep coming) to Him. Peter closes this section by showing that we are God’s new covenant people: His priesthood, called out of darkness, shown mercy, and made His own.

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