1 Peter 3:8-18
One of my favorite promises from scripture comes from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church, chapter 5, verse 17. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” What does that simple sentence assure us of? First, that if we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, all the rotten things we may have done prior to our surrender to Him have been taken away. Scripture also tells us that our Lord then chooses to never remember those sins. But there’s an even deeper implication here and that’s the beauty of Christ’s undying grace. As many times as you need to become a new creation, He’s faithful to make that happen. In this life we will never not be sinners. Jesus empathizes with us along those lines. He was tempted in every way we are, yet He remained sinless.
Jesus, Lord and Savior, gets you. He knows your flesh is weak and yet He will never stop saving, redeeming, and restoring you so long as your faith is in Him.
So, the idea of being able to become a new creation as often as you need for that to happen is comforting but. Understand that this isn’t an invite to sin it up all day long, apologize to Jesus at bedtime, go to sleep as this new creation and then wake up ready to run up your sin tab again the next day. Grace, when it’s maintained through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit helps us to reject sin more often than submitting to it.
So, then what to do with this new creation that I’ve become? Let’s take a look.
When Mary Magdalene encountered Jesus that first Easter morning, He instructed her to tell the surviving apostles to go to Galilee and wait for Him there. In chapter 28 of Matthew’s Gospel, verses 16-20, we get this…
Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Jesus came and told His disciples, “I have been given all authority in Heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
This moment is known as The Great Commission. These handpicked followers of Jesus, and by extension you and me, are told that they are to go out and make more disciples. Not all of us are called to be pastors or Sunday School teachers or elders or deacons but if you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you’re a disciple. And as a disciple your job is to reach out to the world around you and inspire more people to become disciples.
For a lot of people, that statement right there stirs up all kinds of anxiety and feelings of inadequacy. Don’t let that happen! Yes, we live in a world where the gospel is widely minimized, and Jesus is rejected out of hand. But rather than living in fear of the negative reaction you might receive when you share Jesus with someone, see that sharing as a fundamental demonstration of your faith and that God blesses the effort. Effort equals obedience. God will handle the salvation piece, that’s not on you. As a disciple, your job is simply to dispense good news and pray for others to receive it as a demonstration of pure love.
Here’s what the Apostle Peter has to say about discipleship in his first New Testament letter. This is from chapter 3, staring in verse 13.
Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.
When you share your testimony, people may laugh. They may roll their eyes. They may report you to HR. They may tell you horror stories of how church has done them wrong and left them emotionally scarred for life. Peter tells us not to sweat it. Again, God will bless your effort. They key things to know when you share your testimony is that one, it is the exclusive byproduct of your salvation and two, sometimes what we share about Jesus with other people will need time to percolate in that person’s heart and that’s okay. As disciples we are to cast seeds. Jesus will tend to things from there. But if you’re striving to, as a disciple, live as Christ lived, folks around you will see what a good life you have and prayerfully that will give them a desire to embrace it.
And “good life” doesn’t mean “perfect life” or “carefree life”. The good life Peter refers to here simply means that you face life in both good times and bad, protected by the loving presence of the Holy Spirit.
One last thing that may also take some of the apprehension out of sharing Jesus with others. Peter says we are to do so gently and respectfully. We don’t beat people over the head with the gospel. All we’re about is telling them how the grace of Jesus Christ made us new creations and that glorious option is available to them too. You don’t have to preach; you don’t have to be a Bible scholar. Just give folks a firsthand look at how Jesus transformed a broken, hurting life into something so much more, something so much better.
Then, let Jesus take it from there.