Now we’ll turn to our text for tonight...I Peter 3.8-17...let’s stand in honor of God’s word

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 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. /// 10 For

“Whoever desires to love life

   and see good days,

let him keep his tongue from evil

   and his lips from speaking deceit;

11 let him turn away from evil and do good;

   let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

   and his ears are open to their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” ///    

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; /// yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

We have finished our look at the trio of the uses of ‘hupotasso’ – “be subject to” – except for one more minor use in chapter 5 – and we now return to the primary theme of the book, the Christian’s preparation for and response to suffering 

The passage breaks down into two portions: the first, verses 8 through 12, is instruction to the believers to whom Peter is writing, on how to live in the world...it includes a lengthy quote from Psalm 34...and the second passage is verses 13 through 17, where Peter turns again to the Christian’s response to persecution, with a particular emphasis on answering those who would attack us for our faith in Jesus

Let’s jump into the text!

A Life of Blessing                           

Somewhat oddly, Peter uses the Gr word ‘telos’ or end...translated here “finally” ... maybe he didn’t know how much more he was going to write – almost two more chapters!

He speaks here to the churches, “all of you,” intending his message for every single member of the congregations which would read or hear his letter...he calls on them to live out five characteristics of believers...to each other, but also to those around them in their world...let’s look at them...I Peter 3.8-9

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 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. 

One commentator compared these five characteristics to the five fingers of a person’s hand, with the palm of the hand being the grace of the Lord Jesus...all five relate to that foundational trait of our Lord...

We can also see a pattern in the way Peter describes them...he begins and ends, #1 and #5, with the mind, #2 and #4 are related more to the heart or emotions, and the centerpiece is brotherly love...also, similar to the author of Hebrews, Peter chooses unusual words...four of the five are single-use words, hapax legomena, as they’re known...and the fifth word is used only twice, here in I Peter and also in Ephesians...so while this short passage sounds fairly common in English, to his recipients, it would have sounded very different...

Gr ‘homophrones’ – same-minded...a unified mind or spirit among a group...it doesn’t mean we all think the same thing...there is always room for charitable disagreement on matters of preference, even on doctrinal issues that are not essential to the gospel...that said, there are fundamental truths that define biblical Christianity...agreement on those truths is essential to legitimately bearing the name “Christian”... “unity of mind”

Gr ‘sympathes’ – sharing the feelings of others; obvious source of our word “sympathy”... we don’t generally use the word when we’re rejoicing with someone...we say we are sympathetic when we weep with those who weep...it’s the ability to enter into the pain of another, and truly feel what they’re feeling, and to convey that to them so they know you understand it...

Gr ‘philadelphos’ – closely related to a similar word in I Thess 4.9; here, the state of having brotherly love; compound word of ‘phila’ (love) and adelphoi (brothers)...to act in love toward your brothers and sisters in Christ...to act in their best interests regardless of personal cost...

Gr ‘eusplanchnos’ – have a “tender heart” – used also in Ephesians 4.32

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

It literally means to have “good bowels” – to have one’s compassion and mercy come forth in attitudes and actions of understanding and love and pity...to have a tender heart...to love and care at the same time...not just to feel but to serve the sister or brother...used in KJV

Colossians 3.12: Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; ... Paul and Peter both echo the teaching of Jesus from passages like the Beatitudes...

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Gr ‘tapeinophrones’ – another compound word – a “humble mind” – a mind not occupied with high and lofty thoughts of self...in the Septuagint, the word conveys the thought of being low, of low standing, of humble stature...SLIDE Paul says it well in Romans 12.3-5:

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 

We’re living this life together...it’s never about any individual, or even all of us together...it’s about Jesus...so remain humble, my friends... 

Following the positive injunctions of verse 8, Peter turns to the “don’t do that” list in verse 9... 9 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. ... don’t act like the world, for the world is quick to strike back when struck, to harm when harmed, to offend when offended...a vengeful person can spend years looking for a way to pay someone back for a wrong or even a verbal slight or perceived insult...Peter says Christ-followers are not to live like that...Jesus didn’t, and we are not to do that, either... 

To return to the Beatitudes, Jesus said this in Matthew 5.11:

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Jesus lived that out on the cross...He took the very worse mankind and Satan could throw at Him, yet didn’t strike out and revile...He chose to bless, praying not for the condemnation of those who crucified him, but for their forgiveness...

Benjamin Grosvenor, in a tract entitled “Grace to the Chief of Sinners,” once said this regarding the crucifixion, SLIDE imagining the words of Jesus Christ: “If you meet that poor wretch that thrust the spear into My side, tell him there is another way, a better way, of coming at my heart, if he will repent, and look upon whom he has pierced and will mourn. I will cherish him in that very bosom he has wounded; he shall find the blood he shed an ample atonement for the sin of shedding it. And tell him from me, he will put me to more pain and displeasure by refusing this offer of my blood, than when he drew it forth.” That’s the heart of Jesus.

Peter continues describing a life of blessing in verses 10 - 12 by SLIDE quoting Psalm 34...

“Whoever desires to love life

   and see good days,

let him keep his tongue from evil

   and his lips from speaking deceit;

11 let him turn away from evil and do good;

   let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

   and his ears are open to their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

He continues to make the point about the life of blessing...it’s almost proverbial in the way this psalm speaks...if you want to live a good and happy life, here’s what you need to do: speak truthfully and honorably, do good, not evil, and seek for peace...that follows the will of the Lord, as the psalmist describes that person as “righteous” and says that the eyes and ears of the Lord are open to that righteous person...by contrast, the Lord is against the evil one...using this poetic device of describing the Lord by focusing on His face...often used in the Scriptures...the Lord’s face represents His entire countenance and attitude...He “sets His face” against the wicked and “turns His face” toward the righteous to do good to them...

Peter is talking about what is generally true...when you live a life of blessing, pursuing righteousness and peace, speaking only what is good and true and right, you are likely to live a relatively happy and quiet life...this is the transition to the next section of the text...SLIDE verses 13-17

A Life of Purpose                        

Now Peter turns back to the issue of suffering justly or unjustly...

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 

Let’s take up Peter’s question... who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 

In both Peter’s day and in our day, the usual answer is “no one” ... those who don’t pursue wickedness often don’t find it...if a person desires to avoid evil, and makes life choices designed to achieve that end, then usually that works out well for them...it’s not unthinkable that persecution could arise against believers, but it’s more typical that it doesn’t, both in the first century and in our time as well...SLIDE Paul counseled Timothy to instruct believers to prayer toward that end...

I Timothy 2.1-2: I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

That’s a good goal...pray for national, state, county, and city leaders...often political leaders in our day, but not always...asking the Lord that their leadership would be such that Christians would be permitted, even encouraged, in our society to live peaceful and quiet lives...the words mean “tranquil, well-ordered” – that would be a blessing for everyone

Peter seems to expect that most of the time, that will happen; it should be the norm

But sometimes it’s not...what then?

Sometimes the answer to Peter’s question is, “yes, there are people who would harm us for our faith” – believers do sometimes unjustly suffer, and there is persecution...the frequency and intensity and locations change from one era to the next, but rarely is there no persecution of Christians...

There are those in the world whose greatest desire is to harm the work and people of God...who delight in sin and wickedness and do not rejoice with righteousness and truth...the see the world upside down and backwards from what we see in God’s word...SLIDE Isaiah speaks of them in Isaiah 5.20: 

Woe to those who call evil good

   and good evil,

who put darkness for light

   and light for darkness,

who put bitter for sweet

   and sweet for bitter!

And these people, throughout history, have sought to oppress and even kill those who stand in the name of Christ...in John 16.1-3, Jesus says: 

“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 

So when our answer to Peter’s question is “yes, sometimes there are people who would harm believers,” Peter is ready with a response: 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 

This is a key verse in Peter’s teaching...if you live as you should as a believer, you might well not suffer persecution and be able to live a “peaceful and quiet life” – but if not, if you live during a time and in a place that wickedness prevails and the righteous are persecuted, even then you will be blessed. It may not be the blessing of the peaceful and quiet life...but it will be the blessing of experiencing the presence of God and understanding His power and strength in a way that those who do live the peaceful and quiet life never know...

Can you think of a time when you learned something deeply personal about God and His ways during a time of adversity or suffering?

Can you think of a time when you learned something deeply personal about God during a peaceful and quiet time in your life? 

The Names of God tend to be revealed by the Lord to His servants during challenging times...

El Roi, the God who Sees; given to Hagar when she felt abandoned and in danger, afraid for herself and her son; she learned that God knew who and where she was

El Shaddai, the Almighty God; given to Abraham at the age of 99, when he was unsure that the Lord’s promise of an heir would ever come to pass; in his darker moments, he might have even thought God had forgotten him

Jehovah Jireh, the Lord will Provide; given to Abraham when he was about to sacrifice the son of Promise, Isaac, but instead God gave a ram for the sacrifice; it must have been a time of great fear and doubt as he was about to slay his son

Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals; given to the Hebrews wandering in the wilderness, when they were afraid they would die of disease and peril

Yahweh Shalom, the God of Peace; given to Gideon when God appeared to him and he feared for his life, for he had seen God; God gave him peace when he needed it

Yahweh Tsuri, the Lord is my Rock; spoken by David when God had proven Himself as David’s protection and fortress when He delivered David from Saul and all his enemies

God reveals Himself in times of distress and fear, doubt and uncertainty; so if that’s where you are today, be encouraged, believer...you’re about to learn more about Who God is and how He works! 

And our response will be like that David in Psalm 27.1: Psalm 27.1: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Ultimately, people can’t harm us, for the Lord is our strength!

So as we banish fear from our hearts, what is the positive command we receive from the Lord? SLIDE

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

We must see Jesus for Who He truly is...the Messiah, the Savior, the Holy One of God...never underestimate Him...His power, His wisdom, nor His deep, deep care for you...He loves you more than you can possibly understand...hear that and trust in that, especially when the storm of doubt and fear come against you

And when the unbelievers in the world ask you why you trust in Jesus, whether they ask from genuine desire to know, or from a heart of mocking ridicule, either way, have an answer ready for them...

As we’ve discussed before in I Peter, I think there are two essential parts to your “reason for the hope” you have in Jesus: your own story, focused on before Christ, how you met Him, and what life has been like since you were saved...make it personal, but make it short...at least pretty short, down to a few minutes...and the second part is the Scripture itself, the Word that speaks of the life you found in Jesus...you might already have those verses not just picked out but memorized...but if not, spend some time praying and thinking through the truths of the Bible, and identify some verses that capture the key elements in your story...I recommend you commit them to memory, but if you think you can’t do that, then write down the references somewhere handy, like your phone, and include a Bible app on your phone so you can look them up if needed...

And as important as the content of your witness is, of equal importance is how you share it...as Peter says, do it with gentleness and respect...filled with truth yet spoken in love...not judgmental of their beliefs, or non-beliefs, but also not backing up from your faith in Jesus Christ...and leaning on and listening to the Holy Spirit the entire time

Peter also adds having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 

There’s no substitute for knowing in your own heart and mind that your conscience is clear before the Lord...none of us are sinless, but we want to be assured of our own words, knowing that they are not undermined by obvious and public sin in our lives...this is especially true when the person you’re sharing with has known you for a long time...we must all learn to live before the world in such a holy way that when the opportunity to share Christ arrives, we can step into that moment with confidence in the Lord and in the honesty and holiness of our own testimony...a good conscience is foundational to any evangelistic word we can share...

Peter’s reason is so that our conduct doesn’t give the enemy a foothold to discredit us...even an interested unbeliever may not receive our words, but let it not be because the holiness of our conduct didn’t match the holiness of our speech...

Peter closes with a restatement of a basic truth from this book... 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. Lord willing, If we are to suffer, let it be unjust suffering, suffering because we were doing good, rather than suffering we deserved based on our deeds...

How can we put these truths into action?

I trust this application time is significant to you...after all, we’re here to learn how to walk more closely with Jesus, not simply learn things about Him we might not have known...

Are you relating to other believers as Peter counsels us in verse 8 – unified in purpose, caring and compassionate in practice, tenderhearted, loving, humble?

Are you living in grace and forgiveness toward unbelievers, blessing instead of cursing them?

Are you ready – right now – to share a testimony to others who want to know the reason for your faith and hope in Jesus? Are you prepared? What do you need to do to be better prepared?

If you know you need to work on one of those areas – how will you seek the Lord in it?