Thrive in Relationships

Peter then gives us instruction: 1 Peter 2:11–12 NLT “Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.”

Peter gives us practical insight into how this plays out in several different relational areas (This is for those who trust in God):

This presupposes a few things: as disciples, we: Love God, have love for each other in the house of God, and love for those outside the house of God.

Christian women to unbelieving husbands, and husbands to wives in general.

Christians to government (contextually - an ungodly government).

Verse 15: It is God’s will that by doing good (or living honorably) you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

Verse 16: Live as God’s slaves

Verse 17: Fear God and honor the emperor.

Christians to unbelieving masters and unjust treatment

Verse 19: If you suffer for doing good (conscious of his will) and you endure it (patiently), this is commendable before God (this pleases Him).

Verse 21 - 23: For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God (he entrusted himself to God), who always judges fairly.

Trust in God who will make all wrongs right.

The early church had the impact on the world that it did because when they were unjustly treated, they did not gather arms and go to war but entrusted themselves to The Judge, and what seemed like passivity, they laid their lives down in love and won the victory.

Victory for the church has always been and always will be - the way of Jesus, the way of the cross, the way of death.

The worse the world gets, the more totalitarian the governments become, the more the state seeks to control the masses, the more illegal Christian beliefs and practices become, the victory will come through suffering not through power.

The gospel message that avoids all talk of suffering and provides a false hope that you will experience all the comforts and pleasures the world has to offer is quite unattractive and unbiblical.

The true Christianity, the true gospel message creates men and women of God that stare death in the face and sing.

I don’t know about you, you can disagree with me, I want my kids growing up thankful for what they have rather than sad by what they don’t have.

I want them to grow up fearing God instead of men.

I want them growing up and living not for the pleasures this world offers them, but living for the will of God and all the joy and pleasure he provides.

May they be a fearless generation that loves truly and unconditionally. May we aim for that.

I do trust God that he will provide us by his grace, the courage and wisdom necessary to raise our children and thrive through whatever times we may face.

Christians to everyone. Relationships with each other in the house of God and those outside especially in the context of a hostile society as in 1 Peter.

Liberals to D. Trump

Right wing to Harris...

This does not mean I sacrifice truth to have harmony.

This does mean, I sacrifice my personal feelings at the altar to treat them.

The equation of how I treat others, is how Christ treats me.

I must receive from Christ then.

I can’t love until I have been loved,

I can’t be gracious until I receive his grace,

I can’t forgive till I have received his forgiveness.

Matthew 10:8 “8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”

Colossians 3:13 “13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

1 John 4:19 “19 We love because he first loved us.”

The Law demands you live a certain way, Grace supplies the life by receiving it first.

1 Peter 3:8–16 (NIV)

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

For those who trust in God, this is how we relate to each other.

What Love is and isn’t:

We saw a few weeks ago, what love is not: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Here he tells us what love does look like.

Like-minded (Harmony)

For the early church community (living in harmony with each other) wasn’t just about their shared interest, it was about truly caring for one another. They were a self-sacrificing community. They were a family. They loved one another and nurtured one another as a family does.

Does not mean uniformity as in being copies of one another but rather we are all (in our uniqueness) pursuing the same goal: to be like Jesus.

For them they prayed together, fasted together, worshipped together, and studied together.

Sympathetic

Seeking to understand one another and sharing feelings of sorrow, anguish, or joy, and celebration. Weeping with those who weep and rejoicing with those who rejoice.

Listen

The first duty of love is to listen. -Paul Tillich

Because “Only listeners are listened to.”

Love one another (brotherly love)

Love is curing, it cures those who give it and it cures those who receive it.

Compassionate

Tenderhearted. Moves us into action to others, caring for others. Jesus was moved with compassion and taught them and healed the sick.

Humble.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. Humility is thinking more of others. Humble people are so focused on serving others, they don’t think of themselves. - CS Lewis

Not repaying evil with evil or insult with insult. But rather, repay evil with blessing.

We also don’t just bite our tongue. No, the love of Christ goes beyond that.

Scripture calls us to sacrificing our pride and actually repaying them for the insult with a blessing.

Next time someone does something evil to you, they just purchased a blessing from you.

Denee Brady.

Set of dominos for where I am today.

Later on i was faced with a worse evil. Little battles prepared me for the bigger battle.

Luke 6:32–36 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

What are we known for?

We ought not be known for fighting and quarreling, nor ought we to become an unruly mob that is always agitating for one thing or another. Instead, we ought to be seen as peace-loving people who are good citizens.

John 13:34–35“34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””

Motivation

This is the why we respond this way, treat others this way.

You were called to this, so that you may inherit a blessing. Because of the Omnipresence and omniscience of God. The Psalm that uses anthropomorphic language: the eyes, ears, and face of God. In other words, the motivation is because God is watching and listening.

For those living wicked lifestyles, this is a negative perspective

For those who are righteous, trusting in God, it is a positive perspective, because we can rest (even in difficult situations where we are persecuted) knowing that God is judge of all and he will vindicate us and will bless us with good days.

Even in our failure, the face of God is before us granting us repentance and continual forgiveness and strength and grace to get back up and keep going.

God is on our side, protecting and shielding and blessing us.

Psalm 1 “1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.”

This “Why” is a big deal, gives meaning to our actions. We are accountable for what we do.

The rise of humanism during the renaissance.

In the south - renaissance

in the north - reformation

God exists. God provided us truth about Himself. Truth about Nature, and truth about us.

Ironically, as the renaissance sought to exalt man, man found himself lacking.

As the reformers exalted God, man was exalted to the highest greatness imaginable. The dignity and value of being made in the image of God.

Honor the Lord by being ready to speak boldly about their hope.

Living a godly life blesses others and is fulfilling. It is not to earn a place of favor with God or a place in his heaven.

It is also a testimony to the world. We are not fear the hostility and hatred of the world. We are more concerned about the Lord than the world.

Peter tells us to defend our faith with an attitude of grace and gentleness.

The Great commission

2 Peter 3:9 “9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

1 Timothy 2:4 “4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

Tell someone!

Tell them about your life before you believed the Gospel and embraced God’s forgiveness through Jesus

Tell them why believing was a turning point for your life.

Tell them how believing has impacted your life. What it has been like to know God’s love, forgiveness, and promise of eternal life.