A Christian's Response When Suffering For Doing Good - 1 Peter (Part 17)

A Christian’s Response … When Suffering For Doing Good - 1 Peter 3:13-17 For “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. 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.” (1 Peter 3:10-12 ESV) A Christian’s Response … When Suffering For Doing Good - 1 Peter 3:13-17 Two Reassuring Truths: 1. God is sovereign over your suffering A Christian’s Response … When Suffering For Doing Good - 1 Peter 3:13-17 Two Reassuring Truths: 1. God is sovereign over your suffering 2. Suffering for doing right brings blessing Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12 ESV) So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:7 ESV) A Christian’s Response … When Suffering For Doing Good - 1 Peter 3:13-17 Three Right Responses: 1. Don’t fear people A Christian’s Response … When Suffering For Doing Good - 1 Peter 3:13-17 Three Right Responses: 1. Don’t fear people 2. Honour Christ as holy A Christian’s Response … When Suffering For Doing Good - 1 Peter 3:13-17 Three Right Responses: 1. Don’t fear people 2. Honour Christ as holy 3. Prepare to declare A Christian’s Response … When Suffering For Doing Good - 1 Peter 3:13-17 3. Prepare to declare • When? at any time A Christian’s Response … When Suffering For Doing Good - 1 Peter 3:13-17 3. Prepare to declare • When? at any time • What? a defense A Christian’s Response … When Suffering For Doing Good - 1 Peter 3:13-17 3. Prepare to declare • When? at any time • What? a defense • About? the hope within you A Christian’s Response … When Suffering For Doing Good - 1 Peter 3:13-17 3. Prepare to declare • When? at any time • What? a defense • About? the hope within you • How? gentleness, fear, good conscience How these [first century] believers shared about Jesus proved their hope as much as anything they said about him. They spoke truth to cruelty with kindness. They received shame and yet held out dignity. They had the spiritual strength, by [God’s] grace, both to endure abuse and to remain gentle. - John Piper (emphasis mine) A Christian’s Response … When Suffering For Doing Good - 1 Peter 3:13-17 One Possible Outcome: 1. Your opponents put to shame For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. (Acts 4:27-28 ESV)