Starting A New Year

Saying Good by to 2020

Well, 2020 is in the books. So as we begin this morning I want to ask you a couple of questions.

What will you miss from 2020?

What will you NOT miss from 2020?

What do you plan to do differently in 2021?

This morning we are continuing our study in the book of 1 Peter. We have called this series, “A Handbook for Living in a Foreign World.” Our passage today focuses on a strange message. It is a message that we don’t think about much here in the United States.

Suffering for Doing Good

1 Peter 3:8–9 NIV84

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Peter begins with the word, “Finally”. Peter is concluding this section. So far he has told his readers that they must:

Submit to earthly authorities.

Slaves (employees) must submit to their masters (employers).

Masters (employers) must deal fairly with their slaves (employees).

Wives must submit to their husbands.

And husbands know and care for their wives.

Now he says, “finally” which connects this passage to the previous passage. Peter is going to tell us how we are to interact with others.

He addresses this section to “all of you,” so the question is to whom is he speaking. Well back in the first chapter we discovered that he was talking to “the elect” or followers of Jesus.

How We Should Live

Live in Harmony

This means a united spirit; similar in thoughts; like-minded with one another.

Be Sympathetic

We are to be understanding with those around us.

Love as Brothers

The Greek word used here is the word philadelphoi from which we get Philadelphia—the city of brotherly love.

Be Compassionate

This word has the meaning of tenderhearted.

Be Humble

This means lowly in mind, not thinking of one’s self as more important or grandiose.

Do not Repay Evil with Evil!

Repay Evil with blessing!

This goes against everything the world holds dear. We talk about sweet revenge. We talk about getting even. And many times we even desire bad things to happen to our enemies.

But Jesus says repay evil with blessings!

Luke 6:27–28 NIV84

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Everything that Jesus taught on this earth, was counter-cultural. His teachings were hard to accept because they were radical! They were radical in His day, and they are radical for today.

Peter tells us we bless those who do evil to us or insult us so that we will inherit a blessing from God.

He does this by quoting from Psalm 34:12-16.

Living Counter-Cultural

1 Peter 3:10–12 NIV84

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 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.”

Keep your tongue from evil.

Keeping your tongue from evil means, harsh speech, morally filthy speech.

Keep your lips from lies

Lies have no place in the Christian’s life.

Turn from evil and do good

Stay away from, avoid evil altogether. Do good!

Seek peace and pursue it

Peace—tranquility. But is not just being peaceable, it is pursuing peace—or chasing after it!

Why should we apply these characteristics to our lives?

The Eyes of the Lord on on the Righteous

This is a way of saying that God looks after the righteous (which are people who live out the above characteristics).

The Lord is attentive to their prayers

That is something that amazes me—people today honestly believe they can live however they want to live, and still expect God to answer their prayers! But that is simply NOT true. Look at the last part of verse 12.

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

Either we live for the Lord God OR we are against the Lord God!

Suffering for Good

1 Peter 3:13–14 NIV84

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.”

A Rhetorical Question

Who harms someone for doing good? The obvious answer is, “No one!”

Even If. . .

Even if you should suffer for doing what is right you are blessed! To most of us that is a really strange saying! Most of us don’t believe that blessing and suffering go together. We think of them as polar opposites!

But in God’s economy, they go together!

Notice the difference between the two words that are used. The first word (v. 13) is good which means to act good, or goodness. The second word (v. 14) is right which means right, just, or doing what God requires.

Do Not Fear

When I live like God wants me to live by doing what God requires—I do not need to fear!

I do not need to fear their threats. I do not need to fear men. And I do not need afraid of anything that causes others to be afraid!

What do you fear today?

COVID-19? Cancer? Loss of position or status? People?Dying? We do not need to be afraid!

Whatever you fear, always remember that Jesus greater! Remember what John said in 1 John 4:4

1 John 4:4 NIV84

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

In order to escape fear, we need to make Jesus Lord of our lives. Look at verse 15

1 Peter 3:15–16 NIV84

But in your hearts set apart 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, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Jesus Lord of Your Heart

When Jesus is Lord of your heart, there is no cause for fear! Instead there are answers!

Be Prepared to Give the Answer

We need to be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks for the reason for the hope that you have.

Do you have hope today?

Share with gentleness

This means we need to be kind when we share about our hope.

Share with respect

This word is most often translated “fear” not meaning afraid, but reverence!

Share out of a clear conscience

This clear conscience comes from standing firm in the faith and being gentle and respectful.

That doesn’t mean we will escape malicious speech—that is the lies about you!

It means that your character will speak louder than the lie! Yet, most of us would like to avoid suffering altogether. The problem is suffering is universal! We all suffer!

1 Peter 3:17 NIV84

It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Suffering for Good

There are three things that we should note in this verse:

Sometimes it is God’s will that we suffer

As we said earlier, that is such a foreign thought for many of us!

Sometimes we suffer for doing what is good.

It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil

Christ’s Role

1 Peter 3:18–20 NIV84

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,

Jesus died for sins once for all!

He, the righteous one (Jesus); died for the unrighteous (us) and there is NO other way for the sinners or the unrighteous to come to God.

Peter now gives us an example of how Jesus’ salvation works.

Jesus’ Example

Just like it was in Noah’s day. God pursued the people for 120 years while Noah built the ark, but in the end only 8 people were saved from the flood.

The phrase, he also went and preached to the spirits in prison causes scholars to struggle with how to interpret this section. It seems to me that the best way is to let is speak for itself.

When Jesus died, he went to the well of souls (Sheol) to show those who rejected Noah’s example how things work now.

Baptism

1 Peter 3:21 NIV84

and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Once again, we have some confusion about this passage.

Peter, says that as the ark saved Noah and his family so Baptism rescues us from our lost state.

The word translated saved really means rescued. Just as Noah and his family’s lives were forever changed by life on the ark, our lives are also forever changed when we are rescued by Jesus. Baptism symbolizes this.

It does not make us clean. Notice the second part of the verse, “not the removal of dirt from the body. . .” See it does not make us clean. Instead, it is a pledge of a good conscience toward God. Good conscience means a pledge of moral sensitivity or conviction toward’s God. It is this pledge that saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ Position

1 Peter 3:22 NIV84

who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Went into heaven

Is seated at the right hand of God

Everything is under him!

Philippians 2:9–11 NIV84

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Conclusion

As we begin 2021, you can make all kinds of resolutions for this new year. The best resolution you and I can make is to follow after the Jewish Shama. Part of it says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Genesis 6:5).