Abundant Living in a Hostile Environment

Text: 1 Peter 3:8-12

1 Peter 3:8–12 (NKJV)

Called to Blessing

8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For

“He who would love life

And see good days,

Let him refrain 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 prayers;

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

Introduction:

Are you known as a compassionate, loving person?

How much do you love your church family?

Background:

The conclusion to all of 2:11–3:7 is now drawn in these verses.190 Verse 8 in a chiasm (see p. 164) summarizes appropriate relationships in the community, emphasizing particularly the need for brotherly love.191 Verse 9 addresses how believers respond to those who inflict evil upon them. They are not to respond by inflicting evil in return but by praying that God will bless their tormentors. The reason believers are called to bless others is so that they themselves will inherit the eschatological blessing of eternal life on the last day. The Old Testament citation commencing in v. 10 confirms that blessing others is necessary to receive eternal life, being linked to v. 9 by “for.” The life and good days of v. 10 are nothing other than eternal life and the future inheritance. Those who wish to enjoy such must refrain from speaking evil, make a clean break with evil in their lives, and live in the realm of goodness. They must be people who seek out peace and live peaceably. Verse 12 confirms the interpretation proposed. The Lord’s favor rests on those who are righteous, but he turns his face forever against those who practice evil.

Proposition: God has provided a way for us to live abundantly amid a hostile environment.

Interrogative: How do we do that?

I. We must love fellow Christians as family (3:8)

1 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)

9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

A. The Central Truth: Love as brothers

The family love of believers for one another was important for Peter (cf. 1:22; 2:17; 5:9 and 2:11; 4:12)

Romans 12:10 (NKJV)

10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

1 Thessalonians 4:9 (NKJV) 9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

Hebrews 13:1 (NKJV) 13 Let brotherly love continue.

2 Peter 1:7 (NKJV) 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

Transition: How do we do this? What does it look like?

B. We Love Emotionally

2 Corinthians 6:12 (NKJV) 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.

2 Corinthians 7:15 (NKJV) 15 And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.

Philippians 1:8 (NKJV) 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:1 (NKJV) 2 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

Colossians 3:12 (NKJV) 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

Philemon 7 (NKJV) 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

Philemon 12 (NKJV) 12 I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

Philemon 20 (NKJV) 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.

1 John 3:17 (NKJV) 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

2. Be tender-hearted and Compassionate

a. Scriptural guidance

Romans 12:15 (NKJV) 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

1 Corinthians 12:26 (NKJV) 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

b. Example of Christ

📷 The New King James Version 26 results in 26 verses

Matt 9:36

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

Matt 14:14

And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

Matt 15:32

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”

Matt 18:27

Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

Matt 20:34

So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

C. We Love Relationally

1. Be of One Mind (Harmony)

Romans 15:5 (NKJV)

5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV)

Sectarianism is Sin

10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

2 Corinthians 13:11 (NKJV)

Greetings and Benediction

11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Philippians 2:1–2 (NKJV)

Unity Through Humility

2 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Philippians 4:2 (NKJV)

Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer

2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

2. Be Courteous (Humility/Humble Mind)

Acts 20:19 (NKJV)

19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;

Romans 12:16 (NKJV)

16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

2 Corinthians 10:1 (NKJV)

The Spiritual War

10 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

Ephesians 4:2 (NKJV)

2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

Colossians 3:12 (NKJV)

Character of the New Man

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

James 1:9 (NKJV)

The Perspective of Rich and Poor

9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,

James 4:6 (NKJV)

6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5 (NKJV)

Submit to God, Resist the Devil

5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

Transition: So what mindset must we have toward our spiritual family?

II. We must purpose to return evil with blessing (3:9)

1 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)

9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

A. The Prohibition (Note: This implies that there will be evil and reviling.

1. Don’t return evil for evil

2. or reviling for reviling

1 Peter 2:23 (NKJV) 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

B. The Command: But Return evil with a blessing

1 Peter 2:23 (NKJV)

23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

1 Corinthians 4:12–13 (NKJV)

12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

Luke 6:28–31 (NKJV)

28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

Matthew 5:38–42 (NKJV) Retaliation

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

C. The Reason: We were called to inherit a blessing

Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV) 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Galatians 5:13 (NKJV) 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Ephesians 4:1 (NKJV) Walk in Unity 4 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

Ephesians 4:4 (NKJV) 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;

Colossians 3:15 (NKJV) 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Peter’s logic may seem strange at first glance. Christians are called to bless so that (hina) they will inherit the blessing of eternal life.204 Is there the danger of works righteousness here, of suggesting that the blessing will be obtained by the merit of believers?205 Peter had already explicitly taught that God has begotten believers to new life (1:3, 23) and that he will preserve them to the end (1:5). Now he stressed the behavior that is necessary for those who identify themselves as Christians. He continued in the same vein in the subsequent verses (3:10–12), where good behavior is deemed to be necessary to obtain eternal life. Nor is such teaching foreign to the rest of the New Testament since good works are often introduced as evidence that one is truly redeemed Rom 2:6–10, 27–29; 1 Cor 6:9–11; 2 Cor 5:10; Gal 5:19–21; 2 Pet 1:5–11; 1 John 2:3–6; Rev 20:11–15

Romans 2:6–10 (NKJV)

6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 2:27–29 (NKJV)

27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (NKJV)

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV)

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Galatians 5:19–21 (NKJV)

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

2 Peter 1:5–11 (NKJV)

Fruitful Growth in the Faith

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

1 John 2:3–6 (NKJV)

The Test of Knowing Him

3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Revelation 20:11–15 (NKJV)

The Great White Throne Judgment

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

1 Peter: An Introduction and Commentary 2. Return Blessing When Evil Is Done to You (3:9–12)

The reason given in the gospels is that they ought to imitate the goodness of God even to undeserving sinners (Matt. 5:45, 48; Luke 6:35–36), goodness which is meant to lead them to repentance (Rom. 2:4 cf. Acts 14:17).

Transition:

III. We must consistently pursue good and turn away from evil (10-12)

1 Peter 3:9–12 (NKJV)

9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For

“He who would love life

And see good days,

Let him refrain 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 prayers;

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

The New King James Version Psalm 34

12 jWho is the man who desires life,

And loves many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep your tongue from evil,

And your lips from speaking kdeceit.

14 lDepart from evil and do good;

mSeek peace and pursue it.

A. The Goal: - 10a

1. Love (Desires) Life

2. See good days

Peter was not promising good days in this world since persecution and troubles are to be expected (1:6–7; 3:13–17; 4:12–19).

B. The Direction: - - 10b-11

1. Refrain from evil and deceitful speaking.

2. Turn away from evil and do good

3. Seek and Pursue Peace

Peace can easily be disrupted, especially when others mistreat and even abuse us. Hence, believers must “seek” (zētēsatō) and “pursue” (diōxatō) peace

C. The Reason: God’s Attention to Prayer (Parallel structure) - 12

1. The righteous have it (the eyes of the Lord)

2. The face of the Lord is against them who do evil

Concluding Applications:

1. Do we love and trust fellow believers as our own family?

2. Will we purpose to return evil with good and insult with blessing?

3. Will we choose to pursue good and seek peace throughout our lives?