Doing Good in a Fallen World • 1 Peter 3:8-17

28:36 Teaching begins

Notes

Peter says that we should bless one another and bless the whole world.

That’s fine, but even then, we will suffer for doing good.

So why should we do good when we know we will suffer for it?

Why can’t we have a nice quiet life and not suffer?

There’s a simple answer that we will look at today: it’s not possible to have a nice quiet life in this world.

The better question is, Where do we want to be in 10,000 years?

We’re reading in 1 Peter 3 from verse 8.

1. Peter commands everyone of us to be a blessing.

A. Peter’s command is for every Christian, whether slave or free, married or unmarried, male or female. This applies to you, right now, in 2021.

B. He gives us seven things that we are to be, and not to be.

C. Be of one mind.

1. We are to be of the same mind with Jesus. We are to think like Him, have His values. His attitude is love.

2. NASB has be harmonious. I like that because when musicians are out of tune there’s a conflict. Remember that if I speak with the languages of men and of angels but do not have love, then I am a clanging gong or a crashing cymbal. But if we are in tune with Jesus then we will be in tune with each other, and it will be harmonious because we will be loving one another just as He loved us.

D. Have compassion for one another. This means to be sympathetic. What hurts you hurts me. What makes you happy makes me happy. We weep with those who weep, we rejoice with those who rejoice.

E. We love as brothers, because we really do have the same Father and we are born of the same Spirit. We really are related. Everyone in this family loves everybody or else.

F. Be tenderhearted. That’s love and affection that grips and moves the whole personality. Easily moved to compassion and generosity.

G. Humble in spirit. It’s having a right perspective of God and who you are in relation to God. Then you treat others rightly, with honour and respect, even though they don’t deserve it. That’s because God treats you with honour and respect, and you know that you don’t deserve that.

H. Not returning evil for evil or insult for insult. You are not your own judge, there is only one Judge who can save and destroy. You wait for God to judge and avenge you, and He will judge everyone. So you can afford to wait for God to sort that stuff out.

I. In the meantime, you bless those who curse you, pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:45-48 That’s what Jesus said in the sermon on the mount. That’s what Peter is saying.

2. Here’s why you are to be a blessing, you were called to inherit a blessing.

A. And not just any blessing, but THE blessing, the blessing of Abraham. Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

B. All of our salvation in Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of that promise of blessing to Abraham. Paul shows us this abundantly in Galatians 3. To keep it short I’ll mention a couple of places.

1. Galatians 3:13-14 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. So part of the blessing of Abraham is redemption from the curse of the law, which is eternal death. We receive the promise of the Spirit of eternal life.

2. Galatians 3:26-29 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. We are in Christ, we really are sons of God, we really are sons of Abraham, we are called to inherit the blessing.

3. When you inherit the blessing you become a blessing to the whole world.

A. Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-16. And it looks like what you must do in order to be blessed. You must speak what is right, you must not lie, you must do good, seek peace, and pursue it. It looks like God blesses the righteous and turns His back on those who do evil.

B. But really, this is impossible to do apart from Jesus. In order to not lie and to speak what is right means you have to have a pure heart, because the man speaks from the heart. So if you think that all you have to do to go to heaven is this right here you are dead wrong.

C. A person who receives Jesus as His saviour receives a new heart and a new life. You want to tell the truth. You want to turn away from evil and do good. You seek to make peace because Jesus said, blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God, Matthew 5:9.

D. The gospel of Jesus Christ is so radical, that it takes the commands of God and makes them into promises that Jesus will do in your life. He will fulfil all ten commandments. When you receive Jesus you will have no other gods before Jesus in your life. You won’t tell lies, because Jesus is the truth. You won’t covet, because the Lord is your Shepherd, you shall not want.

E. So you receive Jesus, and He not only blesses you with redemption, cleansing, a new birth, righteousness, but He makes you a blessing to the whole earth. You will love everyone because Jesus is in you and that’s how He begins to fulfil the blessing of Abraham.

F. There’s much more to come. When Abraham believed God he received justification. God gave him perfect righteousness. But God also promised Abraham that he would own the land forever. Abraham never owned the land. In order to fulfil His promise to Abraham God is going to raise Abraham from the dead to live forever. So see, we have only begun to receive the blessing of Abraham.

G. So now we are careful to live with Jesus so that we inherit all the blessing of Abraham. If we continue doing what is wrong after receiving Jesus, we won’t inherit. Ephesians 5:5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

4. Now, who would want to hurt you if all you want to do is good?

A. It’s a no-brainer, isn’t it? All you do is love people, seek peace and pursue it. You don’t lie, you don’t steal. You are harmonious, you are compassionate, you don’t return evil for evil, insult for insult. Who would have a problem with that? It’s supposed to be a rhetorical question that expects the answer, “nobody”.

B. But Peter knew the opposition of foolish and ignorant men. The leaders of the Jewish nation beat him and commanded him not to speak in this Man’s name anymore. Peter was arrested, Paul was arrested, beaten, opposed by his own countrymen.

C. John 16:1-4 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.

D. But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. Jesus said, Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

5. Peter has a strategy so we can suffer, if need be, according to the will of God, as he says in verse 17.

A. The most important thing to know is that God is in control of our lives.

1. If we suffer, we suffer according to His will. We are in His will. Whatever He has for us, that’s what we want.

2. Not everyone is the same, some suffer more, some less.

3. Whatever happens, God has us in His hand. Not a hair on our heads will be lost. Jesus said to the suffering church of Smyrna: be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life. He is in control even if everything is out of control.

B. We are to fear God, not men.

1. Peter quotes from Isaiah 8:12-15 “Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’ concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble; they shall fall and be broken, be snared and taken.”

2. Notice that Peter says, sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. He means that Jesus is the Lord God. Fear Him. Let Jesus be your fear, let Him be your dread. And then He will be your sanctuary. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will abide in the shadow on the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, my refuge, my fortress, my God in whom I trust. Psalm 91:1-3. I will say—that means I will continually say. Say that all the time to the Lord.

3. Jesus said, Luke 12:4-5 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”

C. Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

1. That doesn’t mean that you snivel and cringe. It means you aren’t thinking about yourself, and you are respectful towards those who ask.

2. If someone asked you why you believe in Jesus what would you say? Anticipate the question. Prepare a five-minute version, a one-minute version, and a 30-second version. Practice that so if someone asks you, you don’t seize up with fear. What will I say? That’s too late. What’s the matter with preparing for that eventuality? If you knew it was going to happen, then you can plan for it now.

3. We think we have to know all the answers. We don’t! We are afraid someone will ask us a question we can’t answer, like everything depends on our answer. The stupidest fool can ask a question the wisest man can’t answer. That doesn’t mean the fool is right. This isn’t a debate. It is I believe in Jesus because I have lived those promises Jesus makes. I can tell you that He really did die for our sins and rise again from the dead. There is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved.

4. You can grow in knowing Jesus. The more you know, the more you can speak confidently because you know what you are talking about.

5. How to be meek: love that person. When you are concerned for that person and love them you will not be afraid for yourself, because you aren’t thinking about yourself, you’re thinking about the other person. Love is the true courage. So pray, Lord, help me love this person. Help me be ready for divine appointments today.

D. Keep a good conscience. That way even if you are slandered you know it’s not true. God will vindicate you in the day of judgment. You don’t have to clear yourself. So keep short accounts with God, stay close to Jesus, walk with Him.

6. It’s better to suffer for doing right instead of doing wrong.

A. Because this is a fallen, wicked world everyone is going to suffer no matter what. You will suffer for doing right and you will suffer for doing wrong. There is no nice life in this world.

B. But if you suffer for doing what is right, it’s going to be lighter and it will be temporary. If you suffer for doing wrong it’s going to be forever.

7. I’m going to ask you a question in all seriousness. Where do you want to be in 10,000 years?

A. I’ve started thinking about that. I will be immortal and glorified. In 10,000 years I will just be starting eternity with Jesus and with the saints. That’s the blessing of Abraham.

B. Someone might say, I don’t care about 10,000 years or suffering, I just want a nice life! Not in this world. It is literally a dead end.

C. Jesus was born into this world, He is perfect, He loved us, and suffered according to the will of God, and it brought to us great blessing.

D. There’s such glory in living for Jesus and sharing that blessing with people. That blessing can and does touch the whole world and relieves the suffering that comes from sin.

E. Everyone who desires to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution, 2 Timothy 3:12. I’m going to do the right thing and love people. I’m going to suffer. This is a wicked world. I’m looking for the next world.

F. It is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Let’s pray.