Peter moves from talking about people in very particular circumstances, servants, husbands, wives, authorities, back to talking about all believers generally. Peter is teaching us how people saved by Christ ought to resemble Christ. This affects both how we treat people within the Church and the way we answer questions about our Faith to the world.

1 Peter 3:8-17 [8] Finally, all of you, have unity of mind [spirit], sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart [compassionate], and a humble mind. [9] Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. [10] For

“Whoever desires to love life

and see good days,

let him keep 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 prayer.

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

1. Family Traits: resembling Christ (v. 8-12)

2. The Heart that cannot be Harmed: Shielded by a Holy Hope (v.13-17).

How do you know someone is part of a family?

Family Traits, may be physical traits, habits, attitudes, or accents. Some traits we are born with, any parents frequently answer oh they were born loving music, or quiet, or whatever personality givens the Lord shaped them to have. But other like what genre you listen to are often inherited from a parent. SO certainly we all are a combination of how God created us, and yes are fallenness, given sin struggles, we are family patterns, and habits, but at the end of the day usually there are traits that set us apart as a member of a family, or as is sometimes the case, a member of a region of the country…A particular sub-culture.

vv. 8-12 Says there are Family Traits for those who belong to the Kingdom of God. The Family of Christ, to the Church. Let’s unpack positively what those are and negatively what those are NOT in vv. 8-12. Together these traits will be key to fulfill our call to a life of blessing others.

Look in v. 8. 5 Traits that form A United and Humble Mind that has + Sympathy, love, tenderness, and humility (v.8)

A united humble mind -is lowering ourselves off our high pedestal. Philippians says this is a willingness to consider others before yourself. This is the mind of Christ that unites us in the Holy Spirit. And 1 Cor. 2:16 promises that We HAVE the mind of Christ.

We are humble because Christ was humble. We love because God first loved us, we offer sympathy and tenderness because that is our God and that is Christ’s response to both sufferers, sinners, and his disciples.

We have A sympathetic tenderness. We care when brothers and sisters suffer. We feel for and are responsive to others sufferings..

Now, this is not simply empathy that is willing to abandon all conviction, and be easily manipulated by the squeaky wheel. This isn’t consensus community where we only do something if everyone feels good about it. Christians can and must act with conviction, flowing from the authoritative and sufficient word of God.

And given how opposed Christian morals are to society, occasionally our stance must cause discomfort. In others. We must be willing to cross “the pain threshold of societal shame, the being unashamed of the gospel, unashamed of christ, and unashamed of the bibles teaching.

All communities have guidelines for what sympathy is beneficial and what sympathy is nursing harmful sin patterns.

So sympathy towards suffering. Sympathy towards the suffering caused by sin, but not sympathy that shelters sin. we do not harbor sin in our sympathy.

In general, there is a willingness to as Peter David’s says, “to care deeply about fellow-Christians so that the suffering of one becomes the suffering of the other. Christians are emotionally involved with each other.”

Even if emotions shouldn’t be the deciding driver. Sympathy is in the context of unity of mind and love. But not just any love this actually isn’t agape love. It is Philadelphia love. Not the city. But as its named the city of brotherly love aspirationally. With brotherly love, we can say “seeks the others highest good ultimately.”But there is true and warm-affection

I use the word affection sometimes to say like a warm emotion, but more permanent and less fleeting.

affection is a permanent bent of the mind, formed by the presence of an object. a settled good will, love or zealous attachment; as, the affection of a parent for his child. – Webster 1828

Dan Doriani helpfully says of this love that. Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 13:1; and 1 Peter 3:8 all bless and command brotherly, affectionate love. The apostles blessed tender affection between friends and family members. When Christians say that agapè is the highest form of love because it is Godlike and dispassionate, they probably mean that love for enemies is noble and amazing, which it is. And agapè is often the term for God's love for unattractive sinners. But God wants, even expects, us to feel affection for each other. And we can show affection in a warm embrace and in acts of kindness. In short, love is not essentially dispassionate. (Doriani, 1 Peter, 127)

Look in v. 9 again. – Restrains: evil4evil; revenge reviling (v.9a)

Christians are not in the revenge business. (Distress of the amount of “anti-heroes” now instead of arch-type aspirational heroes. The Christian must ask in humility am I seeking revenge and my own pride or am I humbly defending a principle, person, or place? Am I repaying evil for evil? Or Am I defending good from evil? Ask the Lord for the wisdom and humility to discern.

Similarly? When are you speaking up for yourself? Vs. When are you flattering others, and when have you started, reviling that is abusing, and insulting?

The hint is probably from v. 8 – revilers are not feeling sympathy or empathy for other person, they are not speaking eye to eye to a brother or sister from a humble heart. No, they are winning. They are in verbal combat and in the words of Davy Crockett it will be “no holds barred”

Every blow repaid in kind. Every angle to hurt considered. This manner of response is off-limits for the Christian. If you want to “get even” as a Christian you only have one route reminds Pastor Ed Clowney “This is how Christians 'get even'. They pay back evil with good, insults with blessing. This, of course, was the teaching of Jesus, as well as his example (2:23). But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven' (Matt. 5:44-45). Christians are free from vindictiveness because they trust God's justice; but they are free for blessing because they know God's goodness. (Clowney, 1 Peter, 111).

We may defend. We may even answer evil we will see. But we seek a bigger picture than any individual spat. We seek to bless the other person and bring them to conviction of sin and to a relationship with Christ Jesus. And so we may win the fight but lose the soul if it becomes about us and not others.

You teachers have probably experienced A moment where your anger drove your response and discipline, not the wisely thought-through class policy, but a reviling (insulting) student gets you reviling (insulting) in return.

As with other cases, the answer is not simply “don’t do this” It is instead the expulsive power of a greater affection. A higher goal in our minds. We need that higher goal of turning a natural moment to berate into a moment to bless…Now this may very well be receiving repercussions and justice and discipline of some kind as a blessing but not reviling… (Lord help me here).

Look in verse 9 again, More than not reviling…on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

In the Kingdom of God we seek to speak blessings to each other. Peter Davids “[blessing’ is a concrete way of forgiving offending persons and doing good to them, just as God does.” (Davids, 1 Peter).

“the words of the fool wound. The words of the wise bring healing.” (Prov. Par.)

We have BEEN blessed by God in Christ Jesus. SO we ought to BLESS others with what we have received.

Jesus tells us in Luke 6:27-28 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those whohateyou, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Illustration cited by Karen Jobes: Soldier chucking his shoes at the guy in the barracks reading his bible – polishes the guys shoes and sets them out in the morning. He was reviled. He blessed in return. (Jobes, 1 Peter, Brazos Press).

Just because the internet and internet comments exists doesn’t mean Jesus stuttered when he gave this command. Just because the other political party is literally Mao or Hitler doesn’t mean Jesus stuttered in Luke 6.

We have been saved by christ Jesus and brought into his kingdom his family so bearing the traits of Jesus we bless others with the overflow of the kingdom of God in Christ Jesus. Those are outside of the kingdom and lost but that doesn’t mean the light can’t shine from the city on a hill.

Peter ECHOES Jesus’ teaching and also illustrates it with Psalm 34:12-16 on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. [Then Peter cites Psalm 34 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days,

let him keep 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 prayer.

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

Verses 10 Asks the questions? What is life and good days? – Answer, The eternal life we have secure in Christ. Which we have now as believers.

It is verse 12, Knowing – God watches over us in our pursuit of “the paths of righteousness”

Knowing – God listens to the prayers of those who are “righteous” (v.12b)

Righteous how? Ultimately – righteous in Christ Jesus. Filled with the Spirit. A New creation that is being sanctified to live according to who we were born again to be.

Transition. Peter gives an additional reminder that God watches over us. And that ultimately evil will be punished to a conclusion in vv.13-17. That our Hearts are safe in Christ Jesus

#2 The Heart that cannot be Harmed, Shielded by a Holy Hope (13-17, we’ll start with 13-15).

[13] Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? [14] But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, [15] but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect

What is Ultimate perspective of “harm” found in verse 13? I believe it is the perspective of H.C. 1.

That I am not my own, 1 but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, 2 to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. 3 He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, 4 and has set me free from all the power of the devil. 5 He also preserves me in such a way 6 that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; 7 indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. (H.C. Question 1).

Suffering in this life is not the ultimate “harm.” What good does it do a man to gain the world but lose his soul? We take a longer perspective.

Therefore, (v. 14) Do not be “troubled” (v. 14). When you do suffer. And we have talked about how we are following Christ. We desire to suffer for good and not for evil. So all the Family traits, the ways to bless others do not garuntee good treatment. So we we do suffer…

How do we suffer, when people harm us on earth despite our humble lives? We imitate Christ. We set Christ apart in our heart.

One response to suffering. One Response to those who ask our hope verse 15 “Honor you Christ in your heart as Your Holy Lord.” That is as Peter Davids says, “when abuse from non-Chrisian masters, husbands, and neighbors happens you are blessed. And you then respond with the hope in you.”

Peter Cites Isa. 8:13 which is about the LORD God. And says, set Jesus as your Lord apartin your heart. That is to say, Peter in this writing quite clearly believes that Jesus is his Creator God. And so gives the building block of Jesus as the divine second person of the trinity. So once again. Our hope is that Jesus is our God. And that he took on flesh a true human nature, died for us, dealt with sin and death, and is alive ruling and reigning as our Messiah and our God who saved us from our sins. That is the Hope that is within us filling our heart, our mind, our loves, controlling what we believe, how we speak, how we live. Because he is our Life itself!

Be ready to give a reason (apologia) for the hope that is within you.

Be ready to offer Christ as Savior and Lord to others. The gospel as good news. The biblical worldview as your life view that has Jesus at the center of it. Jesus explaining God, yourself, salvation, the bible, the world, and history to you and everyone. Jesus as the Lord of your ethics, your job, your family, your worship, your time, your schedule, your habits, and in and through it all.

“the hope that is within you” is simply your faith in Christ. The Gospel. What you believe as the good deposit from the apostles and found in the whole of the bible.

Do it in gentleness and love (not arrogantly, seeking intellectual scalps or with a smug spiritual and moral superiority.)

Arrogant, cage-stage, young mans sins…or a “how dare no ever have told me these things before” reaction in college when you finally get your Christian intellectual ducks in a row.

You need not be intellectually arrogant while being gentle and providing thorough answers. You need not be harsh while standing firm and unyielding to the truth

Gentleness and love is what Christ asks of our conversations with unbelievers.

(Surviving Religions 101 by Michael Kruger is you want an apologetic book.). Or Why Should I believe Christianity are excellent introductions…

Look in vv. 16-17 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. [17] For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (ESV)

Even if they slander and revile, if they reject your answer for your HOPE, your conviction that this world is more than matter, more than vague spirituality, that you know the broad brushstrokes of history and what God has revealed in his word. Even if all these hopes are rejected…

Peter reminds us that Nothing in your actions should dishonor Christ or Bring shame on Christ’s name.

He has just been talking to powerless servants, wives with unbelieving husbands, those who are having spiritual conversations with those in authority. Or perhaps just in the marketplace, as dinner, with a neighbor.

In all these relationships we as a community ought to support one another to do everything froma humble and loving mind. So that both as individuals and as a body any suffering we have is for Christ not for evil or arrogance from us.

Let us not suffer for Arrogance. Evil. Harshness. Nor let us not suffer Ignorance of our hope, Unthoughtful hope.

A Christ that isn’t Lord. Scripture that isn’t Holy. Worship that doesn’t express a deeper transcendent hope and purpose. A Conscience that has been corrupted by the morals of the world so that the salt loses its saltiness. The light loses its brightness and no one would view us as being a distinct hopeful people with a zeal for capital go Good. That shows their is a hope that those who have united mind in Christ Jesus distinctly have.

All these things are gifts and fruits of the Spirit purchased by Christ and given to us. He ascended in order to pour out the spirit.

(v. 16) your good behavior in Christ

This is Gospel fruit not legalism. Therefore, good behavior that flows from spiritual strength in Christ. Therefore, the right and wrong is determined by the Law of Christ.

With the result that others will be ashamed if they do revile us because we have not reviled, we have answered kindly, and we have blessed and not cursed. And then we know our suffering is the providential decision of our Lord. Not our own sin bring ruin on our heads. This can only come by being united to Christ and bearing the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.: It is Spiritual fruit not fleshly effort.

Galatians 5:22–25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (ESV)

If we live by the Spirit let us be strengthened as the Body of Christ as a fruitful outpost of the Kingdom of God.

· Pray for Divine Appointments.

· Pray for Conversations with Neighbors.

And until those conversations happen let us be strengthened. And return to all of you, have unity of mind [spirit], sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart [compassionate], and a humble mind, and bless one another.

Pray

Benediction

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