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1 Peter 3:8-12
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. One of the hardest paradoxes in Christianity is stated by the Lord Jesus at the beginning of his public ministry. You can read it in Matt. 5:10-12. Peter closes this section of his 1st letter reminding all Christians that their bond in Christ is also their bond to Christ to be proper ambassadors to other believers and to unbelievers as well. Peter first addresses
- THE PETITION TO BE PROCLAIMED in verse 8. He uses five adjectives to describe the character qualities that true Christians are to present to all others around them. God tells us we must “have” or own/possess these character traits. Even though God tells us we are to have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind, no where does the NT ever teach that God just hands these virtues to us on a silver platter. We must make deliberate choices and put much energy into developing them with the Lord’s help. Now let’s consider
- THE PROBLEM TO BE PREVENTED in v. 9. Peter tells us as believers how we are to respond to those who inflict evil upon us whether they are unbelievers, or the ungodly among us pretending to be Christians. Christians are told do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling. Peter here is repeating the principle he heard Jesus teach during the sermon on the Mount. Read Matthew 5:39; Prov. 20:22; Lu. 6:27; Rom.12:17; 1 Thess. 5:15. Listen beloved, to the unsaved or carnal mind none of this makes any sense. Even to a true Christian this is kind of mindset and lifestyle is not a walk in the park! One writer says concerning the concept of not repay evil for evil – “a Christian calling, as it invests him with glorious privileges, so it obligates him to difficult duties.” There are at least 3 reasons ungodly people act this way. These are in no particular order. First, they are ungodly in their nature and character; meaning they are either unsaved or hypocrites who want you to think their saved. Second, often such people are envious. Envy is a wrong or sinful attitude about what someone else has. Third, ungodliness and unrighteousness is also strongly influenced by jealousy, which is a fear of being displaced or replaced. Now let’s consider
- THE PRINCIPLE TO BE PRACTICED in verses 9-12. You often hear me say God will not ask us to do anything He knows we can’t do. However, He will often ask us to do things He knows will be difficult, even extremely difficult, for us to do. In fact He helps us understand that sometimes things are so difficult for us that unless we allow Him to help us, we cannot succeed by ourselves. It’s Philippians 4:13 in real life. Isn’t it interesting that when Peter comes to the point where he talks to us about proper Christian living it begins with the fear of the Lord! Here, Peter in v. 10 – whoever desires to love life and see good days must: 1 = must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech; 2 = he must turn from evil and do good; 3 = he must seek peace and pursue it! It is to you the summons is given to come to the Lord and give Him your heart and He will give you blessed relief.
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