Called To Bless.

CALLED TO BLESS.

1 Peter 3:8-15a.

Peter names five virtues whereby we might be a blessing to one another (1 PETER 3:8).

(i). Like-mindedness; i.e. living in harmony with one another. Being willing to submit ourselves to one another in godly love (cf. Ephesians 5:21).

(ii). Compassion; i.e. sympathising. Being ready to ‘rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep’ (cf. Romans 12:15).

(iii). Brotherly love; the Greek word is ‘philadelphia.’ Love of the brethren is one of the identifying marks of the Christian faith (cf. John 13:34; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 Peter 2:17; 1 John 3:14; 1 John 4:7).

(iv). Be pitiful; literally, ‘tender-hearted.’ Pity looks upon those in distress, and where possible will seek to relieve that distress (contrast the example in James 2:15-16).

(v). Be courteous; i.e. modest, humble, kind and meek. Jesus set us the ultimate example of this humility when He died for us!

God has called us to “inherit a blessing” (1 PETER 3:9b). He has also called us to a life of blessing others, even to the extent of “blessing” those who mean us harm (1 PETER 3:9a).

In 1 PETER 3:10-12, the Apostle Peter echoes the wisdom teaching of Psalm 34:12-16.

The offer of life in this passage is, in effect, ‘do good if you wish to receive good’ - not unlike Jesus’ Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (cf. Matthew 7:12). For Christians this is not so much ‘do good in order to be good’ - the ‘this do and live’ of salvation by works - but ‘do good because you are good.’

Righteousness is ‘by grace through faith’ - but we are saved ‘unto’ good works (cf. Ephesians 2:8; Ephesians 2:10). Having received the gift of grace, we are summoned throughout Scripture to live the life, and do the deeds of the righteous - and where we are able, to right the wrongs that we come up against in the world (cf. Micah 6:8; James 1:27).

This is not the only place in Scripture where we are exhorted to guard our tongues from evil (cf. James 3:5; James 3:10). We are also exhorted to ‘overcome evil with good’ (cf. Romans 12:21).

As recipients of ‘peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’ (cf. Romans 5:1), we are to actively seek peace: and to make every effort to live in peace with all men (cf. Hebrews 12:14). This is in fulfilment of our blessedness, and is an ongoing duty of our role as the “children of God” (cf. Matthew 5:9).

1 PETER 3:13. “Who will harm us if we do that which is good?” The question is rhetorical. Like, ‘if God be for us, who can be against us?’ (cf. Romans 8:31).

1 PETER 3:14. Yet even if we do seem to suffer for righteousness’ sake, we have the blessing of Jesus (cf. Matthew 5:10-12). Peter exhorts us not to fear, and echoes Jesus’ encouragement to us not to be troubled (cf. John 14:1). We are to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world (cf. John 16:33).

1 PETER 3:15a. Even thus, we are to reverence the Lord God within our hearts. We need fear no other (cf. Isaiah 8:12-13).