VBS this week: joy of children celebrating realities of God, it becomes obvious how we often learn ways of casting off Joy and losing focus. This morning, given our locale of worship, I want to change our usual format to focus on the nature of a good life in 1 Pt 3:8-12 in having 1) the right attitude, 2) have the right response, 3) have the right standard, and 4) have the right incentive.
1) HAVING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE 1 PETER 3:8
Finally, summary of submission first introduced in 1 Pt. 2:13. Now Peter is applying the concept for all of you, : a call to freely submit to one another in love.
Everything begins with the right attitude. These Five spiritual virtues constitute this God-honouring perspective.
First, believers are to have unity of mind /be harmonious.
This does not mean that we must all think the exact same way about everything. harmony, are differences: work together in a common unity of purpose: a common commitment to the truth .They must not be in conflict with each other, even under severe persecution:
Philippians 1:27-28 [27]… standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Sympathy, the second means “sharing the same feeling.”
Third, brotherly. As we have seen (v.22) this is the calling for a genuine/sincere love.
-This fosters harmony of belief and purpose, sympathetic concern for each other’s needs, compassionate activity to meet those needs, and humble self-sacrifice in the church’s common pursuit of God’s Kingdom and righteousness.
-This past week has been an excellent example of this. We have spent this week ministering to those of the community with the Avalanche Ranch VBS.
Fourth, Tender heart/Kindhearted signifies a powerful kind of feeling : tenderhearted compassion
The final factor in Peter’s list for enjoying the goodness of the Christian life, humble mind/spirit
Philippians 2:3 [3]Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant/more important than yourselves.
The joys of their lives in Christ are maximized when believers are united in truth and life with one another, peaceful in disposition, gracious toward those who need the gospel, sensitive to the pains of fallen sinners, sacrificial in loving service to all, compassionate instead of harsh, and above all humble like their Saviour.
2) HAVING THE RIGHT RESPONSE 1 PETER 3:9
Matthew 5:38-45 (no retaliation)
insult for insult/reviling. “cursing,” or “speaking evil of” SOMETIMES WE FAIL:
Acts 23:1-5
How can we do this? by loving them unconditionally,praying for the salvation of an unbeliever or the sanctification of a fellow believer. by expressing gratitude for them and to forgive those who persecute them Jesus perfectly illustrated:
Matthew 18:21-35
believers have been called for the very purpose that they might inherit/obtain (freely receive) a blessing (a gift). unmerited, complete forgiveness of an unpayable debt
3) HAVING THE RIGHT STANDARD 1 PETER 3:10-11: RIGHTEOUSNESS
The word for quotes from Psalm 34:12–14,
"desires to love life, and see good days"—must refrain from speaking anything that comes from the underlying evil of an immoral disposition.
The tongue is often unruly and prone to sin refraining from verbal retaliation, believers must stop their lips from speaking deceit. They must be absolutely committed to the truth opposed to all lying, deception, and hypocrisy controlled, not at the mouth, but on the inside—as Jesus said in Matthew 12:34:
Matthew 12:34b For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (ESV)
Verse 11, drawn from Psalm 34:14, contains four straightforward imperative commands.
First, believers are to turn away from evil an intensely strong rejection of what is sinful—in this context, sinful treatment of others,
Second, Peter commanded his readers to do good, what is excellent in quality, what expresses deep-down virtue. That contrasts sharply with the contemporary notion of the good life as “doing one’s own thing,” whatever feels good.
Life connotes all the experience and richness of living to the fullest, not merely living as opposed to dying.
The third and fourth seek peace and pursue it. aggressiveness of action. (Implicit in the phrase is the analogy of the hunter vigorously tracking down his prey.)
Peace (eirçnçn) denotes a constant condition of tranquility that produces permanent joy and happiness. to seek peace and hunt for it aggressively, even peace with their persecutors and others who do not know Christ. be known in the world as peacemakers, those who strive for harmony with others as much as possible without compromising the truth
4) HAVING THE RIGHT INCENTIVE 1 PETER 3:12
Peter’s quote here of Psalm 34:15–16 vividly fixes the reality that ought to motivate GOD: sees all, knows all, holds people accountable for their behaviour
The eyes of the Lord relates to God’s special, caring watchfulness over His people
God is also looking on the righteous so that his ears are open to their prayer.
On the other hand, the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
judgment
"eyes" represent His all-seeing omniscience, whereas His face: anger and displeasure
