Unity is Key
1 Peter Sermon Series, Part 8
1 Peter 3:8-12
EASTER SERVICES ON SUNDAY!!
Introduction
- Why is our testimony so important?
-- v21, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”
-- We are called to remember what Christ went through and willingly follow!
- So, why is does our testimony matter?
- Jesus is the ONLY one who is totally sinless
-- There was no deceit, no lie, and no sin that was committed by the Messiah
-- He was literally the perfect sacrifice of God; suitable for our redemption
-- His testimony before us is the guide; the plumb line; the STANDARD
- Then we discussed our relationship with one another (husband and wife)
-- HUGE: Our spiritual health depends on how WE treat one another!
-- If we treat one another poorly in marriage, we will be off-center with God
- Tonight we are going to examine our relationships IN the church
-- This is a great word of discipleship … I’m praying we will receive it well
- Read 1 Peter 3:8-12
∆ Point 1 – Unity Matters
- Let’s think for a moment of the worst church experience you’ve ever had
-- Are you still hurting from that event or have you moved passed it?
-- I’d be willing to be those that hurt you have probably forgotten what they did
-- Why? Because it didn’t happen “to” them; so they were not hurt
- Peter’s command in v8 is very clear: “BE”
-- It is an active word, present tense, pursuing one another FOR God’s glory
-- RE: Everything we’ve discussed so far has been to glorify Him, not us
- Peter is writing to the church, to those who need to live better for Him
-- APP: We are representatives of Christ; to those outside AND within church
-- IMP: There is just something about having peace in God’s house, it is GOOD!
- Turn to Psalm 133 … read all three verses
Steven C. Wright (from Chuck Colson site) writes:
“The dew from Mount Hermon doesn’t literally fall on Mount Zion. Mount Hermon lies over 100 miles northeast of Jerusalem. With a height of over 9,000 feet, it is the highest mountain in the region and is often snow-capped. Mount Hermon was lush throughout the year with heavy dew, while Mount Zion was desperately dry during the summer months when no rain fell at all. Two of the annual religious festivals fell during these months, so most pilgrims encountered a dry and dusty Jerusalem. But their unity seemed to transform the place! It was so wonderful that it was as if the dew of Mount Hermon was transported down and poured out on Mount Zion.
The unity of believers is a great blessing, but it is not the greatest blessing. As the pilgrims fostered unity in Zion, they were in the place where Yahweh had commanded the blessing of “life forevermore.” The sacrificial priestly ministry in Jerusalem pictured and declared the forgiveness of sins. When our sins are forgiven, we experience reconciliation with God that is not for a moment but for all eternity. Zion was the place where this glorious good news was most evident under the Old Covenant. Under the New Covenant, that good news is told with greater clarity in the proclamation of God’s saving grace that has come through the sacrificial death of Christ. The Church is the new Zion where believers find joy, unity, and eternal life in Jesus.
APP: Psalm 133 pictures the goodness of the unity of believers with two images of drenching from above. Verse 2 speaks of anointing oil poured out on Aaron’s head and verse 3 speaks of the dew of Mount Hermon falling on Mount Zion. Both images anticipate the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17) – a day which pictured the unity of believers in the Church. We are reminded that this unity is ultimately of gift of God that He grants through the work of His Spirit.”
- APP: The aroma that we give off is a good thing; it draws others around us
- This does not mean we will not have differences of opinion or disagree totally
-- We have different gifts which bring us to the table with different viewpoints
-- Our focus is NOT on the differences, but how we handle those in the church
- 1 Peter 1:22, “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart”
-- We have a very clear focus here on how we should be dealing with one another
- Harmony within the body of Christ is necessary; it is commanded to us
- TRANS: Without it, we will have disunity and our flesh will rule the day!
∆ Point 2 – Repay Evil with Blessing
- To be compassionate (v8) means that we have a tender heart
-- Be sympathetic (v8) means that we show an honest heart reaction to one another
-- We not only understand our feelings, but we show them to others
-- This empathy, this joining together, allows us to serve one another openly
- Challenge: Do you live your life with a closed first or an open hand?
-- This will greatly affect how you respond to those around you, even in church
- Compassion for one another is how we (v9) are able to not repay evil with evil
-- It is how we live above insulting one another when we disagree
-- On the contrary, we are to “repay evil with blessing” … why?
-- v9b, “… because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing”
- Peter adds in the word humble (v8) so to we’d remember to apply humility
-- It is in this that we find our MAIN application tonight: Do we show grace?
-- APP: Do we treat one another like Christ treated us when He forgave our sins?
- Humility is being aware of our strengths and gifts that God has given us
-- It is not to boast on them; but to remember where they came from
-- This is why the application to all we encounter is SO critical
- Peter writes words right from David on how we should be living together:
-- It is right here that we can learn how to live in the church with each other
-- Psalm 34:12-16, “What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.”
- Peter links these commands and responses to our central calling as believers
-- He is a practical man, not sugar coating – but speaking plainly to the reader
- His emphasis is on church relationships; b/c written TO the church
-- IMP: v10b, note that our motivation for living rightly is for God to reward
-- It’s not a physical blessing we seek, but a spiritual one only God can give
- In v12, we see some of the blessings that God will bestow on us
• His eyes are on us
• His ears are attentive to us
• He is focused and paying attention to His children who call on Him
- In contrast, note how God acts to those who refuse to live this way … (v12b)
- TRANS: So what is our take away for tonight?
∆ Big Idea
- Most who read this glance over it and say “ya ya ya” … but then forget it
-- We must be willing to live in harmony with one another
-- Bless those who persecute, return love for anger, show grace to all we encounter
-- It is what the Bible commands that we do … plain and simple
- So, why should we do all this and live this way? How does this tie into Easter?
- Read 1 Peter 3:13-22 ...
- Come back Sunday …
- Pray
