Do Right and You Will Be Right!
Thesis: When we decide to do right then we will be right but if we chose to do wrong we will be wrong. How do you want to live your life? Being right? Or being wrong?
Video Illustration: The Movie Rudy
The Movie:
Based on the true story of Rudy Ruettiger, this film is about friendship, courage, and sacrifice. Rudy (Sean Austin) grew up in a small steel town with the dream of someday playing football for Notre Dame. Despite many obstacles, he refused to give up, and his determination inspired his friends and helped him accomplish his goal.
This Clip: Start 1:33:44
When the captain of the football team wants Rudy to take his place in the championship game, his coach tells him to do the right thing by focusing on the game, not the friendship. Believing he is doing the right thing, the captain lays down his jersey on the desk. One by one, Rudy’s teammates do the same, and their coach is deeply moved by their dedication to fairness and to Rudy.
From Videos that Teach – Fields and James page 136.
Scripture Text: 1 Peter 3:1-22:
1Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
8Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
11 He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
1 Peter 3: The Message CULTIVATE INNER BEAUTY
The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs. There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated by your life of holy beauty. What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition.
Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in. The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands. Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as “my dear husband.” You’ll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, unanxious and unintimidated.
The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God’s grace, you’re equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don’t run aground.
SUFFERING FOR DOING GOOD
Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
“Whoever wants to embrace life
and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back
on those who do evil things.”
If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.
He went and proclaimed God’s salvation to earlier generations who ended up in the prison of judgment because they wouldn’t listen. You know, even though God waited patiently all the days that Noah built his ship, only a few were saved then, eight to be exact—saved from the water by the water. The waters of baptism do that for you, not by washing away dirt from your skin but by presenting you through Jesus’ resurrection before God with a clear conscience. Jesus has the last word on everything and everyone, from angels to armies. He’s standing right alongside God, and what he says goes.
Introduction:
Last week we talked about the importance of making sure that we romanced the stone – Jesus Christ. We romanced the stone by learning to submit to one another out of our reverence and love for Jesus Christ. This week Peter keeps up with the idea that as couples we need to submit to one another. He really draws attention to the thought that we need to do right to be right! A few weeks back we talked about the theme of chapter one which was think right and be right now we come to the point in chapter 3 which tells us to do right and be right. Remember Peter is writing his letter to the Christian church and he is telling the church of Jesus Christ to do right and they will then be right in the eyes of the Lord. But notice the emphasis is on doing right- it is an action.
KEY: A right relationship with the Lord comes from romancing Him the precious stone this love relationship will cause us to do right and therefore show to the world that we are right.
The truth is the world is looking for role models to demonstrate the right way but the sad fact is they are having a hard time seeing the right way in the church realm today. There are those in Body of Christ not doing right therefore they are not right in the eyes of the world or in the eyes of Scripture. I have heard to often from people in the world that I don’t see Christianity making a difference in the lives of its church people so why should I try Jesus Christ.
For example Barna notes:
Barna Update: Born Again Christians Just As Likely to Divorce As Are Non-Christians
9/8/2004 A bi-weekly e-mail from George Barna
Did you know that people’s religious faith appears to have no impact on whether or not a married person gets divorced? In a study we began earlier this year and just completed, we tracked a person’s faith commitment, the age at which those who were born again accepted Christ as their savior, and the age at which those who got married eventually dissolved that marriage.
Were is the difference that Jesus talked about and Peter preached about?
Born Again Beliefs – according to Barna
• Compared to 60% of all adults, 84% of born again Christians believe “the Bible is totally accurate in all of its teachings.” (2004)
o What happened to the other 16%
• 78% of born again Christians believe they “personally have a responsibility to tell other people their religious beliefs” compared to 52% of all adults. (2004)
o What about the 22%?
• Nearly all born again Christians (98%) say their religious faith is very important in their life, compared to 52% of all adults. (2004)
o Why would 2% who claim to be Born Again say “It’s not important?”
• Half of born again Christians (50%) agree that Satan is “not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” (2004)
o %0% of the Christians church does not know what the Bible says or rejects what it says- were is the difference?
• About one-third of born agains (38%) believe that if a person is good enough they can earn a place in Heaven. (2004)
o Once again contrary to Scriptures teaching yet 38% believe this false notion.
• 31% of born agains agree that “while he lived on earth, Jesus committed sins, like other people,” compared to 44% of all adults. (2004)
o This one blows my mind – 31% just ruled out Jesus as being the sinless Savior of mankind.
• 15% of born again Christians claim that “after He was crucified and died, Jesus Christ did not return to life physically.” (2000)
• About one out of four (26%) born again Christians believe that it doesn’t matter what faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons; a belief held by 56% of non-Christians. (2000)
• Born again Christians are more likely than non-born again individuals to accept moral absolutes. Specifically, 32% of born agains said they believe in moral absolutes, compared to just half as many (15%) among non-born agains. (2002) (For more information, click on the Press Release titled "Americans Are Most Likely to Base Truth on Feelings" on the right-hand side of this page.
Peter in our text is charging the Christian to look and act the part of being Christ like by demonstrating the characteristics of a Christ follower. These qualities are submission, loving others, forgiving others, living the good life that the world takes notice of, keeping the tongue in check, keeping the lips from deceitful speech, standing up for what is right in the world even when it may bring condemnation, being willing to share were your hope comes from when asked, and setting Christ in our heart!
These are steep commands from Peter. He tells us that we should be demonstrating the good life by our actions. These actions should be very evident in our lives and even the world can not condemn a lifestyle described above. So how are you doing in this type of lifestyle?
T.S. - Doing right requires us to focus on doing the following in our lives. This doing right is not attained by talk but by actual actions others can see in our lives.
I. He first addresses the married couple and tells them what they should be doing to honor Jesus and to draw people to Him.
a. Wives should model a submissive attitude in their marriage relationship.
i. Especially if their husbands are not believers.
1. Peter says if they approach their marriage with this type of attitude it impact their husbands lives.
a. They will see their purity in Christ.
i. They will see that reverencing Christ makes all the difference in their wives attitude.
ii. This witness will impact them for the Lord.
b. Bill McCartney said, “We don’t earn respect but we give respect because people need it!”
i. If you show respect to someone it will make all the difference their lives.
1. This is all about the idea of grace!
2. Ken Sande states this about submission:
a. Neither inferior nor superior: By God’s design, man and woman are one in essence (see Genesis 2:23), and are therefore equal in dignity, value, and glory (see Gal. 3:26-29). Although God himself has assigned husbands and wives different roles within marriage, the essential unity of man and woman leaves absolutely no room for concepts of inferiority or superiority. Christ himself vividly demonstrated this "different but equal" concept. Jesus was and is one in essence with the Father, yet Jesus was "sent" by the Father (see John 3:16) and willingly submitted to Him without protest (see Luke 22:42; John 14:31; 1 Cor. 15:28). (To submit means simply to yield, that is, not to insist on getting your own way.) The same may be said of the Holy Spirit; He is one in essence with the Father and the Son, yet He was "sent" by them (see John 14:26; 16:7) and willingly submitted. Similarly, Jesus was commended for being in submission to His parents, which certainly did not make Him inferior to them (see Luke 2:51).By these analogies, we must conclude that having different roles or authority does not make us either inferior or superior. Therefore, it is contrary to Scripture to teach that holding authority makes a person superior, just as it is wrong to teach that being in submission implies inferiority.
b. Note Ephesians 5: 21 – “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
i. We submit out of our relationship with Jesus Christ.
b. He tells wives that they should not focus most of their attention on their outward appearance but they need to make sure they develop their inward spiritual qualities.
i. He says having a quiet and godly spirit will impact the lives of their husbands.
ii. Their beauty is to come from their romance with the stone and not how they just look in the flesh.
1. I believe this message is also directed at the husbands.
a. Men if you are judging the value of your wives by how they look in the flesh then you are missing were true beauty comes from!
b. The deception of appearance today and how it has destroyed so many women.
iii. Peter reminds the Christian women that this was their role model is presented in Scripture.
1. He cites the example of Sarah.
a. Message states: The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way, and were good, loyal wives to their husbands. Sarah, for instance, taking care of Abraham, would address him as “my dear husband.” You’ll be true daughters of Sarah if you do the same, un-anxious and un-intimidated.
c. Peter then focuses on the husbands again and tells the men that they are treat their wives with respect.
i. What does it mean to treat your wife or husband with respect?
1. Definition:
a. [n] behavior intended to please your parents; "their children were never very strong on obedience"; "he went to law school out of respect for his father’s wishes"
b. [n] a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard; "his deference to her wishes was very flattering"; "be sure to give my respects to the dean"
c. [n] courteous regard for people’s feelings; "in deference to your wishes"; "out of respect for his privacy"
d. [n] (usually preceded by `in’) a detail or point; "it differs in that respect"
e. [n] an attitude of admiration or esteem; "she lost all respect for him"
f. [n] a feeling of friendship and esteem; "she mistook his manly regard for love"; "he inspires respect"
g. [n] the condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or well regarded); "it is held in esteem"; "a man who has earned high regard"
h. [v] regard highly; think much of
i. [v] show respect towards; "honor your parents!"
2. Ephesians 5:21-33: 21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—30for we are members of his body. 31“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
ii. Share the reality check I received on a road trip when we were listening to Pastor to Pastor and the subject was how couples need to treat each other with respect.
1. Thoughts from the program which impacted my heart.
a. I learned that respect is the foundational key to having good relationships with others especially my wife!
i. Respect is shown to our spouses by our actions!
b. When you treat your wife with respect you will call out the best in her!
c. Truth is guys your love and respect for your wife will cause her to respect and love you.
i. So how do you respect your wife?
1. Open the door for her?
a. This is the action of respect!
2. Give her a place of honor by learning to discuss decisions with her?
a. This is the action of respect!
3. Do you do things for her that demonstrate your love and respect for her?
a. This will tell you if you respect her.
4. Do you treat her like a partner or a slave?
a. This is a sign of respect!
5. Do you run her down or build her up?
a. This will show if you respect her or not!
b. Negative words will disrespect her and it will come back on you!
6. Do you listen to her?
a. This is a sign of respect!
7. Do you ask her questions about how she is doing?
a. This is an action of respect!
d. Love and Respect in Marriage By Ken Sande, his thoughts on our text:
i. First, Peter commands the husband to consider carefully his wife’s needs and desires; to live with her "in an understanding way" (NASB); to take the initiative in discovering what is going on in her heart and life and to respond lovingly; to be sensitive to concerns and problems before they become major issues. Second, Peter instructs husbands to treat their wives "with time" (tee-may’), which means to value, honor, or esteem them to the highest degree; to consider them as being very precious; to recognize their dignity. There is disagreement over the meaning of the phrase "weaker partner." In the light of other passages dealing with women, it cannot imply inferiority. Some expositors believe that it is intended to warn husbands to pay attention to their wives’ physical and emotional limits, and not to push them beyond what they can handle. Others point out that "weaker partner" may be translated "fragile vessel," which calls to mind the difference between a delicate vase and a garbage can--the latter may be handled roughly, but not the former. A third possibility is that the passage is warning husbands to be sensitive to the God-given power imbalance in marriage. By God’s design, husbands have greater authority, and wives have less. If a husband misuses his authority, it can frustrate and embitter his wife. If each of these implications is taken into account, this passage serves to warn a godly husband to value his wife highly, to be realistic about her capabilities and limitations, to guard against misusing his authority, and to will treat her with great tenderness, sensitivity, and respect. Third, Peter reminds husbands of the equality they share with their wives before Christ--they are fellow heirs of the gift of life. This too should compel respect and honor. Finally, Peter reminds husbands that to disregard these instructions is to sin against God himself, which will separate them from his fatherly blessings (see Ps. 66:18; cf. Isa. 59:1-2). As these passages indicate, a husband’s job is anything but easy. He must exercise his God-given authority along carefully prescribed lines. He is responsible before God for the well-being of his wife (and children), especially their spiritual well-being, and he will one day have to give an account of what he did or did not do to serve her and attend to her needs. As the leader, he is to take the initiative in setting a godly example of Christian behavior, growth, and service. (To "lead" means to go in front, not to give orders from behind!) Also, as a leader he should anticipate his wife’s needs, work with her to make plans for godly growth and service, and do all he can to support her as she seeks to be the person God wants her to be.
T.S. – To be right we must act right with each other in our marriage unit. This type of lifestyle will make a difference with our other relationships as well.
II. He then turns his attention to all Christians and their relationships with others.
a. We as believers need to do right and therefore we will be right
i. We as Christians are to live in harmony with one another.
1. Jesus prayed that his disciples would be unified because he knew the importance of Harmony in the Body Christ.
2. Harmony is the combination of different parts working together in a pleasing and orderly manner.
a. This speaks to Christian brothers and sisters naturally and spiritually.
ii. We as Christians should be sympathetic with one another.
1. Sympathy is defined the ability to feel the same feelings of another and having a mutual understanding of another.
iii. We are to love as brothers and sisters do.
1. It is deep rooted love caused by our blood line.
2. Our blood line is Jesus Christ’s
iv. We are to be compassionate with each other
1. Compassion is defined as having sorrow for the sufferings of another accompanied by an urge to help in some way.
v. We are to be humble and root out pride and self.
1. No pride but humble in our relationships with one another.
vi. We are never to re-pay evil for evil.
vii. We are never to re-pay insult for insult.
b. If we do the above with our lives – in other words do right – then we are promised an inheritance from our Father filled with blessing!
i. The biggest is if we do right we will be right and get our promised inheritance from the Father.
ii. We are told that for those who seek to do and live the good life they in return will receive the right life- of eternal life.
1. Peter once again reminds us of doing right so as to be right he tells us we need to:
a. Keep the tongue from evil
b. Keep our lips from deceitful speech
c. We must turn from evil- the concept of repentance!
d. We must do GOOD! = Godly
e. We must seek peace by pursuing after it.
i. It means it will take work on our part to maintain the peace in our relationships.
ii. Matthew 18 tells us that to resolve conflict in relationships then we must go talk to the person we have the conflict with 1st.
iii. We are told that God is watching us and attentive to those who live the good life – Why because they do right and therefore they are in the right.
1. He also tells us that if we do right – then we are right and God is also attentive to our prayers.
2. But the other truth is if we do wrong then we are in the wrong and the Lord is therefore against us. Why?
a. God is always in opposition to evil! He never supports evil or its way- it’s against His nature because He is Holy and Holy has nothing to do with evil!
T.S. - Being right means we act correctly – rightly with others in life and as we master this type of lifestyle we will achieve the good life and as a result of living right we may face persecution from those who live wrong.
III. He then reminds everyone of us Christians that we should set Jesus in our hearts and do good – do right so that we are good – and are right and even if we are persecuted we are blessed because our future is eternally in the right place.
a. We are reminded to make sure we do not fall into the type of fear that the world has- most people fear death. We are to not fear death because of the blessing it will bring us.
b. We are to set Christ in our heart and serve him as Lord – not the world!
i. We are to be ready at any moment to share why we have hope and why we live right in this world.
1. We are to point people to Jesus – Our Hope!
a. By our lifestyles!
2. But we must do this with gentleness and respect toward the seeker!
3. We must keep a pure conscience so that when we are slandered they feel convicted for their unjust evil actions.
c. Peter then reminds them and us why Christ died!
i. 17It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.
ii. He draws our attention to the act of Baptism and what it symbolizes in our lives.
1. It signifies a clear conscience and state of being that has no feelings of condemnation.
2. It’s a heart and mind that knows it is in the right relationship with the Lord.
iii. He then emphasizes the power of the resurrection of Jesus.
Conclusion:
The reality check is this today- for us to impact this world for Jesus Christ we must do right so that we are right. Because when we are right the world will take notice and it will bring them to Jesus.
The other reality check is when we do right and are right God promises to reward our good life.
So we need to set our hearts on doing the following things:
1. In our marriage relationship we need to submit to one another and love and respect each other.
2. We are in all other relationships in this life to live in harmony with others and never return evil for evil-insult to insult to others.
3. We are to set the Lord in the heart and live the good – Godly life – so that the world will notice and come to the living hope. But remember some will come and some will reject you and Him and even persecute you like they did Jesus.
