1 Peter 3:8-16 To Love Life and See Good Days

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To Love Life and See Good Days

1 Peter 3:8–16

Introduction: You might notice the heading in most of your Bibles before verse 8. ESV reads, “Suffering for Righteousness Sake.” That’s not surprising, is it? Peter began the letter by acknowledging that they were being “grieved by various trials. And indeed, “suffering” is the theme throughout the rest of chapters 3-4. 

But 3:10 should stand out to us. When someone tells us that suffering lies ahead, we immediately think that our lives are going to become miserable, that the days of joy and blessings from God are over. But instead of writing a “woe is us” message, Peter shows the path to loving life and seeing good days. That is so encouraging! Instead of fearing the future, we can approach with confidence. That’s the message of Peter, especially in this section.

1. “Finally, All of You…”
   1. You will remember beginning in 2:13, Peter addressed submission to authorities, submission of servants even when unjustly treated, submission of wives, and husbands showing honor to their wives. Now Peter transitions to, “all of you.”
   2. The section is divided into two parts. Verse 8 is directed at treatment of one another within the brotherhood of believers. Verse 9 transitions to “suffering for righteousness sake” (vs. 14).
   3. Verse 8 gives a quick “hit” of the mind and attitudes brothers and sisters should have between them. But why this brief mention? The answer is obvious. There will be challenging and trying relationships with the people on the outside. Peter has already made that evident (2:12, 15). Therefore, where can we find relief and peace? We find it with each other within the body. In other words, we need each other. We desperately need each other, especially when the world is speaking evil of us, causing suffering, and being abusive. What joy to strive side by side. We should never have to endure the insults and hostility among us that we must face on the outside.
   4. Let’s take a quick look at how we are to relate to one another:
      1. “Unity of mind” is often misunderstood, as if God expects us to always agree on everything. That reasoning is dangerous because some want to create division every time there is a scriptural disagreement. 
         1. Remember, Paul said we are striving to “attain to the unity of the faith” (Eph. 4:13). Like in a marriage, there will be difficulties and even tough disputes (Acts 15), but we refuse to use the “D–Word”. We can always agree on our goal to honor and glorify God, and are therefore unwilling to hurt one another or God’s cause.
         2. This “like-mindedness” is a willingness to conform one’s goals, needs, and expectations to the purposes of the larger community.
      2. “Sympathy” or “understanding” means to see things from another’s point of view. Easy to say, but hard to do, especially when at the moment I may not be the one suffering trials.
      3. “Brotherly love” – oftentimes, when we think of brotherly love, we place more emphasis on “love” than on “brother.” In other words, we are to have a love for other Christians to the same degree that we do for a brother or sister in our own family. “Brother” defines the level of love. 
      4. “Tender heart” – implies being compassionate, having a sorrow for another’s suffering or misfortune. As with the good Samaritan, compassion recognizes the possibility that one day I could be in the same condition.
      5. “Humble mind” – Humility was looked down on in the Roman world as it often is in this world. However, the meek inherit the earth. The humble person “does not take more for himself than what has been duly allotted him in life, neither does he challenge another’s rights.” He does not “think of himself more highly than he ought to think” and puts others ahead of himself.
   5. All of the above should be championed among us. It is as Jesus said, “Whoever does the will of my Father is my mother and brother.” In other words, Jesus had the same high level of love and commitment for His spiritual family as He did his physical family.
2. Loving Life, Seeing Good Days in the Midst of Hostile People
   1. Having dealt with the character needed within the church, Peter turns to the primary reason for writing his letter: the relationship of his readers with hostile people, especially those outside the church (vs. 9 – 4:19). At the time, it appears that most of the hostility they endured had to do with insults, defamation of character, and verbal abuse. Therefore verse 10 specifies the need to control the tongue.
   2. What typically happens when we are assailed with insults, public shaming, and demeaning verbal abuse? The conversation can easily deteriorate into competitiveness and defensiveness. But Peter does not give us that option. He does not want us to escalate the conflict. 
   3. We certainly understand how difficult it is to respond kindly when unjustly attacked. But that is only 50% of Peter’s command. Don’t simply walk away in silence, seething inside and thinking of all the things you would like to say in response. Follow the insults with a blessing. In the Greek world, to give a blessing meant to publicly speak well of someone. From God’s point of view it would primarily be invoking God’s favor on someone. That is what Jesus did when he was crucified: “Father forgive them…” 
   4. The reason we are to bless so that we can receive a blessing. Looking at the text as a whole, the only time we make a defense is in verse 15, a defense of the reason for our hope. Responding with a blessing instead of matching insults would be shocking in the Romans world just as it is today. It is acting in a loving way under such pressure that gets the attention of those who do not serve Christ. Cf. 2:23
   5. “To this you were called” – Our calling has been an important theme in Peter’s letter. He began by calling us “elect” (chosen) according to the foreknowledge of God (1:1-2). We are called to be holy (1:15). We are called “out of darkness into his marvelous light” (2:9). We were called to suffer unjustly (2:20-21). And in this text, we are called to give a blessing even when we are reviled. In other words, we have been called to be like our Father.
   6. “That you may obtain a blessing” – What is this blessing? The following quotation explains. If you want to love life and see good days, it is done by keeping our lips from evil, keeping our life from evil, doing good, seeking peace and pursuing peace. Yes! It is possible to love life and see good days in the midst of a hostile environment.
   7. But, loving life and seeing good days is not simply the result of our actions alone. Verse 12 gives us the primary reason: the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous. But his face is against those who do evil. In other words, relax, God is going to take care of this.
   8. Though one might not notice that verses 10-12 are a quotation, it comes from Psalm 34. Peter again refers to the psalm that David wrote after being an exile among the Philistines, pretending to be crazy and the Lord delivering him. Therefore, just as God delivered David from his sojourn/exile among the Philistines, God would deliver these exiled Christians from the affliction caused by their faith. Therefore, when persecution comes our way, the difficult, but godly course is to trust God for our deliverance instead of repaying evil for evil.
   9. Therefore, the Christian’s choice in how to respond to others in every situation is a choice of whether to be blessed by God or opposed by God.
3. A Time to Speak
   1. Verse 13 begins with the general rule that usually no one will harm people who are zealous for what is good. But that is not always the case. What then?
      1. First, there is still a blessing from God even if you suffer for the sake of righteousness.
      2. Second, when you are suffering for righteousness, it is a time for the defense of the gospel. Please note: not a defense of self, a defense of the hope we have in Christ. We were warned in verse 9 to not respond in kind against those who do evil toward us or revile us. That is a time of blessing. But now is the time to speak. 
   2. Now look carefully at the end of verse 14 and the beginning of 15. Again, Peter is quoting from the OT. This time from Isaiah 8:11-16 where he gives a warning to Isaiah personally concerning his confidence in preaching to the people under duress. 
      1. The context is Ahaz and the people fearing the alliance of Israel and Syria to come and attack Jerusalem. As usual, Ahaz and the people were not trusting God but relying on themselves to make deals with the nations to escape attack.
      2. Therefore, Isaiah is warned to not fall into that trap. Do not fear what these people fear. Instead, let God be your fear and your dread and honor him as holy. 
      3. The key contrast is between “fear” and “honoring God as holy.” That is a specific reference to Isaiah 6 when Isaiah saw the Lord on the throne “high and lifted up.” In that text, we see the picture of Isaiah trembling because of his uncleanness. But the Lord cleansed him and sent him to preach to the people until there was none left and the land was desolate. 
   3. Peter is putting Christians in the same setting as Isaiah. In the coming Jesus we have seen God’s glory (John 1:14-18) and have been cleansed of our sins. God has sent us on the same mission as Isaiah. Therefore, remember who is holy – who we are to set apart in our hearts. He is to be our fear and dread. Therefore, do not fear the people who are evil and revile you. Instead, give a defense for the hope that is in you.
   4. Notice the principles of giving a defense:
      1. “Be prepared” – don’t wait until you are confronted. Don’t wait until the opportunity arises. Get prepared prior to the opportunity. If you don’t prepare, you will either miss the opportunity or fail the opportunity. Christians shouldn’t “read their Bibles.” Christians should be prepared to give a defense. 
      2. “Make a defense to anyone” – In other words, we need to be prepared for different kinds of people. How would we give a reason for our hope to an atheist? How would we give a reason to a person who knows nothing about the scripture? How would we give a reason to a religious person who is mistaken about their beliefs? Be ready. 
      3. “Yet do it with gentleness and respect” – Even the best defense of the gospel is ruined when we respond in an inappropriate manner. Please remember, you will not change a person by getting upset with them or harsh with them. Helping them come to God is the goal, the only goal. God has given them to freewill to reject him, we can certainly give the same latitude.
      4. Even further, this must be done “with a good conscience” which is based on “good behavior.” When the  Christian is slandered but gives a defense for his belief with gentleness, respect, and based on good conduct, those who revile will be put to shame.

Conclusion: Do you want “love life and see good days?” Give a blessing to people and never revile. When you are suffering for the sake of righteousness, give a thoughtful, respectful, and  give a gentle defense. In the meantime, get prepared! 

Berry Kercheville