2. TITLE: In the World but not of It
TEXT: I Peter 3:8-22
THEME: The believer should be a witness in a hostile world through his life and words.

4. John 17
“…I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world … and they have obeyed your word. I pray for them … I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you.”

5. John 17
“.… I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of this world, even as I am not of it. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world….”

6. Key Questions

7. Key Questions
What does it mean to in the world but not of it?

8. Key Questions What does it mean to in the world but not of it?
How is the believer to act in a world that does not share his faith and is often hostile to it?

9. Key Questions What does it mean to in the world but not of it?
How is the believer to act in a world that does not share his faith and is often hostile to it?
What examples do we have that help give us clarity on what we are to do?

11. Why should the believer be a witness in a hostile world?

13. I. Because we will inherit a blessing (8-12)

14.  I Peter 3:8-12
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.

15.  I Peter 3:8-12
10For,    "Whoever would love life       and see good days    must keep his tongue from evil       and his lips from deceitful speech.  11He must turn from evil and do good;       he must seek peace and pursue it.  

16.  I Peter 3:8-12
 12For 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.”

17. I. Because we will inherit a blessing (8-12)
A. We should love as brothers.

18. I Peter 1:3-4
” 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you,”

19. Because we will inherit a blessing (8-12)
A. We should love as brothers.
B. We should seek peace and do good.

21. Why should the believer be a witness in a hostile world?

22. II. Because we will have a clear conscience. (13-17)

23. I Peter 3:13-17
“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.”

24. I Peter 3:13-17
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.”

25. II. Because we will have a clear conscience. (13-17)
A. Have courage in time of fear:

26. II. Because we will have a clear conscience. (13-17)
A. Have courage in time of fear:
B. Be ready to give an answer for your hope.

27. II. Because we will have a clear conscience. (13-17)
A. Have courage in time of fear:
B. Be ready to give an answer for your hope.
C. It is better to suffer for good than evil.

28. II. Because we will have a clear conscience. (13-17)
A. Have courage in time of fear:
B. Be ready to give an answer for your hope.
C. It is better to suffer for good than evil.
To do so allows us to have a clear conscience in knowing that we did the right thing and were a witness to others even in times of suffering.

29. Romans 9:1-5
“1 speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit— 2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race,”

30. Romans 9:1-5
“4the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.”

32. Why should the believer be a witness in a hostile world?

33. III. Because Christ suffered as a witness for us and others. (18-22)

34. I Peter 3:18-22
“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.”

35. I Peter 3:18-22
“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,”

36. I Peter 3:18-22
22who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”

37. III. Because Christ suffered as a witness for us and others. (18-22)
A. He died for us to bring us to God.

38. III. Because Christ suffered as a witness for us and others. (18-22)
A. He died for us to bring us to God.
B. He rose again and preached to those without hope.

39. III. Because Christ suffered as a witness for us and others. (18-22)
A. He died for us to bring us to God.
B. He rose again and preached to those without hope.
C. Through his preaching we were saved.

40. What you believe about Jesus makes a difference.
Chistopher Hitchens:
“I would say that if you don't believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and Messiah, and that he rose again from the dead and by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you're really not in any meaningful sense a Christian”.
What you believe about Jesus makes a difference.

42. APPLICATION:
Somewhere along the way everyone must stop to ask some the big questions of life. Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are we going? Will we be ready to help them when that time comes? Will our lives exemplify what it is to be a follower of Christ who was lived a good live even during suffering.

43. APPLICATION:
Do you have a tendency to want to withdraw from the world because of your frustration with the corruption that you see? Instead we need to engage the world with a message of hope.

44. APPLICATION:
Do you want to attack? Repay evil for evil? In doing such you may miss the window of opportunity to help another person come to Christ. There is often a mistaken notion that we are called to change the culture and politics. Our primary goal is to make Christ known.

46. We never know when an opportunity to speak of the hope that is within us will come to the door.
Will you be ready?