2. Today we will focus on
1 Peter 3:8-22

3. We covered the first few verses the last time we met
We covered the first few verses the last time we met. But Peter takes his argument further in this section and we must refresh our memory from where we left off.

4. Finally, all of you should be of
one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. (v8)

5. Don’t repay evil for evil
Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. (v9)

6. Through Peter’s pen, God guides all believers into what should be their governing mindset.

7. This mindset is characterized by a humble attitude, which through love, seeks the best interest of others,
even at great cost to self, because God has promised to reward those who do.

8. We learned in the first half of chapter 2 that this was the mindset of Christ when he was willing to come and die for us.

9. We learned that Christ had a humble attitude, which through love, sought the best interest of others,
even at great cost to himself, because God has promised him great reward.

10. We learned in the first half of chapter 2 that this should be our mindset as well and that God has called us to follow in the footsteps of Christ.

11. God promises to do some very incredible things on behalf of those who are willing to submit to God in this kind of lifestyle.

12. That is; the lifestyle of someone who believes in the promised rewards of God so much that they obediently and humbly submit to God by seeking the best interest of others, even at great cost to themselves.

13. Peter lays out some of
these promises...

14. Don’t repay evil for evil
Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. (v9)

15. For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. (v10)

16. Turn away from evil and do good
Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil. (v11-12)

17. First, Peter says that those who submit to God in these ways will be greatly blessed in this lifetime (v9).

18. Second, Peter says that those who submit to God in these ways will have a longer and more enjoyable life; experience more joy (v10).

19. Third, Peter says that those who submit to God in these ways will have the security of God’s special attention over the affairs of their life and his attentiveness to their prayers (v12).

20. If we put all of this together we have a very clear conclusion, which has everything to do with our passage today…

21. For the believer who obediently and humbly submits to God by seeking the best interest of others, even at great cost to themselves…

22. God promises to especially bless them in this life and the next.
He also promises to pay extra attention to their affairs and he promises that they will experience more true happiness & joy.

23. We don’t have the time today to expound on it…but God did those very three things for Christ while he was here on earth, obediently submitting to God, for the sake of others, even at great cost to himself.

24. Now that we have the background, let’s examine how Peter continues…

25. Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good
Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. (v13-14)

26. Peter says that if you are living such a life that truly puts the interest of others first…and turns the other cheek and returns evil with good…

27. In general, people will actually be less likely to harm you then if you were self seeking, putting your own interests first and returning evil with evil…

28. But, if someone does harm you or treats you unfairly for living such a godly lifestyle…don’t worry, God will reward you greatly for it!

29. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. (v15)

30. Peter says that when we live this kind of way, people will actually become very curious. Because our lives will be so counter-cultural.

31. When we are living with such a hope in God’s promised future rewards that we are willing to suffer in order to seek the benefit of someone else…

32. We will actually be putting ourselves in the strongest position for evangelism.

33. See, the world around us says that you should live for yourself and that you should trample over others in order to obtain as much happiness and joy possible, usually by means of possessing more property!

34. But here the believer is putting others first, and at times is even willing to be trampled on or lose property in order to put others first…

35. And Peter says that when the world fails to achieve the fulfillment & joy that they were seeking through their selfish means…

36. And they see that the believer has obtained a great degree of happiness, joy, satisfaction & hope even in the midst of loss…

37. They will be compelled to ask us the reason for which we are willing to live such radically different lives and why we have such a glad hope.

38. And when they ask, we will be given the best opportunity to share with them about the most satisfying & most rewarding thing in all the world…
GOD

39. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear
 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. (v16)

40. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! (v17)

41. Christ suffered for our sins once for all time
Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. (v18)

42. Now Christ has gone to heaven
Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.(v22)

43. Peter says again, that we must
be willing to follow in the footsteps of Christ…

44. of what it means to follow in the footsteps of Christ…
And at the core
of what it means to follow
in the footsteps of Christ…

45. which is to bring them to God.
…is a willingness to suffer greatly in obedience to God, on behalf of the best interest of others…
which is to bring them to God.

46. And this brings me to the final and most important point…

47. God has a goal in His desire for us to be willing to suffer greatly in obedience on behalf of the best interest of others…

48. God’s goal is that our glad obedience, even in the midst of suffering or hardship will lead others to God.

49. In fact all of the points that we have been making for the
past 3-4 weeks about submission to Him fall into this goal.

50. God’s goal is that some employers may be won to the Lord through the glad submission of their employees.

51. God’s goal is that some husbands may be won to the Lord through the glad submission of their wives.

52. God’s goal is that some wives may be won to the Lord through the glad submission of their husbands.

53. God’s goal is that some neighbors, friends, coworkers may be won to the Lord through the glad submission of their believing friends!

54. God’s goal in all of our obedience's to Him is that not only is He brought great glory…

55. But that through salvation,
others come to see, cherish and value that same glory!

56. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

57. One of the main ways that
people will come to see the glory of God as truly glorious and truly desirable… is if those who are living for the glory of God display a superior joy & gladness.

58. One of the main ways that
people will come to see the glory of God as truly glorious and truly desirable… is if those who are living for the glory of God display a superior joy & gladness.

59. This is exactly
what Peter is saying…

60. …you must worship Christ as Lord of your life
…you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it…

61. confident expectation
ἐλπίς
elpis
a joyful and
confident expectation

62. Let’s try to put this all together…

63. 1. God’s desire is that we believe in the promised rewards of God so much that we obediently submit to Him by seeking the best interest of others, even at great cost to ourselves.

64. 2. God’s desire is that because we have found our highest joy in Him and our greatest sense of satisfaction in submitting to Him…

65. …that when we are obeying Him (even in suffering) we ooze a visible glad, joyful expectation in Him and in our future reward.

66. 3. God’s desire is that when the unbelieving on looking world sees our joy and our happiness, even in the midst of suffering, they will be forced to question why we have such a great hope…

67. 4. God’s desire is that the unbelieving world will see that they do not have nearly the same degree of joy and satisfaction and they will long for this true sense of joy and fulfillment.

68. 5. It is at this juncture that God desires that we give a clear and sound answer for our hope and for our happiness in God.

69. It is through this that we will be able to make our best case for Christ, because we will have already proven that we have the superior joy that they have been longing for.

70. A disclaimer…

71. If God is not your highest joy, and if you have been displaying that you find your heart’s longing met in the things of the world…

72. …you won’t have anyone asking you about the hope that is in you… because you are hoping in their hope.

73. Similarly, if serving God,
going to church, being with other believers, praying, worshiping, studying the Bible is laborious to you…

74. …you are not showing the world that God is a glorious God and that he rewards those who seek him.