I Peter 3:8-12
Behavior marked by Grace
“Would you open your Bibles with me to...”
1Pet 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;
1Pet 3:9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
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Prayer
The object of Peter's instruction (vs. 8)
√ Note the object of Peter's instructions in vs. 8-12
"all of you" - vs. 8
That is to say, whereas Peter began his instructions in chapter 3 regarding relationships, with marriage and how Grace ought to mark that relationship…
…he now turns his attention to include all our human relationships.
In essence, Peter's instructions tell us how we as Christians ought to behave toward other people.
Grace should be the mark of our behavior in all our relationships.
√ Interesting to note
That Peter's instructions here are very similar to Paul's in Romans 12:9-21.
Both write to Christians with specific commands as to how we are to behave toward one another.
Why might both Peter and Paul address the same issue?
The answer - Christians needed the instruction!
The point, Christians in the 1st Century Church didn't always treat one another, and the people in the world, with a Christ-like attitude.
In short, their behavior stunk.
Ex. The subject matter of the epistles
The apostles forced to address the contentions, prejudice, arrogance, etc., in the churches.
Ap. 2002
Not much has changed! We need to remember that just because we're saved doesn't mean that any of us our perfect.
We each have lots of rough areas in our lives that need to be worked out by the Holy Spirit.
Personality quirks, prejudice, pride, sin issues, etc.
God is calling us to take His instructions to heart and put them into practice through our obedience to His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit so that…
…all our relationships will be marked by His Grace.
Gracious behavior (vs. 8-9)
1Pet 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;
1Pet 3:9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
√ Gracious behavior
Notice that Peter tells us in verse 8 what we should do, and in verse 9 what we should not do.
One mind:
"like-minded, harmonious"
As Christians we're called to be like-minded, to work together to create harmony with one another. We do that by submitting our will to God's will.
As each of us does that we find that we share the same mind and are able to work together in harmony because we have God's will and thoughts for common ground.
Strife comes when we each push our own will and agenda; harmony comes when we each make God's will (mind) our own.
Ap. Note that effort (work) is required!
As Paul exhorts in Ephesians 4:1-3, we are to work hard to create and maintain unity in the Church.
Unity doesn't just happen!
Compassion for one another:
"having a fellow-feeling ("sympathetic")"
Here Peter is telling us that we need to be concerned for one another. To share one another's ups and downs; joys and sorrows.
The point is that our natural man cares only for self! While the nature of Jesus is others-centered and is sympathetic toward the needs of our brother and sister.
Ap. Look for opportunity to minister to one another.
Love as brothers:
"philadelphos"
The word Peter uses for love here is the love of family. It's love on the emotional plane, often described as the "I love you because" type of affection.
In this case Peter is calling us to love one another "because" we're family. Our faith in Jesus has destroyed the natural barriers that keep ethnic groups apart and made us one people in Christ.
Ap. Roman historian
"There master makes them think they are brothers"
Agape love marked the communion suppers the early Christians shared together.
Tenderhearted:
"having pity"
Similar to Peter's instruction to have compassion toward one another…
…but different in that he's calling us to open our hearts to those who have fallen on tough times.
The point is that people who have fallen on difficult times are also sometimes difficult to love. They usually take more time and resources to help and so often it's easier to ignore them.
However, as Christians we're to keep our hearts tender toward those who need help and to the Holy Spirit's direction as to how we might meet those needs.
Ap. Be open to do something to help others!
Courteous:
Aka - "humble"
Christians are called to think of others first and to esteem others more important than ourselves.
Again, notice that behavior which is marked by Grace is behavior that more concerned with other's benefit…
…than with oneself!
Ex. Jesus - Peter had seen all of these marks of Grace in Jesus' life as he had opportunity to walk with Him.
Ap. Christian - we're called to be like Jesus!
We talk about it all the time. We teach about it from the pulpit, and proclaim on it on the radio. We even wear WWJD bracelets to remind us that we're called to be like Jesus.
His life was marked by Grace.
John
√ Non Gracious behavior
Not only are there behaviors which ought to mark our lives…
…Peter tells us that there are also behaviors which ought not to mark our lives!
1Pet 3:9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
Peter tells us that Christians are not to act like people in the world who live by a code of retaliation.
Rather, we are called to respond to evil conduct and speech by returning a blessing.
Why?
We don't perpetuate the cycle of stupidity.
We take control of the situation.
Jesus illustrated this principle in Matthew 5…
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The context of the culture was one in which the Romans tried to trick the Jewish men into committing a crime by means of an insult.
Ex. Against the law to touch a Roman soldier.
Jesus' instruction which Peter echo's was that as followers of Christ we are not to retaliate to those who use intimidation and mocking to get under our skin.
Ap. People who try and get you to lose your cool and blow your witness - Peter's reminding us to return blessing for their evil.
The promise of Grace (vs. 9b-12)
1Pet 3:9b …that you may inherit a blessing.
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√ The promise of Grace
Peter closes his instructions on how we are to behave as Christians by reminding us that there is a blessing for us who obey the Word of God.
Note the end of verse 9
"that you may inherit a blessing"
He then quotes from Psalm 39 and applies it to Christians who follow the example of Jesus by…
Keeping his/her speech pure
Doing good
Pursuing peace
Why is that person blessed who does follows these instructions?
Because God is watching! Note vs. 12
"For the eyes of the LORD are
on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.”
Ultimately a person is blessed, or not blessed, by God. He is well able to bless those who follow the example of His Son and at the same time bring judgement upon those who do evil.
For us who are Christians then it is a matter of trusting God.
To take care of the difficult situations in our life.
To handle those who mistreat us.
To treat us fairly.
I've often heard it said…
"life isn't fair"
…yet, God is! He can be trusted to work all things together for good to those who do what is right and follow the example which Jesus has set for us.
That our lives, like his, might be…
"full of Grace and Truth".
Close
√ The instructions here don't "just happen"
Rather, when we obey God's word and put these things into practice God will take care of changing our heart from being self-centered to others-centered.