I Peter 3:13-17
The Witness of Grace
“Would you open your Bibles with me to...”
1Pet 3:13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
1Pet 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
1Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
1Pet 3:16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
1Pet 3:17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Prayer
Intro
√ Grace in
our relationships
We began the chapter by looking at how our marriages ought to be marked by God’s Grace.
Last week we found that God wants His Grace to mark all our human relationships.
In this section Peter speaks of how God’s Grace ought to be the mark of our witness for Him.
Fear no evil (vs. 13-15a)
1Pet 3:13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
1Pet 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”
1Pet 3:15a But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts
√ Fear no man
Peter's question in vs. 13 is asked in view of the previous section concerning our response to being unjustly treated by those in the world.
In essence Peter tells us that when Christians are doing good, and yet are persecuted…
…to remember that no real harm can come to those who belong to Jesus.
Remember, Jesus said…
Mat. 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mat. 10:29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.
Mat. 10:30 “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Mat. 10:31 “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Mat. 10:32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
Mat. 10:33 “But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
…the point which Jesus makes, and Peter echoes, is that while human beings may be able to harm our body they cannot touch the soul - the eternal part of us.
Ap. Right - sounds great - how does one actually do that - not be afraid of people!
√ Fear God
Jesus tells us in this text in Matthew's Gospel that the secret to being free from the fear of Man is to have a healthy fear (respect) of God in our heart - note vs. 28.
Peter's instruction in vs. 15 is…
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts"
Or…
"Set apart Christ as Lord in your heart"
The idea which Jesus and Peter are communicating is that we can find freedom from the fear of people when we make Jesus the first priority in our heart.
Where His will is more important to us than anyone else's will.
Peter knew this from first hand experience.
Ex. He denied the Lord (Luke 22) stood for the Lord (Acts 4:19)
Acts 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.
Ap. Free to share our faith
The number one reason that most Christians don't share their faith is fear.
Fear of…
Rejection
Mocking
Persecution
…it's totally illogical! Why should we be afraid of people who God will judge!? He made them, He can do anything He wants with the people that we're afraid of.
So, let's settle in our hearts this morning that there is only One of whom we should be afraid of not pleasing…
…that is He who will judge every one of us for what we say and do with our lives!
√ Blessed
Note that Peter also tells us that if we do suffer for Jesus that we are blessed.
1Pet 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed.
Blessed, in what sense? Most of us don't think of suffering and blessing in the same context!
The word used here means…
"highly privileged"
His point is that when Christians suffer as the result of doing God's will…
…it is a sign of God's confidence in their faith.
Ex. Peter and John
Acts 5:40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Acts 5:41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
Listen, when the devil picks you for special attention it's a sign that you're life is having an impact for God!
That's a privilege.
Be prepared (vs. 15)
1Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
√ Be prepared
Christians are called to always be prepared to tell others about the wonderful work of God in their life.
Be able to clearly communicate the Gospel message and why it is that they believe it.
This was especially important because of the persecution, which many Christians were experiencing.
In light of the fact that many were being…
Denied employment
Jailed
Beaten
Killed
…Peter's exhortation is that Christians must be prepared to stand for their faith in Jesus and give a reasonable explanation for that faith.
Ex. Dying for one's faith
Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego
Dan. 3:17 “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
Dan. 3:18 “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
So Christians from Stephen to this very hour must be able to articulate our faith and the hope that faith brings us to stand fast in the hour of temptation.
Ap. Be a defender of the faith
The word defense = apologetics
A legal term referring to the argument a defendant makes before a judge.
Christians today need to have a good argument for why they have placed their trust in Jesus Christ for eternal life.
Each us should…
Have a testimony - and be able to share it.
Know what you believe - have a good understanding of the Bible and the promises which Jesus has made for those who trust in Him.
Be ready to share it - so that when someone asks you about your faith you can open the door of salvation for them.
Make sure that you know the Gospel message and that you can clearly communicate with others.
Do good (vs. 16-17)
1Pet 3:16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
1Pet 3:17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
√ A clear conscience
Peter closes this section by reminding Christians that when they do the right things and suffering results from it that one of the benefits is a clear conscience.
Peter knew something about a guilty conscience!
Ex. Denying the Lord 3 times
Peter may have had this experience in mind - remembering the crushing weight of his conscience when he out of fear denied that he knew Jesus.
Ap. Ever miss an opportunity to share Christ out of fear?
It's a horrible feeling. Ask forgiveness and move on, but pray that the next time you'll not let fear of Man keep you from saying what needs to be said.
√ Suffering for Christ
The other side of the coin is that Christians need to make sure that they if they suffer, they suffer for the right reasons.
Ex. Getting fired
I've heard people say…
"They let me go because I'm a Christian"
…when in fact the real reason was that they were a poor worker.
But it sounds so much more spiritual to claim that it was the result of their bold witness for Christ.
Peter reminds us that we need to have a clear conscience regarding our testimony for Jesus.
Close
√ Grace must be the mark of our witness.
√ Be prepared to share the hope of your salvation with any who ask you.
Accurately
With Grace