I Peter 3:8-18

The real world that exists today is more hostile to the gospel of Jesus Christ than ever before in the history of humanity. There have been more martyrs of the Christian faith in the 20^th century than all the other centuries put together.

Just December 30, three of our own Southern Baptist missionaries were killed at a hospital in Yemen and we remember the three men of the New Tribe Missions that were kidnapped and murdered in South America.

While that type of persecution and hostility does not face western Christians, the fact is that the family known as Christians will face hostility in many different forms.

As we have seen in the opening verses of the book of I Peter, Peter is preparing the church for some tough days ahead or else they are already in the midst of them (I Peter 1:6).

As Peter has dealt with the issues of how to live as citizens, servants and marriage partners, he now deals with how Christians should live in a hostile world. And he opens this section of his writings with the words "finally" in verse 8. You know that Peter is a preacher because he appears to be ending his discourse only to find out he’s hardly half way finished. Haha

Instead, the "finally" is the last of the list he is addressing on how to live.

Five instructions for Christians living in the real world of hostility:

When things are tough in the world, you need a good support family. You need support, love and unity for others. Here Peter gives five characteristics of that type of family:

They have a common goal with common attitudes. They know what kind of family they want to be and they seek to live it out.

A church is exactly what the people who make it up are. We can have our vision statements and value statements, but unless it is in the heart of every member to truly love God and love others in such a way as you want to be loved, then that church will not be what it should be to someone out there. And just think, that someone might be your son, daughter or friend.

They are willing to share in others’ needs and being responsive to their feelings – sensitivity and compassion shown toward others.

To be sympathetic means you are emotionally identified with them. Most in the church are too overwhelmed with their own problems to care for others. But that should not be.

Paul said it this way in Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."

The word for love here is not agape, but a word kind closely to philo. It is a unique type of brotherly love. It makes us to be brothers and sisters.

The church is conscious of others needs. It refers to internal organs which means that one feels deeply. They are deeply moved and touched by the hurts, pains, needs of others.

The church needs to be baptized in sensitivity and compassion. It was said of Jesus that he was moved with compassion when he saw the multitudes because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. (Matthew 9:26)

When was the last time you were moved over someone else’s hurts?

This is a honest estimate of oneself before God. Humility doesn’t negate one’s worth, talents or abilities but neither does it inflate them.

But what I see here is a honesty of dealing with one another that what someone is going through we could be going through as well because we honestly know who we are before God. Every one of us is capable of the heinous of sins and to believe otherwise is to think of ourselves more highly than we should.

If you were going through a hard time, wouldn’t you love to go home to a spiritual family like that? If you want that type of family when you are hurting, then we have to be that type of family when others are hurting.

Notice in verse 9 he uses a phrase that is very common for Peter: "knowing that you were called to this." He has used in 2:21 and again here. And every time he is inviting us to look a fresh at our Master and the steps he left us to follow.

Verse 18 he tells us that Christ suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.

Christ once again is our example when we are mistreated. Go back and read 2:23-24.

When you are in a hostile environment, do what Jesus did. He didn’t revile back, he didn’t threaten. He committed himself to He who judges righteously.

That’s exactly what Peter says to do here. Let’s look onward.

How should we react when others speak badly of us? He said in verse 9 "don’t return evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing…."

Don’t insult – revile – abuse – this means derisive speech.

In the quotation of Psalm 34, he says to refrain your tongue from evil and guile. Watch what you say.

Evil speech is displeasing to God.

Deceit – guile – that is deliberately tricking or misleading speech by lying

Don’t do that. And if you are able to control your speech, you will be able to do good (verse 11). You will become peacemakers.

What I hear Peter saying is that you will either be a part of the problem or a part of the answer.

Romans 12: 14 "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse."

Romans 12:17 "Repay no one evil for evil."

Matthew 5: 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."

And to those who do so there are promises from God. Let’s look at them.

Here he mentions first, "you shall inherit a blessing." The word for inherit could and does mean an eternal reward. But it also can carry the thought of Hebrews 12:17 speaking of Esau and that "he wanted to inherit the blessing."

The blessing there is not an eternal blessing, but an earthly blessing. And I further know its an now blessing because he quotes Psalm 34 and it is a Psalm about the blessings of God for those who live righteously.

What are those blessings?

His eyes are on you. He knows.

His ears are open to you when you cry out for help in desperation.

His face will be turned against the evil.

Verse 13 is a rhetorical question saying that normally if you do good, you can be assured of protection. In light of the law enforcements, this is true.

God is the ultimate law enforcer, and you will ultimately be protected when you do good.

Matthew 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."

Then he says in verse 14, you are blessed. This word doesn’t mean happy or joyous, but you are highly honored.

It is the same word used for Mary in Luke 1:42 that she was blessed among women but in Luke 2:35 it says that her heart was pierced with many sorrows.

This is possible as we submit to Him.

We are to "sanctify the Lord in our hearts." We are to set him apart – be holy. We are to be committed to Him.

And the quotation in verse 14 is awesome from Isaiah 8:12-13 "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled."

This was a time when Ahaz, King of Judah, was facing the impending invasion of the Assyrians and the temptation was to join alliances with others to fight them off. Instead, he was to trust in God alone.

We can trust in God alone and he will see us through. Faith and fear are total opposites and its impossible for both to exist together.

John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me."

This submission will create hope (vs. 15) in you and you will be able to give an answer – a defense – to anyone who asks you why you are able to bless those who curse you, why you are able to live in such a hostile world with no fear.

Don’t do it with rudeness or arrogance, but with gentleness and respect.