4. be faithful – things will get tough 1 peter 3:8–22 (p. 1124) 1 & 2 peter
TRANSCRIPT
4. Be Faithful – Things will get Tough1 Peter 3:8–22
(p. 1124)
1 & 2 1 & 2
PeterPeter
If you were in Voorst/Twello, Netherlands on Friday …
1. More things to do
▲ Relationships among believers (“All of you ...”)■ v 8-9
● Be like minded - Be sympathetic● Love one another - Be compassionate & humble● Do not repay evil with evil ... But with a blessing
■ v 14-15● Do not be frightened ... revere Christ as Lord● Always be ready to explain the hope you have
1. More things to do ...
▲ Where we are in the letter –
1. Be Joyful – We have a Living Hope (1: 1-12)● God’s generosity & mercy have given us:
a Living Hope and a Guaranteed Inheritance
2. Be Alert – Our New Life doesn’t just Happen (1:13-2:10)● Be alert & fully sober● Set your Hope on Christ’s coming● Do not conform to your evil desires● Be Holy● Live in reverent Fear of the Lord
1. More things to do ...
3. Be Holy in Daily Life (2:11-3:7)● Abstain from sinful desires – they war against your soul● Christ’s example – willing to serve to bring others to God
■ Remembering the greater (unseen) reality: We are ...● redeemed by the precious blood of Christ (1:18-21)● born of imperishable seed (1: 23-25)● living stones ... built into dwelling place for God (2:4-8)● a chosen people ... God’s special possession (2:9-10)
2. Inheriting a Blessing
v. 9
... rather, repay evil with blessing
because to this you were called
so that you may inherit a blessing.
2. Inheriting a Blessing ...
A lost understanding –
FORGIVENESS / FORGIVEN
“Removal of sin The privilege of being in God’s presence”
BLESSING / BLESSED
Living in the experience of God’s Shalom
“Shalom” – peace, wellbeing, fulfillment, joy, rest, good life
2. Inheriting a Blessing ...
▲ The quote from Ps 34: 12-16 (v 10-12)■ IF you want to LOVE LIFE and SEE GOOD DAYS ...
Turn from evil and do good
seek “shalom” and pursue it
■ FOR –
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
His ears are attentive to their prayers
3. Assurance in the harshness of reality
▲ Doing God’s will is always better (v 17)■ Christ also suffered (v 18)
● Then he proclaimed his victory to/over evil spirits (v 19)
■ Salvation may only be received by a “few” (v 20)● It is based on inward not outward condition (v 21)
▲ Jesus has risen – He now rules the cosmos (v 21)
Embracing your Future
▲ Inherit a blessing –
Pursue shalom with every ounce of your being
▲ Not all of it is always experienced all the time(2 Cor 4:16-18)
▲ God’s way is STILL the better way (even now!)