PETER’S EPISTLES: PREPARING FOR ETERNITY

XIII. Living Wisely In A Hostile, Godless Culture

(1 Peter 3:8-12)

I. Introduction

A. Before the Apostle Peter began to minister for the Lord in the Church, his outlook was impacted by Christ’s prophecy in John 21:18-19 that he would be crucified for Christ. Eternity was thus often on Peter’s mind.

B. We view Peter’s epistles that highlight preparing for eternity, and in 1 Peter 3:8-12, Peter taught us how to live wisely in a hostile, godless culture. We view this passage for insight, application and edification:

II. Living Wisely In A Hostile, Godless Culture, 1 Peter 3:8-12.

A. After writing to house servants, wives and husbands, Peter addressed all his readers in 1 Peter 3:8-12 “and gave practical principles for living peacefully in a hostile pagan culture.” (Bible Know. Com., N. T., p. 849)

B. Peter thus gave ten directives on living wisely in a hostile, godless culture:

1. First, he urged his readers to be “like-minded,” to live in harmony with others (homophrones), 1 Peter 3:8a; Ibid. There are obviously limits to living harmoniously with wicked people, but the goal is for believers to do their best to live peacefully with everyone, cf. Romans 12:18.

2. Second, Peter directed believers to be sympathetic (sumpatheis) in expressing their sensitivity to the concerns that other people have, 1 Peter 3:8b; Ibid.

3. Third, he called believers to love one another as brothers (philadelphoi), an act that Jesus predicted would show even the unsaved world their testimony as His true followers, 1 Peter 3:8c; Ibid.; John 13:34-35.

4. Fourth, Peter urged his readers to be compassionate (eusplanchnoi), to express sympathetic kindness to others in place of harsh indifference, 1 Peter 3:8d; Ibid.

5. Fifth, he directed believers to be humble (tapeinophrones) as opposed to being arrogant, for humility is non-threatening to others and eases relationships with a hostile, godless world that is all too willing to critique Christians if they function in pride, 1 Peter 3:8e; Ibid.

6. Sixth, Peter called his readers to repay evil done against them with blessing (1 Peter 3:9a), for this is a believer’s calling from God as a follower of Christ Who practiced such action; Ibid.; cf. 1 Peter 2:23.

7. Seventh, Peter urged believers to keep their speech from saying evil or deceitful things (1 Peter 3:10b). This admonition covers all kinds of unedifying speech, be it abusive or dishonest in any way.

8. Eighth, he directed his readers to turn from doing what is evil, 1 Peter 3:11a. A hostile, onlooking world is always ready to condemn Christians for anything they do that is wrong, so we must avoid wickedness.

9. Ninth, Peter called believers to do good, to practice what is wholesome, a function that tends to discredit slanderous attacks against Christians, 1 Peter 3:11b with 1 Peter 2:12.

10. Tenth, he urged his readers to seek peace and pursue it, 1 Peter 3:11c, d. Peace-loving and peace-seeking people are always a refreshing balm for a godless world that is often troubled over conflicts and war!

C. God’s promised blessings provide the motivation to obey these directives from Peter (as follows):

1. God promises a long life (relatively for our era) for a believer who heeds these directives, 1 Peter 3:10a.

2. God promises a good life (relatively for our era) for a believer who heeds these directives, 1 Peter 3:10b.

3. God promises answers to prayer for a believer who obeys these directives, 1 Peter 3:12a.

D. Conversely, if a believer does not heed these directives from Peter, God will ‘turn His face away from’ him, an expression in Scripture that means a lack of blessing and divine discipline, 1 Peter 3:12b; Psalm 34:15-16.

Lesson: (1) To live wisely in a hostile, godless culture, God directs that we do our best to live in harmony with others, that we express sensitivity to the concerns of others, that we practice brotherly love among fellow believers, that we be compassionate, humble, repay evil with blessing, avoid unedifying speech, turn from evil, do good, seek peace and pursue it. (2) If we practice these things, we will enjoy the longest lifespan with the best days God has planned for us, and we will obtain answers to prayer. (3) However, if we do not practice these things, God will withdraw His blessings and discipline us.

Application: Out of a desire to avoid God’s lack of blessing and His discipline, but to gain His blessings of the longest and most wholesome life God has planned for us with answers to prayer, may we believers living in a hostile, godless culture seek to live in harmony with others, express sensitivity to the concerns others have, practice brotherly love with other believers, be compassionate, humble, repay evil with blessing, avoid unedifying speech, turn from evil, do good, seek peace and pursue it.