1 Peter 3:8-12

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Psalm 34:1-3
• Hymn — Blessed Assurance (#693)
• Prayer of Invocation
• Hymn — Be Thou My Vision (#642)
• Pastoral Prayer
• Scripture Reading — 1 Peter 3:8-12
• Sermon
• Benediction

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Sermon Title: The Blessing of the Christian Life

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8-12

I. The Blessing of Church Life

A. Peter addresses the members of the churches in Asia Minor with five admonitions describing the ideal church (1 Peter 3:8)

B. First admonition: Unity of mind — be like-minded

1. Not uniformity of opinion on every matter, but sharing the mind of Christ
2. Paul develops this in Philippians 2:3-11: contrast rivalry and conceit versus Christ's humility; looking to one's own interests versus Christ taking the form of a servant
3. Christ's humility leads to glory and inheritance — the church follows the same path
4. Like-mindedness is centered on Christ and union with Him, not sameness

C. Second admonition: Sympathy — concern for fellow Christians (Romans 12:15)

D. Third admonition: Brotherly love — the love of brothers and sisters in Christ

1. All have been adopted into the household of God
2. What binds the church together is not biological blood but the blood of Christ

E. Fourth admonition: A tender heart — a gut-wrenching, intestinal love for one another (from the Greek word depicting feelings from one's inner parts)

F. Fifth admonition: A humble mind — make yourself nothing as Christ did, so that brothers and sisters are everything

1. The average American evangelical church does not reflect this vision
2. The church is not a voluntary organization; it is a family into which God adopts us by virtue of Christ's blood
3. Jonathan Leeman: most people lump churches into the same category as soccer clubs or voluntary associations, or regard them as a service provider — Peter sees the church as a family

II. The Blessing of Future Life

A. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but bless (1 Peter 3:9)

1. Peter repeats this admonition throughout the letter — previously in 1 Peter 2:21 regarding slaves suffering under cruel masters
2. The world constantly pulls Christians into its ways; Peter calls them to keep their eyes on their inheritance

B. What it means to bless enemies (in contrast to repaying evil)

1. Pray for enemies
2. Be kind to enemies
3. Seek to promote the welfare of enemies
4. Christ models this threefold blessing from the cross: praying for his enemies (Father, forgive them), kindness to the penitent thief (today you will be with me in paradise), and seeking enemies' welfare (It is finished)
5. Christian suffering is not returning curses but dying to self — as Stephen in Acts 7

C. The word for "obtain" in "obtain a blessing" is the word for inheritance, linking back to 1 Peter 1:4 — an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading

1. This is how Christians lay up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20)
2. Loving, blessing, praying for, and seeking the welfare of enemies is how we live toward that inheritance

III. The Blessing of Present Life

A. Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-16 in verses 10-12, framing the good life in the present

B. The Christian life of dying to self is the good life now, not merely later

1. The apostles rejoiced after being beaten by the Sanhedrin — joy in suffering, not just future hope
2. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our future inheritance (Ephesians 1:14) — we get a foretaste of heavenly joy now

C. The good life begins with guarding the tongue (1 Peter 3:10)

1. The tongue is where we most often return evil for evil
2. James: the tongue is like the bit in a horse's mouth or the rudder of a ship — it steers the whole body; guard the tongue and you guard the whole person

D. Seeking and pursuing peace (1 Peter 3:11)

1. Peter quotes the Hebrew concept of shalom — not merely the absence of conflict but inward completeness and right relationship with God
2. Jesus's first words after the resurrection: "Peace be with you" — spoken to disciples who would face imprisonment, beatings, and martyrdom; clearly a different kind of peace
3. Christians are shalom makers — promoting the peace of reconciliation with God through Christ's blood (Matthew 5:9)

E. God's eyes are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer (1 Peter 3:12)

1. God hears the prayers of humble, obedient servants who rest in Christ
2. Those living in unrepentance — giving lip service to Christ while living for themselves — find God's ears closed
3. This is not prosperity gospel; Peter is writing to suffering Christians, including slaves under cruel masters

F. Joy in Christ is universal — not dependent on wealth or social status

1. Culture's version of happiness is exclusive: you must join the "haves" to have the good life
2. Christ is the common denominator — a Christian in a third-world prison cell can share the same joy as a Christian in a mansion
3. Christ is the bridge to the eyes and ears of God the Father; today is the day of salvation