Now our lesson begins here in
verse 8, where Peter writes finally, be ye of one mind, having compassion
one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. Now
he says finally. Now Peter's beginning to end
his thought that he started back in chapter 2 at the end of verse
21, where he talked about Christ having suffered for us, leaving
us an example that you should follow his steps. And the key
to all this, as we've been looking the past couple of weeks, is
following his steps likewise, like as Christ walked. And the
believers walk in the workplace and our walk as citizens, as
husband and wives that we looked at last week, were to follow
the example of Christ. And now we're going to look at
the believers' attitudes and how that affects our walks with
our brethren and our walk with people of the world. And each
one of these instructions that Peter gives us is to follow the
example of the Lord Jesus and his attitude, his conduct. And
every believer truly desires to conduct ourselves in this
way, to have these kind of attitudes, to have the mind, the attitude
of Christ. And hearing these things taught
is not grievous to the believer. It doesn't, we don't feel like
it puts an undue burden on us because we love God's law. We
love God's word. And I truly desire to have these
attitudes, this conduct, even though I can't do it perfectly.
I can't do it near as well as I wish I could. I still love
to hear them taught. I love to hear them taught from
God's word. And the real blessing to the believer It's not to see
how I can do these things so well. It's to hear again of the
compassion of the Savior, how compassionate he is towards sinners. To hear again of the love that
Christ has for his brethren. To hear again how pitiful and
courteous the Lord is to sinners like me and you. That's where
the blessing is. And to hear that the believer will naturally
desire to follow his steps. So Peter says, finally, here's
the sum of what he's been teaching. He says first, be of one mind. Look back at Romans 15, the apostle
Paul had the same message. It's no surprise these men had
the same message. They have the same gospel. He
says in Romans 15, verse 5. Now, the God of patience and
consolation grants you to be like minded. one toward another
according to Christ Jesus. And Paul is saying the exact
same thing that Peter did after the example of Christ Jesus.
Be like-minded. Have the mind of Christ. What's that mean? It means be
forgiving as Christ forgave us. It means to love as Christ loved
us. It means to be patient with others
as Christ has been patient with us. Now, he patiently teaches
us, patiently bears with our infirmities. Have the mind of
Christ. Think of the welfare of others
above our own welfare. And no matter what differences
that we have in the flesh, and there's a lot of fleshly differences
between us. There's men and women. There's
rich and poor. There's black and white. There's
all kinds of differences. But we have the same mind. We
have one mind about God. We seek him with one mind, with
one accord, with one heart. We seek his will and his glory
first. We have one mind toward the gospel.
We have one mind towards the scriptures. We have one mind
and one prayer that the gospel in this place be preached in
the power of the spirit, be preached in clarity, be preached so that
God will call his sheep out in our community. We have one mind. toward each other, to love one
another, to love each of the brethren, each and every one.
They're all important. You might pray for each home
and every one. And we should remember there's
just one Lord, there's one faith, there's one baptism, there's
one Savior, there's one way of salvation, there's one word of
God, there's one truth, there's one God and Father over all. So have one mind. Be like-minded
with each other. Next, Peter says, have compassion
on each other. Sympathize with one another.
Be very, very, very slow to criticize, but very quick to sympathize.
Have compassion one toward another. And not only do we feel this
compassion, we feel love towards one another, but find a way to
show it. Don't just go home and say, well,
I really sympathize with so-and-so. Find a way to show it. Just in
simple things, I'm telling you, a kind word goes a long way. Be compassionate with one another.
And remember, this is a tough world. Everybody else is going
through the same world as you are. This is a tough world. Have compassion toward each other.
This ought to be a place where we find compassion with one another.
Next, Peter says love is brethren. Now, blood is thicker than water.
That's an old saying, but it's true. It's been true throughout
generations. Blood is thicker than water.
People can be lifelong friends, and that friendship is dropped
at a moment's notice, just at a half, seemingly for no reason. But you know, that seldom happens
with brothers and sisters. Now, I know it does sometimes,
but it's seldom. It really is. Because brothers
and sisters are tied together. You have the same father. You
have the same mother. You grew up together. You're
genetically alike. You are genetically, there is
a genetic tie to brothers and sisters. You have a bond that
makes it so really you can hardly stay away from one another. Well,
that's the way believers, you and me, are to love one another. We have the same father. We've
been born into the family of God. We're growing up together.
We are genetically alike. We have the same spirit dwelling
in you, in each heart of the believer. We're genetically alike.
We're born from the same seed. And we're to love as brethren. We're to love likewise, following
the example of Christ as Christ loved us. Now I can put away
my notes and spend the rest of our time talking about in awe
and amazement how Christ loves you and me. How he loves his
people. It's unspeakable. It's unconditional. We didn't have to meet some condition.
We had to do something before he started loving us. He loved
us while we were yet sinners. He loved us so much he died for
us. He loves us with a love that you can't measure the breadth
of it. You can't measure the length of it. You can't measure
the depth of it. Unconditional love of God. That's how we're
to love one another. And we're to love without hypocrisy. It's not just a doctrine that
we talk about. It's a genuine heartfelt love
for one another. That's shown. That's put into
action. Christ didn't just love you in some theory. He put it
into action. He loved us while we were yet
sinners and did what? He died for us. It's a love in
action. And if we truly love one another,
we'll forgive one another. We'll share what we have. We'll
seek the company of each other. We'll seek each other out. And
we'll bear one another's burdens. He's not heavy. He's my brother. He's not heavy if you love him.
How do you love your brother? So love is brethren. Next, Peter
says, be pitiful. And that simply means be gentle
and tender with one another. Look at Ephesians chapter 4. Ephesians 4 verse 31. Let all bitterness and wrath
and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you
with all malice, and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another. And again, I can't say it often
enough. Here's the key. Even as God, for Christ's sake,
hath forgiven you. Be gentle and tender with one
another. Look at 1 Thessalonians 2. You'll
see another scripture here. 1 Thessalonians 2. In verse 7, 1 Thessalonians 2,
listen to this. Here's the apostle. But we were
gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children. So being
affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted
unto you not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls,
because you were dear to us. Be gentle with one another. Cherish
one another. that Peter's saying here. Then
he says, be courteous. That's just being friendly. Just
be friendly. Don't be moody. Look for a reason
to pout. Just be friendly. It should be
easy for someone to be our friend. It is if we're doing likewise,
following the example of Christ. It'll honestly be easy for someone
to be our friend because we're following the example of Christ,
who Scripture calls the friend of sinners. Just be friendly.
Now, verse nine, he goes on, he says, not rendering evil for
evil or railing for railing, but contrary wise blessing, knowing
that you're there unto called that you should inherit a blessing.
And here are these instructions. They do apply to all people,
people out in the world that we come in contact with. But
this is especially true in the church. Peter here is still talking
to brethren, to you all. These are instructions to believers. Not rendering evil for evil.
Now, if someone does do something evil to you, don't try to get
even. And I know that's contrary to
our nature. I know it's contrary to my nature
to try to get even. But what does the Lord say? Vengeance
is mine. I will repay, saith the Lord.
And I know revenge is sweet. It is. It's sweet to this nature.
We enjoy planning revenge. Just laying awake at night planning
it. And we enjoy carrying it out. Revenge. But the apostle
here, now he's not just talking about an overtly evil act. This also applies to when you're
right here in the church now, in believers, when your feelings
are slighted, when we feel ignored. And when that happens, we're
not to strike out. I know that's our nature, but
we're not to try to strike out. It is really true that two wrongs
do not make a right. And the key to all this is still
likewise. How the Lord handled the situation
when he was treated with evil. He didn't revenge himself, even
though he could have. He committed himself to him that
judges righteously. So don't render evil for evil
and don't render railing for railing. You know, when someone
reproaches our character or our conduct, our gut reaction is
to say, oh, yeah, well, you. That's our gut reaction. And revenge, while it's sweet,
We might enjoy laying awake at night playing in it. By God's
grace, he might keep us from carrying it out. But railing
will slip out of our mouth before you just, you can't stop it.
It just comes right out before you even know it. And a believer,
and this will happen. Unfortunately, because we're
still in this flesh, it will happen. But the believer shouldn't
be known for this behavior. for a continual pattern of this
behavior, particularly with each other, with one another. And
again, the key is likewise, when our Lord was reviled, he reviled
not again, didn't seek out revenge. Let's look at some scripture
on this. Proverbs chapter 20. Proverbs 20 verse 22. Say not thou, I will recompense
evil, but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee. Not, well,
maybe he'll save thee sometimes. No, you wait on the Lord, he
shall save thee. Look at Romans chapter 12. Romans 12 verse 17. Recompense to no man evil for
evil, provide thanks honest in the sight of all men, and if
it be possible, as much as life in you, live peaceably with all
men." Now one more scripture, 1 Thessalonians 5. 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 15. See that none render evil for
evil unto any man, but ever follow that which is good. Ever follow
Christ, both among yourselves and to all men." Now that is
impossible to the human being without grace. It's utterly impossible. Well, Scripture tells us how
we shouldn't respond. Well, how should we respond?
Well, Peter says, contrary-wise, blessings. Contrary-wise, I found
this to be true, that we'll typically do the right thing if we do contrary
to the first thing that pops into our head. Just do contrary
to that. Almost always you'll do the right
thing. Contrary-wise, we're faced with a situation where someone's
slighted us or they said something hurtful to us or contrary-wise,
that getting even blessed them. Forgive them. Show them love
and compassion. Contrary-wise, the Lord Jesus,
in the face of horrible treatment, which was unjustified. He didn't
deserve any of that treatment. He faced a mock trial. People
lied on him. They beat him. They tied his
hands behind his back and beat him. They plucked his beard out.
They nailed him to a cross and made fun of him. But what did
he do? Father, forgive them. They know
not what they do. And that thief that was railing
on him found mercy. He was merciful to the man who
was railing on him. Well, you say that's impossible
without God's grace. That's why I ought to react,
but that's the Son of God. I can't do that. Well, by the
grace of God, you can. Look in Acts chapter 7. Acts chapter 7. How we need to pray for grace
every moment. God will enable his people to
do things you cannot do. He'll give you power and understanding
you do not have. And here's an example of it.
Acts chapter 7 verse 54. Stephen's been preaching here
to these Pharisees and When they heard these things, they were
cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth. These
are things we spank our children for. They're biting at him. But
he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven
and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand
of God. And he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened and
the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God. Then they
cried out with a loud voice and they stopped their ears and they
ran upon with one accord. I mean, can you imagine the childish
rage that's going on here? I mean, just picture this scene.
And they cast him out of the city and they stoned him. They
picked up stones and one by one by one threw stones at his body
until he was going to die. That's what they did. And the
witnesses laid down their clothes. They're going to work up a sweat.
They're taking off their clothes here because they're going to
work up a sweat. This isn't going to be a quick thing. They laid down
their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul, and
they stoned Stephen, who was calling upon the name of God,
saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down and
cried with a loud voice." What were the last words of this man
who was being stoned by these religious hypocrites? Lord, lay
not this sin that they're charged. That wouldn't be this fellow's
prayer, apart from God's grace. But that's grace. Lay not this
sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he
fell asleep. That's grace. That is grace. Following the steps of our Lord
Jesus. For, Peter says here in 2, were
you called. Now this is the believer's calling.
You were called to love, not to hate. You were called to blessing,
not to curse. You were called to forgive, not
seek revenge. You're called to mercy, not judgment. We were called to follow Christ,
to follow the spirit of Christ, not the spirit of evil, the spirit
that's in this world. You are called to inherit a blessing.
And be a blessing and be a blessing. Matthew Henry said this. A Christian's
calling invests him with glorious privileges, and we'll talk about
that, won't we? The believer's calling gives
you glorious privileges, but it doesn't end there. He said
it also obliges him to difficult duties, difficult to the flesh,
contrary wise to the flesh. But the Lord will give grace
and ability to perform that which he's called you to. Here unto
were you called. Now, verse 10, he says, for he
that will love life and see good days. Let him refrain his tongue
from evil and his lips if they speak no guile. Let him eschew
evil and do good. Let him seek peace and ensue
it. Now, this is a quote from Psalm
34. You can look over and read this this afternoon, but let
me read you a verse from there. When David is writing this, he
begins this instruction. And he says, Come ye children.
Harken unto me, and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Now
this is good instruction for our children, but this is instruction
to the children of God, too. What did the Lord say? Except
ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall no
wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. So this is instruction
for the little children. If you desire a peaceful life,
a good life, then God's word has some instruction for it.
Here's how to find a happy life in an angry world. It really
is. These things apply to this world
and primarily they teach us how man can have real life, spiritual
life, eternal life, a life of many days. How man can be made
good, be made righteous in the Lord Jesus Christ. How you can
live a life of peace in the kingdom of God. But they also apply to
this world. Now they do. Now, these things
will not insulate you from evil, from evil days. Here's how you
can have good days, but this is not going to insulate you
from evil days, because I guarantee you they'll come. Look in Ecclesiastes
chapter 12. These evil days will come. Ecclesiastes 12, verse 1. Remember now thy creator in the
days of thy youth when the evil days come not. Nor the years
draw nigh when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them."
I wish I had a nickel for every time my dear, dear friend Jim
Meadows quoted this verse to me. I mean, almost every day
he'd quote this verse to me. And he'd say the only days that
were not evil in his old age were days of worship, were hours
spent in prayer and in the Scripture. and days when he could help people.
That's the days that were not evil, when he could help people.
Those days when Jim would put his religion into practice. And
you can find joy and peace in the evil days by following this
instruction. Refrain your tongue from evil. We need to refrain from gossip,
from carrying tales that are sad but true. Don't carry We
can refrain our tongue from boasting, refrain our tongue from harsh
words and criticism. Just like James said, how the
tongue, that little tongue, that just a little flame can start
a great fire. I mean a forest fire that will
leave a mark, a scar on the forest for years and years and years
to come. I was a teenager and we went
to Yellowstone National Park. That was great. We went on a
big, long vacation. Went to several national parks.
My favorite was Yellowstone National Park. I mean, I could stay there
for a year. It was wonderful, beautiful.
I just, oh, how I loved it. And just a few years ago, I talked
to a man who had just come back from Yellowstone National Park.
And I said, oh, did you love it? Was it so beautiful? Well,
you remember a number of years ago. It hadn't been enough years
ago. I'd forgotten about it. A horrible fire came through
Yellowstone. He said it still hasn't recovered. It's not near the beauty that
used to be. Just a little flame started that, that's left a scar
still to this day. How many years? He said in our
lifetime, you always see the scar of that fire. That's what
the tongue can do. It'll cause a scar that won't
go away in your lifetime. Honestly. Lips, he said, and
I tell you, it'll keep you from having a peaceful life doing
that. Lips, Peter says, speak no guile. And you see this out in the world,
in the workplace. People use guile to trick others
and get ahead. And there's no room for that
in the heart of a believer. There's no room for that in our
interaction with one another. This is what John Gill said about
this. He spoke first of false friends who use guile. He says
they speak guile as flatterers do. They speak that with their
mouth, which does not agree with their heart, so they beguile
and deceive people. That's false friends, religious
hypocrites who destroy the peace in the church. And he went on
to talk about false teachers who use dishonest arts, walk
in craftiness, handle the word of God deceitfully, use ambiguous
phrases and words of double meaning, and with their good words and
fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. There's no room
for that in God's church. There's no room for that in God's
family. We're called to follow the example
of Christ, not these false teachers who destroy the peace in the
church. Our Lord was a man of honesty. He was a man whose scripture
says no guile was found in his mouth. The same should be said
of you and me. Peter says if you want to have
a happy life, Eschew, avoid evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue
it. Avoid doing evil. And you know,
that's the heartfelt desire of the child of God. Avoid evil.
But avoid even the appearance of evil. And don't just sit back
and talk about good. Talk about enjoying peace. Actively
pursue it. Look for it. Pursue it. Don't
just sit back and talk about a willingness to forgive. Pray
that the Lord would make you forgiving. Don't just sit back
and talk about a willingness to be a friend and say, I wish
I had a good friend. Then be a good friend. If you want a
good friend, be a good friend. Pray that the Lord would make
you that way. And we ought to pray that the
Lord would bless the church. But we also ought to pray that
the Lord would give us the opportunity to be a blessing to the church.
Same thing with our pastors. I pray for him, but don't just
pray the Lord bless him so that we can get a blessing. We'll
have to pray, Lord, make me a blessing to my pastor, too. Seek peace
and pursue it. Do good. Well, look at verse
12. He says, For the eyes of the
Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their
prayers. But the face of the Lord is against
them that do evil. Now, this is, again, a quote
from Psalm 34. And you ought to read that this afternoon.
We won't read it for time's sake. But we read that and we can see
the all-seeing eye, the omniscient eye of the Lord is always open. His ears always hear. The Lord
knows what's going on. These things happen to us and
we think, what's going on? The Lord knows what's going on.
We call out to Him in prayer. We're not informing of anything.
He knows what's going on. And He knows our hearts. He knows
our thoughts and He knows our motives. We may be able to deceive
others. But now we're not going to deceive
the Lord of Glory. He knows. And His face is against
those who have a bitter spirit, an angry, proud, unforgiving
spirit. And that's the last thing a child
of God wants. I don't want His face set against
me. I don't want to displease my Heavenly Father. And we just
remember now when we're wronged and we're mistreated and these
evil days come upon us, the Lord hears your prayer. He hears your
cry. Look in verse 13. For who is
he that will harm you if you be followers of that which is
good? What harm can possibly come to a person who is following
the example of Christ? Scripture says if God be for
us, who can be against us? Well, I tell you this, God won't
harm us. God's on our side. We shall not fear what men shall
do unto us. He's able to save to the uttermost.
He's not going to harm His people. Christ won't harm us. He came
to save, not to destroy. Satan won't harm us. He's on God's leash. He can't
even move without God's permission. Sin won't harm us. Now, it'll
war against you. Sin wars against the soul, but
I'm telling you, it's fighting a losing battle because Christ
has already won the war. The war's over. Sin shall not
have dominion over you, for you're under grace. You're not under
the law, but under grace. The law won't harm you if Christ
has fulfilled the law. Even death won't harm you, because
Christ has removed the sting of death, which is sin. And you'll say, because I've taught
this, well, I sure feel harm sometimes. Look at verse 14. But, and if ye suffer for righteousness'
sake, happy are ye. And be not afraid for their terror,
neither be troubled. When you do suffer for righteousness
sake, be happy, not dejected. For the Lord said you're blessed
if you suffer for righteousness sake. You're blessed. So don't
be afraid of the enemies of God. They're like sin. They're fighting
a losing battle. And never be afraid. The Lord's
forgotten you. Don't be afraid of the terror
that comes by night. He's not forgotten you. He's
not forsaken you. He's near. and he'll bless. Alright, may the Lord bless you.