If you will, open your Bibles
once again tonight to 1 Peter chapter 3. 1 Peter chapter 3, and our text
tonight begins with the word finally in verse 8, finally. So that's the title of my message
this evening, finally. How could Peter write finally
when we know that at this point he's about halfway through this
letter? We realize that there's two more chapters, How could
he now say finally? Is he like some of us preachers
who sometimes say that and keep on talking? I don't think that's
the way we are to understand this. I believe the word finally
here means he had been exhorting concerning submission. That is,
submission of men and women to civil rulers submission of men
to their masters. And then last week in the first
seven verses of this chapter, we saw the relationship between
husband and wife represented by submission. Now he's going
to sum up all of these things in these final exhortations. So we're going to look, the Lord
willing, at verses 8 through 13. First in verse 8, I want us to
see that there are five positive words, five positive exhortations. Number one, be ye all of one
mind. Now he's writing to believers,
he's writing to God's children. And the exhortation is that we
all be of one mind. What differences there might
be in any congregation, and there always will be differences, different
stations in life. Some will be masters, some will
be servants, some will be husbands, some will be wives, some will
be old, some will be young. And yet the exhortation is the
same to each and every one. of God's children. Be you all
of one mind. We are all of the same family.
We are all of the same family tonight if we are God's children.
We're all God's children and desire God's glory and the good
of His church, the glory of His name. Then be all of the same
mind. I don't think we can do any better
to understand what this means than to read what the Apostle
Paul wrote in Philippians chapter two, beginning with verse five. Be ye all of the same mind. Philippians two and verse five.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. And as we read on here, we see
what the mind of Christ was. It was one of humility. One of
humility. Most difficulties and problems
that come up in church families have to do with pride. With pride. Someone seeking self-aggrandizement. Like we read in, I believe it's
2 John. The second epistle of John. Remember
that man, Diotrephes. He didn't receive the apostle. He didn't receive those the apostles
sent to him. Why? Because he was seeking preeminence. But if we would all be of the
same mind, and we see this mind as it is in the Lord Jesus Christ
was one of humility. Humility. Let's read on here. Who being in the form of God,
thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself
of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and
was made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as
a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross." So Peter's exhortation, be all of the same
mind. will do well to read Paul's instruction,
having the mind of Christ and seeing what that mind is. It's one of putting others before
self. That's the mind, be ye all of
one mind, the mind of Christ. It's a mind of humility, and
it is a mind of putting others before self. In fact, Paul said,
look not every man on his own things, but every man also on
the things of others. Now that doesn't mean that men
and women are to be busybodies looking at the matters of other
believers, no, that's not what he means. But look on others
as to how we can promote their well-being, how we can minister
unto them. Instead of believing and feeling
like everything has to suit us, everything has to be for us,
for our good and for our ease. No, let's look every man on the
things of others. It's just the opposite of this
saying that you hear all the time, my way or the highway. That's not the way. That's not
the mind of Christ, is it? That's not the mind that the
Apostle Peter exhorts these believers to be of the same mind. Not that
mind that says, my way, or the highway, no. Look not every man
upon his own things, but every man also on the things of others. How he can serve, how she can
serve others, be a blessing to others. The second exhortation,
if you're back here in 1 Peter chapter three and verse eight,
having compassion one of another. One writer said, sympathize not
criticize. Sympathize, not criticize. In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul
put it like this. Rejoice with them that do rejoice
and weep with them that weep. Having compassion one of another. In a church family, it seems
that we always have some that are rejoicing and some who are
weeping. in a church family, and it will
always be that way as long as we remain in this world. Some
will be rejoicing over the birth of a new baby. Some will be weeping
over the death of a loved one. Someone will be rejoicing over
a marriage, a husband and wife being married. Others will be
weeping over problems between husbands and wives in a family. We know that these things are
here. Someone said recently, the larger your congregation
is, the more problems. And that just stands to reason,
doesn't it? Why? Because the larger the congregation,
the more people, and people have problems. All of us do as we
go through this world. We have difficulties. And we
know that is so. Having compassion one on another. Put yourself in that person's
place. That old saying, don't criticize him until you've walked
a mile in his shoes. You've heard that, haven't you?
Don't criticize a person until you've walked a mile in his shoes.
Sympathize, have compassion one on another. And then the third
exhortation is love as brethren. When you look at this in the
Greek language, this word, which is translated here, love, as
brethren, is written in English, philadelphos, philadelphos, P-H-I-L-A-D-E-L-P-H-O-S. You see the word philadelphia
in that word. It just stands out, and what
does it town the name Philadelphia mean? It means brotherly love,
doesn't it? The Quakers gave the town that
name many years ago. Philadelphia, the city of brotherly
love. Love is brethren. How are brothers to love? Well,
we're to love as believers, as believers in the same Lord, the
same Christ. We're to love as Christ loved
us. How did he love us? How does he love us? He loves
us with an everlasting love, I understand that. But he loves
us with a love that never fails, that never gives up, that never
quits. And then we are to love not only
in word, but in deed. We're to love continually. And
how is this love manifested? Here we are tonight. We are a
church family. And the apostle exhorts each
one of us, love as brethren. How are we to do that? How are
we to love as brethren? Well, first of all, we should
pray for one another. We should pray for one another.
That's certainly involved. And then we should forgive one
another. When there's a problem and maybe
someone hurt your feelings and did something that Maybe they
shouldn't have done, forgive that person. My wife was telling
me just a little while ago about her Sunday school lesson this
morning, teaching on that text where the Lord told Peter, it's
not forgiving seven times, but 70 times seven. And so she had one of the students
sit in a chair, had a book, a songbook, and another student came up and
took the songbook and threw it in the floor. And then this one
who threw the book in the floor asked the one in the chair, forgive
me. Would you forgive me? And he
said, I will. I will. She picks up the book
and gives it back to him. Well, this person grabs the book
again and throws it in the floor. And then she says again, forgive
me, picks up the book and gives it back to him. And then she
grabs the book again and throws it in the floor. And the young
man in the chair said, I don't believe she's really sorry. I don't believe she's really
sorry. No. But the Lord is teaching us,
right, to forgive one another. Forgive one another. And it's
so easy to carry a grudge and hard feelings towards other people.
Forgive one another. And then the fourth thing, be
pitiful. Be pitiful. Now this word, which is translated
here pitiful, is only found one other time in the New Testament.
And I believe when we look at that verse and see how the translators
translated it, we get a very good definition of what it means
for us to be pitiful. Be pitiful, what does that mean?
Here's the only other place in the New Testament where this
verse, where this word is used, Ephesians 4.32, and be you kind
one to another, and here it is, tenderhearted. Tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath
forgiven you. Be pitiful, that is tenderhearted, not hardhearted,
tenderhearted toward each other. And then this last exhortation,
there's five of these positive exhortations here. Be courteous,
be courteous. Now this word, according to the
writers, it actually means Be friendly-minded. Be friendly-minded. Be kind. Be courteous one to
another. Think of the proverb which says,
a man that hath friends must show himself friendly. Be friendly. Be friendly-minded one toward
another. And there is a friend that sticketh
closer than a brother. Be friendly. Show yourself friendly. Approach others. approach others
and speak to them, greet them, let them know that you are concerned
about them, you love them, you care for them. I heard a pastor
many years ago, he pastored the same church for a long time.
I don't know how long it was, but it was a long time. And I
heard him make this statement one time towards the end of his
ministry. He said, I would just like for
one time, I would just like for one time some of the members
of our church to approach me first and speak to me. Well, most of the members of
this congregation do that, but it's good. Be friendly-minded
one toward the other. Don't get in a clique. And don't
just stay in a group every service and just visit and talk and fellowship
with the same people. No, spread out. Talk to others. Visit with others. Be friendly
minded towards the whole congregation. Now verse nine, we have a couple
of negative words. Verse eight, we had those five
positive words. Now we have two negative words,
not rendering evil, for evil. Someone does something to you,
this is the world, this is the philosophy of the world. If someone
does something to hurt or to wrong you, then the world says,
well, pay them back. Give them the same thing, the
same treatment back, do the same to them. And our flesh, even
as Christians, right? Even as God's children, we still
have that old man. And when someone does something
to hurt us, to offend us, the natural reaction of that old
man is, get revenge. Do something to them. What did
our Lord say? That you resist not evil, but
whoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the
other also. not rendering evil for evil. You know, when you drive out
on the highway, especially in the country, and you come up
at night on a car and they don't dim their lights. You've had
that happen, haven't you? I have, many times. They don't
dim their lights and what's the natural reaction? Put yours on
bright. Teach them a lesson, show them.
I told a friend of mine one time, when he did that, I said, the
scripture says that we're to do unto others as we would have
them do unto us. He said, that's what I would
want them to do to me. Teach me a lesson so I'd learn
to dim my lights. No, not rendering evil for evil. And second, not railing for railing. Someone speaks harshly. Don't reciprocate. Speak the
same way, harshly back to them. Remember what the scripture says
about our Lord. It says that He was reviled,
but He reviled not again. Look back to chapter 2 and verse
23. We read here that statement.
Who, when He was reviled, that is the Lord Jesus Christ, when
He was reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened
not, but committed himself to him that judges righteously. Now the scriptures teach us that
vengeance belongeth unto God. And so Peter writes that we should
do just the opposite. If you notice that verse, not
rendering evil for evil or railing for railing, but contrary wise,
contrary wise, just the opposite. Just the opposite, that's what
we ought to do. And he goes on to say, knowing
that you are there unto called, that you should inherit a blessing.
Now, how do we understand that? Knowing that you are therefore
called. We know every child of God is called, effectually called. That's when God quickens a person
and gives that person a new nature, regeneration. knowing that you
are called that you should inherit a blessing. I looked at that word and I said,
now how can that word be singular? How can that word be singular?
Knowing that you are there unto called that you should inherit
a blessing. Have you inherited a blessing,
or have you inherited blessings, plural? Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the scripture tells us in Ephesians,
who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings. Not just
one blessing, but all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus before
the world began. Look back to Philippians 1, just
a moment. Philippians chapter 1. Verse 29. Our text here says,
not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrary
wise, blessing, knowing that you are there unto called. In
other words, you've been called not to render railing for railing,
but blessing. Blessing. You're called there
unto. In Philippians 1, In verse 29,
the apostle writing to these believers said, for unto you
it is given in the behalf of Christ. Now watch this, not only
to believe, faith is a gift, isn't it? Or by grace are you
saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the
gift of God. But the apostle Paul tells these
believers here at Philippi, that you've not only been given the
grace of faith, but now, notice, but also to suffer for his sake. You've been given this grace
also to suffer for his sake. Peter says, knowing that you
are therefore thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing. The fact that this word is singular,
that you should inherit a blessing, It has to refer to eternal life,
to salvation. You know, when we speak about
salvation, if the preacher said, I'm going to preach today on
salvation, well, that's a big subject. It really is. That's a big subject. It's one
of those umbrella words that includes a lot. You could preach
on God's sovereign election. That's part of salvation. He
could preach on forgiveness of sins. That's part of salvation. He could preach on being justified
by faith. That's part of salvation. He
could preach on the fact that of Him, that is, of God, He,
Christ, has made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification,
and redemption. So this blessing here that we've
been called unto, it includes all of these blessings, all of
these blessings that are included in salvation. Now let's look
at these last few verses, beginning with verse 10. For he that will
love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from
evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Let him eschew
evil and do good, let him seek peace and ensue it. 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 I want you to turn back with
me to the book of Psalms, and see that Peter is quoting here
from Psalm 34. The only real difference in his
quotation is that here in Psalms, it begins with a question. It
doesn't there in Peter's text, but here in Psalm 34 and verse
12, What man is he that desireth
life and loveth many days that he may see good? Now that is
a question here. And I want you to notice, and
all men do, we all desire to live a long life. We desire to
see many good days, don't we? Well now, the psalmist and Peter
quotes this in our text tonight, and he mentions four things,
four things. Would you seek to be happy? He mentions these four things.
He's talking to believers, he's talking to Christians, obviously.
Number one, deal with your speech. Number one, that has high priority,
doesn't it? Deal, would you be happy? Go
through this world being happy and being blessed. Keep thy tongue
from evil and thy lips from speaking God. You look back in your life
as I look back in my life. And don't we realize that much
of our problems, trials, and difficulties have come to us
because of something we've said? Something we've said? No? The psalmist said, number one,
deal with your speech. And this is something the Apostle
James deals with this also in his epistle, telling us that
the tongue is a little member, but who can control it? Who can
control it? And James said this, if any man
among you seem to be religious and bridleth not his tongue,
but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
It's empty. Paul said it like this, put away
lying, filthy communications, supercritical words, put all
this away. If you would be happy, live a
long life in this world, number one, deal with the Tom. Number
two, deal with evil, with evil. Depart from evil and do good. Depart from evil. The scripture
tells us abstain from all appearance of evil. And God said this about
his servant Job. He said, there was a man in the
land of Uz whose name was Job and that man was perfect and
upright and one that feared God and eschewed evil. So number
one, deal with your speech. Number two, deal with evil. Stay
away from it. Abstain from the very appearance
of evil. And number three, ensue peace. Seek peace. Seek after it. Seek after peace. Some people have never learned
this secret, have they? They have no peace in this world,
and they bring it upon themselves. Because they're always looking
for things to complain about and fight about with their neighbors,
with their friends, on the job. No, if you would have a happy
life, deal with the tongue, stay away from evil, and pursue peace. Peace with God, of course, certainly. but peace with others as well.
And number four, comfort. Comfort yourself with this truth.
And what a wonderful truth it is. Look at it here in 1 Peter,
same in the psalm, but, for the eyes of the Lord are over the
righteous. Now you're righteous, aren't
you? You've been made righteous. The righteousness of Christ has
been imputed to you, that's your righteousness. He has made unto
us wisdom, righteousness. Now, since you have been made
righteous, know this, that the eyes of the Lord are over you.
There's never a time, there's never a day, there's never a
place, there's never a circumstance where God does not have his eyes
upon you. His eye is upon the righteous.
And number two, not only is his eye upon the righteous, but his
ears are open unto their prayers. When you pray, your father, your
heavenly father, he hears you. He hears you. His ears are open
to your prayers, but The face of the Lord is against them that
do evil. And then verse 13, and I close. Who is he that can harm you?
If God be for us, who can be against us? Who can really harm
a child of God? No one can. No one can. Why? Because God is for him. Because Christ is for him. No
one can harm a believer, not really. It may make our life
uncomfortable, but we know even then it's for our good and it's
for God's glory. Let's sing a hymn.