I Peter 3:8-12

Deep Longings• Think of the deep longings people (perhaps yourself) have and

share with your group if you feel comfortable.

I Peter 3:8-12 NIV8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

ReviewI Peter 2 and 3 Live in such a way to bring glory to God. Submit to government. Submit to masters. Wives submit to family members Submit to each other

Observations• Our behavior is driven by our desires. • Continued focus on behavior. • It's not about me...but it is. • Lesson on Christian ethics.

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

• A summary of the last several points. • Link to John 15:12-17 • v 13-14 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay

down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you."

• v 17 "This I command you, that you love one another." • By acting this way, I show that I trust God to be the judge. • Judging vs. discerning

9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

• Insults, defamation of character, verbal abuse from outside • Power of the Holy Spirit. • A heart the trusts God for my needs, emotional as well? • Jesus teaching: John 15:18-25, Matt 5:45, Lk 6:35-36 • v25 "They hated me without a cause." • They hated Him first. • Not a reason to antagonize, Rom 6:1-2 • I Peter 2:14 - government punishes evildoers

• Inheritances encourage us to respond differently

9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

• Called to repay evil with blessing? • Socially unusual • "because" - preposition goes both ways • 4:6, 2:20 - backward • Does my salvation rest on my behavior? • We are called to bless since we have inherited a blessing. • Blessings - Temporal, eternal, both? • Inheritance is not earned!

Psalm 34Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

1 I will extol the Lord at all times;

his praise will always be on my lips.

2 I will glory in the Lord;

let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

3 Glorify the Lord with me;

let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;

he delivered me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him are radiant;

their faces are never covered with shame.

6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;

he saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;

blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,

for those who fear him lack nothing.

10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, my children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12 Whoever of you loves life

and desires to see many good days,

13 keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from telling lies.

14 Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 3415 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and his ears are attentive to their cry;

16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,to blot out their name from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;

he delivers them from all their troubles.

18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,

but the Lord delivers him from them all;

20 he protects all his bones,

not one of them will be broken.

21 Evil will slay the wicked;

the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

22 The Lord will rescue his servants;

no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

10 For, Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.

• Quoted from Psalm 34 • David escapes Saul by going to Philistines and feigning madness • David is delivered from Philistines, believers delivered. • Believers not exempt from pain and suffering • Restatement of 2:12

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

• Temporal and eternal rewards and punishment. • Opposite of v7. • "The point of the psalm quotation is to show that people who

have been born again into the good days of new life with God are called to bless when insulted and to return good for evil. Their calling does not assure them an exemption from insult and evil." - Jobes • Defined by God, not our enemies.

My Actions My Longings• v10 Evil speech • v10 Deceitful speech • v11 Turn from evil • v11 Do good • v11 Seek peace and pursue it

• Revenge, justice, self defense • Power, fame, significance • Control • Security • God's will not mine