4. Be Faithful – Things will get Tough1 Peter 3:8–22

(p. 1124)

1 & 2 1 & 2

PeterPeter

If you were in Voorst/Twello, Netherlands on Friday …

1. More things to do

▲ Relationships among believers (“All of you ...”)■ v 8-9

● Be like minded - Be sympathetic● Love one another - Be compassionate & humble● Do not repay evil with evil ... But with a blessing

■ v 14-15● Do not be frightened ... revere Christ as Lord● Always be ready to explain the hope you have

1. More things to do ...

▲ Where we are in the letter –

1. Be Joyful – We have a Living Hope (1: 1-12)● God’s generosity & mercy have given us:

a Living Hope and a Guaranteed Inheritance

2. Be Alert – Our New Life doesn’t just Happen (1:13-2:10)● Be alert & fully sober● Set your Hope on Christ’s coming● Do not conform to your evil desires● Be Holy● Live in reverent Fear of the Lord

1. More things to do ...

3. Be Holy in Daily Life (2:11-3:7)● Abstain from sinful desires – they war against your soul● Christ’s example – willing to serve to bring others to God

■ Remembering the greater (unseen) reality: We are ...● redeemed by the precious blood of Christ (1:18-21)● born of imperishable seed (1: 23-25)● living stones ... built into dwelling place for God (2:4-8)● a chosen people ... God’s special possession (2:9-10)

2. Inheriting a Blessing

v. 9

... rather, repay evil with blessing

because to this you were called

so that you may inherit a blessing.

2. Inheriting a Blessing ...

A lost understanding –

FORGIVENESS / FORGIVEN

“Removal of sin The privilege of being in God’s presence”

BLESSING / BLESSED

Living in the experience of God’s Shalom

“Shalom” – peace, wellbeing, fulfillment, joy, rest, good life

2. Inheriting a Blessing ...

▲ The quote from Ps 34: 12-16 (v 10-12)■ IF you want to LOVE LIFE and SEE GOOD DAYS ...

Turn from evil and do good

seek “shalom” and pursue it

■ FOR –

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous

His ears are attentive to their prayers

3. Assurance in the harshness of reality

▲ Doing God’s will is always better (v 17)■ Christ also suffered (v 18)

● Then he proclaimed his victory to/over evil spirits (v 19)

■ Salvation may only be received by a “few” (v 20)● It is based on inward not outward condition (v 21)

▲ Jesus has risen – He now rules the cosmos (v 21)

Embracing your Future

▲ Inherit a blessing –

Pursue shalom with every ounce of your being

▲ Not all of it is always experienced all the time(2 Cor 4:16-18)

▲ God’s way is STILL the better way (even now!)