By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

In this series so far we have learned that Peter wrote this letter to followers of Christ who were scattered in the area of Asia Minor, what is now modern-day Turkey. His main emphasis in this letter was to remind Christians of the hope they have in God because of the gracious salvation provided for them in Jesus Christ as well as how the gift of the Holy Spirit within them works to lead them in sanctification. We continue now to learn even more about this wonderful salvation that God blesses His children with and how we are to live as Christ and love one another. Part of loving one another in Christ is learning how to submit to each other in the Lord. Peter in the next few verses covers several more examples where submission is necessary and displays before others a Christ-like character and behavior.

 

Peter concludes his exhortations and encouragements in how to live with godly hope in the midst of struggles while treating others as Christ would. Trials and hardships can tempt us to mistreat others as we vent our frustration and pain. The storms of life that beat down upon us can stimulate our flesh to rise up and influence how we treat others. Peter is seeking to lay down some traits that followers of Christ should manifest all the time, even in perilous times, because they are obeying the Word, keeping in step with the Spirit and manifesting a life centered on the life of Jesus Christ. He is telling us that as followers of Christ we are called to live honorably before all people and rest in the hope we have in God, even in the midst of a difficult time.

 

1 Peter 3:8

“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.”

 

Peters shares in verses 8-12 at least nine general categories of outward behaviors and actions of thought that should be spiritually manifested in the lives of those who have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. The first five relate to our inward thoughts and feelings. First Peter states, “live in harmony with one another;” This means being “like-minded in unity and seeking harmony in all relationships (2 Corinthians 13:11, Colossians 3:14-15). Paul spoke of this in his letter to those living in Ephesus.

Ephesians 4:1-6

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

 

Peter secondly tells them to be “be sympathetic” in relationships. This English word in our Bibles is actually made up of two Greek words which imply we are to be affected in our feelings by the experiences and lives of others. This could best be illustrated by the passage in Romans 12:15-16 where it says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.”  Peter and Paul are both instructing believers to be sympathetic to others and identify with them in whatever they are going through. Such thoughtful love is expressed outwardly in how we minister to them.

 

Thirdly, Peter shares how we are to “love as brothers” and this applies to men and women. The Greek word for “love” here is “philadelphos” which refers to a sense of loyalty just as strong as one’s natural family relationships. Often Christians speak of other followers of Christ as their spiritual family and that is very true. No matter where you travel or go to church, when you meet another Christian you are meeting another child of God who has accepted the same Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and received the same Holy Spirit into their life as you have. You may not speak the same language, have the same skin color or worship in the same fashion, but all Christians are unified by their obedience to the Word, their submission to the same Lord and their walking with the same Holy Spirit.

 

Fourthly, we are also told in this passage to “be compassionate.” This is a heartfelt kindhearted compassion that comes from the love of God that resides within us. It is empowered by the Holy Spirit and taught in the Word of God. It is the same love God has for us as sinners who have been saved by the blood of His only Son, Jesus Christ. Paul uses this same word in Ephesians 4:32-5:2 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Be Imitators of God Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” This compassion is closely associated with forgiveness and is lived out when we take action to reach out to those who are hurting or suffering.

 

Peter fifthly calls all followers of Christ to be “humble” and have a spirit of humility. This means we are to be lowly and “bowed down” in mind. This does not imply we are to demean ourselves or portray a false modesty. Jesus spoke of this type of humility in service in Mark 9:35, “Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.’” Jesus was describing the person who is truly humble. Such Christians do not desire attention, nor do they desire recognition. They simply want to serve the needs of others. They love as Christ did, putting the needs of others first and enjoying that ministry because the love of God flows in and through them as the Holy Spirit fills them. Often our egos strive for recognition, but a true spirit of humility holds back the ego’s insatiable appetite for selfish attention.

 

Now Peter covers the next four categories of recommended spiritual manifestations that are found in a Spirit-empowered life of a follower of Christ. These cover our outward actions as they directly affect those around us in what we do and say.

 

1 Peter 3:9

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”

 

The sixth spiritual trait Peter covers relates to forgiving others. Peter knows that followers of Christ will be mistreated and abused for their faith at times and he now instructs them to have a forgiving nature with the instruction, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.” Our natural fleshly response to insult and injury is to respond in like manner, but once we are saved we are to seek to live by the Word, walk with the Spirit and model our lives and responses to trials by the example of Jesus Christ. Proverbs has much to say about godly responses to difficult events in life.

 

Proverbs 14:16-17

 “A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless. A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.”

 

Proverbs 15:1-2

 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.”

 

Seventhly, Peter gives godly, Spirit-inspired advice by stating that we should respond to harsh treatment and words with speaking blessings in spoken words and actions. This does not mean we commend and compliment people because they mistreat us. He is stating we should not seek revenge, but instead, attempt to resolve the issue, refrain from seeking to get even and respond in love. When we respond in such a manner it is a well-meant godly blessing upon the lives of those who mistreat us and, for this godly response, we will receive a blessing in return, if not from the person who has hurt us, at least from our Father in Heaven. To support his instruction he quotes Psalms 34:12-16.

 

1 Peter 3:10-12

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 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.”

 

This quote from Psalms by Peter tells us that the person who wishes to have a vibrant life full of blessings, to be able to love and be loved be loved by others as well as to see good days in their life, they are to keep their tongue from speaking evil and deceit. Jesus discerned that what we say and the behavior we exhibit reveals what resides in our heart, mind and soul. In Matthew 15:19-20 Jesus states;  “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.  ‘These are the things which defile the man;’”

 

The heart of a person is tied to their mind and soul. When the heart responds with evil thoughts and actions it reflects the condition of the mind and soul as well. These are all intimately linked together in who we are as a person. We are to ask our Heavenly Father to enable the Holy Spirit to guide us in all we think, do and say.

 

Psalms 141:3

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”

 

Further on in Peter’s quote of Psalms 34 is the advice to live a pure and holy life. This is the eighth godly trait we are to possess. He states that a follower of Christ, “must turn from evil and do good;” Purity from wickedness means turning away from evil inclinations, temptations, and even the sins that we were involved in our non-Christian past. We are instead to replace these bad thoughts and habits with pure, godly thoughts. That is our calling in our life as followers of Christ to cooperate with the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us by obeying the Word of God as we seek to pattern our lives after Christ. Philippians 2:12-13 discusses this mutual effort in our lives as Christians. “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

 

The ninth spiritual trait is one of peace. Peter quotes Psalm 34 to reflect our calling to a peaceful disposition when he states that a follower of Christ “must seek peace and pursue it.” Other scriptures stress the necessity of living at peace with others. This gives us peace with our Heavenly Father as well as with ourselves.

 

Romans 12:18-19

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge.”

 

2 Corinthians 13:11

“live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”

 

Peter continues with his quote of Psalms 34 and ends in verse 12 with an encouragement to be aware that God is watching both us and those we come in contact with as well.  “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.”

 

Peter uses this portion of Psalms to remind us that our Heavenly Father is constantly aware of all we say, do, think and feel. We are His spiritual children and like any loving and caring father, He is actively involved in our lives and He never turns a deaf ear to our prayers. He has given us the Holy Spirit to live within us so that we can depend on Him to comfort, guide, convict, encourage, challenge and empower us in our spiritual life centered on Jesus Christ. So let us seek to live in harmony with others as we are humble and sympathetic to their needs, while we love them as Jesus would, expressing compassion, modeling humility in our spirit, always being quick to forgive, speaking  blessings to them in whatever situation, as we seek purity in all areas of our lives, with a peaceful countenance and attitude.