1 Peter 3 Part 2 (Kate and Eleni)

1 Peter 3 Part 2

• What we’ve been talking about
  • The Body of Christ
    • What they are like together and what their relationships are like
    • What the marriages look like
    • How do Christians act in a non-Christian world?
    • How are we, Christians, supposed to act in a non-Christian world?
    • 1 Peter 3:16
      • “And keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.”
        • This book was written for Christians who were under intense persecution
        • The different ways that we can make life appealing to non-Christians
          • What makes a Christian life appealing to non-Christians?
            • Avoiding cussing, r-rated music, drinking, music?
            • The fasting?
            • Praying over our meal?
            • NO!
            • 1 Peter 3:8-9
              • “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;  not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.”
                • How to act:
                  • Calling us to be harmonious
                    • Not all about peace and love
                    • Means to be of the same mind
                      • The same basic beliefs
                        • All about God, sacrificial relationships, love
          • We are able to talk about our differences and have successful relationships
        • Sympathetic
          • Putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes
          • Being able to see that they are different from you and letting the Lord open your eyes about what they are going through
          • Being non-judgmental
          • It is a willingness to understand someone else’s burdens
            • You want to help them
          • Empathize
        • Brotherly love
          • You love your brothers and sisters no matter what
          • You do not give up on your relationships no matter what
          • You work through your issues no matter what
          • “I want a relationship with you no matter what!”
        • Compassionate
          • Being gracious and forgiving people
        • Humble
          • Not: “I’m not worthy to say anything because you are amazing”
          • Not: “This is all the wonderful things I do”
          • Focusing on other people’s lives instead of your own
  • Do not return evil for evil… Give a blessing
    • In the world: “You need to get back at them!”
    • Peter is telling us to do nothing about being insulted
    • Take action by giving them a blessing
    • This is radical because you are loving people not matter what
      • This is what Christ did for us
      • 1 Peter 3:15
        • “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;”
          • We are called to give a defense for the hope that we have
          • The word for hope is also the word for faith
          • Most people think that reason and faith cannot go together
            • NOT TRUE
  • We do not have blind faith
  • We can be confident in the faith we have and defend it
  • A good basis to believe
    • Parents?
    • Something in a movie?
    • It feels right?
    • NO!
    • As soon as someone comes in to challenge you, you cannot defend it
  • What if you could know something is true and you can believe in it because it is true?
    • Absolute truth does exist and we can know it!
    • One of the biggest and best investigations that you could put your life into
    • If this truth exists then it is good to know and understand it
    • You can believe something because there are facts and evidence
      • Historical, archaeological, etc.
      • Faith and knowledge come together
      • Faith is the action of knowledge
      • One you find these facts, you have to decide if you are going to put your stock into it
      • Let’s put Jesus to this test
        • In nature
          • It has a significant argument for a designer
          • Prophetic scripture
            • Daniel 9
              • He predicted Jesus’ coming 400 plus years
              • Isaiah 53
                • 300 years before crucifixion was invented and yet Christ was crucified
          • Historical evidence, biblical evidence, etc.
            • God has A LOT of evidence
  • We need to present our evidence with gentleness and respect
    • We cannot force it
    • 1 Peter 3:14
      • “But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. ‘AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,’”
        • We do not need to be fearful
        • We have sufficient evidence
        • No other religion cannot stand up against how much evidence us Christians have
• Revelations 3:20
  • “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
    • God wants to have a relationship with us
    • He wants us to investigate Him
    • If you have trouble being confident in your faith then figure out why
      • Take that step of faith and act on it
      • There really is enough evidence to support God!!!

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