And grab your copy of God's Word.
1 Peter chapter 3 is where we're going to be this morning.
As Wes has already mentioned, this is one of those days where it doesn't go the way you had planned the night before.
Nathan is sick.
He called me this morning, so I give that to you as a...
If it's terrible, blame Nathan. If it's good, just talk to me, alright?
Let me know.
1 Peter chapter 3 is our text this morning.
We've got some things that are happening at Christ Family Church that we're really excited about.
And one of those is our community groups.
We've got three community groups right now.
We want to see them grow, expand, and multiply.
And in our community groups, we've been talking a lot about loving our neighbors and reaching our communities with the gospel.
And we've been praying for opportunities to join God in what He's already doing.
To be part of what He is working out.
Because God invites us to join in what He is already doing.
We don't have to do anything new.
Well, all of us here, I can say with boldness, we all live in the South.
We all live in the Bible Belt, although the Bible Belt might not exist much longer.
And one of the barriers that we as Christians in the South deal with is that people already have a preconceived notion of what a Christian looks like.
They already know.
They think they have the idea of what a Christian is supposed to look like and how they're going to or supposed to act.
Well, this barrier prohibits us from having deep conversations with people without first removing that barrier.
Without first proving to them who we really are.
Proving to them that we're real.
Proving to them that our life has been changed through the gospel.
The problem here in the South is there's a ton of people just like that.
Who have the preconceived notion of what a Christian looks like.
So this circumstance that we face, the people around us, people who know or think they know what a Christian is,
people who claim to be Christians and maybe aren't at all,
makes it vitally important that we live a specific way, a certain way through the gospel in our communities.
If we're going to reach those communities, we have to be real.
We have to live a specific way, a biblical way, not a denomination way or not a religious way.
So this morning I want to talk about for us evidences of a Christian life.
Evidences that are dead giveaways to people around us that we are Christians, that we are believers,
that we are followers of Christ, that we live the gospel out.
There's a saying in sports, the saying is the team looks good coming off the bus.
Meaning they've got their great uniforms on, they've got the physique, whether it's football or basketball or whatever.
They've got their confidence, they're strutting around with their headphones and they're dressed to the tee or whatever.
And you look at them and say, oh man, they look good coming off the bus.
But you guys know the reality is, is how do they play?
How do they act it out, out on the field or out on the court?
That's what speaks, not how they look coming off the bus.
The same is for us as Christians.
We may look good getting off the bus.
We may look good leaving the church building.
We may look good sitting in a room with a bunch of Christians singing songs.
But how are we when we're out in life?
How are we out on the field?
And that's what I want to talk about this morning.
So, 1 Peter chapter 3, we're looking at five verses.
We're going to start reading in verse 13 and kind of dig through them.
Starting in verse 13.
Now, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed.
Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.
But in your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as holy,
always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
Yet, do it with gentleness and respect,
having a good conscience so that when you are slandered,
those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.
For it is better to suffer for doing good,
if that should be God's will,
than for doing evil.
Let's pray together.
Father, you know the circumstances of this day.
None of this has surprised you.
None of this has taken you,
thrown you off guard.
God, we trust in you this morning,
that you are at work here this morning.
And I ask, God, that you would speak through me,
that you would use me,
that what is spoken would not be my opinions,
that it would be your word to us this morning.
As nerve-wracking as this may be,
God, you have put me in this position,
so I pray, God, that you would use me to proclaim,
to build your kingdom this morning.
I pray for the hearers of your word,
that we would hear with our hearts,
and not with just our ears.
And when that happens,
we know that action is to follow.
When that happens,
we know that we leave this place different,
living different,
striving to be different,
because we have heard a word from you.
So, God, I plead and I beg,
speak to us this morning.
Use your word,
spirit move,
in Jesus' name.
Amen.
So, just a little background here.
Peter is writing this letter to churches in Asia Minor,
and there's persecution happening in these churches.
These are churches in Asia Minor
who are tasting great persecution.
They are living it.
And they're dealing with the question,
is it worth it?
Is it worth it to struggle,
to deal with this type of persecution,
to suffer?
And Peter writes this letter,
and it's to affirm to them,
yes, it is.
That's why in chapter 1, verse 3,
it says we have a living hope
for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
He, right off the bat,
tells them it is worth it
through Jesus Christ
and because of Jesus Christ.
So, he affirms to them
that this persecution is okay.
It's worth it.
So, now,
we come to chapter 3.
And in these five verses,
Peter gives us some evidences
of a Christian life.
And these evidences for you this morning
come in questions.
The first one is,
are you passionate for good?
Are you passionate for good?
The second one is,
Christ Lord of your life.
The third one,
do you have a readiness
to defend your faith?
Fourth,
do you live with a good conscience?
And fifth,
do you suffer for doing good?
And of course,
we'll run through those again.
First one,
first question for you,
first evidence.
Are you passionate for good?
And we see this in verse 13.
Now,
who is there to harm you
if you are zealous
for what is good?
Another word for good
is righteous.
You have a fervent pursuit
of good,
of righteousness.
In the face of danger
and suffering,
the churches in Asia Minor
were encouraged
to pursue righteousness
above everything else,
no matter what.
This word zealous
means an intensity
or an enthusiasm,
a passion.
In Jesus' time,
zealots were a group
that pledged
to free the Jews
no matter what
from all foreign rule.
And they would assassinate,
they would steal,
they would lie,
they would kill themselves
for the greater good.
That's the kind of passion
that Peter is talking about here.
That's the word he's using.
So much passion
that they'd even give up
their own lives for it.
Now,
there's an assumption here
in verse 13.
If we are zealous
for what is good,
then we're the opposite
towards what is bad.
See the assumption?
If we're zealous
for what is good,
if we're passionate
about what is good,
what is righteous,
then we're the opposite
towards what is bad,
which we know
is sin.
So the question for you
and for me
is are you zealous
for sin
or for what is good?
Is there a line
that you won't cross
in your life?
Do you have
boundaries set up?
Are you zealous enough?
Are you passionate enough
to care?
Or do you just go through
and whatever happens,
happens?
Do you take extreme measures
to avoid sin?
Guys,
do you watch TV shows
that lead to thoughts
in your minds?
Do you visit websites
that you wouldn't visit
in front of other people?
These are the questions
and the circumstances
that a passionate person
of good would not do.
Are you zealous
for what is good?
Do you pursue people
above God?
Do you pursue
the praise of people
instead of the praise
of God?
Again,
something that somebody
who is zealous
for good
would not do.
Another way to look at it
in Matthew 5,
verse 6
in the Beatitudes,
the beginning of the Sermon
on the Mount,
Jesus says,
Blessed are those
who hunger
and thirst
for righteousness
for they shall be
satisfied.
Hunger and thirst.
Two strong verbs.
And we all can relate
to these two verbs.
We all know the feeling
of being hungry.
We all know the feeling
of working outside
in the middle of summer
and being exhausted
and thirsty
and all you want
is some water.
And the only thing
that's going to quench
that thirst
is that water.
That's the idea here
is hungering
and thirsting
for righteousness.
Are we zealous?
Are we passionate
for good?
If you're a Christian,
the assumption
will be true
in your life.
You will oppose
the bad.
You will oppose sin.
And you will be
passionate and zealous
and you'll hunger
and thirst
for righteousness.
Is there a passion
in your life
for good things?
For godly things?
Do you want
to do good things?
So there's our first
piece of evidence
found in verse 13.
Passionate for good.
The next one is,
is Christ set apart
in your heart
as Lord?
And this is found
in verse 15.
Verse 15 reads,
but in your hearts
honor Christ the Lord
as holy.
Christ as Lord
is New Testament language.
In the Old Testament,
Lord was always used
as Yahweh or Jehovah.
So to say
that Christ is Lord
is saying
that Christ is God.
That Christ is God.
He is the same
as the God
of the Old Testament.
His deity
is being proclaimed
when it says
Christ as Lord.
So is Christ
set apart
as Lord
in your heart?
Is He holy?
Holy.
Now, of course,
Christ is holy,
but is He set apart?
Is He part of your life?
Has He changed your life?
So, so many times
in churches
we describe salvation
as a decision.
It is a decision
to be made.
Choose this day
to be saved.
Do you want to go to heaven
when you die?
There's that aspect
of biblical salvation.
I will not
shoot that down.
But it's not
the whole story.
See, the depravity
of all of us
is missed.
The depravity
of our sin
and our lack
of doing good
is missed.
The holiness
of God
is missed.
The atonement
for our depravity
of sin
or sin
is missed.
The judgment
of God
is missed
that we are guilty
of that sin.
The gospel
is missed
that we can't
do anything
good
apart from
Him.
When you and I
become Christians,
we receive
this gift
from God.
And when we
receive this gift,
we surrender
our lives
to Him.
Not because
it seems better
or feels better
or it beats hell,
but because God
has chosen you
and He knows
His children.
And we surrender
our lives
and we make Him
Lord of our lives.
See, we were sinners
with no hope.
Sinners
without a direction.
Sinners,
in fact,
our direction
was the opposite
of God Himself.
And we became
saints with hope
in eternity.
Jesus Christ
is not a decision.
He's a Savior.
He's not
an invitation.
He's a calling.
He's not a part
of your life.
He is
life.
So to acknowledge
Jesus Christ
as Savior
is to worship
Him as Lord.
He should be
the sole object
of our love,
our reverence,
our loyalty,
and our obedience.
So in so doing,
then,
our entire lives
will flow
from Him
being Lord
of our lives.
So all our actions
will be
different,
will be godly,
will be passionate
about good.
if Christ
is Lord
of our lives,
then we will
do three things.
First,
we'll do
is we'll
recognize
His perfection.
Turn to
Hebrews chapter 7
real quick.
Hebrews chapter 7
verse 26.
It reads,
For it was indeed
fitting that we
should have such
a high priest
holy,
innocent,
unstained,
separated from
sinners,
and exalted
above the heavens.
Verse 27.
He has no need
like those high
priests to offer
sacrifices daily,
first for His own
sins and then
for those of the
people.
So He did this
once for all
when He offered
up Himself.
Holy,
unstained,
set apart.
Jesus is the
only one who
is perfect
and worthy
to be praised.
It's not us,
not what we do,
but Jesus alone.
So if Christ
is Lord of our
lives,
we'll recognize
His perfection.
But not only
will we recognize
His perfection,
we will submit
ourselves to
His will.
We'll submit
ourselves to
His will
and not our
own.
Romans 12
verse 2
says,
do not be
conformed to
this world,
but be
transformed by
the renewal
of your mind,
that by testing
you may discern
what is the
will of God,
what is the
good and
acceptable and
perfect.
He knows
all and He
has what is
best for us.
So when
Christ is Lord,
we will submit
ourselves to
His will.
And thirdly,
we will make
His glory known
through our
lives.
So if we do
these things,
we hear repeat
often that we
were created to
do two things.
Logos question
number two,
to glorify Him
and enjoy Him
forever.
Well, if that's
our end,
how we get to
our end is by
Jesus Christ
being our
Lord.
In Revelation
chapter 1,
verse 12
through 18,
it reads,
then I
turned to see
the voice that
was speaking to
me.
And on
turning, I
saw seven
golden lampstands
and in the
midst of the
lampstands, one
like a son of
man, clothed
with a long
robe and with
a golden sash
around his
chest.
The hairs of
his head were
white, like
white wool,
like snow.
His eyes were
like a flame
of fire.
His feet were
like burnished
bronze, refined
in a furnace,
and his voice
was like the
roar of many
waters.
In his right
hand he held
seven stars.
From his mouth
came a sharp
two-edged sword,
and his face
was like the
sun shining in
full strength.
When I saw
him, I fell
at his feet
as though dead,
but he laid
his right hand
on me, saying,
fear not.
I am the
first and the
last and the
living one.
I died, and
behold, I am
living forevermore,
and I have the
keys of death
and Hades.
This is who
we worship.
This is Jesus.
He is in
heaven.
He is the
first and the
last.
He is the
living one and
alive forevermore.
We bring him
glory when he is
Lord of our
lives.
We will honor
his name, and
his name will be
above anything
else.
In other words,
back to
Matthew,
Sermon on the
Mount, chapter
6, the Lord's
prayer says,
Hallowed be
your name.
Holy, holy,
holy is your
name.
Your kingdom
come.
Your will be
done.
That will be the
outpouring of
Jesus as Lord of
our lives.
Holy, holy,
holy, your
kingdom come.
Your will be
done.
Earlier in
1 Peter, and
in all of
Scripture, when
it says, when it
talks about the
heart, the
origin of the
human behavior,
the seat in
which all
decisions and
actions come
from, it is
what makes us
who we are.
So to make
Jesus the Lord
of our hearts
automatically makes
an inner thing
into an
external thing.
So an internal
thing becomes
an external
thing.
So what we
do on the
inside then
turns into
actions as
we live.
It will be
evident.
Our entire
lives will
change for the
good.
Our desires
will be His
desires.
Not because He
changed, but
because He
changed us.
Our actions
will line up
with His
will.
And as
Romans 12
said, we
will be
transformed by
Jesus Christ
and His
Lordship.
So Christ
being Lord
is another
piece of
evidence to
prove a
godly life.
The third
evidence is
in a
question.
Do you
have a
readiness to
defend your
faith?
Back to
1 Peter 3
verse 15,
the second
part of
15.
Read the
first part.
But in
your
hearts,
honor Christ
the Lord
as holy,
always being
prepared to
make a
defense to
anyone who
asks you
for a
reason for
the hope
that is
in you.
Always be
prepared.
Yet do it
with gentleness
and respect.
The language
here paints a
picture of a
courtroom.
Make a
defense.
Defend your
case.
Make an
argument.
This, of
course, does
not mean that
we're going to
be in a
courtroom or
setting like
that to
defend our
faith.
But it
does mean
that since
the gospel
is a
public
lifestyle,
it is a
changed
lifestyle,
lived out
for people
to see,
people are
going to
ask.
And we're
going to
have to
make public
defenses,
public
arguments.
A
commentator
said,
it does
mean that
every
believer
should grasp
the
essentials
of the
faith and
should have
the ability
to explain
to others
why they
think the
Christian
faith is
true.
So do you
have a
readiness to
defend your
faith?
Do you
have this
yearning just
to know
why you
believe what
you believe?
See,
apathy is
not accepted.
In verse
15, it
says,
always being
prepared.
Now, I'll
be honest,
this morning
took me by
surprise.
I don't
know that I
was prepared
this morning
for the
phone call.
Needless to
say, I
had to be
prepared.
I had to
prepare myself.
But see,
apathy is
not allowed.
The idea
that we
can just
coast on
through and
not care,
just, you
know, I'm
Christian,
whatever,
whatever that
means.
I'm going to
go to
heaven.
It's cool.
It's not
a fruit of
the gospel
in your
life.
We should
always be
concerned about
the opportunity
to share.
It is a
proactive
attitude.
I'm afraid
that churches,
the American
church, is
filled with
apathetic
people who
can defend
their church.
they can
defend their
worship
experience,
but they
cannot defend
the hope
that they
have or
they say
they have
in Christ.
Now, think
about that.
They can
defend why
they go to
a specific
church, but
they can't
defend Jesus
of the church
they say
they go to.
Here's the
reason I
think, I
believe, is
because they
have been
emotionally
infected.
their need
to get
their feelings
stirred up
has been
met and
not their
spiritual
need.
So, when
you attack
a feeling
or attack
emotion,
the gloves
come off
and they're
able to
defend that,
but they're
not able to
defend the
Jesus.
And Peter
is not
saying,
now, defend
those churches
you're with.
Defend those
churches in
Asia Minor.
He's saying
be ready to
give an
answer for
what?
For the
hope.
Always being
prepared to
make a
defense.
Anyone
asks you
for a
reason for
the hope
that is
in you.
A living
hope, as
1 Peter 1
3 says,
we have a
living hope
for the
resurrection
of Jesus
Christ from
the dead.
Jesus
resurrecting
gives us
hope.
And because
of his
action, we
no longer
fear death.
Or we
should no
longer fear
death.
Now, I
can guarantee
that if I
surveyed
everybody in
this room
and I
said, what
is your
greatest fear?
Some of
you are
going to
say to
die.
Death.
And that's
reality.
Some will
say spiders.
Some will
say snakes.
Some will
say, I
don't
know.
some of
you will
say death
or dying.
Now, the
reason is
probably
something
related to
not being
able to
do or
accomplish
something
yet that
you want
to accomplish.
And I
can relate
to that a
little bit.
But Jesus
himself and
eternity with
Jesus is
far better
than anything
this world
has to
offer.
Anything.
Think of
the greatest
thing that
you could
accomplish.
And he
is far
better than
that.
When we
die, it's
going to be
like Apple
with their
new iPad
3.
Hang with
me.
Don't drop
off the
cliff.
Hold on.
The iPad
2 is a
remarkable
piece of
technology.
People in
here have
it right
now.
They're
studying.
They're
cross-referencing.
And I'm
okay with
that.
Remarkable
piece of
technology.
But when
the iPad
3 comes
in, what
does Apple
do?
They tell
you, you
don't want
the iPad
2.
It's a piece
of junk.
You want
the iPad
3.
Look at
it.
It's even
better.
And they
do this so
that you'll
buy their
product.
Now, the
reality is
that when
we get to
heaven, it's
not going to
be like the
Apple iPad
2, which is
good, and the
iPad 3, which
is better.
It's going to
be Jesus'
best and
everything else
is garbage.
And we're not
even going to
want what's
behind us.
We're not
even going to
want what's
here.
We're going to
want Jesus.
We're going to
want to worship
Jesus alone.
So, we can
then say,
nothing is
better than
Jesus, here
or in
eternity.
And we can
no longer
fear death.
So then, if
we can no
longer fear
death, the
question in
verse 13 is
rhetorical.
Now, who is
there to harm
you if you
are zealous
for what is
good?
You're
zealous for
what is
good?
You're
zealous for
righteousness?
That desire
has been put
in you through
Jesus.
Jesus is our
living hope
through His
resurrection.
We have
eternal security.
He is far
better than
anything this
world has to
offer.
The answer
is simple.
No one.
We no longer
fear death.
Then no one
can intimidate
us.
No one can
change our
mind.
strongholds
that we
struggle with.
Strongholds
that just
grab us
and hold
on to us
really can
no longer
be strong.
So, let's
turn it a
little bit.
Are you
being asked
to make a
defense?
Are you
being asked
to defend
the hope
that you
have in
Jesus
Christ?
Does your
lifestyle lead
to questions
of why you
act the
way that
you do?
A godly
life is a
life that
lives in
opposition or
opposite to
the world.
That is as
clear a
statement and
as simple
statement as I
can make.
It is
opposite of
the world.
See, the
world celebrates
individuality.
The gospel
promotes unity.
unity.
The world
preaches
self-preservation.
The gospel
promotes one.
The world
promotes the
idea that
beauty and
attractiveness
is all we
need.
The gospel
proclaims the
blood of
Christ is all
we need.
The world
promotes do.
Do, do,
got to do
this, got to
do that.
The gospel
proclaims done.
Jesus has
already done
it.
The world
leads to
death forever.
forever.
The gospel
leads to
life everlasting.
If we
live a
gospel-centered
life, people
will ask
for us to
make a
defense because
we will
be different.
Are you
being asked?
Are you
being asked?
The last
part of
verse 15
says,
yet do it
with gentleness
forgiveness and
respect?
Now, when you
encounter a
hostile challenge
to something
important to
you, no
matter what
it is,
what is your
response like?
Does it
tend to be
more emotional
and harsh
and more
right at
them?
If it is,
we're all in
the same
group.
We're all
together.
It's because
answering critics
in your own
power, with
your own
emotion,
that's going
to be the
reaction.
We're going
to go after
them.
We're going
to defend
with raw
emotion.
But see,
the gospel
enables us
to answer
with gentleness,
with respect.
Now, I know
what some of you
are thinking.
This doesn't
mean that we
fold like
lawn chairs.
We just,
you know,
take the
critics and
that's cool,
man.
Whatever.
Just tell
me.
Tell me
I suck.
It's cool.
Tell me
Jesus is
horrible.
That's cool.
No.
But we
can, the
gospel still
allows us to
correct with
gentleness,
with love,
with care and
concern for
their hearts
and their
souls.
We can
still be bold
and right
and not
sin.
The gospel
enables us
to answer
with gentleness
and respect.
See, this is
why Peter
tells us to
do this,
to do it
with gentleness
and respect.
He knows
that we're
human.
He knows
that the
readers of
this are
going to
be human
and we're
going to
have the
same sinful
nature,
the same
emotional
fortitude
and whatever.
We're going
to be made
the same.
And he
knows
through the
leading of
the Holy
Spirit,
of course.
Nevertheless,
our response
can be and
must be
gentleness
and respect.
Gentleness
to the
unbeliever,
concern for
their souls,
love for
them,
respect
towards God,
respect and
fear is
another word
here,
towards God.
which as
we know,
fear of
God,
everything
trickles
down from
that,
from our
reverence
to God,
everything
kind of
trickles
down from
that.
So,
we fear
God,
we're going
to be
humble.
We fear
God,
we're going
to put
others
before
ourselves.
We fear
God,
we will
respond to
our offenders
with love
and gentleness.
Here's what
Martin Luther
wrote about
speaking to
people about
the hope
that we
have.
He says,
do you know
what the
devil thinks
when he
sees men
use violence
to propagate
the gospel?
He sits
with folded
arms behind
the fire
of hell
and says
with malignant
looks and
frightful grin,
ah,
how wise
these madmen
are to play
my game.
Let them
go on.
I shall
reap the
benefit
and I
delight in
it.
But,
when he
sees the
word
running
and contending
alone on
the battlefield,
then he
shudders
and shakes
for fear.
We must
defend,
not with
our opinions,
not with
our thoughts,
we defend
with the
word.
We defend
with the
word,
the gospel
of Jesus
Christ.
Do you
know the
word?
Do you
know the
word of
God?
So,
not only do
we have a
readiness to
defend our
faith,
but another
piece of
evidence is,
do you
have a
good
conscience?
Verse
16.
Having a
good
conscience.
Having a
good conscience.
So,
be ready to
defend your
faith for
the hope
that you
have,
with
gentleness
and respect,
having a
good
conscience.
the rest
of that
verse,
so that
when you
are
slandered,
those who
revile your
good behavior
in Christ
may be put
to shame.
The key
word here,
key words
here are
in Christ.
Does your
reaction,
does your
defense,
does the
way you
live your
life fit
within the
statement
in Christ?
Are you
living in
Christ?
Does your
life lean
towards sin
or towards
righteousness?
Now,
Jamie and I
had the
great opportunity
to take our
kids to see
the Lorax
last night.
So,
if they all
were at the
wedding and
you didn't
see us at
the reception,
that's where
we were.
We were at
the movie
theater.
There's a
line in
the movie
that's very
applicable to
this.
The Lorax
asks the
once-ler,
he says,
which way
does a
tree fall?
And the
once-ler says,
I don't
know.
And the
Lorax
responds by
saying,
it falls
whichever way
it's leaning.
Be careful
which way
you lean.
So,
for you
and for
me,
which way
does your
life lean?
Sin
or
righteousness?
If a
life is in
Christ,
that means
your life
through the
gospel leans
towards
righteousness.
His term
in good
conscience
does not
mean that
you've got
a good
credit score.
It doesn't
mean that
you have
good
relationships
with your
co-workers
or you
can sleep
well at
night
or you
don't
believe in
the Easter
Bunny or
Santa Claus.
None of
that.
It has to
deal with
our
relationship
with God.
Because of
Christ and
His work
on the
cross,
we can
live in
God's
presence
clothed in
Christ,
clothed in
His
righteousness.
To have a
good conscience
means that
we stand
firm in
our knowledge
of Christ's
work for
us on the
cross and
our standing
with God.
What Paul
repeatedly says
to the church
in Corinth
talking about
their conscience,
where they
think they
are.
Our sins
all have
been forgiven.
We are
children of
God,
every single
one of
them.
We stand
as if none
have ever
been committed,
as if we
are perfect.
And in
fact,
we are
because of
Christ and
His
perfection
and His
righteousness.
There's a
saying,
and we've
got
presidential
campaign going
on this
year,
and there's
a saying
that says
we all
have
skeletons
in our
closet.
We all
have things
that are
in there
that we're
just ashamed
of,
things we've
done,
things we've
thought,
things we've
whatever.
Well,
politicians,
you'll notice,
ramping up
now,
and they've
already been
doing it,
they're
starting to
pull
skeletons
out of
the opposing
politicians'
closets.
Well,
this guy
had affairs,
and this
guy doesn't
do this,
or this
guy,
whatever,
and on
and on.
They try
to sway
us as
voters to
vote for
who they
want us
to vote
for.
Well,
here's the
reality.
Sure,
we all
have skeletons
in our
closet.
We all
have
something
we've
done
that
we're
ashamed
of.
But
because of
Christ,
because of
what He's
done,
those
skeletons
don't exist.
Because He
has forgiven
us of
those sins.
He has
cleansed
us as if
we've never
committed
them.
So if we
live in good
conscience
with God,
those
skeletons
don't exist.
that's good
news.
There's
nothing to
fear.
Am I
saying go
and run
for politics?
No.
I'm not
saying that.
But I
am saying
even better,
you're
standing
before a
holy,
righteous
God is
right because
of Christ.
If you
are a
child of
God,
if you
know Jesus,
if you
have
surrendered
your life
to Him.
So see
what matters
is our
relationship
with God.
Not how
we live.
Not what
we think.
What matters
is our
relationship
with Him
and then
everything
else gets
affected by
that.
So if we
know Jesus
and the
gospel has
infected us,
our lives
will be
affected.
So we
can live
as fearless
and forgiven
children of
God.
and when
we do
our
reaction
to our
slanderers
can be
gentle,
respectful,
and godly
and good
conscience.
Verse 16,
there's two
words right in
the middle.
It says,
so that
having a
good conscience
so that
when you are
slandered,
those who
revile your
good behavior
in Christ
may be
put to
shame.
They'll be
put to
shame because
nothing they
say will be
true.
Nothing will
matter.
You have
lived the
life in
honor and
praise of
God.
In good
conscience
with Him,
therefore,
nothing matters.
And what
somebody says,
rumor,
slander,
will not
matter because
your standing
with God
is right.
Now,
the last
evidence,
the last
piece is,
do you
suffer for
doing good?
Do you
suffer for
doing good?
And this is
found in
verse 14
and verse
17.
Remember,
Peter's
writing to
the churches
in Asia
Minor who
are already
suffering,
and in
fact,
worse is
headed their
way.
Peter knows
that more
is coming.
So in
verse 14
he says,
but even
if you
should suffer
for righteousness
sake,
you will
be blessed.
Have no
fear of
them,
nor be
troubled.
Verse 17,
for it is
better to
suffer for
doing good
if that
should be
God's
will than
for doing
evil.
Now,
as Christians,
there's going
to be times
of suffering.
There's going
to be
situations
that we're
going to
suffer
through.
Some
may be
persecution.
There are
two statements
that I've
read recently.
One says,
suffering
stalks the
believer
until this
present evil
age comes
to an end.
Another
one is
suffering
is an
indication
of God's
blessing.
We see
that in
James 1.
You guys
know,
James 1.
2-4,
it says,
Count it
all joy,
my brothers,
when you
meet trials
of various
kinds,
for you
know that
the testing
of your
faith produces
steadfastness.
And let
steadfastness
hold its
full effect,
that you
may be
perfect and
complete,
lacking in
nothing.
Count it
all joy,
my brothers,
when you
meet trials
of various
kinds.
We are
going to
suffer.
The people
in Asia
minor are
suffering at
this time
that Peter
is writing
this.
There are
brothers and
sisters in
our time
who are
dying,
being murdered
for their
faith.
Now,
of course,
for most
of us in
here,
that's not
really a
reality.
We're kind
of sheltered
here.
We've got
freedom.
We've got
safety.
We've got
houses.
We've got a
lot of
things that
shelter us
here.
But it
doesn't mean
that sooner
or later
our faith
is going
to go
head on
against
someone or
something in
this world
that is
against what
we preach,
against what
we live.
See,
the reason
that we're
going to
suffer is
because Jesus
is the
antithesis to
the world.
He's the
opposite of
the world.
He preaches
life.
World is
death.
He is
light.
World is
dark.
And if
he's the
light and
he shines
the light
in the
dark,
you get
to see
all the
defects,
all the
warts,
all the
cracks,
all the
whatever.
Because
Jesus'
light has
been
shown.
The
defects
in
religion,
the
defects
in
philosophy,
the
defects
in
social
priorities,
the
defects
in
moralism,
the
defects
in
personal
responsibility.
Jesus is
the
light.
And if
we claim
to be
his,
then we
will
suffer
for
his
name.
There
will
be a
time.
The
fact
that we
are
Christians
and in
Romans
chapter 8,
if God
is for
us,
then who
is there
to fear?
In
Revelation
chapter 2
verse 10,
Jesus gives
us some
encouragement.
He says,
do not
fear what
you are
about to
suffer.
Behold,
the devil
is about
to throw
some of
you into
prison,
that you
may be
tested,
and for
ten days
you will
have
tribulation.
Be
faithful
unto
death,
and I
will give
you the
crown
of life.
That's to
the church
in Smyrna
that he
writes to.
We
should not
go through
suffering
with our
heads
hung
low,
with the
poor me
attitude,
or the
poor me
signs all
over us.
We
should go
through
suffering
with
courage,
with
courage
and fight.
Courage in
order to be
faithful.
We must
face all
circumstances
with courage.
As Joshua
says in
Joshua
chapter 1,
only be
strong and
very
courageous,
being
careful to
do
according
to all
the law
that
Moses
my
servant
commanded
you.
Verse 9,
he repeats,
Have I
not
commanded
you?
Be
strong and
courageous.
Do not
be frightened
and do
not be
dismayed.
For the
Lord,
your God
is with
you
wherever
you go.
We
suffer
with
courage
because
it's
an
indication
of
God's
blessing
on our
lives.
We're
okay with
it because
we know
the end.
We're
okay with
it because
we know
the Savior.
So does
your life
give evidence
of a
godly
life?
Or do
you just
look good
coming off
the bus?
Do you
look like
something that
you're not?
As our
community groups
gather,
as we pray
through
opportunities
to share,
to reach
our community
for Jesus?
Do we
just look
good coming
off the
bus?
Do we
just have
good
intentions?
Do we
just carry
our Bible
in our
left hand
and not
our right
hand?
Do we
preach
and say
certain
words?
Do we
look good
coming off
the bus
or do we
actually live
it out?
Has our
life been
changed?
by the
gospel.
I pray
that all
of us
have a
passion
for what
is good.
That we
are ready
to defend
the questions
of our
faith.
That Christ
is set
apart in
our hearts
as Lord.
That we
live with a
good conscience
and that all
of us
suffer with
courage
and fear
of God
alone.
Let's pray
together.
Amen.