BBCC Bible Study Notes

BLESSED LIVING IN A BROKEN WORLD 1 Peter 3:8-11

October 27^th, 2024

Christians are described as exiles, foreigners, and refugees. We belong to God—adopted, heirs, loved, and redeemed. However, we navigate a broken world, constantly reminded by pain and discomfort that we are merely passing through.

1. Our Identity as Refugees - Trust God in adversity, knowing our true home is with Him.some text
   • We are people belonging to God despite worldly suffering. Peter's context: Early Christians facing persecution and oppression.
     
2. Living as Exiles Today - Let our behavior reflect our heavenly inheritance.some text
   • How our identity changes everyday life—work, community, family. - Peter's call to embody Christian virtues in normal interactions.
     

1 Peter 3:8-9 - "Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 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."

1. Five Indications of a Blessed Life

• Like-minded:Live in harmony, willing to submit for Christ's sake.

Philippians 2:2 - "then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind."

• Sympathetic:Rejoice and mourn with others, embodying the church as a body.

Hebrews 4:15 - "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin."

• Love One Another:Foster brotherly love, treating each other as family.

Philippians 1:7 - "It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me."

• Compassionate:Take action to help others, not just feel sympathy.

Luke 10:33-34 - "But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him."

• Humble:Emulate Jesus' humility, serving others selflessly.

John 13:14-15 - "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

Responding to Evil with Blessing Do not repay evil with evil; instead, bless those who harm you.

Psalm 34:10-12 - "The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,"

Living with Hope and Boldness

1 Peter 3:15 - "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."

Application: Strive to incorporate these virtues in all aspects of life—work, family, community—and trust God to handle the results. Let your hope in Christ be evident, prompting others to inquire and learn about the source of your unwavering peace and joy.

BBCC Verse of the Week:. 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)  15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

1 Peter 3:8-11 - Study/Discussion Guide

This section concludes with some general instructions on relating to others, especially those who may be hostile. Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind. The term translated unity of spirit means ‘sharing the same thoughts and attitudes, thinking harmoniously’—a goal too infrequently attained in Christian churches. Love of the brethren refers to love for others within the church (the primary emphasis on love for fellow Christians is missed by the NIV’s ‘love as brothers’). A tender heart is a helpful translation of a word which means ‘caring, compassionate’, not only in actions but even more in one’s feelings or emotions (note the same word in Eph. 4:32). A humble mind refers not only to ideas but also to attitudes and to general mental outlook—it is contrasted to pride in Proverbs 29:23. (Grudem)

Christians are free from vindictiveness because they trust God’s justice; but they are free for blessing because they know God’s goodness. Again, this was standard apostolic instruction. It is not only in the world that Christians must repay evil with good; they must do it in the church, too. Certainly this attitude of loving humility will provide the strongest rebuke to the conscience of a fellow-Christian. (Clowney)

How does a Christian behave when surrounded by a world that doesn't understand what we're about and is potentially hostile? The answer comes in Peter's quotation from Psalm 34. Seek peace, and follow after it. It may be hard to find, this peace we're supposed to be looking for, but we should hunt it down…Don't expect peace to come to you when you whistle. You have to do the work. You have to learn the new habit. You have to learn it because it will be all too easy to lapse into the way many people behave. Here is the irony: Christians are supposed to stand out as distinctive, but when we do, and are mocked or criticized for it, we are tempted to mock and criticize right back-and then we are no longer distinctive, because we are behaving just like everyone else! The new habits of heart and life are to be learned in the comparatively safe environment of the church itself (v. 8) so that they can then be practiced and applied in the wider world (v. 9 and vv. 12-16). (Wright)

Peter is therefore saying that baptism in itself does not remove moral filth once and for all so that Christians need not be concerned with how they live. Rather, he reminds his readers that at baptism they pledged to live in relationship with God, which would result in a good conscience before him. Therefore, he can exhort them to continue to live, even under persecution, in a way that honors their baptism. The reference to baptism is important in Peter’s argument that it is better to suffer unjustly for doing good than to suffer for doing evil.  The efficacy of water baptism is completely dependent on Christ’s resurrection (3:21), and so the three redemptive elements of Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension frame this passage. Therefore, the discourse on baptism is not a digression from Peter’s main point but is where the objective accomplishment of redemption is brought to bear on the very real and pressing life situation of Peter’s readers. (Jobes)

Discussion Questions:

1. When we deal with those outside the faith, what attitudes should we carry in our hearts?
2. Why is it so difficult to not repay evil with evil but instead with blessing (v. 9)?
3. How does this affect your understanding of the significance of baptism for you?
4. What encouragement do you draw from Peter's assurance that all authorities and powers are subject to Christ (v. 22)? (Wright)

next week – Read 1 Peter  4:1-11                                       Pastor Samuel Sutter //  sam@BBCCOnline.org

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