1 Peter 3:8-22

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Returning Good for Evil; Suffering for Righteousness

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BACKGROUND NOTES

DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

There is blessing ahead for believers who return good for evil. (1 Peter 3:8-9)

There is blessing ahead for believers who suffer for righteousness. (1 Peter 3:13-14)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Study Christian evidences.

QUESTIONS

Refer to 1 Peter 3:21. Does baptism save a person?

What does it mean to suffer for the sake of righteousness?

Consider 1 Peter 3:18.

God is known to be patient and longsuffering with sinful man. Is there a limit to His longsuffering?

What does baptism symbolize?

ANSWERS

What does baptism symbolize?

Two examples are given to illustrate what it means to suffer for righteousness sake: 1) the supreme example of the Lord Himself and 2) Noah. The overall argument is that God the Father rewarded the willingness to suffer for righteousness. See 1 Peter 3:18-20

The Lord preached to people whose spirits are now in prison because they didn’t believe.

See Genesis 6:3.

Baptism symbolizes the death and burial of Christ, and that is what saves us – the work of Christ. Now we with a clear conscience before God acknowledge this truth in baptism. When we are baptized we are identifying with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection, and acknowledging that the work of Christ has saved us, and we now want to separate from the old life and live the new life in Christ.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

Refer to 1 Peter 3:8-9. Think of some specific instances when you have returned good for evil. God will bless you for it.

Have you ever suffered for saying or doing the right thing? We are exhorted to operate in good conscience (1 Peter 3:16), even though we may be labeled as intolerant, even though we may be mocked or maligned for our faith. God will bless you for suffering for righteousness.

CHALLENGE

Refer to 1 Peter 3:15. There is evidence that is available to show the credibility of the Christian faith. The word and phrase, “to give an answer or defense,” is the word from which we get the word, “apologetics.” Apologetics is a defense of the Christian faith. Can you defend the faith? Do you have answers ready to give to people who question the Christian faith? Studying Christian evidences is a command of scripture.

KEY VERSES

“…be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil…that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:8-9

“…seek peace and pursue it, for the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous…” 1 Peter 3:11-12

“…even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed.” 1 Peter 3:14

“…sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:15

“…it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” 1 Peter 3:17

“Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18