"Do Good" Sermon: I Peter 3:8-17

"Do Good"
[I Peter 3:8-17]
August 12, 2007 Second Reformed Church

For the past two weeks, we have looked at Peter's explanation of authority -- of how every human being has authority over them, and how every human being is required by God to submit to the authority that is over them. We remember what Paul wrote, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment" (Romans 13:1-2). And we saw that there is only one exception to this: we are not to obey those in authority over us if they require us to do something that is against the clear Word of God.

Peter explained this to the first century Christians, because they were on the run: Nero and his armies were hunting them down, and he was going to have them put to death when they were captured, unless they renounced Jesus. So, Peter tells these Christians, and us, to obey the laws of the government and all those in authority over us, both physically and spiritually, understanding that Christ is the highest authority, and all must answer to and obey Him.

Peter explained to the Christians who were on the run from Nero that they were right to run from him and his sinful desire to murder them. They were also right to refuse to renounce Jesus -- they were right to suffer and even be put to death for doing what is right, for proclaiming that there is no salvation except through Jesus Christ Alone.

In this morning's Scripture, Peter goes through a number of correlating things that Christians should be and do. Since Jesus is the highest authority, and all authority comes from Him, and we answer to Him first and foremost, then these things ought also be true of us, as Christians.

We ought to be of one mind. And understand, as we have seen elsewhere, that does not mean that we should be clones or that we should forget about those things that are different about us. Peter is saying that we ought to be united in the essentials of the faith. We must be one in mind about Who Jesus is and what He has done and how one may be saved from the Wrath of God. There are many, many things which, though they may be important, they are not essential. There are issues which are related to salvation and there are issues which are not. For example: shall we use guitars in worship? That is not an issue which affects our salvation. Some may believe it is good to use guitars, some may believe it is not. Each ought to know why they believe one way or another, but having a guitar in worship or not having a guitar in worship is not a salvific issue.

Other things are salvific issues -- these things we are to be of one mind about -- these things are necessary for salvation. For example: The doctrine that states that Jesus is 100% human and 100% God at the same time is a necessary, salvific doctrine. All Christians must believe that, we must be united on that. Belief in that teaching affects our salvation.

Now, if we are united -- of one mind -- in all those doctrines -- teachings -- that do matter for salvation, and we are willing to allow Christians to have reasoned differences of opinion on non-salvific issues -- on things that don't affect our salvation, then we ought to all be able to work together in the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Christians who are Reformed and Baptist and Methodist and Congregational and Pentecostal ought all be able to and indeed work together to proclaim salvation in Jesus Alone. While we have differences -- important differences, and reasons for those differences -- we can and ought to work together in proclaiming the Gospel and doing those good works that flow from the Gospel.

Are we right in believing that a Presbyterian-style government is the most biblical? Yes, we believe we are, but this is not an issue that affects our salvation. Therefore, are we right to join together with the Congregational Church in Irvington, which has a Congregational-style government, and feed the poor together in Jesus’ Name? Yes, we are.

In fact, Peter says that all Christians of every stripe are to be sympathetic, brotherly loving, tenderhearted, and humble. All Christians, no matter what denomination we are a part of -- and denominations are good -- but, no matter what denomination we are part of -- we ought to care for each other, we ought to encourage the other communities of faith -- other Christians -- to be of one mind with us in the essentials of the faith, to work together for the good of all and the proclamation of the Gospel, to refrain from doing those things which put a bad light on Jesus.

Peter says we are not to repay evil with evil or reviling with reviling. We are not to act like the world; we are not to desire our "piece of flesh." We are not to seek vengeance, but we are to have a different mind and a different way of life. Paul wrote, "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 good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2).

How do we accomplish this? How do we keep from evil? How do we transform our minds? Let us begin by regularly attending worship and participating in the life of the church. Let us receive the sacraments. Let us listen to the Word of God and obey Him in all things. Let us pray that we would learn to love each other more, that our faith would be strengthened and deepened. Let us pray for each other -- that we would learn what is good and true and live it out. Let us pray for good for each other. Let us pray that we would seek after holiness and become holy in fact. Let us remember what Christ did to save us. Let us remember our sin and God’s Wrath against it. All these things will help us to keep from evil. If we spend our time and effort on these things, we may well keep from evil.

Positively, Peter says that we are to bless. We are to bless each other and all people. Jesus said, "You have heard it said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You must therefore be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:43-48).

Understand, it is good to bless those we love, to do good for those we love, but it is also our duty and to our advantage to bless those who we don't love, even those who persecute us, even those who seek to kill us. If we do what is good and right, even praying for those who hate us, how will we be seen? Crazy? Perhaps. But when people claim all kinds of false and evil things about us, they won't be believed, and perhaps, even those who hate us will come to believe in Christ.

Peter quotes from Psalm 34 to tell us that if we desire to live a good life, a life that we will love, we will learn to restrain our tongues from evil, we will turn away from all evil. If we want to live a good life, a life that we love, we will not worry about ourselves and making sure that everyone knows that so-and-so wronged us. We will spend our energy seeking the good of others, seeking to direct others to good -- what might happen, if, instead of complaining about people who annoy us, instead of seeking ways to annoy them back, what if we spent time trying to lovingly support those who annoy us, tenderly showing them that they are appreciated, guiding them in better, more congenial ways of living?

Now, let's be honest: restraining evil and doing good is not always easy. Seeking good for others and peace for all is not easy. Peter says that we ought to run after peace with others. Understand the connection Peter is making -- he is writing to people who are running for their very lives -- if they slow down or give up, they will be put to death. Peter says that they -- and we -- ought to pursue good and peace with the same effort, day in and day out, week after week, month after month, with no end in sight. Why? If it's simply to be a moral person, then let's throw in the towel and get what we can out of this life. Let's eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die. But, if we seek to do good, because we know God and His Only Salvation, Jesus -- if our efforts are directed in thanksgiving for what Jesus has done for us and in a desire now to live for Him in all things and in all ways. Then, it's worthwhile; we can live like that.

Peter tells us to remember that God is watching us; God is seeing whether we are following after the righteousness that has been credited to us in Christ. He is watching to see if we are striving to live the holy life that we have been called to. Understand, our salvation is not based on our works, but we are called to good works once we have been saved by Jesus Alone.

Let us also understand that we are not alone: God hears our prayers; Christ is interceding for us before the Father, and God the Holy Spirit lives in us to teach and guide us. We cannot be what God has called us to be, but we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us.

And, again, let us leave vengeance to God. God will judge in the end. We may not all receive our due on earth, but God is Just and His Justice will be satisfied in the Kingdom. There will be a judgment, and we will all be judged. The only thing that will make any difference on that day is if we have received Jesus Alone as our Savior. If we have, we will survive the judgment and enter into Glory. If we do not, we will be cast with the devil and his angels into the lake of fire.

So, Peter tells us not to be afraid suffering for Christ. If we suffer for Christ and His Righteousness, even if we are put to death -- even if the Roman guard captures us and tortures us and makes us into a torch in Nero's gardens -- if we truly suffer for Christ, we shall be blessed in the end. As Jesus said, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). In other words, the only person anyone should be afraid of is God, and if we have received Christ, we have nothing and no one to fear -- no matter what happens to us.

Instead, Peter tells us that we should "consecrate the Lord Christ in our hearts" -- we ought to hallow Christ; we ought to "make Him holy." Again, let us understand, that we do not make God holy. He does not become more or less holy by what we do or do not do. What is being said here, as in the Lord's Prayer, is that we are to be like mirrors and reflect God’s Holiness back on Him. Practically, that is done in acknowledging and trusting everything that He has said. If we believe that everything He has said is true and if we live it out, then we are consecrating or "hallowing" Him.

Along with that, Peter says that we ought always to have a reason for the hope that is in us. What hope is that? Our hope -- the sure truth that we believe in, which has not been fully realized in history -- that's what "hope" means -- our hope is that Jesus has saved us from sin and death and Hell and the Wrath of God, and we shall enter into His Glory on that final day. Through Jesus Christ and His Work, we have been rescued from our doom and made right with God and will spend eternity with Him. That's our hope; that's the truth that is breaking through right now.

It's not an arrogant hope, but a gentle and awe-filled hope, because it is nothing that we did. We were dead and enslaved to sin. Christ did all the work. Christ deserves all the glory. So, if we suffer, even to death, for His Sake, if that is God’s Will, that's O.K. We can do good for Christ and suffer, because what we know is coming is so much greater that anything we could possibly endure.

Remember who Peter was writing to: he was writing to Christians running for their lives, and he tells them to do good, to focus on Christ, to run hard towards Him, towards His Truth, in obedience to Him, calling on Him, clinging to Him, hoping in Him, being good people and witnesses to Him as they do so. And, if they suffer, and it is God's Will, if it is for God’s Sake, that's O.K.

Let us do the same: let us live lives of unity with our fellow Christians, working together for the good of all and to the glory of Christ. Let us restrain ourselves from evil and bless all people, seek everyone's good, running towards peace with all men with everything that we are. And let us proclaim Christ. Let us show Him to be our Holy God. Let us defend the hope we have in Him. And let us trust Him, knowing that no matter what happens to us, it happens according to the Will of God. So, let us do good.

Let us pray:
Almighty God, for You Alone, we have reason to do good to all, even our enemies. For You Alone, we have reason to accept each other's differences and strive together to make known the essentials of the faith. You are our Reason, our Hope, and our Future. Help us to trust You, knowing that You are our Loving Father and everything comes to us from Your Hand. And may You be glorified in us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.