Remember These 3 Things When You Face Various Trials

Thinking about 1 Peter 3:8-22.

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Peter wrote to Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1) who were distressed by “various trials” (1 Peter 1:6).

He comforted them by reminding them of the inheritance that awaited them in heaven (1 Peter 1:4), and urged them to continue clinging to their faith which was “more precious than gold” (1 Peter 1:7).

In our text, Peter urges Christians to remember three things when they face suffering.

Remember Your Purpose (1 Peter 3:8-12).

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:8-12)

Peter urges a united desire among Christians to live the kind of life that God desires His people (1 Peter 2:9-12) to live (3:8-9).

• Compassionately love each other as a family and tenderly care for each other without letting pride get in the way.

• Don’t return evil deeds done to us with more evil deeds, or evil words said to us with more evil words – but instead, do and speak what is good.

Why?

“Because this is the purpose of God for you” (BBE) – “You were called for this!”

Do and speak what is good and right – which is your purpose – so that you may inherit a blessing.

Peter quotes from Psalm 34:12-16 to illustrate this point. Psalm 34 is about how those who trust in the Lord are blessed and will be saved while the wicked will be condemned.  

Christians are those who trust in the Lord – and our purpose is to do and say those things which are good and righteous.

Remember Your Hope (1 Peter 3:13-17).

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But 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; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:13-17)

Rarely will we suffer if we do what is good and right (3:13), but even if we “suffer for righteousness’ sake,” we are blessed by God (3:14).

Peter quotes from Isaiah 8:12, a passage where God urges the prophet not to be afraid of the people’s threats, but to continue to reverence “the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 8:13). Just as Isaiah was commanded to “hallow” the Lord of hosts in the face of threats from men, so Peter urged Christians to “sanctify (set apart, make holy) the Lord God in your hearts” (3:15).

When the Assyrians came against Jerusalem later during the reign of King Hezekiah, they mocked Hezekiah’s trust in the Lord (Isaiah 36:7, 18-20). But Hezekiah’s trust in the Lord remained firm (Isaiah 37:14-20), and the Lord did deliver His people (Isaiah 37:36-38).

In the same way, when the Christian’s trust in God is mocked, Peter tells us to “be ready to give a defense” for the hope we have – and do this with gentleness and respect.  Some Christians in the first century died because they refused to proclaim Caesar as Lord – perhaps this very situation is the one Peter has in mind here.

You may be accused of being an evildoer, but if you remember your purpose and live a life that shows your trust in God – your accusers will be put to shame.

As Peter concluded, “It is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

If we keep the context of Psalm 34 in mind here (34:16, 21), Peter seems to be saying, “It is better to suffer in the hands of men for doing good because of your inheritance reserved in heaven, than it is to face the wrath of God for doing evil.”

Remember Your Lord (1 Peter 3:18-22).

For 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, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. (1 Peter 3:18-22)

Peter reminds Christians of what Jesus suffered for our sins so that He might bring us to God and save us (3:18). He died doing and saying what was right while trusting God, so that we might be saved and live for righteousness (1 Peter 2:21-24).

Peter then takes us back to the days of Noah when only eight people were saved while everyone else was disobedient (3:19-20).

In a similar way that the eight people were saved through water in Noah’s day, today, baptism through the resurrection of Jesus Christ saves us (3:21). This isn’t done to wash the dirt off of our physical body, but to obey God and to trust in the resurrected Savior and Lord for our salvation.

The One who died for us and was raised from the dead so that we might be saved is now sitting at the right hand of God and is Lord over all (3:22). No matter what you suffer – no matter who might be causing your suffering – remember who is truly the Lord. 

Don’t allow anything or anyone other than Jesus to become your Lord – for there is only one Lord (Ephesians 4:5).

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Suffering can cause us to do and say things we shouldn’t – but Peter reminds us to remember our purpose as God’s people.

Suffering can cause us to lose faith and hope – but Peter reminds us of the hope we have as God’s people.

Suffering can cause us through our words or actions to make something or someone else the “lord” of our life – but Peter reminds Christians who the real “Lord” is.