I. Our Relationship to God. 1:1-2:10

II. Our Relationship to the World. 2:11-4:6

A. We are Citizens. 2:11-17

B. We are Servants 2:18-25

C. We Respect our Spouses. 3: 1-7

*D. We are Peacemakers. 3:8-12

*E. We are Revolutionaries. 3:13-16

F. We are Graceful Sufferers. 3: 17-4:6

III. Our Relationship to the Church. 4: 7-5:11.

I. We are Peacemakers. 3: 8-12

A. Our Attitudes are Peaceful. 3:8

1. Harmonious---homophrones (same thinking)

a. Unity of thinking in doctrinal matters: seek to understand the "one faith" of Eph. 4:1-6 and speak the "same thing" (1st Cor. 1:10), but don't be dogmatic in demanding that everyone agree with your own interpretation; but courageously hold to your conviction.

b. Unity of judgment or opinion. Phil. 2:2; Rom. 12:16 (learn to come to an agreement by submitting to the majority even when we disagree with their wisdom; Elders can't be self-willed but must compromise in matters of judgment. Tit. 1:7 - we must submit to one another. Eph. 5:21.

2. Sympathetic - sympathetics - "suffer together"

a. Love and concern in feeling the cares and needs of others. 1st Cor. 12:25-26; Rom. 12:15; Acts:4:32.

b. Willingness to suffer for the good of another. 6:1-9, 10;

Phil. 1:27.

3. Brotherly Love (Philadelphia) - - friendship love for a brother.

a. Agape love seeks the good of another because of his need. Philadelphia love seeks the good of another because of his/her value as a friend or brother/sister. Jen. 15: 13-15.

b. Acting toward a neighbor or brother as a friend will show the kind of love God had for us in adopting us a children even while we were enemies. Rom. 5:8

c. Love considers the other more important than self. Phil. 2:3.

4. Kindhearted--eusplagchnoi--(love of pity or compassion).

a. Lexical Definitions:

(1) Thayer: "having strong bowels"

(2) Gingrich-Danker: "healthy intestines" from eusplagchnia (mercy) --bowels considered the source of compassion (feeling) in the same way we use the heart.

b. Only other N.T. usage: "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as Christ has also forgiven you" (Eph. 4:32).

c. The emu in front of arachnoid means "good" or "well" ; thus good or well bowels. Thayer on the verb form says, "to be moved as to one's bowels: hence to be moved with compassion (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity)." Lk.10:33 (Good Samaritan); Lk. 15:20 (father for the lost son).

d. This is the attitude that moves people to help those in need and to forgive those who have sinned. If someone has done you evil, this attitude will look on the evil one with compassion rather than anger. The one who has done evil is in greater need of help before God, than the person wronged.

5. Humble in Spirit: tapeinophrones (humble or low thinking).

 a. Lexical Definitions:

(1) Thayer: "humble-minded, having a modest opinion of one's self."

(2) Gingrich-Danker - "humble, modest---in contrast to boastful."

b. How to be Humble:

(1) By comparing oneself to Christ rather than to others: recognize your poverty and His riches. Matt. 5:3.

(2) By gratefully acknowledging that every thing one has and is came as a gift from God. 1st Cor. 4:7; 15:10.

(3) By exalting others rather than self. Phil. 2:3-5; Rom. 12:3,16.

c. How humility enables one to be a peacemaker.

(1) Pride is that which causes us to war and lash out against each other (Jase. 4:1-2).

(2) He who is crucified in Christ no longer needs to avenge himself, except to defend Jesus. Gal. 2:20.

(3) Counting others better than self, Phil. 2:3- 5, will move one to help the evil doer rather than punish him/her.

B. Peaceful Reactions. 3:9

1. Non-Retaliation: "not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult."

a. One wrong does not justify another. Matt. 5: 38-39.

b. Vengeance is a sign of the victory of evil and the defeat of righteousness. If you allow an evil doer to provoke you into doing evil, than Satan has defeated you and made you his servant. Rom. 12: 18-21.

c. Retaliation makes the avenger the judge and God is capable of rendering proper punishment for any sin. Rom. 12:19

2. How to retaliate - “but giving a blessing instead.”

a. This gives the evil doer that which he does not deserve. "a blessing."

b. This reaction will conquer evil. Rom. 12:20-21. You will conquer evil by not allowing it to provoke you to evil; and goodness will influence the evil doer to repent of his/her evil.

c. The best way to punish an evil doer is with love. Rom. 12:20; Prov. 25: 21-22.

C. Peaceful Motivation. 3: 9-12.

1. Imitation of God's grace: "for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing."3:9.

a. Christians were blessed before being Christians. Rom. 5: 6-8.

b. Christians should imitate their father and bless the wicked as they were blessed while being wicked. Tit. 3: 2-5.

c. Thus, a new Golden Rule: do unto others as God did unto you.

2. Love of life and happy days. 3:1-11. --"Let him who means to love life and see good days. ...."(Psa. 34:12-13)

a. Sinless lips form a smile: "refrain his tongue from evil"--curses and angry words form a frown. Eph. 4:29.

b. Feet that walk in righteousness leap with joy: "let him turn away from evil and do good." --feet that walk in darkness stumble and fall into sorrowful days.

c. Minds that seek peace find peace of mind: "let him seek peace and pursue it." Trouble-makers and contentious people never have peace. Matt. 5:9; Jas. 3:18; Prov. 25:24.

3. The Attention of the Lord: "for the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and His ears attend to their prayers."

a. God gives special help and aid to His righteous servants.

b. God gives special attention to the prayers of the righteous. Prov. 28:9; Jas. 5:16; Jn. 15:7.

4. The Wrathful face of God: "but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

a. If we take vengeance, God will take vengeance on us rather than our enemies. Heb. 10: 33--31.

b. If God be for us, who can be against us (Rom. 8:31), but if God be against us, who can be for us?

c. God will oppose His children in all they do if they walk not in humility, peace and righteousness. Prov. 3:34 and Deut. 28-29.

A. We are Righteous Revolutionaries: "and who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good." 3:13

1. "Zealots" defined.

a. In Greek, ought to to be "zealots" a noun, not a adjective.

b. Gingrich-Danker: "zealot, enthusiast, fanatic...one who ardently desires to join, promote, actively support, possess or defend."

c. Thayer: "one burning with zeal; a zealot...From the time of the Maccabees there existed among the Jews a clan of men, called Zealots, who rigorously adhered to the Mosaic law and endeavored even to resort to violence."

2. Example of a zealot of righteousness: Simon the Zealot, was an apostle of Christ, who formerly plotted to overthrow of the Roman government by force but later sought to win the Roman world to God by righteousness, under the Prince of Peace. Lk. 6:15

3. Method of Revolution: While Christians must be peacemakers, simultaneously they must be soldiers of Christ and fight with weapons of truth and righteousness. Eph. 6:11-17.

B. Protected Revolutionaries: "And who is there to harm you, if you prove zealous for what is good." 3:13

1. Society Protected; government usually protects the

righteous. Rom. 13:1-4.

2. Wisdom protected: Christ's wisdom of non-retaliation is the best way to avoid harm. Better to lose your possessions as opposed to your life. Matt. 5:39.

C. Revolutionaries are Blessed. "but even if you should suffer for the sake or righteousness, you are blessed.

1. Blessed by the comfort of the Holy Spirit. 1st Peter 4:14

2. Blessed by the privilege of suffering for Christ. Phil. 1:29.

3. Blessed by Christ's divine strength to endure. Phil. 4:13

4. Blessed by the development of Christian character. Jas. 1:2-4.

5. Blessed by being able to prove we are God's children. Matt. 5:10-12.

6. Blessed by life after death. Acts 7: 56-60.

D. Fearless Revolutionaries: " and do not fear their intimidation and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts." 3: 14-15.

1. Fearless because of a fearful Lord.

a. Isa. 8: 12-13 is cited in 1st Peter 3:14-15.

(1) Judah was not to fear Syria or Samaria.

(2) A child born would be a sign of the destruction of their enemies and their own salvation. Isa. 8:4-8

(3) This child represented to coming of Immanuel, the Prince of Peace, who would save His people. Isa. 7:14.

(4) History proved the prophecy true; so will the Lord protect us today.

E. Prepared Revolutionaries: "always ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you." 3:15.

 (1) "Always ready" hetoimos - means ready in the sense of being prepared.

(2) "To make a defense"

a. Gingrich-Danker: apologia: "speech of defense.

b. Christian evidences must be presented to the world to defend our faith.

F. Gentile Revolutionaries:

a. Can't win the fight and lose the battle.

b. Preach and teach in love. Eph. 4:15

G. Blameless Revolutionaries: "and keep a good conscience so that in the thing which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame." 3:16

(1) Practice what we Preach.

(2) We are the light of the world.

(3) Do not allow your amour of righteousness to be pierced.