Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.—1 Peter 3:13–17

Introduction

Suffering has a purpose. We may not know God’s purpose, we may not understand the purpose, and we may not like the purpose, but God uses suffering in the life of the believer for good. Our passage this morning, and others like it throughout the Bible, are like sandpaper upon our modern thinking and sensibilities towards suffering.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.—James 1:6–7

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.—2 Corinthians 1:8–9

Peter corrects our faulty way of thinking. Most of us—if we’re honest—think or perhaps act as though our suffering is the worst thing in the world. It’s not. It is a common experience of most Christians across the centuries. What Peter wants to address is how we should go about suffering.

The challenge is that we hate suffering and want it to end right away, want it to go away, and want to be removed from painful or difficult situations or circumstances. But Peter reminds his readers again that suffering is a normal part of the Christian life.

We’re in the middle of a larger section in the letter. The first section of the letter was highlighting the identity of God’s people (1 Peter 1:1–2:10). The second section is how God’s people are to live godly lives (2:11–4:11). In the first half of that section he called them to honorable social behavior to authorities, as slaves, and as Christian wives and husbands, with a concluding word on righteous living last week.

From 3:13–4:11 is the latter half where Peter draws out how believers are to think about suffering unjustly for the name of Christ. Peter has concern for his readers, like a shepherd seeing his frightened sheep, hearing the howls of wolves in the distance, and reassuring them that they do not need to fear. That howling in the distance is all bark and no bite. This section, from 3:13 to 4:11, is reassurance for believers because of Christ’s victory and our assured vindication with Christ.

This morning, our passage focuses on suffering for doing good and how believers are to respond in the midst of that experience of suffering. What do we do? How does a faithful Christ-follower respond to unjust suffering?

The main point of this passage is that believers are blessed to suffer with Christ and to respond with a fearless, Christ-honoring hope.

Very simply, Peter is saying suffering for the sake of Jesus is a blessing, and not curse. This is what you were called to, and you are not to shrink back, withdraw, or compromise on Christ’s call on your life. But in addition to just understanding that they are blessed, they are also to respond with a fearless, Christ-honoring hope.

Peter’s aim is for his readers to be ready to give a defense for why they are trusting in Jesus. When suffering comes, stand firm in the true grace of God and allow that steadfastness to overflow from your heart and head to your mouth for the good of others.

My plan is to walk through the passage by asking two main questions which I think this text answers for us and then conclude with application.

1) How are believers to think about suffering?
(1 Peter 3:13–14a, 17)

• As a blessing
• As God’s will and for a purpose

2) How are believers to respond to suffering?
(1 Peter 3:14b–16)

• Get a fearless fear of Christ
• Be ready to make a defense for your hope

Application & Conclusion

Question 1: How Are Believers to Think About Suffering? (3:13–14a, 17) 

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.—1 Peter 3:13–14a

For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.—1 Peter 3:17

As a Blessing

Last week, Pastor Jon Nowlin helped us to see that we are to return blessing for reviling to obtain a blessing. We also saw from Psalm 34 that God’s eyes are on the righteous, but his face is against those who do evil. 

Here in verse 13, Peter is connecting back and making an inference from that previous passage. He poses the rhetorical question, “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?” (1 Peter 3:13). The implied answer is “no one!” Because if you’re zealous for good, and God’s face shines upon you, there is no harm that will befall you.

Peter highlights the proverbial truth that those who do good don’t typically suffer harm. Proverbs 12:2 says, “A good man obtains favor from the LORD, but a man of evil devices he condemns.” Doing good begets God’s favor, but doing evil gets punishment. That is a general proverb of life: If you do good, you’ll have few, if any, enemies. The emphasis throughout the letter has been that Christians ought to be zealous for good.

But Peter concedes this point in the verse 14, “But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.” He concedes because the very occasion for Peter’s letter is because his readers are experiencing accusations, slander, maligning, insults, threats, and other hostility. Peter’s readers certainly saw this later during Nero’s rule where Christians were impaled and burned alive for their faith. But what is surprising is that Peter states that believers are blessed to suffer for doing good. This is precisely what we saw last week: “bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).

This is in line with Jesus’ words in the Beatitudes:

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.—Matthew 5:10–12

Blessing comes not in the experience of suffering itself. Enduring pain isn’t more godly. Suffering becomes blessing because we are identifying with Christ. It’s a little like the question, “If you were arrested and put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” If there isn’t—in looking at how you conduct yourself, your use of time and money, how you share your faith with others—then we need to examine ourselves.

I remember as a young person having doubts about my faith. How do I really know that I’m a Christian? Like how do I really know if this is my faith, or if this is just the way I was raised? It came down to this: Do I really believe it in such a way that I’m even willing to suffer for it? Am I willing to endure mocking or scorn to pray before a meal? Am I willing to endure awkwardness and embarrassment to share my faith? Am I willing to sacrifice a summer internship to go on a short term ministry trip? Mocking or scorn for our faith is evidence that I’m really walking in the pathway of obedience! Just like the apostles who rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer with Christ.

Peter makes the point that no earthly suffering—as long as you’re suffering for the sake of Jesus—can compromise your eternal destiny, living hope, and heavenly inheritance. In fact, it confirms our eternal destiny. Furthermore, earthly suffering purifies us (testing the genuineness of our faith) and prepares us to take hold of that blessing.

Peter reframes suffering from what the society is telling his readers—that it is God’s absence and punishment—to the truth of the matter, namely that suffering means you are rightly following Jesus in the pathway of Calvary.

As God’s Will & For a Purpose

Peter reinforces this in 1 Peter 3:17, which reads, “For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” This suffering is according to God’s will, God’s design. And the suffering believers ought to experience is for righteous deeds, not for doing evil. Peter wants to make sure that Christians don’t misinterpret the opposition they experience if they are just acting shamefully. This is a reminder that if we’re suffering because we’re jerks, we do not honor God and suffering is not a blessing. 

Additionally, Peter says “it is better” to suffer while doing good so that believers will not suffer punishment from God on that final day. Instead, believers’ suffering is a “light momentary affliction [that] is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

And if we go back to 1 Peter 2:12, we know that “it is better” to be a righteous sufferer because it has a purpose. 1 Peter 2:12 sets forth the hope that unbelievers will see these good deeds and glorify God! Later in our passage, believers suffer so that we can make a defense of the hope that dwells within us. This has the same purpose in view as 1 Peter 2:12. Righteous suffering is an opportunity to display the treasure that is Jesus Christ. What can explain missionaries that travel across the world to share the good news, at great personal expense and with the threat of death? Only because Jesus is worth it. 

So how are believers to think about suffering? Believers are to see that righteous suffering is a blessing and is for a greater purpose according to God’s will. One amazing and glorious reality is that suffering, for the believer, is never meaningless according to a sovereign God. Nothing is ever in vain with a sovereign God. No maligning, fiery trials, challenges, or hardships that you might experience are meaningless. Instead, God redeems them and uses them for his purposes. 

Question 2: How Are Believers to Respond to Suffering? (3:14b–16)

Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.—1 Peter 3:14b–16 

Peter now turns to the implications of this way of thinking. If righteous suffering is blessed, then this is how believers are to respond in the midst of suffering. I think there are two main ways believers are to respond to suffering:

1) Get a fearless fear of Christ
2) Be ready to make a defense for your hope

Fearless Fear of Christ

This phrase “Have no fear of them, nor be troubled” could be translated “do not be afraid of what these people threaten,” referring back to those who intended to do harm to believers. This is a quote from Isaiah 8:12, and Peter had previously cited Isaiah 8:14 back in 1 Peter 2:8 about the stone of stumbling and the rock of offense. 

The context of Isaiah 7 and 8 is important for understanding how Peter is citing this text. The Southern Kingdom of Judah was threatened by the Northern Kingdoms of Israel and Syria, and wanted to dispose Ahaz, the king of Judah. Turn with me to Isaiah 7. See in Isaiah 7:2 where it says, “The heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.” They are full of fear. But Isaiah is told to say to them not to fear in Isaiah 7:4, “Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands.” Isaiah promises Ahaz that God will deliver Judah from Ephraim (the Northern Kingdom) and Syria, providing a sign to show God’s faithfulness and how he will keep his promise.

Then in Isaiah 8:11–13, God commands the people to not fear. Look with me at Isaiah 8:11–13.

For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” 

The kingdom of Judah is to overcome their knee-shaking, hand-quivering, and voice-trembling fear with a greater fear and reverence. See the greatness of God and fear him only. Isaiah 8:13 says, “Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” Overcome fear with a bigger fear. Or to put it another way, the way to overcome fear is to have a bigger, stronger power to trust in. Believers don’t need to fear threats from people, because we know God is bigger, stronger, and more fearsome. So the same way King Ahaz and Judah are to overcome the fear of invasion from powerful nations is to realize that God is more powerful. 

Peter applies this to his readers in the same way. Don’t fear those who seek to do you harm, but revere God because he is much greater. Be in awe of God. Live in reverence to Yahweh. In a sense, they are to fear the displeasure of disobeying God over the displeasure of their enemies or those who seek to do them harm.

This is precisely what Jesus states in Matthew 10:28–31. It says, 

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. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.—Matthew 10:28–31

It’s stunning how in the same breath Jesus says to stop fearing things that aren’t worth fearing. All they can do is kill the body. We ought to fear and revere God who can condemn us to hell forever. And then in the very next breath, he reiterates not God’s fearsome wrath, but his profound love and care even for the sparrows, and how God’s children are of much greater worth than sparrows. Therefore, fear not. 

This is best illustrated by children and parents. Most children know that their parents love them. But that love doesn’t mean they can do whatever they want. They can’t be disrespectful or rude to their mom and dad. Children should have a healthy reverence toward their parents, but that doesn’t diminish the parents’ love at all. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was imprisoned by the Nazis, said, “Those who are afraid of men have no fear of God, and those who fear God have no more fear of men.”¹

The second implication is stated positively: Instead of fearing, they are to honor Christ the Lord as holy in their hearts. As you can see, this is also citing Isaiah 8:13, where it says, “But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy.” This further confirms the context of Isaiah 7–8. Don’t fear lesser fears, but fear God and revere him above all else. There is to be an inner heart disposition of honor and respect toward God. But Peter changes some of the wording from “him you shall honor as holy” to “honor Christ the Lord as holy.” Jesus Christ is identified as Yahweh, the Lord of the Old Testament. Believers are to live to display Jesus’ lordship over their lives.

Be Ready to Defend Your Hope 

The second way to respond to righteous suffering is to “be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” This is not just a formal defense like apologetics or a courtroom setting, but rather when believers are spontaneously asked about their faith, they should be ready to give an answer. This implies a number of things:

1. Believers are living in such a way that other people see our good behavior.
2. Believers’ good behavior is stimulating curiosity in those around us.
3. Believers’ good behavior communicates a hopefulness.
4. Believers’ good behavior will solicit questions.
5. Believers will be ready to answer when asked. 

Do we live in such a way that others can see our good behavior? Not because we want accolades or praise. We are to persevere in good conduct and awaken in others a curiosity about Christ. They are to see our hope, which is often used as a synonym of faith in 1 Peter. Believers possess an evangelistic and apologetic power when they persevere through unjust suffering. Are you ready to respond when you get comments or questions?

• Why are you always so positive and hopeful?
• You just always seem so unflappable when things get tough.
• I sure wish I had some of your perspective on life.
• I can’t understand how you’re just so happy all the time?
• You just seem like you have it all together.

This defense is to be given with gentleness and respect. When we rightly revere God, we don’t need to be brash, angry, fearful, or anxious when others ask us about our faith, but rather we can defend the faith with gentleness and respect. Our demeanor and attitude are to be gentle. Unfortunately, apologetics experts often have the stereotype of being arrogant or abrasive. Instead, God’s people are to calmly, gently, and respectfully make a case for following Christ. Medicine goes down easier with a spoonful of a sugar than with arrogance, a belittling attitude, condescension, or a judgmental disposition.

Believers are also to have a good conscience before God. Our behavior ought to match the content of our words as we convey the good news of the gospel. If someone is to be offended by the gospel, let it not be because we were brash and abrasive, but rather because the gospel challenges their way of life, tells them they are sinners in need of a Savior, and undercuts their worldview. In essence, let your attitude and words match the content of your message.

This is to have the result of putting to shame those who revile. This is different from what has been said before in chapter 2 where we want others to “glorify God on the day of visitation.” While that certainly is part of the aim of being ready to give a defense, there is also another aspect in which those who revile or seek to harm believers will be put to shame. This doesn’t mean embarrassment, but rather being defeated for opposing Christ and the gospel of Jesus. The point is that those who continue to revile will on the day of judgment experience shame and punishment. Believers will be ultimately vindicated on that final day, even if our conduct doesn’t have the evangelistic results that we hoped to have.

How are believers to respond to righteous suffering? Believers are to be fearless and full of God, because we know Christ is the one we ought to revere above all else. And we are to be ready to make a defense for the hope we have in Christ, doing so with gentleness and respect and a good conscience. Let me seek to help us apply this to our lives.

Application

Are We Engaging Unbelievers?

This passage suggests two things: 1) people are asking and 2) we have an answer. Unbelievers should be able to see our hope as we endure difficulty. Do people see you facing the trials of this world with hope and with faith in Christ, and do they wonder and ask?

So very practically, when was the last time someone asked you about your faith? When was the last time someone said, “Why do you do what you do?” When was the last time someone said, “I’ve been watching you. What makes you tick?”

If this isn’t taking place in our lives, we need to be challenged and chastised by this passage. Here is a diagnostic question. First, are you engaged in friendships, conversations, and relationships with people who don’t know Jesus? On the NextDoor app, someone in my neighborhood posted the following three weeks ago: “Want to know more about the Bible? About God or salvation? I am looking to start an informal study at my home and would love to have you there for some good learning and fellowship. The Bible really is relevant for today! No pressure will be applied to join a particular church. This is a Bible study only. Please let me know if you’re interested.” She received 14 positive replies from people interested! Let that be a subtle nudge for some of us to be creative in engaging with our neighbors.

Are Our Words Intelligible?

Sunday school answers, though true, are insufficient to communicate clearly with an increasingly postmodern culture. The fact that “Jesus loves me and that the Bible tells me so” is true, but utterly incomprehensible to many. We need to make the hope of the gospel intelligible to the lost. Christianity is logical, reasonable, and coherent. Resources, such as Tim Keller’s The Reason for God or Lee Strobel’s classic The Case for Christ, can help us articulate and guide our friends into the truth of the gospel. If you’re sitting here and you don’t know Jesus, we want you to know him more than anything else. We want to introduce you to our Savior, and we readily recognize we don’t always make that easy. 

Can you give a coherent articulation for your faith? Can you defend why you have faith in Jesus Christ? Can you share the essentials of the faith? Can you explain why you think the Bible is true? Are you ready to answer those questions?

My preferred way to share the gospel is with the outline God, Man, Christ & Response.

1) God created the heavens and the earth made humanity to worship and fellowship with Him.

2) Mankind rebelled against God and became a slave to sin; as a result, he stands under God’s holy wrath and judgment.

3) But Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross and was raised from the dead and now stands as the Lord who is able to save those who repent and condemn those who rebel.

4) We must respond to the gospel by turning from our sin (repenting) and believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior to receive forgiveness of sins.

If you have not heard that summary of the gospel before or if you’ve heard it a thousand times but this time it stirs your heart, we want to help you begin a relationship with Jesus. Reach out to us: email us, call us, or pray with us after the service. If you’re a believer, this is the good news we celebrate, we delight in, and for which we are willing to suffer. May we be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in us, and may God grow each of us to delight in him more and more. We are blessed and we are loved by God. Stand firm in the true grace of God, brothers and sisters. Stand firm.

_______

1. Daniel M. Doriani, 1 Peter (ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani; Reformed Expository Commentary; Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2014), p. 139

Sermon Discussion Questions

Main Point & Aim: Believers are blessed to suffer with Christ and to respond with a fearless, Christ-honoring hope. Peter’s aim is for his readers to be ready to give a defense for why they are trusting in Jesus.

Outline

1. How are believers to think about suffering?
   (1 Peter 3:13–14a, 17)
   • As a blessing
   • As God’s will and for a purpose
2. How are believers to respond to suffering?
   (1 Peter 3:14b–16)
   • Get a fearless fear of Christ
   • Be ready to make a defense for your hope
3. Application & Conclusion

Intro Question: Have you ever experienced suffering for your faith in Jesus? If so, how did you respond or react in that situation?

Discussion Questions

• In 1 Peter 3:13, what truth is Peter seemingly drawing out? Where else in the Bible is that truth affirmed?
• What does it mean to be “blessed” when suffering for righteousness’ sake? What type of blessing is in view? How does the rest of 1 Peter help us understand this “blessing”?
• How does Isaiah 8:12 and its surrounding context help us understand the phrase “have no fear of them, nor be troubled”?
• What does it mean to be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you? How does this preparation relate to evangelism, apologetics, and interacting with friends, neighbors, and coworkers?
• Why might “gentleness and respect” and “a good conscience” be important when providing a verbal defense for our hope/faith? 

Application Questions

• Do you feel ready to give a defense of the hope that is in you? Why or why not?
• Take a moment to pair up with another, and take 1 minute each to share the gospel or the storyline of Scripture. How did you do? What can you improve or clarify?
• How does that gospel story intersect with your own testimony of how you came to faith? In this next month, with whom can you share the good news of the gospel?
• What practical steps can you take to engage in deeper conversations with coworkers, neighbors, and unbelieving friends?
• Who are three unbelievers in your sphere of influence that you can begin (or continue) to pray for? How will you reach out to them this week?

Prayer Focus
Thank God that we need not fear suffering and that suffering for the sake of Jesus is blessing. Confess any sins of suffering for wrong doing. Confess any failures to make a defense of your hope, and any lack of love for unbelieving family, neighbors, or coworkers. Ask God for the right perspective on righteous suffering (as blessing), and that we would be ready to share the good news so that some might glorify God on the day of visitation.