Rise Above Division and Discouragement (preaching resource for 5/10/25, Easter 6)

This post exegetes 1Peter 3:8-22, providing context for the Epistles reading on 5/10/26, the 6th Sunday in the season of Easter. Insights are drawn from commentary by Warren Wiersbe ("Bible Expository Commentary") and by David Wheaton ("New Bible Commentary).

"The Apostle Peter" by Rembrandt
(public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

Introduction

1 Peter is written to prepare Christians for “grief in all kinds of trials” (1Pet 1:6). Peter knew that official persecution of the church was coming, and now in Chapter three he is concerned that it not lead to division within the church and that we don't give up when we get discouraged. Peter begins by addressing church unity--a unity preserved as members of the church practice together four powerful behaviors that express the servant-heart of Jesus.

1. Draw together

1Peter 3:8

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Here is Peter’s “bottom line”— in the face of persecution or other potentially divisive hardships, let us work to maintain harmony (unity) within the church. This is vital, because hard times can lead Christians to pull away from one another out of fear or weariness. Peter urges us to counter this trend and draw together. How’s that done? Peter gives us four ways:

a. Be sympathetic (v. 8)

Trials can cause Christians to grow distant from one another, calloused to one another’s pain. But difficulties can draw us together as we share in Jesus’ heart of sympathy toward those who are hurting. To be sympathetic is to be willing to suffer with others.

b. Love as brothers (v. 8)

Christians may differ on how things are to be done (particularly when things get tough), but brotherly love is stronger than difficulty and stronger than the diversity God has placed in our midst. So when things get difficult, pay more attention to cultivating brotherly love.

c. Be compassionate (v. 8)

Compassion is tenderness of heart toward others. In the Roman Empire this quality was seen as weakness; but in Christ, it’s great strength. Today, we are deluged with so much bad news that it is easy to get “compassion fatigue” and become unfeeling. So in hard times we need to cultivate compassion toward one another.

d. Be humble (v. 8)

The humble person puts others ahead of themselves. This leads to being gentle and courteous with others, even in the midst of difficulty (when good manners often go “out the window”).

2. Don’t retaliate

1Peter 3:9-12

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

In the face of evil we are tempted to retaliate—repay evil with evil. But the way of Jesus is to repay evil with good—to bless those who persecute us (see Mat 5:44). This Christ-like response may not end the persecution, but it will be rewarded in heaven (our ultimate inheritance).

Now in order not to retaliate, we will need to resist some strong instincts that come from within our fallen nature. Peter understood this in a personal way. You’ll remember how he fought Jesus’ enemies by lashing out with a sword (Luke 22:47–53). But Peter learned to embrace and express the mind of Jesus, which means practicing four particular Christ-like attitudes and behaviors in the face of persecution (here Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-16):

a. Love life (v. 10)

When things get tough, people often cave in to the all too human pessimism expressed in Ecc 2:17: “Therefore I hated life... for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” But the mind of Jesus sees life in even the darkest of circumstances, knowing beyond doubt that God, the source of life, is in control. Peter is not here advocating unrealistic psychological gymnastics that refuse to face reality. Rather, he is urging a positive approach to life that by faith finds life even in the midst of death; light even in the midst of darkness. When the going gets tough, with Christ, love life.

b. Control the tongue (v. 10)

And when the going gets tough, bite your tongue! In hard times people often retaliate with their mouths. How well Peter knew this from personal experience! In order to return blessing for evil we’ll have to control our tongues so that our words are a blessing rather than a source of evil.

c. Turn from evil and do good (v. 11)

So avoid evil—turn away from it; but then keep turning, all the way to the good. It’s not enough to simply turn away from those who seek our hurt—with Christ we turn toward them in order to seek their good. This is quite un-human isn’t it? But what we’re talking about is sharing in Jesus’ perfection and love. Join him in doing good to our enemies!

d. Seek and pursue peace (v. 11)

And this turning to do good to our enemies means seeking and pursuing the way of peace. Indeed, “blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Mat 5:9). If we go out and seek trouble, we will find it; but if, with Christ, we seek peace, we will find that. This does not mean “peace at any price,” because righteousness and truth is the basis for real peace (James 3:13–18). However, it does mean exercising moderation as we relate to people—seeking peace, not our own way. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Rom 12:18).

“But what if our enemies take advantage of us?” a persecuted Christian might ask. “We may be seeking peace, but they are seeking war!” Peter assures us that God’s eyes are on his people and his ears open to their prayers. As you seek peace, trust God to protect and provide for you. He alone can defeat our enemies with his love (Rom 12:17–21).

3. Reverence Christ

1Peter 3:13–15

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…

These verses tell us that the fear (reverence) of Christ as Lord drives out our other fears, including the fear of persecution. Here Peter is quoting Isaiah 8:13–14 where Ahaz, King of Judah, faced a crisis because of an impending invasion by the Assyrians. The kings of Israel and Syria wanted Ahaz to join them in an alliance against Assyria, but Ahaz refused and confederated himself with Assyria. The Prophet Isaiah warned him against this ungodly alliance and urged him to instead trust God alone for his deliverance: “The Lord Almighty is the one you are…to fear (Isaiah 8:13).

When we are faced with crises in our lives, we are tempted to give in to our fears and make wrong decisions. But as we “set apart Christ as Lord” in our thinking, we need not fear people or circumstances. Generally speaking, people do not oppose us when we do what is right; but even if they do, it is better to suffer for doing right than to cease trusting Christ as Lord. As we trust Christ as Lord, rather than being overwhelmed by fear when we face suffering for doing what is right, we will experience rich blessings. And often one such blessing is the opportunity to share our faith with non-believers. And so Peter admonishes us to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” This does not mean that we are full of answers like an encyclopedia of the Christian faith, but it means that we are able to tell others of the trust we have in Jesus, despite the hardships we are facing. As we share this testimony to God’s goodness with “gentleness and respect,” unbelievers will sit up and take notice.

4. Maintain a clear conscience

1 Peter 3:16–17

…keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

In times of difficulty we need to pay particular attention to maintaining a “clear conscience.” God has given us a conscience to serve as a sort of “internal judge” that witnesses to us, either approving our actions or accusing (see Rom 2:14–15). In that sense, conscience may be thought of as a window that lets in the light of God’s truth. If we persist in disobeying that truth, the window gets dirtier and dirtier, until the light cannot enter. This leads to a “corrupted” conscience (Titus 1:15)—one that has been so sinned against that it is “seared” (1Tim 4:2)—no longer sensitive to the truth. Of course, conscience alone is not the final arbiter of what is right or wrong. Conscience is a safe and accurate guide only when it is formed in Christ and thus informed by the will of God.

A clear conscience gives us peace in our hearts; and when we have peace within, we can face battles without. The restlessness of an uneasy conscience divides the heart and drains our strength, so that we are unable to function at our best. How can we boldly witness for Christ if our conscience is witnessing against us? A clear conscience removes from us the fear of what other people may know about us, say against us, or do to us. When Christ is Lord and we fear only him, we need not fear the threats, opinions, or actions of our enemies. “The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psa 118:6). It was in this matter that Peter failed when he feared the enemy and denied the Lord.

In hard times, believers need to pay particular attention to maintaining a “clear conscience”—a window that is open to Jesus and closed to voices that speak against his will for us. We keep our consciences clear by exerting some effort (indeed, it takes effort to keep the conscience clear and strong; see Acts 24:16, 1Cor 8:7).

5. Embrace hope

1Peter 3:18-22

When times get tough, we also need hope. As Peter continues, he offers hope by giving an important and powerful reminder about who Christ is, and about who we are in Christ. These truths encourage us to keep serving God—even in tough times.

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also-- not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand-- with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Interpreters wrestle with certain issues here, and though we won’t resolve them all, we will seek to embrace the core message of hope that Peter offers us here. That message revolves around three ministries in tough times—those of Jesus, of Noah and our own.

a. Jesus’ ministry (vv. 8–22)

Jesus is the perfect example of serving God faithfully no matter what. Peter describes Jesus’ ministry from the perspectives of his death, proclamation, resurrection and ascension.

1) Jesus’ death (v. 18a)

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

In verse 17 Peter mentioned Christians suffering for well-doing rather than for evil-doing. Now he gives the supreme example of Jesus the Righteous One who suffered terribly for the evil-doing of others. Here Peter gives one of the most succinct and yet profound statements in all the New Testament concerning the atonement. Through his ministry, Jesus resolved once and for all the problem of humanity’s broken relationship with God. As our representative and substitute (1Pet 2:24), Jesus brought us back to God. And he did this “once for all” (meaning “on behalf of all”; also see Heb 9:24–28). Jesus did not suffer and die because of his own sins, but because of ours (1Pet 2:22). The phrase “bring you to God” is a technical term that means “gain audience at court.” Because Jesus, the Creator of all, is in his incarnation representative of all humanity: his death is our death. When Jesus died, we all died. And when he rose we all rose. And when we ascended we all ascended to the Father. Jesus, our representative and substitute, gained for us all a place in God’s family as his beloved children. In Christ, we are adopted into God’s life and love (Eph 2:18; 3:12). As a result, we may come boldly to his throne (Heb 10:19ff). And as a result we have access to his marvelous grace to meet our daily needs (Rom 5:2). All this is ours because Jesus came among us as one of us and was willing to suffer to the utmost in order to serve us.

2) Jesus’ proclamation (vv. 18b–20)

He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water…

Jesus ministry of serving us continued following his crucifixion. Peter notes this by addressing Jesus’ ministry during the period between his death and bodily resurrection. Death itself is the separation of body and spirit (James 2:26); and when Jesus died, his body hung lifeless on the cross as he yielded up his spirit to the Father (Luke 23:46). But where did his spirit go? Verse 19 may provide a glimpse into at least part of the answer. Along with Eph 4:9 this verse may establish what is mentioned in early Christian creeds as Jesus’ “descent to the dead.” Jesus, in spirit, “descended” to the realm of the dead—the “prison” where certain “spirits” were being held awaiting judgment. These spirits are either unforgiven human sinners (specifically those who rejected God’s warning in Noah’s day), or fallen angels who had a role in the rebellion of Noah’s time. The idea of fallen angels seems best to fit the context (see also 2Pet 2:4–10). Jesus’ message to these imprisoned spirits was probably an announcement of his victory over Satan and his demons (see Col 2:15, 1Pet 3:22). And that victory is ours. How? Through our sharing in Jesus’ resurrection.

3) Jesus’ resurrection (v. 21)

…and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ…

Jesus’ resurrection plays a key role in his continuing ministry. Because death comes when the spirit leaves the body, resurrection involves the spirit returning to the body (Luke 8:55). This is what happened to Jesus—his human spirit was united with his now glorified human body. And it is in this resurrected Jesus that we have “living hope” (1Pet 1:3–4). Here Peter relates this hope to Noah as a type of our baptism. More about this later, but note now the great importance of Jesus’ resurrection. It declares that he is God (Rom 1:4), that his work of salvation is complete and is accepted by the Father (Rom 4:25), and that through that work death has been conquered (1Thes 4:13–18; Rev 1:17–18). It is our sharing in Jesus’ resurrected life that brings us salvation (1Cor 15:1-4). We should think of salvation as a relationship, not a mere event or one moment in time. It is our sharing in Jesus’ life that now saves us. And it is the risen Christ who gives us that life and it includes his power to live for God and serve him in ministry daily (Gal 2:20).

4) Jesus’ ascension (v. 22)

…who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand-- with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Sadly, the vital and amazing doctrine of Jesus’ bodily ascension is often minimized. But here Peter gives it due prominence. Forty days after his bodily resurrection, Jesus (God-in-flesh now glorified) ascended to heaven where he sits “at God’s right hand”—a reference to his exalted status. All humanity, now included with Jesus as God’s adopted children, sits with Jesus in his heavenly exaltation (Eph 2:4–6). From heaven the ascended Jesus is ministering to us, with us and through us as our High Priest (Heb 4:14–16; 7:25) and Advocate (1John 1:9; 2:2). Jesus himself is the “place” prepared in heaven for all humanity (John 14:1–6). We “reign in life” (Rom 5:17) with the ascended Jesus who reigns over all, including all “angels, authorities and powers” (apparently a reference to the evil hosts of Satan). By embracing and expressing this exalted position that is ours in union with Jesus we are able to “reign in life” (Rom 5:17)—including over the hardships we face. This means that in our struggles we do not fight for victory, but from victory—the mighty victory that our Lord Jesus Christ has already won for us in his death, resurrection, and ascension.

b. Noah’s ministry

Let’s return to the verses noting Peter’s discussion of Noah’s ministry. In Peter’s day, Noah was held in high regard among both Jews and Christians—on par with Daniel and Job (Eze 14:19–20). Jesus referred to Noah (Matt 24:37–39), and Peter mentions him in his second letter (2Pet 2:5; 3:6). Noah is also named as a hero of faith in Heb 11:7.

So here Peter points to Noah as a positive example of faithfulness in ministry in tough times. As a “preacher of righteousness” (2Pet 2:5) Noah ministered for 120 arduous years (Gen 6:3). Early Christians remembered that Jesus has said that the “end times” (the time between Jesus’ resurrection and return) would become increasingly like the “days of Noah” (Matt 24:37–39). And so as they saw persecution increasing, they no doubt remembered Jesus’ warning. Now Peter wants them to remember Noah’s faithful example in serving God even when it was tough and even when ministry seems to bear little fruit. Indeed, what counted for Noah was not success (only seven people heeded his warnings!), but faithfulness.

There is another connection to Noah here. Peter saw in Noah’s flood a type of Christian baptism. Just as the flood waters buried the land in judgment and lifted Noah and his family up in the ark to safety; so too our baptism pictures burial with Jesus and being lifted up with him in his resurrection to new life. In the way that Noah and his family were saved by faith because they believed God and entered into the ark for deliverance, so too sinners, by repentance and faith, participate actively in the life of Christ which saves them. And thus Peter can say that Noah and his family were “saved through water” (1Pet 3:20). This does not mean that baptism itself saves, but it means that Jesus, through his death and resurrection saves us (verse 21). Baptism thus pictures for us who Jesus is and what he has done to include us in his resurrected life.

According to Peter, having a good (clean) conscience is vital in this (see 1Pet 3:21, 16). In the early church, those about to be baptized were asked if they pledged to obey God and serve him, renounce the devil and break with their sinful past. If they had reservations about this in their hearts, or deliberately lied about it, they would not have a good conscience. Similarly, if, under pressure of persecution, they deny their baptismal pledge (and Peter knew something about denying Jesus), they would not have a good conscience. So Peter is reminding of our baptismal pledge—not to burden us, but to encourage us to be faithful to our commitment to Christ—including ministering with him even in tough times, like Noah.

c. The ministry of Christians today

Through the examples of Jesus and Noah, Peter is pointing us toward faithfulness in serving God in our day—particularly when things get tough. Let’s note his key points:

1) Expect opposition

In a world living in the darkness of minds alienated from the God who loves us and has saved us, we can expect people to resist our efforts to serve Jesus. Jesus himself, though perfect, was mocked and crucified like a common criminal. If the just One who did no sin was treated this way, what right do we who are imperfect have to escape opposition? We must be careful, however, that we suffer because of well doing, not because we have disobeyed our Lord.

2) Seek faithfulness not success

Noah served God for decades yet only eight people (Noah plus seven other family members) were saved from the Flood. Nevertheless, God honored Noah for his ministry. Of course, to the world, Jesus appeared a total failure when he died on the cross, yet his death was a supreme victory. His cause today may seem to fail, but he will accomplish his purposes in this world and he will do so through our faithful service. And so we seek faithfulness and we leave the numbers (or other signs of “success”) to the Lord of the harvest—remembering that the great harvest comes at the end of this age.

3) Be encouraged by Christ’s victory

Jesus’ victory over sin, death and all other obstacles is pictured in our baptism. Water baptism pictures our baptism in the Spirit, which is what unites us to Christ (1Cor 12:12–13). It is through the Spirit’s power that we live for Christ and minister with and through him (Acts 1:8). The opposition of men to our ministry is energized by Satan, who has already been defeated by Christ. And so we approach ministry, despite hardships and disappointments, with confidence and a clear sense of victory.

4) Baptism is important

Our baptism identifies us with Christ and gives testimony that we have broken with the old life (see 1Pet 4:1–4) and will, in Christ, live a new life. The act of baptism is a pledge to God that we will follow him no matter what difficulties arise. Some people make too much of baptism by teaching that it is a means of salvation, but some minimize its importance. If we have not been baptized we should be as an act of trust and obedience toward our Lord. And then we are to live the “baptized” life—a life of ministry with and in Jesus who is our salvation. In him we are safely delivered from all that can harm us forever.

Conclusion

As times of difficulty come to the church, we must take extra care in cultivating Christian unity—indeed, at such times we need one another’s help and encouragement as never before. So, let us draw together, let us not retaliate against our enemies (real or imagined; within or without), let us always reverence Christ, and let us work to maintain a clear conscience. The life we have in Jesus will often bring difficulties, even persecution. But be encouraged, Jesus is far greater than any difficulties we may face. Don’t worry about “success”—seek faithfulness like Noah. And remember that Jesus is at the right hand of God and you are seated there with him. Share in Jesus’ victory, and in his faithfulness. “Hang in there”—trust in God, no matter what; take up your cross and follow Jesus. He is your place of safety.

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