Living In Peace With One Another

LIVING IN PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER

I PETER 3:8-9

READING THE TEXT

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

INTRODUCTION

This is a great passage for believers. It deals with peace. We are to live at peace with other Christian believers. When the world looks at believers, they are to see a most unusual unity, a spirit of oneness that is not found anyplace else on earth. They are to see believers who are so unified and so closely knit together that they are as brothers and sisters—brothers and sisters who stand together, who love and support each through all the trials and temptations of life. The world is not to see believers...

· arguing

· bickering

· biting

· enticing

· complaining

· brawling

· grumbling

· griping

· in division

The world is to see believers unified, standing together through thick and thin regardless of circumstances. How can believers live in unity? How can people with such diverse personalities and backgrounds be closer than earthly brothers and sisters? In the clearest of terms this verse spells out how in six points.

MAJOR POINTS OF THE TEXT

1. Be of one mind (v.8).

2. Have compassion (v.8).

3. Have brotherly love (v.8).

4. Have pity (v.8).

5. Be courteous (v.8).

6. Do not retaliate, but bless those who do evil against you (v.9).

BELIEVERS ARE TO BE OF ONE MIND

They must focus their minds upon Jesus Christ and His mission.

Believers must keep their minds upon becoming just like Jesus, upon being conformed to the image of Christ.

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren" (Romans 8:29).

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18).

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death" (Phil. 3:10).

"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Col. 3:10).

Believers must keep their minds upon living holy, righteous, and pure lives.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2).

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Cor. 7:1).

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).

"But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [behavior]; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15-16).

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation [behavior] and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" (2 Peter 3:11-12).

Believers must keep their minds upon developing spiritual character and fruit.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23).

Believers must keep their minds upon carrying out the ministry and mission of Christ.

"Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).

"Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you" (John 20:21).

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:20).