EXPLORE THE TEXT
Believers should be ready to give a reason for the faith they have.
13 Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed.
Do not fear them or be intimidated,
15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy,
ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.16 Yet do this with gentleness and reverence,
keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.
17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
determine why Peter said believers had no reason to fear those who were persecuting them.
the rhetorical question refers to not only to the earthly life of a believer, but also to the final day of judgment.
God will eternally reward the faithfulness of those who do good in the face of suffering (1 Pet. 3:12).
literally means “zealous” (zelotai), which more strongly speaks to the commitment believers have toward doing good
Despite persecution, believers are called to be zealous for righteousness.
No one can be against those whom God defends (Rom. 8:18-39).
In this light, believers can respond to persecution with gratitude.
This does not mean that the suffering itself is a blessing.
Rather, Peter pulled the gaze of suffering believers toward their eternal end, where God forever blesses them.
Given God’s favor, such suffering is not something to fear.
Believers need not give in to the intimidation that accompanies such tactics.
God should be feared, but not other humans (see v. 15).
The antidote for such fear is to regard Christ the Lord as holy.
Confidence takes root in the hearts of believers who fear the Lord more than people.
Every Christian, not merely “full time professionals,” are in view in this passage.
All believers should know how to share why they believe the gospel of Jesus Christ to be true and beautiful.
Biblical hope (elpis) best describes the reason believers respond to suffering as they do.
Christ followers do not put their hope in agreeable circumstances, but in the God who controls them.
The command to “defend” the faith might be interpreted to justify a degree of harshness.
However, a proper balance between gentleness and reverence allows Christians to maintain a clear conscience before the Lord and an effective witness before the world.
some will still try to reject, or shame it.
in the last days, those who reject it will be put to shame.
It is never God’s will for a Christian to do evil.
It is often God’s will that we suffer at the hands of evil people for doing good.
Such suffering is not an excuse for doing evil. It is inconsistent with the way of Jesus.
The opposition believers face is never outside of God’s sovereignty or providence.
while doing good may draw persecution for unbelievers, it also never fails to produce blessings from God.
suggest different scenarios when being ready would be important
(in an elevator, walking in a park, checking out at a store, seated in an airplane or on a bus, etc.).
Read 1 Peter 3:17. Provide a mini-lecture on the distinction between suffering for God and suffering for our own poor choices.