Living a Blessed Life
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: That title sounds like a bunch of fluffy gobbly gook that you would hear at a prosperity gospel church that doesn’t preach the gospel or the Word. But hear me out. The Bile does tell us how to live a blessed life. It is just a completely different path than the world or a prosperity preacher would ever tell you. Also I have to warn you, living a blessed life is work. Most people think that living a blessed life would include a lack of work, it should be easy. Trust me, its not easy because it includes things like holiness and righteousness.
Who does God bless? James 1:25 “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
In our text Peter ends v. 9 with the phrase “that you may inherit a blessing”. So what he says before that must indicate at least in part what we must do to inherit a blessing. In verse 10 Peter states that if you want to love life and see good days then these are the things you must be or do, and in v. 12 he informs us who the Lord chooses to bless.
Context
Context
“Finally”
The last point in a list.
Praise God for your salvation
Rejoice in your salvation
Amazed by your salvation
Motivated by your salvation
This is the conclusion of 1:13-3:7
Be Hopeful
Be Holy
Be Fearful
Be Loving
Be Hungry
Be Christlike
Be Submissive - for the glory of God and for the sake of the gospel. There is something bigger at stake than your personal comfort, freedoms or reputation.
To the government
To human authority
To your spouse
The final point(s) of how we are to be motivated by our salvation.
Later context: 1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;”
Our salvation motivates our sanctification, that is our Christlikeness.
Scope
“all of you”
When we consider the audience of Peter’s letter:
Believers
Jews and Gentiles
Context: Up to this point everything Peter has said has been directly applicable to us. So what should we expect of this text when Peter says “all of you”?
Inward Sanctification
Inward Sanctification
Unity of Mind v. 8
What mind, or better whose mind?
Our connection to Christ should produce a unity of purpose in the local church. A common commitment to the truth.
Philippians 2:5-7 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”
Compassion v. 8
Feeling with, or sharing the same feeling
Sympathetic with the pains of others
This is a feeling that is outwardly directed, but it takes place inwardly.
Brotherly Love v. 8 - “love as brothers” NKJV
Familial love
Unselfish service
Tender-hearted v. 8
If compassion is feeling with, tender-hearted is feeling for
You could literally translate this kind-boweled.
Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Humility v. 8 - translated courteous by the NKJV
Literally would be humble-minded.
Peter starts with a mindset and ends with a mindset.
James 4:6 “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.””
Humility is absolutely essential to sanctification.
Outward Sanctification
Outward Sanctification
Forgiving v. 9
“not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling.”
Matthew 5:38-39 ““You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”
Be submissive
Blessing v. 9b
“but on the contrary, blessing”
This is incredibly antithetical to human nature.
Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,”
Romans 12:14-21 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Righteous Speech v. 10
“refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.”
The book of James illustrates the tongue as a rudder of ship. One small piece steers and enormous ship. So too is the tongue, it may be small compared to the rest of the body, but it sure can get you into a lot of trouble.
Repentance v. 11
We are tempted to think of repentance as an inward action, but it is not.
“turn away from evil”
Genuine repentance is turning away from sin toward Christ.
In this text it is turning way from evil and toward good conduct. Which is reminiscent of the honorable conduct that Peter emphasized earlier in the chapter.
Peacefulness v. 11b
Hebrews 12:14 “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:”
Romans 12:18 “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”
A Genuinely Blessed Life
A Genuinely Blessed Life
Love Life
In verses 10-12 Peter quotes from Psalm 34
Psalm 34:12-16 “Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.”
It is important to note when an Old Testament principle is repeated in the New Testament. That means it is a timeless principle.
Good Days
God’s Favor
Numbers 6:24-26 ““The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’”
What does it mean for the face of the Lord to shine upon you? Or as the Psalmist put it “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous”?
It means that God looks on you with His favor. Primarily because of the blood of His Son, but also because of your desire to life a righteous, holy Christian life.
Answered Prayers - “His ears are open to their prayers”
How do we live this kind of blessed life?
Run from evil
“not returning evil for evil”
refrain from evil speech
turn away from evil
the Lord is against those who do evil
Be primarily motivated by your salvation
Be Holy
Be Fearful
Be Loving (x2)
Be Hungry
Be Christlike
Be Submissive
Be Unified
Be Compassionate
Be Tender-hearted
Be Humble
Be Forgiving
Be a Blessing (even to those that hurt you)
Be Repentant
Be Peaceful
Be a doer of the Word