Tonight, as we continue our consideration of 1st Peter, 1st Peter chapter 3, we consider verses 13 through 16, and I'd like to read together verses 13 through 22, the end of chapter 3. Again, Peter has started out in the beginning talking about the believer's living hope, And as most recently talking about submission of wives, husbands of slaves, as well as suffering for doing good, living together in brotherly love, and those kinds of things. Tonight, reading from verse 13 through 22, and again, verses 13 through 16, serving as the text. Hear now the word of God. 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, 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. 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. Beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, for those here who were raised in the church, one of the most wonderful songs that we learned even in Sunday school already is stand up, stand up for Jesus. Ye soldiers of the cross. Soldiers of the cross, who are they? What does it mean to be one? To be a soldier of Christ's cross, one must believe in Him. And if you believe in Him, then you belong to Him. We talk about being in Christ, and to be in Christ means to belong to Christ. But that's what we confess, isn't it? That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death, I am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. This is what we confess, because this, by the grace of God, is what we believe. This is a blessed truth. But the question we must answer is, do we as God's people always live like we belong to Christ? Do we always live that way? Is it always evident? Is that fact always evident? And I'm afraid that the answer for many, if not all of us, would have to be no. No, it is not always clear in my life that I belong to Him. I must say for myself, unfortunately, it's not true of me. I do not always live like I belong to Him. It is not always evident in my life. And I'm not saying that we do things that blatantly contradict or even unknowingly contradict our confession, but we know that pilgrims who follow Christ are prone to suffer at the hands of pagans who despise Christ. And sometimes, not even at the hands of pagans, sometimes we sing, prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Sometimes we just want to blend in with the crowd, don't we? Young people, it's easier that way, isn't it? It's easier just to blend in so we're not noticed. Sometimes we are fearful of what others think of us. We don't like to be picked on or hurt because we are different. And God calls His people to be different, doesn't He? Oh, that's not very comfortable. We don't like to be different. Sometimes when we are laughed at or threatened because of our faith or accused of being a Christian, oh, you won't do that because you're a Christian. When these things happen in our weakness, we want to do like Peter did and turn away and said, I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know the man. And when this happens, then Peter reminds us, and he does this, we can be sure, from his own personal experience, he reminds us of what he said in verse 12. 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. And therefore, Peter issues the call to stand up for Jesus. He makes it clear in this text that the Christian has nothing to lose, but instead everything to gain in Jesus Christ under the banner of His cross. That banner which to the world is a symbol of defeat. But that banner which to the Christian is a symbol of victory. So, beloved, you are summoned to stand up for Jesus. Stand firm. stand ready stand faithful the text says in verse 13 and the beginning of 14 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 now you recall that all along peter has been talking about doing good the good works of faith He has been instructing believers about Christian conduct that is practiced in the world and practiced out of devotion to God. And now he is talking about, we might say, the payoff of doing good. And when he asks that question in verse 13, Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? This is basically the same question and expects the same answer as when Paul asks in Romans 8 verse 31. If God is for us, who can be against us? And the answer to both questions is no one. When Peter talks about good, he is again talking about good in relation to God. He is talking about the good that believers are commanded to turn to in verse 11. Turn away from evil and instead do good. It is good, as we said before, that is done out of love from God and love to God. Remember, true good works are those that are done from true faith. which flow from a heart filled with the love of God, which are done to God's glory, which serve to build up His kingdom, and as well to edify His people. Well, what is the condition of the Christian to be toward doing what is good? Well, the Christian is to be eager. Eager, also translated, zealous. You see, beloved, not only is the Christian expected to perform what is good, Not only is it to be natural in the believer's life, flowing naturally from a life of faith, he is to have a heartfelt devotion to do no other. It is to be a conscious thing for God's people. He is to have a passionate commitment for doing good. He does good enthusiastically, that is, with excitement and desire, giving 100%, being fully focused on that which is pleasing to God. It is a joy, you see, to do good. And all of this is to be reflected in the believer's walk and talk. And why is the Christian to be eager or zealous for what is good? And how is this possible? Well, very simply because of the blessed knowledge and assurance of Jesus Christ. Listen to what Paul says to Titus in Titus chapter 2, verses 11 to 14. He says, For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age while we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good. Eager to do what is good. Those who by God's grace are eager for what is good are able to stand up firm for Jesus because in God's care there is no one to harm them. Beloved, does this describe your commitment to Christ? Are you eager and passionate and enthusiastic for God's kingdom? Boys and girls, you're not too young to think about this. Young people, you ought to be thinking seriously about this. You're challenged often. Does this describe you? Is God's kingdom, is the good of faith your first goal? Is His kingdom your highest priority? Is that visible in your life? You see, this is strong language, but that's good. It's necessary because there is no such thing as being a half-hearted Christian. but then peter goes on to give more reason for standing firm he says again the first part of 14 but even if you should suffer for what is right you are blessed now if you're observant you we read this and and you have to wonder if peter is now contradicting himself because he just said in question form that no one could harm the eager christian and now he makes it sound as if it could happen So what's going on? We need to notice a couple of things. First of all, when Peter speaks of harm in the first question in verse 13, he's not talking about physical or verbal abuse. He's not talking about any other kind of harm in this life. And we know that because some in the church were already possibly suffering at that very time. Their suffering may already have been a reality. After all, he said in chapter 1, verses 6 and 7, after talking about the comfort of that living hope, he says, again in verse 6, In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes, even though refined by fire, may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. You see, but Peter is saying here in verse 13 with the word harm that Christians cannot be harmed spiritually. Their real life, that is, their life in Christ, cannot be harmed because it is imperishable, remember? No one can separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Lord. But then as he comes to verse 14, he is talking about this life, even in this life. You see, often those who do what is right and good are usually left alone. Isn't that true? If you do what is right and good and you don't bother others, usually you're left alone because you don't hurt anybody or anything. But you see, it could happen that we would be harmed for doing what is right. A study of the Greek tells us that when Peter says, But even if you should suffer, he is saying that normally this wouldn't or shouldn't happen, but it could, and it might. Why might they suffer? For what is right. Also translated, for the sake of righteousness. You see, beloved, in the eyes of the unbelieving world, eagerness or zealousness for what is good, and righteousness in carrying out that good, It brings offense. The lifestyle of the Christian pilgrim is to be characterized by righteousness while living in a world that is characterized by unrighteousness. And when these two, righteousness and unrighteousness, meet head-on, there is always an ethical conflict where there is a struggle over what is right and wrong over a list of do's and don'ts. And righteousness always convicts unrighteousness, even as light always exposes darkness. And the good, the good of faith that believers do convicts unbelievers of the bad, of the sin that they do. Righteousness and doing good invites criticism from the world. Why? Because we operate from different standards, don't we? We operate from different standards. We see this on a large nationwide level with regard to abortion and homosexuality, for example. Some of us might even experience on a local level. Young people, when you look for a job and you say, but I won't work on the Lord's Day. It's the Lord's Day. I will not work. Or when you tell your friends, I'm sorry, but I will not do that. I will not participate in that activity because that is not consistent with my confession, with my profession of fame. You see, then the world may try to harm or hurt and cause suffering for Christians. And those who are called upon to suffer for the sake of righteousness are congratulated by Peter. He says, you are blessed. Now remember, he's not saying Christians are blessed when they suffer for doing something wrong. There's no blessing in that. There's nothing in that for which to be commended. But they are blessed when they suffer for doing what is right according to the command of God. Now being blessed, that's a beatitude. And Peter, no doubt, was thinking of the very words of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount when he says, Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. As Christians display their eagerness and their zeal for what is good and exercise righteousness, that is to be an assurance and a comfort that they stand before God as not guilty. That they stand before God as justified in Christ Jesus. It is a sign of God's regenerating grace in their lives. That they have been given new desires. They desire to follow a new path. You see, beloved, it begins in the heart and then it appears in the walk and then it is to become evident in every sphere or area of life. And boys and girls, you must learn this. You must know this, that a life for Christ belongs in every area of life. Whether you're on the playground, or whether you're sitting around the dinner table with your family, or whether you're on the beach, it is to be evident in every area of life. To be blessed means to have the favor of God, and it includes the assurance, the comfort, and the experience of being heirs of the kingdom of heaven. Again, blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven why are christians called to and able to stand firm because they are blessed and in the second place to stand up for jesus also means to stand ready the text says second part of verse 14 and 15 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. Now the unbelieving world thinks that it has the upper hand over Christians. And if we look at the numbers, they certainly are in the majority and the church is in the minority. And that can be intimidating. And when the world closes in on the church with persecutions and temptations and all kinds of harassments trying to cause believers to suffer that's intimidating as well. And we all know that intimidation causes fear. It causes one to be scared and afraid. It causes one to be troubled in his heart and mind. But Peter's command from the Lord is, do not fear. On the one hand, we can be reminded of what we considered this morning. Because Jesus Christ, there is not a trial or temptation, a kind of trial or temptation, that Jesus Christ has not endured in our place. He is sympathetic with us. He knows what's going on. But here Peter borrows this quote from Isaiah who preached to the Israelites when they were intimidated by the Assyrians. They were so scared, it was as if the idea is as if they were lying curled up on the ground. Scared stiff. They couldn't move. And Isaiah tells them to stop being afraid of their enemies and instead fear God. You see, beloved, This kind of fear and terror that causes one to curl up on the ground, this kind of fear and terror comes when we credit men with more power to hurt us than we credit God with having enough power to save us. And Peter is saying the intimidation and attacks from the world are only temporary, but your Christian hope is eternal. Remember? Interesting how we as believers need to be reminded over and over and over again of our Christian hope. That's why we come here Lord's Day by Lord's Day, isn't it? Because after a week in the world, we need to be reminded again and again and again of God's grace, of His gospel, of His good news in Jesus Christ. A congregation, when you are afraid, then you do not stand ready, and then you don't stand firm either for that matter. How do you stand ready? Peter says, in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. We know the heart is the central part of man's existence and it is the starting point for that new life. The Lord says in Ezekiel 36, verse 26, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And that new heart, beloved, is one that is in tune with the Lord Jesus Christ. But to set apart Christ as Lord in your heart, as Lord of your life, means to love and adore Him as your commanding officer. It means that you don't just believe that He is your Savior, that you don't simply believe that He saved me from my sins, but that you also believe that He is the Lord of your life, your entire life. And boys and girls, that means that if you believe in Jesus, Jesus is your King. And that means that your heart is His throne where He lives by His Holy Spirit. That means as well that all of your life and everything you do is done so that it pleases Him and is good for His kingdom. Again, that has to be our goal. That is what we are called to strive for. That's stanza 4 of number 372. Again, we sang, in your hearts enthrone Him. There, let Him subdue all that is not holy, all that is not true. When Jesus Christ is set apart as Lord in your heart, then you will not cave into the world's pressure and intimidation, but instead you will stand firm and ready for Jesus. Without Him, all you can do is cave into the world. But when Jesus Christ is in your heart, there is no room for fear of the world. You can only stand ready in Him. Ready for what? To give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that is in you. Maybe you've noticed, I trust you've noticed as we have traveled so far through 1 Peter that the central theme in Peter's epistle is the Christian's living hope. And what is this hope that he talks about? It is that particular virtue and attitude of the Christian based on the promises of God. It includes expecting future salvation. Objectively, it is eternal life. It is salvation. Subjectively, it is not a doubtful or uncertain expectation. It is not a shrug of the shoulders kind of hope. It is an expectation clothed in the assurance of faith which can say with Paul, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed to him until that day. True hope is a longing expectation and assurance for the glory that eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him. And what are Christians to do with this hope? Well, we are called to cherish it, to be sure. But also we are called to be ready to tell about it. This is the gospel, and Christians must stand ready to tell the good news of Jesus Christ. Peter speaks of giving an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for your hope. Everyone. You see, questions will be asked when one is living differently from others. You can count on it. They might not be asked in the most positive spirit or kind spirit. They might be asked with some scorn. But you can count on it. Again, you may recall, Lord's Day 24 says, It is impossible that those who are implanted into Christ by a true faith should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness. It is impossible. You see, Christian conduct looks strange to the world. It brings about questions. And the idea here is that this could be referring to a court of law, questions in a court of law, or simply to anyone you meet on the street. You see, in Peter's day, Christians were put on trial for what they believed. And they were questioned. If you have that hope in you, it will automatically show, and you will be questioned. Is that the case for you? I hope so. Might be simple questions. For example, why are you happy all the time? Why are you always so positive? Why are you so considerate? Why don't you ever get even? It might be simple questions, but be ready. You see, if you believe in Jesus, you are called to stand up for Him, to be ready to tell about Him. And notice the command is to be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks, which means you must be able to explain the Gospel even if it's only in a simple way. But the better you are grounded in the truth and the better you understand the certainty and the contents of the promise of God, the better you will be able through the working of the Holy Spirit. And don't worry, because Jesus told His disciples, don't worry about what you will say. My Spirit will give you the words. But the better you will be able in the Holy Spirit to give that reason concerning the hope that is in you. But Peter also makes it clear what the spirit or attitude of your answer must be. He says, but do this with gentleness and respect. This means that you don't ram the gospel down the throats of others. As well, you know, we have such a precious gift. I hope you consider it to be a precious gift. And on the one hand, we might want to say, oh, it's so great, this is mine, this is mine. But yet, our answer is not to be prideful, or arrogant, or haughty. Confident to be sure. But not arrogant. That turns others off. It drives them away. Gentleness. Gentleness means to be humble in spirit. And humility, we know, is the hallmark of the Christian. And answering in this way is consistent with what Peter has said before. Living in harmony. Being sympathetic. Loving as brothers. Being compassionate and humble. Blessing others. When the believer tells of the glory of the gospel, it is to be done, beloved, with reverence for that gospel and in awe and respect and fear for the one who gave it. Matthew 10, verse 16 says, Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Congregation, the only way to stand up for Jesus is to have him set apart as Lord in your heart because apart from him you have no hope to tell about. Apart from him you cannot and you will not stand firm nor will you stand ready. Only when your heart is his temple can you stand up for him and then you will also stand faithful. Verse 16, keeping a clear conscience so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander before Peter talked about quieting or silencing the arrogance of of a foolish man and very briefly to have a clear conscience means very simply that your walk matches your talk that your Christian conduct that is seen and practiced in the world is consistent with your confession of faith in Jesus Christ to have a clear conscience means that you can say in the confidence of the Spirit that you have not purposely done that which is contrary to the will of God. And if you have stumbled, that you have a clear conscience before God in Christ by His grace given to you through confession of sins and His assurance of pardon. See, only those who live in and walk in faith have the consciousness that they are in harmony with the will of God both on the inside and on the outside in their heart and mind and will and walk. A clear conscience is a blessing only for those who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, only for those who are not guilty. Boys and girls, if all of a sudden there's a broken window in your house and your mom or dad asks you, did you do it? If you really didn't do it, then you have a clear conscience. You can say, no, I didn't do it. I'm not guilty. Only those who are not guilty in Christ Jesus are able to have a clear conscience. You see, unbelievers will continue to attack the character and conduct of Christians. And they will do this unjustly because they hate Christ, who is the source and the power behind the Christian's conduct. But they will be put to shame because there is no foundation or support for their slandering. Oh beloved, let there be no foundation or support for their slandering. A clear conscience means that there is nothing that can be justly criticized. Christians, with a clear conscience, stand faithful in their good behavior for the sake of Christ while the world is then revealed as lying, deceitful, and wicked. Again, the application here calls for self-examination. We cannot get away from it. Are you standing up for Jesus? You see, He stood up for all those who would believe in Him. Are you standing firm for Him? That is, are you eager for the cause of Christ? Are you standing ready with confidence to tell others about Him? Or do you cave in under the pressure of the world's threats? Are you standing faithful? Or when the world looks at you as one who professes to be a Christian, do they have a legitimate reason to condemn Christianity and say, well, if that's what it means to be a Christian, then I don't want any part of it. Boys and girls and young people, are you standing up for Jesus? Young people, many of you throughout this past year and even in the last couple of years, many of you have made public profession of your faith. You first came before your elders to have a conversation. Then you made public profession of your faith before God and before His congregation in this place. and you said publicly, I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Savior. He is the Lord of my life. I submit my life to Him. So now I ask you, along with all who have professed their faith at one time or another, I ask you, how are you doing? How are you doing? Are you letting your light shine for Jesus? Or are you hiding it? When others look at your life, do they see compromise? Or do they witness your living hope even before you've said one word? In other words, with your life, are you ready to give an answer? Is that answer ready just for someone to see in your life? How are you doing? You see, you cannot stand partway. Either you are standing straight and tall or you're not standing at all. Only in the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ and by His grace can you stand, can you stand firm and ready and faithful. You see, apart from Him, one is curled up in the depths of despair, bound by the clutches of death. Apart from Christ, His cross is a symbol of defeat for you. His cross is a sword of destruction against those who are not in His army. Only when Jesus Christ is set apart as Lord in your heart can you not only tell of your hope, but you stand in that hope. Beloved, this is a huge calling, isn't it? This is overwhelming. We must ask who is sufficient for the task. And then we must admit not one of us is not one of us. We must confess that we fail. But then our comfort is that even these failures to stand up for Jesus are washed away by His blood. And therefore, may we strive to stand up for His honor, and may He keep us from casting in any way, shape, or form, may He keep us from casting shame upon His name. What a privilege to be enlisted by God in His army under His banner of victory, the cross. What comfort to be a part of that army that is already victorious. Beloved, stand up. Stand up for Jesus. Stand in His strength alone. Amen. Shall we pray? Father, You have reminded us in this evening hour of the calling of those whom You have called out of darkness into your wonderful light. Of the calling of those to whom you have given that new life, that saving faith. What a calling it is. And we must say, who is sufficient for the task? Not me. But yet, Lord, we find our strength only in you. And may it be, O Lord, that you would help us to stand up for Jesus, to stand in his strength alone. May we not try to go it alone, O Lord. but to go forward only in the strength of the Lord. Thank you for giving to us that strength. That strength which cannot be defeated. That strength which cannot fail. Lord God, may your kingdom be advanced. Be pleased to use us in some small way for your honor and glory. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.