The First Epistle of Peter

by Richard St.James

Countering Evil Doing

Bible 1611.Com / Old Paths Baptist Mission © 2011

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1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

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1. Love As Brethren
2. Inherit A Blessing
3. See Good Days
4. Eyes For The Righteous

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1. Love As Brethren

Verse eight: “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:"

In the latter part of “the times of the Gentiles”, [Luke 21:24] which is in the time we are living in now, it will be a time when “the love of many shall wax cold”. The “love of many shall wax cold” because where “iniquity” abounds then as a consequence … "love” will wax cold. Don’t you see what sin has done to us? We are a MESS! We are simply no longer a compassionate and caring people or nation, anymore. I can still remember a time when I was a child when the people in the neighborhood had compassion for one another. [This was the America of the 1950’s and 1960’s.] It is all gone now! I remember when our neighbors “looked out” for one another and cared for one another. I remember the neighborhoods being a safe place for the children to play with no fear. It is all gone now. We have lost it all, because iniquity has abounded. “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” [Matthew 24:12] God’s word stands true! Amen!

A true Bible-believing Christian has something inside himself [the Holy Ghost] that will always seek to be “pitiful” and “courteous” to others … especially to other Christians. A true Christian will be recognized by all those around him because he loves the brethren. This is what Jesus Christ said in John thirteen. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” [John 13:34-35] Something else! “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” [1 John 3:14]

The proof is in the pudding!

A believer in Jesus Christ will seek to cover the wrong doing of another believer because he loves his brother. “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” [1 Peter 4:8] Love covers sins! “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” [Proverbs 10:12]

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2. Inherit A Blessing

Verse nine: “Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”

What is the cure to all this railing and evil doing? What is the ANTIDOTE? Why it is compassion, love, pity and courtesy! Do you see it? Compassion, love, pity and courtesy … towards one another [to those in Jesus Christ who are of the household of God], and towards those on the outside [who are the lost in the world, which comprise the vast sea of humanity], is the ANTIDOTE exactly prescribed by the Holy Spirit that will interrupt for us all our tendency to render “evil for evil”. The way we can COUNTERACT our old sinful nature is not to give in to our old fleshly desire to rail on someone who is railing on us. Yea, the lost will think it strange when they see us “turning the other cheek” and taking the wrong doing [even when we do not deserve it. Amen to that!

Think of it this way. To return compassion, love, pity and courtesy towards others who are “rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing” to us … forms part of our service to Jesus Christ. This service is just “par for the course”, as they say. Remember this. We will receive a reward from the LORD for serving [and obeying] HIM in this thing]. This thing we know. “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” [Colossians 3:24] Here is the principle thing that we all need to receive here. It is located in Psalm thirty-seven, verse twenty-seven. Are you ready? “Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.” [Psalm 37:27]

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3. See Good Days

Verse ten: “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:”

In the latter part of the Church age we are without the joy of “good days”. If we would just “love life” we would “see good days”.  LIFE is in Jesus Christ! If we do “love life”, it is because we are walking in the old paths that God has revealed to us in this OLD BOOK. These “old paths” are revealed to us in the word of God are the very keys to the secret of good health for our bones … for us all. It is health to our families … it is health to our churches … and it is health to our nation. Here it is for you [in Jeremiah chapter six, verse sixteen]: “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” [Jeremiah 6:16] We need to restrain our tongue from all evil and never let our lips speak guile [or lies]. We will not see “good days” … unless we walk therein.

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4. Eyes For The Righteous

Verse twelve: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

Do you see that? Take note of this. It is “the face of the Lord” that is against those who do evil. I do not want “the face of the Lord” against me. Amen! I want “eyes of the Lord” over me. Amen!

It is good to BE … in the eyes of the LORD.

• “For the eyes of the Lord were over” Noah in Genesis chapter six: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” [Genesis 6:8]

• “For the eyes of the Lord were over” David when he was in trouble in the book of Samuel chapter twenty-six: “And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.” [1 Samuel 26:24]

• “For the eyes of the Lord were over” all the righteous according to Psalm thirty-four: “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” [Psalm 34:15]

• “For the eyes of the Lord” are everywhere according to the Spirit of God in the book of Proverbs chapter fifteen: “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” [Proverbs 15:3]

It is good to DO RIGHT … in the eyes of the LORD.

• “For the eyes of the Lord” see all those, whose hearts are toward HIM, to strengthen them according to what it says in Second Chronicles chapter sixteen: “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” [2 Chronicles 16:9a]

Let us all eschew evil, and do good; let us seek peace, and ensue it. Amen!

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Believing And Suffering

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The First Epistle of Peter

1 Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the
conversation of the wives;

1 Peter 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

1 Peter 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

1 Peter 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

1 Peter 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

1 Peter 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

1 Peter 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

1 Peter 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

1 Peter 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

1 Peter 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

1 Peter 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

1 Peter 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

1 Peter 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.