FIRST PETER 3:10

The Bible says in First 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.” Every human being probably wants to enjoy life. The question for the human race is: what philosophy of life will bring the greatest happiness? To answer that question remember this: God has given us His Word and His commandments not to limit our enjoyment of life, but to increase it. Jesus said, “I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly.” Another important thing to remember on this subject is the principle of retribution. Somehow, some way, and sometime all human beings reap what they sow. This happens because God is the righteous judge of the whole earth.

Who are the happiest people on the earth? The ones who are the most righteous are the happiest. Who are the most miserable people on the earth? The ones who are the most wicked are the most miserable people. This is the general rule. Of course, there are exceptions to this general rule, such as in the life of Job during his time of great trial and affliction. The book of Hebrews quotes the Psalms and says about Jesus and His life on the earth, “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” One of the biggest lies of the devil is that sin brings enjoyment. Sin brings misery and woe upon woe. Sin brings death. We need a Savior.

Notice that First Peter 3:10 says that those who “love life” and who wish to see “good days” must refrain “the tongue from evil” and must make sure that the lips “speak no guile.” The emphasis is on what we say. What we say comes before what we do, and what we say often determines what we do. Do not underestimate the power of your speech. The words that you say and the way that you say them will have a lot to do with what happens to you in life. There is a battle of good and of evil going on in the world. Part of that battle is fought inside your mouth. One way of not saying what you ought not to say is to say nothing at all. James 1:19 says, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” The Bible also says in James 1:26, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.”

On the subject of how to “see good days,” it is important what we do as well as what we say. First Peter 3:11 says, “Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.” As we will see in the verses that follow, this doing of good and seeking of peace refers to our relationships with others especially to those who do things against us. There are people in this world who do not seek peace. As a matter of fact one of the more prominent characteristics of sinful human nature is the impulse to get even or to get revenge on others when we think that they have done wrong to us. If it was not for this terrible part of human nature, there would be far fewer wars, fewer murders, longer-lasting relationships, and happier people. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” There are not many true peacemakers in the world, but if you are one of the children of God, then you are supposed to be one of the peacemakers.

There is an interesting use of words in First Peter 3:11. The word that is translated “ensue” means to pursue. A Christian should pursue peace. That is what he should be going after. What is interesting about the word “ensue” is that it can also be translated as “persecute.” It depends upon the context as to how the word is translated. Someone who persecutes is a pursuer of others. They go after others to get them and to get even with them. A believer in Christ is not supposed to be that way. That is the way of selfish flesh. A believer in Christ should pursue peace.

Why should Christians be peacemakers? One reason is that it is God’s commandment. Another reason is that being a peacemaker is the path to a happy life. Other reasons are given in the verses that follow. First Peter 3:12 says, “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.” This verse starts with the word “for.” In other words this verse is connected to the previous verse and is giving an explanation as to why we should be peacemakers. We should be peacemakers because God sees and knows everything that happens, and it will always end up better for every human being to have the Almighty God, the Judge of the whole earth, on his side. This verse also indicates that our prayers will not be answered unless we are peacemakers. Remember that human beings are God’s creation, created in His image. God loves every human being. God is the life-giver. The devil is the destroyer. It is written of the Son of God, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” You are on God’s side and He is on your side when you are a peacemaker and when you show kindness and mercy to others, no matter how they treat you.

One of the things that might enter someone’s mind is: “If I accept this idea, it means that I am going to suffer at the hands of others, and will not be able to do anything about it.” The first thing to remember in that regards is what is said in First Peter 3:13. It says, “And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?” Think about the situation that a Christian is in who is walking in fellowship with Christ. His sins are forgiven, and he is on his way to heaven. The All-knowing God will guide his every step and provide his every need. The worse thing that could happen to the believer is that he would die, but then he will awake in the glory and beauty of heaven. Nothing can happen to the believer except what God allows to happen, and God only allows it to happen for a good reason. Some day everything that happens will be used to glorify God and His Son. Some things will not be revealed until the Judgment Day. If the things that happen to me are God’s will, allowed for the glory of Christ, then what harm can they be? They are of no harm. They fit into God’s plan.

Of course, a Christian just might be called to suffer for the glory of Christ. Concerning such a possibility, First Peter 3:14 says, “But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.” The word that is translated “happy” is the word that is also translated “blessed.” Peter heard this teaching from Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 5:10, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Notice that Peter says in First Peter 3:14, “be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled.” The only thing that a Christian has to fear is fear itself. When bad things happen, if we focus on the human side of things, then we will fear. It will be the natural reaction of human nature. But if we focus on our Savior Jesus Christ and all of the promises that He has made to those who believe, we have nothing to fear. God is in control. “He which letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” “Perfect love casteth out fear.” When we love God and we are full of understanding of His love for us, we have no fear. We are confident that he will take care of us. We are surrendered to whatever he chooses for us. Instead of fear, we have love, confidence, and a willingness to accept His will for us whatever that may be.

Instead of fearing what others may do to us, or instead of getting even with others for what they have done to us, the Bible gives believers in Jesus many other things to occupy their hearts and minds. First Peter 3:15 says, “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.” The word “sanctify” means “to set apart” in this context. It refers to making a special place for God inside our “hearts.” It is very easy for human beings to be totally consumed by their own self-centered thoughts or to be pre-occupied with all of the busy details of any given day. In such cases we will not think about God. To not think about God is the condition of the heathen. It says of the wicked in Psalm 10:4, “God is not in all his thoughts.” God forbid that such a statement would describe a believer in Christ.

The last part of First Peter 3:15 describes what Christians are to do in order to spread the gospel verbally in this world. It may surprise you, especially if you come from an evangelistic background. It says to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason.” The implication here is that you are going to tell someone the gospel after they ask you about the gospel. This does not exclude the idea of a Christian going about to energetically present the gospel to people. But no one is going to get saved unless they want to get saved, and they are not going to want to get saved unless God touches their heart first. Jesus said in John 6:44, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” Salvation is of God or it does not happen. It is no wonder that there are so many false believers, and so many that have no assurance of their own salvation. One reason that some people have no assurance of their salvation is because some of them have never been saved.

Someone who really does get saved is a person whose heart is touched by the Spirit. Salvation is a spiritual experience. Salvation is a spiritual birth. Someone who comes to this spiritual birth is someone who has been touched to the depth of his or her soul. They are ready to repent. They are ready to be converted. They have come under conviction by the Spirit. No human being can bring a person to this point. It is the work of the Spirit. A Christian who wants to be a witness in this world, according to the teaching of First Peter 3:15, needs to be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit in witnessing. The Philippian jailer was not given the gospel until he turned to Paul and Silas and said to them, “What must I do to be saved?” Doing things in line with this principle is consistent with exactly what Jesus said in Matthew 7:6, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” Understand to whom you are talking.

Of course, First Peter 3:15 says that the unbelievers will ask for “a reason of the hope that is in you.” This implies that they watch your life and hear the words that you say, and they come to the conclusion that there is something different about your life. You have a “hope” that they do not have. That is not a hope in this life: it is a hope in the next life. People of the world can work on getting rich and have a hope in this life, but money cannot buy them hope for the next life. The Apostle Paul spoke of the hopelessness of the unsaved in First Thessalonians 4:13, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” It is a terrible thing to have no hope of life after death. Those who are without a savior face the grave and see nothing but darkness. How wonderful to know Jesus as Savior! He has delivered His believers from sin and death. He gives something better than life: eternal life. Jesus spoke of His power over the grave and said in John 11:25-26, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” If you have no hope of life after death, you can turn to Jesus, find forgiveness of sins, believe on Him, and become a person of a true and living hope.

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