Apr 26 Divine Service

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?

1 Peter 3:13

Where are we in the Bible? 

In 1 Peter, believers are reminded that they have been richly blessed through salvation and a future inheritance in Christ (ch. 1), and therefore are called to live as God’s people by praising Him (ch. 2), serving one another with their gifts (ch. 4), and willingly enduring suffering. Even in suffering, God is with them, and they are called to follow Christ’s example by responding to evil with good (ch. 3).

Our verse for this sermon poses a question based on the preceding verses in 1 Peter 3 which expound on the necessity of doing good. While verses 8-12 call the reader to do good, verses 13-17 address the questions of what happens to people who “become followers of what is good” when difficulties arise. The suffering endured by the recipients of this letter seems to lead to social shame and not to death. These Christians have lost social status due to slander and ridicule, and are experiencing shame. However, 1 Peter reverses this shame. Usually shame falls on those who are being slandered, but these verses shame those who are doing the slandering. In the face of the good works engaged in by the Christian community, their accusers will be revealed as false and malicious.

Summary

In a world that may answer goodness with shame or slander, we are called to follow Christ with a passionate love for what is good—unafraid, anchored in a community of faith, clear in conscience, and confident that God’s blessing and truth will ultimately reveal His goodness through us. As followers of Jesus Christ, our example, we are called to do good, strengthened and equipped in the divine services to overcome evil with good.

Foundational readings:

Scripture 1 Peter 3:13-17

Catechism 13.2.2

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