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Now today we are on chapter 3. We are on chapter 3 on this theme of holding fast in a shifting world, and I want to point our focus to today's message, which is the shift from sanctified living. The shift from sanctified living. So let us re responsively, chapter 3, from verses 8, all the way down to 22, to the end of the chapter, from verse 8 to 22. I shall begin, and then the congregation will respond. Beginning from 1st Peter chapter 3, verse 8. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having one, having compassion, one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous, not rendering evil for evil, reeling for really, but contrariwise, blessing, knowing hereunto call that ye should inherit a blessing. 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. Let him eschew evil and do good. Let him seek peace and ensue it. 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. And who is he that will harm you? We be followers of that, which is good. But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye, but be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. Sanctified, the Lord God, in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man, asketh you, reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. Having a good conscience that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse you, your good conversation in Christ. The little God, be so, that ye suffer for help, then for evil doing, for Christ also, 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. By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison, which some time were disobedient when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The last 2 verses together, the light figure whereunto baptism, also now, save us, putting away on the field of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is gone into heaven, is on the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him. Amen. We thank God for the reading of his word. Now today in this passage which we have read, we will focus on Peter's teaching. And his orientation, or he's pointing the reader towards the thinking that despite the persecution to come, a Christian ought to maintain a sanctified life, right? And he has to live a life that is seen by others to embrace sanctification of the Lord. Now, what does sanctification mean? Well, very simply, it means being made holy, right? That's the Latin word centres, being made holy. And it is more than just an appearance or something that is observable, right, from the outward man. It is also an inward heart, and it is also a manner of interaction with others. So in today's passage, as we go through the verses, we will learn three very important things about a sanctified living, right, and sanctified life. First of all, it has to do with good conduct towards men. The way in which you interact with others does show, it is one way of showing that you are living a sanctified life, in your interaction with others, in the words you use, in the speech and the demeanour with which you communicate with others, that's your conduct. Right? Very important. Your conduct thus demonstrate whether you're living a sanctified life or not. Persecution or otherwise, a Christian is exalted to live that sanctified life. Secondly, a sanctified life, right, is undergirded. It is founded upon your good conscience towards God, your conduct towards men, and your conscience towards God. And as we go through the verses, we will find that the word conscience is not meant to be subjective. Sometimes you will hear men say, oh, you know, this matter, it's between me and God. It's between my conscience and God. Speaking as if it were a subjective matter, right? You may have your conscionable action, and I may have what I feel my conscience will accept, and therefore it's objective. Whereas the Bible tells us that one who behaves in a manner which is seen to be good conscience towards God, is, in fact, objective in God's sight. It is pleasing to God, it is in accordance to His word. It is moved by his Holy Spirit, right? Conduct towards man, good conscience towards God. And then finally, sanctified living, we will learn in the verses, especially in the last final verses of chapter 3, has to do with exhibiting the true conversion in your life. Because remember, we were once sinners, right? Some of us were pagans. Some of us were idol worshippers. Some of us were nuns, right? No religion whatsoever. But when we come to the glorious saving grace, to the knowledge of the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we put upon the new man, as the Bible tells us. So sanctified living. allows us, by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, to express a truly converted man or woman. The true conversion in our life, right? So, three Cs, you can write down in your notebook, conduct towards men, good conscience before God. And then finally, the true conversion in our lives. So let me begin with verse eight, right? Verse 8 says, finally. So this is like a summary, right? And I say, why is this a summary? You see, the way epistles are written, and you think about it, if you're writing an email now, people, people these days don't write letters anymore, right? I remember in my youth, we used to write letters, and then we used to have postcards, we write postcards, and then we have what is known as aerogrammes, right? It's a piece of paper, and then you fold it up, and then you glue the sides, and then you write a letter to a family member, a loved one, or a friend. Now, when you write a letter or you're pending your thoughts, very often, you would pen your thoughts in a sequential manner, isn't it? First of all, I want to tell you this. Secondly, this, thirdly, this. And then you may end by summarising it, right? So please remember that I told you this, this, and that. So, you'll see that Peter, in his writing, is doing more or less the same thing, and you'll find that same pattern repeated in Paul's epistles as well. Right? He says verse 8 begins with finally be all of one mind. It is a concluding statement based on the points that he had set forth prior to chapter 3, verse 8. Now, So what are those points? right here, right? The understanding of holiness, that it is a commandment from God. The understanding that that holiness is something that Christ, by his accompished work, has enabled us to do. And then also, the understanding of the glory of God. If you do not understand the holiness that God commands us to be, because he is holy, neither do you understand the glory of God. There's no point talking about a sanctified life. Because that sanctified life would be a fabrication of the flesh. You've constructed it, you've invented it. But it must be based upon prior knowledge, and what prior knowledge is that the knowledge that God is holy, and therefore I must be holy. That God is to be glorified, and therefore my life must bring forth priest to God. So you see how beautiful and structured the writing of the apostle Peter is. And then finally, the shift in an attitude towards God's authority, if I know God is holy, and I must be holy like him, and I know that God ought to be glorified in my life. What does it mean? It means I submit myself to God's authority. Including the authority of men who are put above me. When I say men, of course, I mean humankind in general, you may be men or women. You may have a woman, boss, at your workplace. That is an authority that's put over you by the company, with whom you're employed. And you obey that authority, isn't it? You don't rebel against it. You can try, but you're not gonna last long, I can tell you, right? I've tried it before. It doesn't work, right? So don't do that, because you're working against the will of God in your life. Because that person in your life, to whom you may think, is creating hindrances and perhaps a nuisance, right, in your work life, maybe for the purpose of sanctifying you. Making you more sanctified, making you more patient, making you more loving. allowing you to be more forgiving towards others. And you know what? Sometimes? In looking at others, you see the weakness in yourself. I am like him. I used to be as nasty as him. In fact, on occasions, I'm as bad or worse than him. Therefore, I must change. Sanctified living. important, isn't it? So, here in verse 8, Paul says, finally, you know the glory of God, you know the holiness of God, you know of authority, God I put over you. Let's go to verse 8 of chapter 3. Be ye all of one mind. Having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. See all these very good adjectives, right? These are good Christian virtues. But if these Christian virtues are not founded upon the knowledge of holiness, if they're not founded upon the knowledge of the glory of God, if it's not founded upon submission to the authority that God has put over us, these are just an outward facade. It's something that you've invented, right? As a facade to show the world. I am a courteous person. I'm full of compassion, there's pity within me. I love the brethren, I give generously. So fabrication. So, Peter begins this portion of the understanding of sanctified living, with his exhortation to watch your conduct before man. Conduct yourselves with the guidelines that you know, which defines Christian virtue. And what's Christian virtue right here? First of all, be of one mind, one mind, well, the Greek word is homophrone, right? One singular thought, and one singular direction in which your thoughts and minds are pointed to. Now, that doesn't mean everybody being the same. Everybody having the same, you know, values and sort of a method in doing their work. It doesn't mean that. Because as the Bible describes, the church is made up of many members and they're all different. So what is the meaning of one mind? That one mind has to do with what? The mine of Christ. The mind of Christ. How he suffered for us, and how he suffered, submissive to his tormenters for our sake. That's that one mind, the sacrificial love that Christ has shown us on the cross. Of one mind, having compassion one for another. Always being kind and compassionate towards one another. If a brother or sister shows some kind of weakness in character, for instance, I have a brother or sister shows some kind of behaviour which may be offensive to you. Can you still be compassionate? You ought to be. You are to be forgiving enough to overlook this person's offence. You may want to teach him, yes, kindly, lovingly. And that's the right way to go about it. Conduct towards men. Now, I want to just pause here for a minute, right? Think of it. Peter is writing to churches who are about to be very severely persecuted. And he's writing about Christian virtues, which, as I have emphasised in earlier messages, would probably be the very last things on their mind at a moment, right? Right? The Romans are coming to round up the Christian. I want to get out of here. That's my first thought. Right, the Romans are about to come and make us renounce our faith and bow down to pagans or worship Caesar. I don't want to do that. What have I got to do with being compassionate with exhibiting Christian virtue? With doing all those things that are described in verse 8, being showing love to the brethren, being pitiful, being courteous, and the answer is simply this. It is the devil's device. The devil will break the will of the church and cause discord and harmony. In the 1st century, how did he do it by persecution? He wanted to do that. But the word of God reorientates our mind, especially the minds of those Christians in the 1st century, in those diasporic churches in Bicynia, and Asia, and Galatia, and all these places, you read this word, and you continue to live a sanctified life, despite the persecution to come. And brothers and sisters, we're not under persecution. Well, not overt, violent persecution, at least, right? Maybe once in a while, you'll find, you know, some form of mockery, or some form of offence, when people make light humour of the Christian faith. Yes, that's fine. Let's not persecution. Right? This is just the world. But it does not exempt us from continuing to live a life that is sanctified as describing the word of God. Now, when does verse 8 continue to say? It says compassion one for another. Love as brethren, right? Philo, love for our brethren. And I see that love when I interact with you all. By the way, families help each other, right? The way young families will help each other with children. The way the older or the seniors within the church will give aid. And those who are better endowed, yes, will help those that are in need. So that's good. We know that. Be pitiful and be. Look at what was a courteous. And the word courteous here has a very Christian ring to it, you know? What it means is what? It means to be courteous means of a friendly mind. Very ready to help. Someone is about to persecute you. Will you be courteous? Will you be ready to help? Can I help you? Can I help you carry these implements? That will inflict pain upon me? Being courteous. Well, I'm trying to go overboard, right? This is called a hyperbole, right? An extreme exaggerated example to tell us how difficult it's going to be, when you are trying to be courteous under persecution. But that's the call of the Bible. Verse 9 continues is with not rendering evil for evil or reeling for reeling, but contrariwise, blessing. But contrariwise, blessing. You know, I used the phrase, I think the 1st evening when I started off, the message on shifting from faith and spiritual things, how we must be grounded. And I mentioned to you how, as a persecuted community or a community of Christians who are about to be persecuted, the very strong temptation is to say to yourself, well, the gloves are off. Right? Anything that works is going to work for us, which means also subverting, well, the persecuting forces, which means also doing harm to them, you know, and finding ways to hinder them or hinder the forces. But yes, we have learned yesterday, the authority that God had put over the land is an authority ordained by God. But verse 9 tells us the reason why, the undergirding for our good conduct. And it's not just because you want to appear to be a nice guy or a nice lady or a nice, you know, person. It says not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing. Now this sentence up to the point contrary wise blessing. Verse 9, should be very familiar to you by now. Because although these words were not repeated, it has been described again and again in almost every one of the previous sermons, right? You may remember it. Remember our Lord Jesus Christ, and how does Peter describe the Lord Jesus Christ while he was on the cross? When he was reviled, he reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. I think you find that in verse 15, isn't it? of the, sorry, verse 23 of chapter 2, when he was revived, he reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened not, verse 23 of chapter 2. but committed himself to him that judges righteously. So the urge of the flesh is this, someone offends me. I'm going to get even. The urge of the flesh is somewhat offends me. Well, I'll find a way to get it back at you. Eventually, I will. Reeling, for reeling, evil, for evil, and I for an eye. Has it not been said, you might have heard this. And this is a secular saying, It's not from the Bible. But nonetheless, it teaches something. If you apply an eye for an eye, very soon, your whole nation will be blind. Is it true? Right? If every man or woman would want to have his own back, if every man or woman would want to get even when they're offended, There is no end to conflict and violence. But the Christian is called upon to do something very different. And very different, but not unusual, not unusual, because it is Christ like, so it's worth 9 ends with, not reeling for reeling, but contrariwise blessing. Read the last part with me. Knowing that ye are thereunto call, that ye should inherit a blessing. That is a sanctified life. We will have that eternal blessing that God has reserved for all those who put their trust in the Lord Jesus. And we are called to it. And our knowledge and awareness that we are being called to receive that eternal blessing means that while we walk on this life, we conduct ourselves in a way that is a blessing to others. It's a very hard message for the 1st century Christians. We have to be a blessing to others, even to those who are about to torment you. Very difficult message, isn't it? A very difficult tenet to live by, but not impossible, because verse 9 says, knowing that ye are there unto called, we are called to do it. God hath chosen us for that purpose. And God, those whom God have called, he will enable. The Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, gives us that power and that enablement that we may be able to live out a life and a conduct towards others, that demonstrates that we live sanctified life. You know, many years ago, more than a decade ago, it must have been maybe 15 years or so. We read in the paper, in those days, we still read the newspapers. Real newspapers. I mean, was this big, right? And we read of a pastor who got in trouble with the law. Actually, he had to go to jail, you know, and that would mean the end of his ministry. He had to go to jail because of a road rage incident. A road rage incident, I don't know what happened. Somebody cut him off, or, you know, honked more than twice at him, and something happened, right? So he threatened violence. Now, the country that I'm referring to has very strict laws. So being a man who threatened violence, there was evidence against him, and he was hauled to court and put in jail. And we first read, no, this was 15 years ago, that's who we're reading, you know, this could happen to anyone, you know? True enough, right? You get very angry when people cut you off? You do. Do you get angry when the lights turn green and the third car down the line is honking at you? You get a bit mad, isn't it? Why can't they wait? Do you get angry when you see cars speeding by when there's a school bus and children are boarding? I do. I get mad. Sometimes I wish I could, you know, change them up and give them a few, you know, choice words of encouragement or instruction, right, on driving. You wanna do that? Reeling for reeling, evil for evil. That is not the Christian way. But contrariwise, mark that and highlight that in your Bible, but contrariwise, blessing. And you see, the apostle Peter is totally faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching and the doctrines of Christ. Remember what the Lord Jesus taught? Bless them that persecute you, isn't it? Right? Pray for them. that treat you, right, and make you suffer, those that torment you, you pray for them. That's what the Lord Jesus taught in the gospels. And Peter, being the spokesman amongst the disciples, he would have been sitting in a front row when the Lord Jesus taught that. And he remembered it. So when the Holy Spirit moved him to pen these words to a church that's about to be persecuted, he wrote exactly what the Lord Jesus taught him. Do not give evil for evil. Do not give railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing. contrariwise blessing. And then verse 10 and 11 tells us, right, that the call to be a blessing can only attract blessings from God. So this is what verse 10 and 11 is about. 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. Let him eschew evil, and to do good, and let him seek peace and ensue it. So verse 10 focusses on and specifically upon verbal expression. Let your verbal expression not show evil, or dishonesty, or deceit of any kind. Instead, what should we do? We refrain from evil, right? We refrain from dishonesty, even despite being tormented or persecuted. Verse 11 says, let him eschew evil meaning, to shun evil. But instead do good. Can you imagine doing that? You may be the first century Christian imprisoned by the Romans for your faith. And then you shun evil, and instead you do good, you're in a prison amongst others. What do you do? You minister to those who are sick. You help to heal those who might have been injured or wounded. And if your tormenters come, you share with them the gospel of Jesus Christ, that they may, perhaps by the grace of God, come to no salvation in the Lord. doing good, despite being evil treated. Christians have that call to be very submissive and to live a life that is sanctified, showing that to the world. You know, early on, I speak about that pastor who was involved in a road rage incident. And when we were, you know, just having a casual conversation about it, one of the thoughts was, yes, it could have happened to any one of us, road reach, or the idea of having rising rage within us and wanting to take that kind of action. This a work of the flesh. But the Bible wants us in many places not to give way to that form of fleshly urging. Right? Is it not in the book of Romans that we read, right, to recompense no man evil for evil? Do not recompense any man evil for evil. That Romans chapter 12, verse 17. For those who treat you badly, it doesn't mean you want to get back at him. I once had a supervisor, a boss, who was particularly offensive, right? And he was a Christian, so he would deliberately, deliberately use the name of the Lord in his curses. And when I try to, you know, nicely remind him, he would, repeat it all the more often. And he was nasty in many ways. He would do things that he knew would cause offence, and he knew that it would cause for all forms of disturbance within the working team. He would do it. Sometimes he was asked, you know, why did you do this? I mean, everything seems to be in order, isn't it? You're just upsetting the Apple card. His answer would be, well, the team needs to know how to be flexible in circumstances of change. It's like saying, I do it because I like to do it this way. So I had very bad feelings about this man. And very often I have to pray, Lord, help me. Help me to see this man as a man made in the image of God. A sinner, no doubt. And speaking of Sinna, I'm I was one, too. Except I'm saved by grace. And then I begin to see also in that light, I am often like him. Self willed, proud, unable to accept criticism from others. That's the way to learn. And then when you know of that, you will realise, actually, as a Christian, your mission on Earth is to convey the blessing that you've received from God in order that others may receive it. And that's why, in verse 10, in verse 9, it says contrary wise blessing. And verse 10 and 11 is an encouragement to do good. to do good, to pray for those that offend you, to bless them, to help them come to know the knowledge of good and evil and the knowledge of the gospel of salvation. So this Christian testimony of being able to forgive others is a very important teaching that we must embrace, and if we have not embraced that, you cannot truly say that you're living a sanctified life. So Peter is trying to begin his message by putting forth this idea. Your conduct towards others. So the way you drive, the words that you use against with your colleague, not the nice ones, the ones who offend you, or the customers who are, in your mind, difficult ones to deal with. How do you treat them? How do you deal with them? Do you work it in a way that you know that your life can be a blessing to others? And this is what Peter is trying to convey, right? Now, the idea of being vengeful must be totally out of our vocabulary as Christians. You know, think of the Old Testament, right? When the people of Israel occupied the Promised Land, one of the things that God told them to do was to set up cities of refuge, right? Remember, there were 6 cities of refuge, 3 on one side of the river, Jordan, another 3 on the other side. God knows. Our flesh and our weakness is better than we do ourselves. God understands that if you are so incensed, and that offence against you is so great, such as, for instance, the killing of your loved one. Even though it may be an accidental killing. That rising anger may cause you to take a life. And that's why God instructed his people, set out these cities of refuge, where the manslayer may flee too. I say men slayer, not murderer, right? This is not a premeditated murder. Someone who accidentally took the life of another man, maybe, right? It was swinging an axe, and the axe flew out of his hand. and cause fatality. Well, the family member may be so angry that he wants revenge, but God, and should, that there was a mechanism for these people to find refuge. Of course, the idea of a city of refuge is also a type, right? The Lord Jesus is our refuge. We know that. God knows our weaknesses more than we do. And when we read this exhortation from the apostle Peter, apply in our lives, be quick to forgive, be quick to overlook the offence of others. in your life. And you know what? I am gonna say this. It may apply to you, it may not, be quick to forgive those that are sitting in the same pews as you are. Be quick to forgive your fellow church members when they offend you. You know why? We reserve our greatest offences to those who share our same faith, isn't it? How can a Christian behave like that? How can she speak those words and offend me and my family in such a man? She's a Christian, you know? Be quick to forgive that, because that Christian is no less a sinner saved by grace as you are. And as much as you receive that forgiveness from the Lord, be quick to forgive. Be quick to forgive a lesson that we all can learn, right? Be compassionate, be courteous, show love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. These are all good Christian principles, Christian virtues. Now, Often I say, right, sanctification and a good conscience, is it a matter? Is it a subjective matter, right? So let's read on. Let's go to verse 12. What does it say? 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. And verse 13 continues, and who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye, and be not afraid of that terror, neither be troubled. Verse 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. Sanctified living and a conduct towards others that is seen and known to exhibit good Christian virtues. comes from our understanding that God is watching over us. God is watching over us, right? And we do that which is necessary, and that which is good because that's God's commandment for us. Verse 12 makes it very clear. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous. His ears are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. You see, this verse follows from an earlier verse which says, do not return evil for evil. Do not return reeling for reeling. Why? Because God knows. It is not our place to work out judgement or vengeance against others. It is God's hand. God's sovereign hand that will see to it. He will know who is righteous and who is not. Now, is there a familiarity there? Remember the verse I read early on, chapter 2, verse 23? When he was revived, he revived not again. When he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judges righteously. That's exactly where it came from. Peter is repeating the same point in his epistle in different words, giving a different nuance to it so that you fully understand it. Now I know how the Lord suffered. He was tormented, but he reviled not again. He suffered, but neither did he threaten them with harm or danger of any kind. But what did he do? He committed himself to God. That's what I must do. That's what I must do when I'm threatened. That's what I must do when I'm offended. I should not take it upon myself to get even. Because that's of the flesh. Very powerful lesson, isn't it? So it's not meant to be subjective. We do have an objective example in our Lord Jesus Christ. You know, many years ago, sometimes you might have seen this printed on coffee marks or t-shirt. WWJD. What would Jesus do? Right? I think at one point it gotten a bit jaded because it spread everywhere. But the point in that particular replication of those letters is to point the Christian towards Christlikeness. I'm about to do this. I'm about to say this, or I'm about to convey this thought. Is it Christ like or not? Or is it flesh like? Or is it worse, me like? Or is it devilish? If it is not the first, and it's all of the rest, then you should not do it, and you should not say it. You can tell that I speak from experience, isn't it? I made that mistake before. Saying the wrong things. Striking out, well, not physically striking out, but verbally and orally offending others. To get even, and that's wrong. That's not Christian like, but a word of God cleanses us, and it teaches us what is ought to write, very powerful lessons that we learn, right? Now, I want to come to verse 14, right? But then if we suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. Now, you find that Peter repeating this often, right? If you suffer for righteousness sake, right? If you suffer for no fault of yours, because that was how the Lord Jesus Suffered for us, innocent, unblemished, the perfect lamb of God. So the Christian ought to suffer not because of some fault or some infringement or violation on his part. He suffer in ignorance, innocence, and when suffering in innocence, well, happy are ye. You're blessed, you're blessed. God is watching over you and God will protect you. So do not fear. So in many times in church history, you'll find that men and some women as well, who stood up for the truth of God's word or for God's work. And you'll find that they are persecuted, they are persecuted by the false church, or they are persecuted sometimes by enemies within the church. But when you find that they stood firmly, resolutely, knowing that they are suffering in their innocence, eventually, right, through these pages of church history, you will find that God will reward them with success and prosperity. The Reformation was one good example. One man stood against the false church, and what do we have? The true teaching of the gospel, salvation by faith, by grace alone, on the basis of the scripture alone. That's why we are able to have, this time together, meditating upon the Word of God. So living a sanified life, number one, conduct, conduct, good conduct towards men. Now, the eyes of the Lord, verse 12 says, are over the righteous and his years are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. So this is a very clear teaching that we do not fret, or we do not have to worry about, well, what others may do to us. And this is not new, you know? It is not new in the sense that, oh, you find that only in the New Testament, right? Remember what David wrote in the Psalm? I think it's some 27, isn't it? God is my light and my salvation. I shall not fear what man can do unto me. That's King David. So it is a thought that is a very much part of the lies and the heart and minds of the faithful, even from the Old Testament. Even from the beginning of the phase that has been once delivered to the saints. That's what David said. The Lord is my light and my salvation. I shall not fear what man can do unto me. I do not fear them, because he committed himself to him who judges righteously. Now, David, as you know in his life, would have undergone persecution. Saul, at one point, was trying to kill him, chasing him around in the wilderness. And then later on in life, even when he was king, he suffered, well, insurrection by none other than his own son. And then, of course, all kinds of political intrigues that he had to face. But all the time, what was in his mind? He never, you do not see David, especially in his last conversation with Solomon. You do not see him working out vengeance against those who had offended him, right? So the Lord Jesus, as you can see, is our example. So through the ages, the faithful have always looked to God. Right, for that security, that love, and that comfort even in times of trouble. So 2 things we've learned so far, right? Number one, sanctified living. It shows in our conduct towards others. How we are able to forgive others quickly. How we are able to exhibit Christian virtue, right? Being pitiful, compassionate, loving, courteous to others, and remember that word, again, courteous means of a friendly mind. Always ready to help and serve and do good to others. Conduct towards others. Secondly, we're going to come to the understanding that sanctified living means also a good conscience before God. And this is how verse 15 expresses it, right? Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Sanctify the Lord God in your heart. Sanctify on the part of the believer, it means to make holy. To sanctify the Lord God in your hearts means to have a special place and consideration on in your heart, about the teachings of the Lord, and the example that he has shown us. Sanctified, put it aside. That is what it means. Make it holy, make it something that you honour and obey. 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. Now, we know what that is, isn't it? Even under persecutary circumstances, a Christian ought to be able to express his faith and his love for the Lord, right? With meekness and fear. Why are you still joyful? You're suffering. You're being beaten up every day. Because the Lord is with me. Because I have an eternal inheritance in him. Because His Holy Spirit indwells me. Because he commands me to live a sanctified life. And therefore, I do not return evil for evil or reeling for realing. And this is where we come to the idea of a good conscience, right, before God and before men. Now verse 16, right? Having a good conscience, having a good conscience, whereas they speak evil of you as evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. They falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. Now, I spoke about that 2 days ago, the 1st evening, about how Christians were falsely accused for many of the disasters and calamities that came upon the Roman Empire, isn't it? So much so that historians would say, if the river Tiberius would overflow, just blame it on Christians. Anything that's bad, blaming another Christian, they're the easy scapegoat, right? Easy to pick on them. But whatever that reason is, the Christian maintains a good conscience before men. Why? Because he does not, and she does not think about working evil upon others. But on the contrary, his or her thought is about blessing others. letting them know salvation in the Lord. Would you do that for someone that you dislike intensely? It's difficult, too, but that's what the word of God calls us to do. And this has to do also with the way we treat visitors in our church. You know, very often, and this is almost, you know, uniform throughout the world most, churches are mono ethnic, right? mono ethnic meaning of one group of people. Now, I know there are many ethnicities inside here, but generally this is an Asian church, isn't it? So I've travelled before in different places, and I go to a particular church, and this is a Western country, and it's a white church, all white, right? I'm the only, you know, Asian in their midst. So, you will find those who are very warm towards you, and they exhibit Christian virtue. You know it. But then there were others who will, and it may be a prejudice on my part. Perhaps they shun you because of your race. Right now, that's only imagination on my mind, maybe totally wrong, right? They may be very shy people who are unable to communicate with visitors, but that may be so. But the perception, right? Walking away from it is this church, you know, has only one person who's very friendly and that's the pastor. Nobody else talk to me, right? And you work with that kind of feeling. So in a church like this, it's important that you extend that sense of want and fellowship towards everyone, right? Towards everyone. Having that good conscience before God. That I am reaching out to others, that I'm giving a reason of the hope that is in me. And this man, a woman, who is visiting us, or, you know, sitting in our worship service this morning, he may be a believer, an unbeliever, it doesn't matter. The important thing is that I let this person know that there is a reason of the hope that is within me. I'm a sinner saved by grace. My sins have been forgiven, my sins are washed away. And you can receive that blessing too. Remember that. Good conduct before men, a good conscience before God, and a good conscience before God means sanctifying the Lord God in your heart. Within your heart, there's a special place that I do things, and I say things, and I live my life with this consideration that the Holy Spirit of God lives in me. I'm meant to be holy. Now, finally, I want to come to the outward expression of our true conversion in Christ. Now, let's read 21 and 22. Let's read it all together, right? Verse 21, the like figure whereunto, even baptism does also now save us, not the putting away of the field, of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. You see all, all those things that we have spoken about, the holiness of God, you know, the glory of God, and we talk about the authority that God has over us, even in the man and the dominions that are put over us. How we behave and how we express ourselves, demonstrates the proof of your conversion. The proof of a conversion, right? That is what verse 21 is. The light figure is talking about even baptism, right? Baptism here speaks about, no, let's read it. Even baptism does also save us, not the putting away of the fields of the flesh, but answer a good conscience towards God. Verse 21 needs to be understood in the context of a Christian, coming to know salvation, having his sins cleansed away. That's the meaning of baptism. Baptism here is not the act, the ritual or act of baptism that you see conducted to, new converts, right? So that baptism does not save. It is an outward and symbolic act of the person's public testimony of salvation. So this baptism here means the cleansing away of sin. The light figure here unto even baptism. And now you see in parenthesis, not the putting away of the field of the flesh, to make it clear to the readers that he's not talking about taking a shower. Right, when you're taking a shower, you're cleansing away the fields of the flesh, right? You run about, or you, you know, you've got dust on your around you, and, you know, you go under the shower, and you clean yourself, right? Not that. He's not talking about that. But second part that is in the parenthesis, the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. What is this talking about? Salvation by faith, the forgiveness of sins, and reconciliation and peace with God. True conversion. A truly converted man or woman will endeavour to live a sanctified life. And that sanctified life can be seen in his or her conduct towards others. can be seen in her his or her conscience towards God. in the way he believes, behaves, expresses his faith. And that includes expressing your faith towards those that are in darkness, and you want them to know salvation in Lord Jesus Christ. How wonderful these thoughts are, isn't it? What an eloquent writer, Peter, is, and I don't know why liberal scholars refer to him as an ignorant fisherman. He writes so beautifully. And he summarises all that thought that we've gone before in those chapters, with this application in your life. Live a sanctified life. Show good conduct before others. Do not be vengeful. Do not be vindictive against others. Secondly, have a good conscience before God. Live a life that is pure and clean, and express that Christian virtue of sharing the gospel with others. Thirdly, exhibit true conversion in your life, because we are saved by none other than the resurrected Lord and Saviour, our perfect and sinless, unblemished sacrifice acceptable before God. Let us pray. Father in heaven, we thank thee for thy precious word. May thy word continue to encourage and strengthen the hearts of thy people. and cause them to live lives that are glorifying to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Help us all, Lord, to live sanctified lives that we may be pleasing in his sight, for we pray and ask all this in Jesus' name. Amen.