Faithful on Fridays Blog

As we enter Chapter Three we notice that Peter isn’t finished with the topic of subjection just yet. He speaks directly to wives and then to husbands being sure to include everyone in the call to be in alignment with each other: that’s true unity.

Let’s concentrate on the word ‘good’ for a moment. Peter used this word in Chapter Two six times when he suggested that if we’ve really experienced the Lord’s goodness (vs. 3) we’ll mature in faith by turning from evil and toward good (12, 14, 15, 18, 20). Peter knew what it was like to follow Jesus and watch Him do good deeds for everyone:

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
Acts 10:38

This goodness Peter wrote about was Jesus’ kind-hearted, considerate, helpful, and benevolent life; He showed His disciples what a ‘good person’ and a ‘good life’ looks like. Once Peter observed a rich, young ruler who called Jesus good and asked what ‘good deed’ he needed to do in order to inherit eternal life. Jesus jumped on the ‘good’ part and told him God alone is good and continued to put emphasis on the commandments that point toward the way we treat people: doing good deeds. 

Peter may have been thinking back to that encounter when he used this word good so many times again in Chapter Three (another six times!). He encourages us to show goodness toward people; his phrases include doing good, having good behavior, seeing good days, and having a good conscience. What about you? Where in your life are you doing good and helping others?

Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 1 Peter 3:13

Peter continued to encourage his readers in verses 14-17 that when you honor Christ with your words of faith and hope in your heart, respectfully defending what you believe, if you suffer it will be with goodness, benefitting you and the listener. Check out those verses.

Lastly, Peter reminds us of the power of Jesus’ descent into hell overcoming the devil after His own suffering and death securing life for us. The lower story of Noah and the ark points us to the upper story of baptism as we also rise from the waters of spiritual death into new life in Christ. 

Jesus is now sitting at the right hand of God with complete authority over the spiritual powers who are now subject to Him and that completes His circle of subjection: He is the final authority. 

Let Peter encourage you:

Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
1 Peter 3:10