1 Peter 3:13–22

Explore the Bible 
Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, University of Mobile

LIVING WITHOUT FEAR

1 Peter 3:13–22

Focus on Your Blessings (13–14)
Living as a Christian can involve suffering for righteousness’ sake. In fact, the more zealous the Christian is to impact people with the gospel, the greater the risk of opposition. Peter asked a rhetorical question: “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?”  Well, Satan and people influenced by him persecute Christians all through the world today. Check out persecution.com and you will be able to read about current situations around the world where our brothers and sisters are facing extreme persecution because of their Christian faith. Are you zealous for what is good? Are you determined to do good even in the face of persecution? Are you faithfully witnessing for Jesus?

The point of the rhetorical question is that no one will harm believers on the day of judgment, for God will reward them for their faithfulness. Even if believers suffer for Jesus’ sake in this world, they need not fear because God will preserve them and reward them at the judgment.

Peter was not promising that believers would escape harm in this Genesis 3 world. Suffering stalks the believer until this present evil age comes to an end. But Peter did assure believers that nothing could ultimately harm them as they continued faithfully serving Jesus, that the pain inflicted on them then was only temporary and that they would be vindicated by God on the last day.  

Keep a Clear Conscience (15–17)
The fear of the Lord conquers every other fear. As the Christian regards or sets apart Christ the Lord as holy, he need not fear. In the face of misunderstanding and opposition believers should treat Jesus as Lord in their hearts. The heart is not simply one’s inner, private life, hidden from others. The heart is the origin of human behavior and from it flows everything people do. Setting apart Christ as Lord in the heart is not merely a private matter but will be evident to all when Christians suffer for their faith.  

When Jesus Christ is Lord of our lives, each crisis becomes an opportunity for witness. Every Christian should be able to give a reasoned defense of his hope in Christ, especially in hopeless situations. A crisis creates the opportunity for witness when a believer behaves with faith and hope, causing unbelievers to sit up and take notice. The Christian should always reply with gentleness and respect and not with arrogance and a know-it-all attitude. We are witnesses, not prosecuting attorneys. 

We also must make sure our lives back up our defense. Peter did not suggest that Christians argue with lost people, but rather that we lovingly present to the unsaved an account of what we believe and why we believe it. The goal is to win not the argument but the lost person for Christ.

How does a good conscience help the believer in times of trial and opposition? A good conscience fortifies the believer with courage because he knows he is right with God and men, so that he need not be afraid. A good conscience also gives us peace in our hearts. And when we have peace within we can face battles without. A good conscience removes from us the fear of what other people may say about us or do to us. Is your conscience clear? If we are to maintain a good conscience, we must deal with sin in our lives.  

Claim Victory in Christ (18–22)
This difficult paragraph has three main points. First, Christ suffered for the unrighteous to bring believers to God. Second, by the power of the Spirit He was raised from the dead and proclaimed victory over demonic spirits. Third, Jesus is now exalted on high as the resurrected and ascended Lord and has subjected all demonic powers to Himself. Christians have no need to fear that suffering gets the last word, for they share the same destiny as their Lord, whose suffering has secured victory over all hostile powers.