GODLY BEHAVIOR IN A GODLESS SOCIETY

1 PETER 2:12
Introduction:
- 1 Peter- one of the encouraging letter because it provides us instructions/exhortations and 35 commands
how to live as a Christian in the midst of sufferings as we follow Christ.
- Reality-the moment we are saved there is a tension.
- As Peter wrote this to Christians experiencing various sufferings=he wanted to encourage them by putting
into remembrance their living hope and as well reminded them the kind of life they must portray though
they are in hostile world
=That is Godly living
- Read text
For three reasons: to live godly
1. God’s glory
2. Growth in Faith
3. Gospel Proclamation
=People, especially the unbelievers will come to know Christ
- The tendency to compromise because we don’t want to be persecuted-results-evangelism becomes un-
effective.
How we can be an effective witness/evangelism? Godly Behavior
Illustration: Nanay Salve
- How we live matters to the people around us.-it will affect how they will see Christ-what will be their
response to Christ.
- Good witness/effective requires Godly behavior
That is the thrust here:
I. THE RESULT OF GODLY DISCIPLINE V.12a
- Simply-in v.11b-you discipline inwardly-you are practicing-godly discipline-it will and must reflect
- -manifested in our behavior.-
Godly discipline”-abstain”=Godly living requires Godly discipline
Godly Behavior-Live an honorable life-do good deeds.=magagawa natin yan private discipline.
“Keep”-hold-soldier hold his line=do not cross the line.
Present tense-we must hold on in showing godly behavior/consistently do good deeds
Behavior- conduct/way of life/manner of living-what is seen in us by others.-external
Excellent-Kalos-external beauty-
Agathos-intrinsic-inherently morally- Greek-the highest form of the word good/
= that is winsome, attractive, fine, or noble. It is goodness in the purest and highest sense.
-goodness talk/action.-Transformed life-seen in how we live
“among the Gentiles”=among the unbelieving world
 Behave in a godly fashion-goodness-in the midst of unbelievers-Non-Christians
- We live surrounded by unbelievers-school/work places/community.
I want you live to differently-I want the world/lost people see the difference how you live.(School/Work Places)
- I want you to be good in your conduct and behavior to such an extent that even the pagans must
acknowledge your fundamental decency. They can’t deny it. Even by their standards it’s clear that you
are living on a different set of values.”
I Peter 1:17-God our Father is Judge-Live Coram Deo
- Not only that-even unbelievers are observing your life.= we live before the gaze of the world.”
Illustration: Piano-Tunner-Said Baptists Pastors in Olongapo-yabang at mapanglamang,
Pastor-nandiyan pa ba si ganito-member naming dati-ingat ka lang brad.
- The whole point is, your life matters to your witness. Your life matters to your witness. You may well be
zealous to speak about Jesus in the office, but if you can’t be trusted, you’re a shameless gossip, you’re
lazy in self-indulgent. No matter how often you open your mouth to speak about Jesus.
How is our behavior among the people around us?
The lost should be able to see consistent good behavior in the life of any true Christian.
- Your life matters to your witness.

II. THE REASONS FOR GODLY CONDUCT V.12b

A. To Disprove The Slander of Unbelievers
“so that in the thing in which they slander you, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them,
glorify God.”
- As we are faithful in our following Jesus Christ-the world won’t like it.
Example: do what is right in the work-reaction from co-workers
In school/in community.
You will find yourself-most irritating person-mainly you do what is right.-to the point you will be slandered-
verbal attacked.
“slandered”- It means to traduce expose to shame or blame by means of falsehood or misrepresentation.- It means
to speak evil or malicious words intended to damage or destroy another person.
- Peter’s time-because of their faith in Christ-Christians were slandered.
- Aorist tense-implication-certainty-once you live godly-it will result-people will verbally abuse you.
Note: Other translation-when not if-certainty of it.
- Be Like Jesus-certain that you will be slandered.
"When a Christian walks irreprovably, his enemies have no where to fasten their teeth on him, but are forced
to gnaw their own malignant tongues.- Robert Leighton
Christians-Peter’s time-slandered-as evil doer
 =seeking to harm/injurious= the idea of a very wicked person who should be
punished.
= accusations pagans made against Christians—that they rebelled against the Roman government, practiced
cannibalism, engaged in incest, engaged in subversive activities that threatened the Empire’s economic and social
progress, opposed slavery, and practiced atheism by not worshiping Caesar or the Roman gods (cf. Acts 16:18–
21; 19:19, 24–27).
= Why they do that?=you live godly they are exposed of their sin/manner of living
- How to refute/invalidate slandered?
=Slandered them too?-example post ka din sa facebook.
- Peter says-keep doing good=keep your godly behavior.
- Live in the opposite way=they call you evildoer-continue to live good doer.
Some of us probably experienced that kind treatment=because of our faith-love for right/godly living
-sana and not because we live a life not doing good.
- unfair criticism is unavoidable, but under no circumstances should believers give the world a reason that justifies
such reproach.
Ayaw mo criticize because you follow Jesus-ayaw mo ayaw mo-na slandered ng mundo-one thing-compromise.
- Titus 3:8-the validity of the Gospel and the way to refute such slander-keep your godly behavior.

B. To Cause Salvation to Unbelievers

“as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
• Someone is watching us- behavior as we professed we are Christians.-they observe our lives-as
they(Gentiles) observe(they are eyewitnesses-they scrutinized attentively-there is a certainty on that.=
over a period of time
• As they observed- our godly behavior-there is a possibility= some unbelievers will "glorify God in the
day of visitation"
• Glorify=it means to respect God-proper perspective Who He is.
“day of visitation”-the visit of God=theologians have major difference in views.-They are divided
OT-visitation of God-means curse Isaiah 10:3--The Lord said to the nation Israel, "What will ye do in the day of
visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far?" (KJV). The Lord was going to visit Israel with
judgment because of its sin.
or blessings =1 Samuel 2:21 or national redemption Jeremiah 27:22
NT-Majority of Scholars= reference to the return of Christ in judgment= even unbelievers will be forced to
confess against themselves, in testimony against themselves, that you were a person of godly integrity.”
One view I hold-it fits the context of living as Godly so that the name of Christ will be magnified-it is the day of
grace or the day God visits an unbeliever for salvation/redemption.= (Luke 1:68; cf. v. 78; 7:16).-Luke 19:44
• As they see our Godly behavior in the midst of slander/sufferings-our lives-can be an instrument-they will
be win to Christ.
• Our Godly behavior will have an impact to Gospel proclamation.-effective evangelism is by Godly
Behavior.
Illustration: YP’s partner in prayer time=Salvation of Family members-Ipakita mo sa buhay mo.
- Kahit sabihin mo na Christian ka-pero no consistent good works-they will not believe you.
- Ipakita mo godly behavior-time God will visit and God opened their heart to respond to the Gospel-they
will remember your life, they observed-good works-
- God is glorified-Matthew 5:16
Illustration: CoVid surge-Purok Leader issued Quarantine Pass
- The Christians are the Bible, the unbelievers are reading.
Conclusion:
- We are here as Pilgrims and Strangers in this hostile world, we are expected to live a Godly life for one
purpose-that is to Glorify God.
It is not comfort. It is not pleasure. It is not a happy, healthy home. It is not material
prosperity. It is not temporal security.
- As Pilgrims in battle for Holiness= Those who follow Jesus, the normal Christian life is a hard fought
battle. -If Not-you are not a Christian
- and strangers who Christ be seen in us. Peter says following Jesus is going to be noticed by the world and
they’re not going to like it; it’s going to be hard.
- Get in the fight and stay in the fight and bear bright eloquent testimony, witness to King Jesus who is now
Lord and King in your heart.
Salvation: Unbeliever-resident of this world and The Day of God’s wrath will come to those who belong in this
world.
I want you to know that mercy, the same mercy that visited them is ready to visit you. Grace is ready to visit you.
Jesus is ready to visit your heart = repent and believe Jesus Christ