PILGRIMS MUST HAVE A GOOD CONVERSATION

PHBC July 26, 1998

Series: First Peter, Ser. #55

PILGRIMS MUST HAVE A GOOD CONVERSATION

Scripture: I Pet. 3:13-17

TEXT: 1 Peter 3:16-17 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

INTRO: The word conversation comes from the Greek word ajnastrofhv. The word is found 13 times in the New Testament and it always has reference to our behaviour. According to Strong the word refers to the "manner of life, conduct, behaviour, deportment."

W. E. Vine says the word refers to "behaviour."

Joseph Thayer, says the word refers to our "manner of life, behaviour and conduct."

A form of this same word is found in I Tim. 3:15 where it is translated behave. 1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

The Treasury of Bible Knowledge says, "We have conducted ourselves;’ for [anastrepho <390>] in Greek, and conversation in Latin, are used to denote the whole of a man’s conduct, the tenor and practice of his life."

I. WHEN ONE IS SAVED THERE IS A DRASTIC CHANGE IN HIS CONVERSATION

A. Our manner of life before salvation was mainly spent fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

B. In our unregenerate state we had a manner of life that was contrary to the word of God. Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.

C. We are called upon to put off that old conversation and live godly lives. Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.

D. Paul's life before salvation was religious but mainly was according to man's thinking. Galatians 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.

1. A man may be very religious and may follow that religion closely and still be in serious error as was Paul.

2. Paul was a persecutor and blasphemer. 1 Timothy 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

E. This old manner of life was vain. 1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers.

F. I am amazed at both Paul and Peter as they describe what we were in our unregenerate condition. 1 Peter 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries.

II. BY GOD'S GRACE WE HAVE PUT OFF THE DEEDS OF THAT LIFE. Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.

A. Our old man is crucified if we are truly saved. Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

B. The flesh has been crucified if we are truly born of God. Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

C. Not only is the flesh crucified, the world, through Christ is crucified to us. Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

D. Our new manner of life is to be a walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-17 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

E. Hear these solemn words from the pen of the Apostle Paul. Romans 8:13-14 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

III. THE TEXT REVEALS THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL ATTACK US AS EVIL DOERS BECAUSE OF A GOOD CONVERSATION 1 Peter 3:16-17 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

A. David was very aware of this problem and wrote of it. Psalm 37:14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

B. We have seen before that the world of the wicked will find fault with us and will speak evil of us no matter how godly and harmless we may be before them. 1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1. The plea calls on us to conduct ourselves honestly or honorably in good behaviour before the world so that when they speak evil against us they may either be ashamed or they may ultimately come to glorify God as a result. 1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

2. The word translated honest is from the Greek word kalos {kal-os'}.

3. It is an adjective and is translated good 83 times, better 7 times, honest 5 times.

4. The word means beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable, praiseworthy, noble, morally good.

IV. REGARDLESS OF HOW WE ARE TREATED WE MUCH BE ON OUR GOOD BEHAVIOUR IN THIS WORLD LEST WE BE SHAMED FOR EVIL DOING.

A. Peter instructs wives that they may win their husbands by living godly lives before them. 1 Peter 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

B. We must be living epistles for Christ by living in a manner that becometh the gospel. Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.

1. The word translated conversation here is usually translated citizenship.

2. The idea is that we should be the kind of citizens that are worthy of the gospel, that measure up to what the gospel is supposed to do to and for a man.

C. Timothy is urged to be an example to believers in his behaviour. 1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

D. Our manner of life is to be one that is contented with what we have. Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

E. Most expect a godly, faithful pastor to have a good end to his manner of life and if Christians will follow their faith, they to will have a good end to their godly life. Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

F. It is a reflection of wisdom for one to behave in such a manner as we are admonished to in these various verses we have studied from God's word. James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

G. A good conversation calls for separated living. 1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.

H. The coming end of this world system and our coming glorification should cause us to be very careful that our behaviour was and is one that glorifies God. 2 Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.

CONC: For the sake of Christ, the furtherance of the gospel, and the glorification of God before the world, let us conduct ourselves in a manner that becometh godliness and there will be no need for us to be ashamed and those who speak evil will be ashamed and may repent and glorify God. Let us remember the hope that we have in our Lord Jesus Christ and his coming, and live as becometh the gospel. 1 John 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

This page last updated Friday, March 04, 2011