Bible Study

The Gift of Eternal Life Berean Bible Study Course

PART III--The Way Of Serving God In Christ Jesus

D. Lesson 16--We Serve By Being Holy

2. READ: 1 PETER 2:1-5 AND 1 PETER 2:11-12

b. What kind of lives should we live?

Answer: Children of God--Christians--should live such good lives among the pagans (nonbelievers) that, though they accuse us of doing wrong, they may see our good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us, (verse 12).

MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

• The word "see" (as in "see your good deeds") is from a Greek word meaning "to inspect, to watch." This is a careful watching, over a period of time. The pagans who watch the children of God do so as if evaluating, and not as in a "snap judgment."

We are to be children of God ALL of the time because it has become our nature to do so--we have put on a spiritual nature, and cast off the fleshly/sinful nature. We have conformed to Christ, and, being like Him, we have no hidden part of our lives that would not be to the glory of God.

• Children of God are to be blameless and pure, shining like stars in the universe. It is to be a natural part of our lives, and not to be done with complaining and arguing:

Philippians 2:14-15: "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe..."

• Those who oppose the children of God should see a person of serious and sound speech, one who shows integrity. Those who oppose God's children will then be ashamed because they can find nothing bad to say about them:

Titus 2:7-8: "In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."

• Christ died to redeem us from all wickedness. We are to be a pure people, eager to do what is good:

Titus 2:14: "Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very Own, eager to do what is good."

• The world may cause God's children to suffer, but because of keeping a clear conscience, because of showing gentleness and respect in Christ, those who slander the children of God--those who speak maliciously against their good behavior in Christ--will be ashamed of their slander:

1 Peter 3:13-17: "Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.' But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's Will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."

• Children of God are to be the kind of children that God leads proudly in triumphal procession. We are to be to Him the aroma of Christ, and we are to spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. To some people, we will be a stench; to others, we will be the fragrance of life:

2 Corinthians 2:14-16: "But thanks be to God, Who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?" (The answer to this question is in 2 Corinthians 3:4-5: "Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.")