1 Peter 3 Lesson

LOVE IS AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO

The Bible teaches us that we were created in God’s own image (Genesis 1:27).  

It also teaches us that God is love (1 John 4:16). 

It stands to reason then, that if we are created in God’s image, and God is love, that love should be at the heart of everything that we do!

This includes:

1. Love for God,
2. Love for one another,
3. And a love for righteousness.   

To love righteousness, we must first understand what righteousness is and who defines it. 

As Christians, our only source for determining right from wrong is the Bible, which is the inspired Word of God.

The Apostle Paul wrote about this in his second letter to Timothy:

• “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

This scripture lists four things that we are to use the Bible for:

1. For teaching,
2. For reproof (An expression of blame or disapproval),
3. For correction,
4. For training in righteousness.

Today’s lesson focuses on the fourth bullet point, training in righteousness.

TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

As Christians, we are to seek out God’s will, and then follow it.

Our role is to be an active role, not a passive one.

Jesus said:  

• “If you love me, keep my commandments.” – John 14:15.  

This brings up an important question:

• “How can we keep God’s commandments, if we do not know what they are?”

That is why we need to devote time every day to studying the Bible and learning about God’s will.

When Paul wrote about “training in righteousness,” he was talking about doing two things:

1. Reading the Bible,
2. Applying what we learn.

READING THE BIBLE

The more that we read the Bible, the better we understand what we were created to do.

And as we mature in our faith, we will come to the realization that our time on Earth is meant to be focused on doing these two things:

1. Glorifying God,
2. Serving others. 

Consider the following scripture:

• “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” - 2 Timothy 2:15.

If we do not understand God’s Word and how to apply it, we are putting our souls at risk!

We are warned in the scripture below that our own instincts will sometimes fail us. 

• “There is a way which seems right to a person, but its end is the way of death.” - Proverbs 14:12.

Jesus was constantly going to a quiet place to study the scriptures. 

If it was important for God’s own Son to study the scriptures, it needs to be important to us also.

Throughout our lives, we must continue to train ourselves in righteousness.

This begins with a solid understanding of God's Word.

The next step is for us to apply what we have learned. 

APPLYING WHAT WE LEARN

We can have all the Bible knowledge in the world, but it does not mean anything unless we are able to apply it in our everyday lives. 

This is a conscious choice!

God gives us free will to decide for ourselves if we are going to act on our faith. 

In the next scripture, James provides a call to action and implores us to act on our faith:

• “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?  Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.  But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” – James 2:14-18.

We demonstrate our faith through the actions that we take. 

And as we apply what we have learned, two things happen:

1. We please God,
2. We become an encouragement to those around us.

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT RIGHTEOUSNESS 

The Bible has plenty to say about the importance of living righteous lives, as defined by God’s Word.

For today’s lesson, we have highlighted the following three verses:

1. “So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin.” - James 4:17,
2. “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” - Romans 12:21,
3. “To do righteousness and justice is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice.” - Proverbs 21:3.

CONCLUSION

God created us in His own image to do two things while we are on Earth:

1. Glorify God,
2. Serve others.

Because we are created in God’s own image, and God is love (1 John 4:16), love needs to be at the heart of everything that we say and do.

As Christians, we need to constantly study the Bible, and then apply what we have learned.

When we do this, we glorify God and encourage others to do the same.

We will end today’s lesson with the following words written by the Apostle Paul. 

These are the same words that we hope to be able to say when our time on Earth comes to an end:

• “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” – 2 Timothy 4:7-8.