Keeping a Good Conscience

[Christsfreeservant]

“Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.” (1 Peter 3:13-17 NASB1995)​

If our suffering is for the sake of righteousness, what should that look like? Because this isn’t just about us suffering because we claim to be Christians, but this is about us suffering because we are living like we are truly followers of Christ, we should surrender all to God’s will in obedience to his commands in putting sin to death, by the Spirit, in daily practice. For we suffer because we love and serve the Lord with our lives and we don’t live like the world does. But we live unlike the world, because becoming like Jesus in character.

And we suffer for the sake of righteousness, providing that we are living for the Lord in moral purity and uprightness, when we share with others the truth of the gospel that many do not want to hear. And this is not about forcing this on anyone, but in our daily lives we are to be sharing with people how Jesus died to put our sins to death with him, and he was resurrected from the dead so that, by faith in him, we will die to sin and live for God, in surrender to his will, in walks obedience to his commands.

But we are not to be afraid to suffer for the sake of the gospel, for the sake of the name of Jesus, and for our faith and our testimonies for Christ and for his gospel. But we should consider that we are suffering in order to see others go free from their slavery to sin and to walk with the Lord in purity of devotion to him, resulting in eternal life with God. So it makes it worth it all. Therefore, we do not fear being intimidated by those who oppose us, who criticize, and who reject us, because we teach the truth of the gospel.

Instead, we are to sanctify (revere, worship, honor) Christ as Lord (Owner-Master of our lives) in our hearts, which is evidenced by our surrender to his will and by our obedience to his commands. And we are always to be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks us to give an account for the hope that is in us. And “asking” can come through other’s challenging remarks, which is an invitation for us to respond, as well. But we are not to be nasty and hateful, but rather we should do so with kindness and with respect.

For, if we are to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth to the people of the world, and if we are to make disciples of Christ of people of many nations, then we must demonstrate (in truth) that we are people of integrity, honesty, and faithfulness who live what we preach, although not necessarily in absolute perfection, but in daily practice. But this does not necessarily result in our persecutors being put to shame, at least not initially, for many such persecutors of Christians continue in their fame.

Yet, regardless of whether or not we are cleared of any false charges against us in this life, and regardless of whether or not our persecutors meet justice in this life, we are to remain people of God who live in integrity, in demonstrating the love of Jesus to the people of the world. For, in love, Jesus died, putting our sins to death with him, and he rose from the dead, in order that we should now die to sin and live for God in walks of moral purity in devotion to our Lord in holy living, from now to eternity, for God’s glory.

Gospel:[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

Walking in The Light

Based off 1 John 1-2
An Original Work / November 16, 2011
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

When I lift up my voice, and
Sing praise unto God,
I will fellowship with my
Lord and Savior, King.
In Him there is no darkness.
He is in the light of truth.
If we walk in His light,
From sin He purifies.

If we repent of our sins,
He’ll forgive us now,
When we humble ourselves, and
Before Jesus bow.
The man who says, “I know Him,”
But does not obey His truth,
There is no truth in him.
In darkness still he’s found.

Do not love the world of sin,
For it is hell bound.
If you follow the world, you’ll
Not in Christ be found.
The world and its desires
Will not last; they’ll expire.
The one who does God’s will,
Receives eternal life.

See that what you have heard from
Christ remains in you.
Then, you’ll remain in Christ, and
In His Father, too.
This is what He promised us –
His eternal life with God.
So, continue in Him, and
You’ll receive a crown.

Keeping a Good Conscience
An Original Work / September 13, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love