1 Peter 2

¹ Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. ² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, ³ now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3 (NIV) 

Chapter Two of 1 Peter begins with “Therefore” which points us back to the Word of God.  All that is born of perishable seed withers and falls, but God's Word stands forever.  He quotes Isaiah 40:7-8 at the end of Chapter One: 

⁷ “The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. ⁸ The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”    Isaiah 40:7-8 (NIV) 

This imperishable Word was the content of Peter's preaching.  His hearers (including us) must be affected by its life-changing power, as indicated in these verses. 

“Jesus claimed that the Word of God is inspired, accurate, authoritative, infallible, unerring, and trustworthy down to its smallest elements.  Every single Word of the Bible is precious.”   Robert J. Morgan

Peter tells his readers repentance was called for: Therefore, rid yourselves. Remember repentance is much more than simply saying “I am sorry”.  It is changing our behavior and it is feeling great remorse that we could crucify our Savior over and over again by our actions.  It is turning from the sin to the Savior.  While believers live in the world we are not to be of it nor fashioned according to it.  Our habits and motives are to be of an altogether different order to what once characterized us when we walked according to the flesh.  Remember we are a new creation.  Paul tells us:

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!   2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

To be in Christ is to be a new creation. This new creation is brought about by the Holy Spirit, the Agent of regeneration and the Giver of divine birth. God's new creative work, begun in each one who believes in Christ, will one day be consummated on a universal scale. The old life of slavery to self and sin has gone. The new life of devotion to Christ means that one has new attitudes and actions.

Sadly, sin clings tightly to us even after being saved yet we are no longer to let sin reign in our mortal bodies.  We are to be shrinking the sinful nature and allowing the Holy Spirit more and more control.  Sin is not to be our master.  Again, Paul tells us:

¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.  ¹³ Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.   Romans 6:11-14 (NIV)
²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.  Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)

Peter listed five sins of attitude and speech, which if harbored would drive wedges between believers. Malice (kakian) is wicked ill-will; deceit (dolon) is deliberate dishonesty; hypocrisy (hypokriseis), pretended piety and love; envy (phthonous), resentful discontent; and slander (katalalias), backbiting lies. None of these should have any place in those who are born again. Rather, in obedience to the Word, believers are to make decisive breaks with the past.

In and of ourselves, we do not have the power break sin’s strongholds.  This is accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit which indwells every true believer in Christ Jesus.  This is not a onetime thing either, we are to be continually breaking sins dominion by the daily renewal of our minds.  Paul tells us in Romans 12:

¹ Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. ² Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.   Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) 

We are to daily transform our mind with God’s Word.  Asking Him to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, filling us with His Spirit in order that we may walk in a manner worthy of Him.  We are to crave God’s Word as pure spiritual milk - just as newborn babies crave their milk.  We do not have to lead them into that craving indeed it comes in their package.  Do we crave God’s Word over the world and all its entices? 

Again, as Christians we all have the fruit of the Spirit.  Albeit and unfortunately, most of shrink it so much by our own poor choices that the Spirit is often hard to discern in a life:

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.  Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV)

Sadly, there is no end to how low that sin can go. 

We must not allow ourselves to get fat and sassy and lazy – wrongly thinking we have it all together.  Not one of us has attained Christlikeness and we won��t until God takes us home.  King David is a prime example from Scripture.  Believe me, if King David can fall any of us can fall.  It’s just not that hard – yet holiness – becoming more and more conformed to the image of Jesus is a pursuit – and not a very easy one - as it will always war against our flesh and the world.  Make no mistake, sin always spirals downward if not dealt with and always begins in the mind – we have a wrong desire and a wrong love which we begin lusting after.  Indwelling lust and sin is the fountain and principle of all sinful action.  We allow ourselves to be dragged away and enticed.  James tells us:

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.   James 1:13-15 (NIV)

Remember, in every temptation He has given us an out and we are to look diligently for it: 

¹³ No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

Do not take a day off from this good work; always be killing sin or it will be killing you.  We are to gird up our loins and be good soldiers of Jesus.  Sadly, many believers in the West are generally at peace in the world and divided among themselves.  Yet it is a great need for Christians to engage in a life-long struggle, through faith in Christ and by the power of the Spirit, against the sinful and corrupt tendencies which continue to work in and against them until the day they die.  Shall we then live in the sins for which He died?  

When changing patterns of our behavior – mortification of sin in the body - particularly those things that are so ingrained and deep rooted within us – there will be a battle and one which must be fought through the Holy Spirit’s power and a firm resolve to depend upon it.  Do not give yourself an out on following hard after Christ.  It was the daily work of the Apostle Paul.  If it was his business, though he being exalted in grace, revelations, enjoyments, privileges, and consolations above the ordinary measure of believers, how can we be exempt from this work and duty while we are in the world?  We are ever to be in the process of exchanging the bad for our good; the good for our better better; and the better for our best. 

“The way to disengage the heart from the love of one object is to fasten it in positive love to another.  It is not by exposing the worthlessness of the former, but by addressing the worth and excellence of the latter that all old things are to be done away and all things are to become new.  The only way to dispossess the heart of an old affection is by the expulsive power of a new one.”  Thomas Chalmers

As Scott Sauls said: “Behavior is always driven by what we desire most.” As believers our desire is to be conformed to the image of Jesus and that my sweet friends will take a lifetime.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians:

¹⁴ For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. ¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  2 Corinthians 5:14-17 (NIV)

I have intentionally harbored on this because God has no intention of us remaining the same – even at 64.  We never get there - so to speak – we are all in process until He takes us home to be with Him.  Paul tells us in Romans:

²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.   Romans 8:29-30 (NIV) 

Next Peter addresses the Living Stone (Christ) and a chosen people:
As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him- ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” ⁷ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” 8 and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for.  1 Peter 2:4-8 (NIV)

Believers are the rocks God uses to build His spiritual house whose foundation, and whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus.  The house is the church.   The Rock upon which it is built is Christ Himself, the Living Stone and every believer is also a living stone (made such by grace), built upon Christ Jesus and cemented to His fellow members by the Holy Spirit.  He who in God’s eyes is the infinitely precious One is the Elect Stone, the Head of the corner – the perfect Example that every believer is called to follow, and the solid Rock upon which the spiritual church is built.  To those who believe in Him, He is, indeed, not only precious, but also preciousness.  But to the disobedient, He is the rejected Stone yet God, nevertheless has made Him Head of the corner.  Disowned by Israel and crucified, God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to this high place.  Despite all the many witnesses to His resurrection there are myriads who continually refuse to believe.  They stumble at the Word because of their disobedience.   I also think it interesting that in Luke Jesus tells us that every one who falls on that Stone will be broken but on those to whom it falls will be crushed:

¹⁷ Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone’?
¹⁸ Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”   Luke 20:17-18 (NIV) 

Everyone who comes to Jesus will be broken but those on whom the Rock falls will be crushed. Believers are broken over their sin and their lack of ability to do anything in their flesh about it.  

I love the Truth that those who trust Him “will never be put to shame.”  Shame is the handiwork of the devil.  He lures and entices us to fall and then shames us for doing so.  It is quite pathetic. 

There is an emphatic negative assertion in verse six referring to the future: never indeed will they be shamed.  So, Peter encourages his readers with a sure scriptural promise of ultimate victory for those who trust in Christ.  These verses present a sharp contrast between those who believe and those who do not. 

Therefore, Peter follows that with to those who believe He is precious.  Christ is of ultimate value to the believer.  A good question for us to ponder is: “Is He precious to us?”  He knows each heart.  There is no fooling Him. 

“He is present and precious to His own.”   Hudson Taylor

“I have continually to mourn that I follow at such a distance and learn so slowly to imitate my precious Master.”  Hudson Taylor

“We should never be afraid to share Truth – by our actions first and our mouth next.  If we do not practice what we preach, why on earth would we preach it?  Who would want to believe our words if we ourselves do not believe.  We live what we believe to be true.”  BHY

To those who do not believe, they stumble because of their disobedience to the message.  This happened to the chief priests and Pharisees of Jesus’ time. Rejection of Jesus Christ is fatal and is connected with disobeying the message of God’s Word. To disobey the message is to reject it; and to obey it is to believe. All who do not receive Christ as their Savior will one day face Him as their Judge.  Because of sin, all disobedient unbelievers are destined for a “stumbling,” which will lead to eternal condemnation.  When men have determined to go on in the path of disobedience, God gives them up to a strong delusion, thus appointing them to stumble.  Do not misunderstand, they are not appointed or predestined to be disobedient.  God does not deal so with any man.  It is their choice.  Jesus Himself told us in John:

¹⁵ “If you love me, you will obey what I command. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.  ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”   John 14:15-18 (NIV) 

²³ Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  ²⁴ He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”    John 14:23-24 (NIV) 

Peter closed this portion of his letter of encouragement with a moving exhortation for his readers to practice holiness. 

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. ¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. ¹² Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.   1 Peter 2:9-12 (NIV) 

He reminded them that, in contrast with the disobedient who are destined for destruction, they were a chosen “elect,” people. Peter again echoed the Old Testament.  “Chosen people,” which used to apply only to Israel, was now used of both Jewish and Gentile believers. The responsibility once solely trusted to the nation of Israel has now, during this Age of Grace, been given to the church. At Sinai, God told Moses to tell the people:

⁴ “‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. ⁵ Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, ⁶ you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”   Exodus 19:4-6 (NIV) 

Now believers in the Church Age are called a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. Peter called Christians “a holy priesthood” (1:5) and “a royal priesthood” (2:9). The words “belonging to God” loosely rendered are literally “unto obtaining or preserving”.  Christians are a special people because God has preserved them for Himself.  Like Melchizedek, we are to go out from the presence of God to bless mankind and magnify the Name of the Most High God.  This new nation of pilgrims is now His peculiar people – people of His own possession, whose high calling is to show forth His praises who has called us out of the darkness (the nature of sin) and into the marvelous light and liberty of the Gospel.  

While these descriptions of the church are similar to those used of Israel in the Old Testament, this in no way indicates that the church supplants Israel and assumes the national blessings promised to Israel to be fulfilled in the Millennium. Peter just used similar terms to point up similar truths. As Israel was “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,” so too believers today are chosen, are priests, are holy, and belong to God. Similarity does not mean identity.

Again, We are called to declare His praises – make them widely known – in our spheres and in our time of His-story.  “Praises” could also be translated “eminent qualities,” “excellencies,” or “virtues”.  It is used only four times in the NT – Philippians 4:8; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 1:3, 5.  Believer-priests should live so that their heavenly Father’s qualities are evident in their lives. 

⁶  Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.   1 John 2:6 (NIV)

¹⁵  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶  To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?  2 Corinthians 2:15-16 (NIV)

We are to serve as witnesses of the glory and grace of God, who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light.  “Darkness” refers to the time when his readers were pagans, ignorant of God's provision of salvation.  When they were not a people, when they had not received mercy.  Paul tells us in Ephesians:

¹¹ Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men) -- ¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.  Ephesians 2:11-13 (NIV)

His “wonderful light” that we have been called out of darkness to, now illumines the people of God because they have received mercy.  The practice of holiness, in which God's people serve as a holy and royal priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices and extolling His excellencies, is our proper response to the mercy we have received.  Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount:

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. ¹⁴ You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”   Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV) 

God’s people are left to be the salt and light of the world.  As salt, we are to create a thirst in others for greater information as well as be a preservative against evil for society.  Our light is to shine as well as give direction to others pointing them to the way.  Light-radiating people live so that others see their good deeds and give praise not to them but to their Father in heaven.

Just as Daniel’s enemies had to confess they could find nothing against him except “concerning the law of his God,” which was contrary to their accepted heathen practices, so consistent believers shut the mouths of those who would deride and vilify them, making these very foes of the Truth bear testimony to the consistency of their lives.  It is hard to argue against a life well lived.

Because we are aliens and strangers in this world, as well as children of the King, Peter tells us to abstain from sinful desires which war against our souls.  God does not want us to have any passion or affection that would move our souls toward things not of Him but rather fleshly or worldly.  He knows they would be detrimental to us.  He is not trying to be our kill joy, rather sin is our kill joy and God is all too aware of it.  We would do well to remember:

²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.   Romans 6:23 (NIV) 

Lastly, Peter addresses to us our need for submission to rulers and masters.  We read:

¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴ or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵ For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. ¹⁶ Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. ¹⁷ Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. ¹⁸ Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹ For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. ²⁰ But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. ²¹ To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. ²² “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” ²³ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.   1 Peter 2:13-25 (NIV) 

As loyal citizens, Christians are to be obedient to the laws passed, even though they may feel that in some instances the laws are unnecessarily arbitrary and even actually unjust.  By their submission they honor Him whom they recognize as their Lord and Savior.  Whatever form of government may prevail, so long as it is recognized as the constituted authority of the country, we are to be in subjection, whether to a President or a King or by whatever name the supreme executive is known.  Indeed, we are to pray for our leaders in authority – pray in lieu of complain!  Paul also tells us in Romans:

¹  Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  ² Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.  ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.  ⁴ For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.  ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.   Romans 13:1-5 (NIV) 

Human government has been established by God that evil may be checked and righteousness encouraged.  To honor God who ordained human government, Christians are to observe man-made laws carefully as long as those laws do not conflict with the clear teaching of Scripture.  
The fact that some rulers act contrary to the divine ideal does not absolve the believer from obedience to the powers that be.  All human government manifests imperfection, but without its restraints, society would be shipwrecked, and anarchy would prevail.   In principle, all constituted authority is intended to prevent crime and encourage honesty and good living.

Peter next addresses our suffering for righteousness and shows us our supreme example is sweet Jesus Who when suffered did not retaliate – though He most certainly had the power to do so – but rather entrusted Himself to the One Who judges justly.  Paul tells us in Romans:

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21 (NIV) 

God wants us to silence the ignorant talk of foolish men and we seek to do that by living a blameless life giving them no ammunition.  A believer’s best defense against slanderous criticism is good behavior.  We are to leave the avenging to God.  Also, nothing is a better answer to false and malignant accusations than a godly, upright life against which no charges can be brought truthfully.  There has never been a time throughout the ages where evilly disposed and wanting men have not sought to express doubts about the truth or honesty of the motives and malign the conduct of God-fearing people.   The best answer to all this is a blameless life, and this involves obedience to the law.  

Submission to lawful authority does not negate Christian liberty. Civil laws should be freely obeyed, not out of fear but because doing so is God’s will. Christian freedom is always conditioned by Christian responsibility and must never be used as a cover-up for evil.  Christians have been called to liberty, but this must never be confused with license to obey the dictates of the flesh.  He who makes of his Christian profession a cloak to cover unrighteous behavior is a hypocrite who dishonors the worthy name of the One he professes to serve.  Note the vivid contrast here.  Those who, through grace, are free from the slavery of sin and free from the principle of legality in Christian service are nevertheless the bondmen of God, purchased with the precious blood of Christ, and so responsible to render glad, loving obedience to His Word.  They are not to make their liberty an excuse for fleshly license.  Actually, that is called grace abuse. 

While Christians are to respect all men they are to love the brotherhood – the believers in Jesus.  While there are four admonitions in verse 17 the third really covers all the rest.  He who fears – that is, stands in awe of God will not dishonor any man, and will love his brethren, and give due recognition to constituted authority.  No man is to be despised.  All are among those for whom Christ died.  Also, we are to show due respect to the head of the government as one set by God in that very place, who is therefore accountable to God for the right exercise of the authority committed to him.

Servants are exhorted to obedience to their own masters, and that not only to the good and gentle but also to those who are harsh.  While we are not servants in the sense that Peter here addresses, we all have those who are over us – whom we are responsible to.  The consistent gentle behavior of Christians in bondage which Peter addresses was used of God to bring many of their masters to Christ.  Our actions will point others to Christ as well.  This is also true in marriages as Peter latter tells us in Chapter Three:  

¹ Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, ² when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 1 Peter 3:1-2 (NIV)

In speaking of our behavior in relationships (particularly in the familial relationships) in Colossians Paul states:

¹⁸ Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. ²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. ²² Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. ²⁵ Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.   Colossians 3:18-25 (NIV) 

Remember we can never out give God - the One Who sees all.  He will judge without favoritism, that is, in full justice, repaying wrongdoers and rewarding those who serve Him.  A person's habitual conduct, whether good or evil, reveals the condition of his heart. Our actions simply demonstrate what we believe or hold in the heart. A person's doing good shows that his heart is regenerate. Such a person, redeemed by God, has eternal life. Conversely a person who continually does evil and rejects the truth shows that he is unregenerate, and therefore will be an object of God's wrath.

⁹  There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; ¹⁰  but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ¹¹  For God does not show favoritism.  Romans 2:9-11 (NIV)  

⁹  And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.   Ephesians 6:9 (NIV)

Self-vindication is ever to be avoided on the part of the follower of Christ.  He is called to imitate his Master, who endured uncomplainingly the false accusations of sinners and lived His pure and holy life as under the eye of the Father, content to leave it with Him to justify Him in due time.  Thus by our good behavior we will show the falsity of the charges of malicious men.  The early Christians were often so charged, but their consistent lives silenced their accusers. 

Christ entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.  As His followers we are to do likewise.  Nothing escapes God’s eye – nothing.  For the believer the promise holds true that all will eventually work for their good.  We can take that to the bank.  If we endure patiently, as seeing Him who is invisible, we shall be vindicated in His own way and time, and reward will be sure at His judgment.  Christ set our example and we are to reproduce Christ in our lives.

Having been saved by Him whom the world rejected, His pilgrim people have no reason to expect better treatment from that world than what was meted out to their Lord.  When incarnate Love was here on earth, few received Him, and many rejected Him.  His followers need not be surprised therefore if their testimony is spurned by the majority and accepted by the minority.  The Christian is not to think it strange that he, and that for which he stands, is not highly esteemed by the world.  He is here as a light to shine for Christ in a dark scene.  When Jesus our Lord returns He will estimate aright all His people have done and suffered for His sake, and He will reward accordingly.  In the meantime it is better by far to have the approval of the Lord than the approbation of the world that crucified Him.   

These are Beth’s personal notes, due to this fact sources are not often stated.