Every preacher should love 1 Peter 3v8. The verse begins, “Finally”, but he is only half-way through chapter three: you can claim apostolic permission to say “finally” in your sermon without being anywhere near the end!
Peter has been exploring what it means to “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 2v12). He addressed Christians as subjects of human authorities, then gave instructions to slaves, wives and husbands. Now, “finally” he ends this section by writing to “all of you” who received his letter.
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
