October 1st

I Peter 2: 11:17

This section of Peter’s letter emphasizes SUBMISSION in the life of a believer. This is certainly not a popular subject in this day of lawlessness and the quest for “personal fulfillment”, but it is an important one. Peter is applying the theme of submission to the life of a believer as a citizen.

Submission does not mean slavery or subjugation but simply the recognition of God’s authority in our lives. God has established the home, human govt, and the church and He tells us how these institutions should be run. The Lord gives us authority but before we can exercise authority, we must be under authority. Satan offered our first parents freedom without authority, but they ended up losing both freedom and authority.

Peter gives three excellent motives for submitting to authority:

v. 11-12 Be reminded of who we are: God’s dearly beloved children. God loves us because of Jesus. Our love relationship with Jesus Christ ought to be motivation enough for us to live Godly lives in this godless world. (John 14:15…love Me, keep My commandments). Not only are we God’s beloved children, but we are also “strangers and pilgrims” in this world. We are “resident aliens” who have our citizenship in another country—heaven. We are traveling toward the heavenly city.

Peter is urging us to beware of our war with the FLESH. Even tho we are traveling toward a heavenly city, our flesh feet are walking in the world and temptation is always over, under, and around us with the things of this world! The Scripture clearly gives us the admonition that we are to overcome “the flesh, the world, and Satan”.

(12) We are to focus on our conduct being honorable and righteous while we walk among the lost. The lost will often misunderstand us…they will slander us as evildoers even as they are witnessing the good deeds we do…to glorify the Lord in the day of inspection. That day of inspection may refer to the initial conversion of the believer through the regenerating work (visitation) of the Holy Spirit, or it may refer to the in which those who become believers will glorify God on the last day, the day of judgment. “to glorify God” should probably be understood in the broad sense that the believer will glorify God in many ways: by believing, doing good deeds, and at the end of the age.

v. 13-14 Christians are to ‘be subject’ to every civil authority. A statement or attitude that we hear constantly from many directions today is “We demand our rights!” It is the theme of impassioned speeches on the floor of the United Nations. It is the cry of minority groups and women’s organizations. It is the rallying call of labor unions and big business, and is used to justify crippling strikes and uncalled-for price increases. The spirit behind this cry most clearly embodies the thinking of today’s world, and expresses in sharp detail man’s sinful and selfish nature.

The Lord Jesus taught a completely opposite view of life. He said, “The last shall be first and the first last.” (Matt. 20:16. Christ Himself, on the night before His crucifixion assumed a servant’s role and washing the disciples’ feet. Throughout the entire Bible, believers are instructed to adopt an attitude of humility and submission.

The Apostle Peter, had learned many lessons along his Christian experience and he was writing to believers living under difficult conditions. Many of them were counted among the 60 M slaves of that day and wondered who they should put first—their master or Christ. Even people with the full rights of citizenship were in trouble, for the Roman emperor had initiated a widespread program of persecution.

Peter began to answer questions that he knew they had! TO WHOM MUST I SUBMIT? When we begin to question the small details, Peter leaves no room for uncertainty. ‘be submissive to EVERY ORDINANCE OF MAN…” In other word, we are to obey ALL THE LAWS OF every BRANCH OF GOVT. including those controlling traffic and relating to the income tax. If we take Peter seriously we will observe all ordinances and laws, even when we question their value or wisdom. We will accept the laws as pertaining to us, and obey them to the best of our ability. As a child of God, I must keep the laws – no matter if I don’t agree with the reasoning behind them, the people that made them, or the character of the officials.

v. 15 The Godly lives of believers will PUT TO SILENCE any false charges raised against them. v.16 FREEDOM in Scripture is not a license to sin, but expresses itself in devotion to what is good. Peter answers another important question: WHY BE SUBMISSIVE? By submitting to all authorities, believers leave the critics of Christ and His people with nothing to say. When irresponsible and unfounded accusations are made against us, it is our flesh response to be self defensive or to retaliate. God ‘s children should not have such conduct. We must resist the impulse to overreact. Our self-restraint will deprive the enemy of new grounds for criticism. The way to muzzle false accusers is to manifest the spirit of Christ and to continue obeying all laws and showing respect for all authorities.

v. 16 reminds us that we as believers are free from TOTAL subjection to any man. We have been made citizens of heaven, and are the subjects of Him Who is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. But we must not use this great spiritual liberty as an excuse for malicious deeds. As the bondslaves of God, we will submit to human authority “for the Lord’s sake.”

This truth has significant implications for us today. Every believer has a high and worthy motive for submission to civil authority—obedience to God. We do not obey only because we fear punishment by earthly rulers—this would place us in the category of slaves. We submit to authority even when human leaders are oppressive and unfair, because we know it is what the Lord desires.

v.17 EVERYONE, ‘honor all men’ … All people deserve the same honor and respect as the EMPEROR. Only God is to be feared. Believers should have a tender LOVE for each other as members of the same family. As believers today we have no right to despise anyone, though we may be shocked and revolted by the actions of some people. In short, the child of God is never to look upon another person with contempt.

‘love the brotherhood’ – even tho we are to honor all men, we are to go beyond that in totally unselfish love for our fellow-believers. We are united in a common faith, possess a common hope and share a common desire to do the will of God. The consciousness of our oneness in Christ makes possible a sincere, abiding love for the brotherhood.

3^rdly in this verse, we are to live in reverential awe of the Lord. Prov. 1:7 declares, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”. When a person reveres God, he will see all of life in proper focus. He will also be given a powerful incentive to obey the Lord, even when it might result in suffering at the hands of men.

4thly,“honor the king”… ‘continue showing honor to the emperor,” … Nero was likely being spoken of scornfully … he was already persecuting believers and showing signs of becoming a monster of iniquity. The Christians, however, were to honor him even though they couldn’t admire him.

This is always timely advice! There seems always to be scandals and poor political character displays that cause us to downgrade public officials, but as Christians we are to give honor to our leaders even when we are heartsick about their morals. The Bible demands that we recognize all rulers as bearing authority by God’s decree. (Romans 13:1)

The state, therefore, is an instrument in the hand of God to preserve the world from chaos. Every political leader, whether he believes in God or repudiates Him, has been given authority to prevent total anarchy, an evil even worse than oppression. That’s why we have been commanded to obedience.

IN SUMMARY: Peter has given us good news regarding our relationship to authorities—even in bad times of persecution and mistreatment. Let us review his message. He says first that God expects every Christian to be a good citizen. We are to submit to all who have positions of authority, even when we don’t agree with them, even when we think their demands are unfair. This we are to do “for the Lord’s sake.”

We are to disobey human rulers only when compliance with their demands would mean breaking God’s commands. We have a dual citizenship; we live on earth, but are citizens of heaven. Peter therefore calls upon us to adopt a proper submission to human authority, a love for our brethren in Christ, and a fear of God. We will “put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”

How can we obey these high requirements? By looking to Jesus. He set the example for us in suffering blamelessly, graciously and trustfully. By faith, we must weave into the fabric of our lives the full truth of Calvary. Because of what our precious Savior did, we can be different. By appropriating this glorious truth, we can‘take it patiently’ when we are wronged by the enemies of Christ.

NEXT week 2:18-25, we will address the question Peter answers: WHAT MUST I DO W

I Peter 2: 18-25

As the bondslaves of God, we will submit to human authority “for the Lord’s sake.” Every believer has a high and worthy motive for submission to civil authority—obedience to God. We do not obey only because we fear punishment by earthy rulers; we submit to authority even when human leaders are oppressive and unfair, because we know it is what the Lord wants.

v. 19-20 Most believers are more than happy to obey authorities when they believe their demands are reasonable and fair. But what if a Christian is mistreated? Peter tells us what our attitude should be.

When we are abused, we must “take it patiently.” As we do, we show forth one of the unique glories of our Christian faith, the wonder of God’s grace.

Peter points us to Jesus as our model. V. 21-23. He suffered BLAMELESSLY. He had done nothing to deserve the terrible treatment He received. We too should live above reproach. He suffered GRACIOUSLY. The Savior did not react bitterly. No words of contempt for His enemies escaped His lips. He did not curse His executioners. And when we are buffeted, we should follow His example. The Lord suffered TRUSTFULLY. We too must turn ourselves over to our heavenly Father, even as Jesus did, His promises will not fail.

Yes, when we are maltreated, we must “take it patiently.” Like our Savior, we must suffer blamelessly, graciously, and trustfully. The Lord set the example…He did it for all His children when they are hated and persecuted.

Millions of oppressed Christians through the centuries have made Christ their model, suffering blamelessly, without retaliation, and in faith. Even today, in China, North Korea, North Vietnam, and other locations, followers of Christ are being tortured and put to death. Only God knows the full story, but from the information that has leaked out we know that many have obeyed the admonition of Peter “to take it patiently.” They have faced terrible torment with an attitude that has amazed even their bitterest enemies.

Even though we know what we ought to do when oppressed, we must still face the question of“How can I find the strength to follow the Lord’s demands?” v. 24-25

The apostle affirms the theological truths about the penal, substitutionary aspect of Christ’s death because belief in them becomes a dynamic in our lives, enabling us to do things we never could accomplish in our own strength. As we think of Christ’s death on Calvary, we will find all the motivation needed to suffer in a Christlike manner.

Jesus took the curse of our sin upon Himself. Those to whom Peter wrote would catch the significance of the expression ‘on the tree’. In O.T. times, the most shameful and ignominious thing that could happen to a person would be for him either to be killed by hanging or have his body suspended from a tree after death. Deut. 21:22-23.

1. As you and I reflect on our Savior’s shameful death on Calvary’s tree for our sins, we should be overwhelmed with gratitude. If He was willing to do so much for us, why shouldn’t we be willing to suffer patiently for His sake?

2. We must appropriate for ourselves the truth that Jesus died to SEPARATE US FROM OUR SINS. This is the wonderful doctrine of our standing in Christ. The words “being dead” are a translation of the term used in classical Greek to describe the departed…the people who had died. We bear the same relationship to our sins as the dead do to the world they left—none at all!!! Paul expressed the same truth in Rom. 6:11 We must take this truth to heart that Jesus has brought us into a new standing before God as separated from our sins and we can and will derive from that the dynamic for suffering wrong triumphantly.

3. V.24 Christ’s death has brought us spiritual healing.

4. Another benefit of Christ’s death is that it brought us to God…also, another reason to suffer graciously. As Shepherd, the Lord Jesus gives us guidance and protection, leading us safely to our home in glory. As Bishop, He oversees our lives, and gives us all the help we need to follow His example in patient suffering – HIS GRACE!

SUMMARY: Peter has given us good news regarding our relationship to authorities—even in bad times of persecution and mistreatment. He says first that God expects every Christian to be a good citizen. We are to submit to all who have positions of authority, even when we don’t agree with them, even when we think their demands are unfair. This we are to do “for the Lord’s sake.”

We are to disobey human rulers only when compliance with their demands would mean breaking God’s commands. We have a dual citizenship: we live on earth, but are citizens of heaven. Peter therefore calls upon us to adopt a proper submission to human authority, a love for our brethren in Christ, and a fear of God. We will thus “put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”

We can obey these high requirements by looking to Jesus. He set the perfect example for us in suffering blamelessly, graciously, and trustfully. And, by faith we must weave into the fabric our lives the full truth of Calvary. Because Jesus endured the curse of God’s wrath against our sin, died to give us a completely new standing, provided healing for our spiritual disease, and brought us to God, we can be different. By appropriating these glorious truths, we can ‘take it patiently’ when we are wronged by the enemies of Christ.