1 Peter 2:13-17
January is the month in which we focus our gaze
Into the world of missions and evangelism.
This is the purpose of the church.
We are called into a relationship with Jesus Christ that we may go and tell others the good news of the gospel.
And I am an advocate of preaching the gospel.
It is highly necessary for us to present the gospel to the lost.
Matthew 10:7 “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘ The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
It is vitally important that we are willing to speak the truth of God.
However, it is also true that if you are going to talk the talk, You must indeed walk the walk.
The fastest way to kill your witness
Is to live inconsistent to the message you say you believe.
It is also true that at times,
The only witness you have available to you is a silent one.
Person who won’t listen to you.
Someone you can’t get to (The King)
At times, the only witness we have available to us is our actions.
We are to be ready at all times to speak the truth.
But at times our only witness is our lifestyle.
Peter sums the two together later in his letter.
1 Peter 3:15-16 “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.”
So we are talking about in Peter the concept
Of evangelizing with our lives.
A couple of weeks ago,
We discussed evangelizing an enemy, tonight we look at another scenario.
Peter focuses in on those who live under an oppressive government.
Now of course we don’t – YET.
But there are certainly many in this world who do, and even when we go to these countries, it is very possible that we can be placed in these situations.
So the first part of submissive Evangelism that we will look at is:
CITIZENSHIP
And there are five things we will look at tonight.
#1 EXHORTATION
1 Peter 2:13a
“Submit yourselves…to every human institution”
This verse is extremely clear.
However, we have become extremely good at saying:
“Here is what the Bible says, but don’t you think…”
One topic that is constantly run through the “but don’t you think” filter
Is the topic of submission.
It doesn’t matter if it is
Wives and husbands, servants and masters, or citizens and government,
People just don’t like the concept of submission,
And it is the natural human inclination to rebel and usurp the authority of those above you.
The human mindset, even in regard to government,
Is to fight, usurp, rebel and overthrow.
And many times it is even done under the banner of religion.
BUT YOU WILL NOT FIND THIS IN SCRIPTURE.
The Bible is extremely consistent in the fact that submission is required. Not only is commanded several places, but that is also the example the saints of the Bible.
Take Stephen for example:
Acts 6:8-15 “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.” And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.”
Stephen never usurped authority, he just preached the gospel in full submission.
Of course the premier example is Jesus.
1 Peter 2:21-23 “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;”
This is the calling of Christians.
But what if they ask you to do something that is unbiblical?
Submission is still required, disobedience to God is not.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Were forced to disobey, but you don’t find them leading a revolt.
Daniel 3:16-18 “Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. “But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Take Daniel
They did not submit to the commands of the government,
They did submit to the government by accepting punishment.
That is also what Jesus did.
He submitted to the punishment, even though He had done nothing wrong.
Paul submitted to being a prisoner, and even appealed to Caesar, although he too was innocent.
The Bible is extremely consistent,
We are called to submit to the governing authorities.
Jesus even commanded this.
Matthew 22:19-21 “Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, ” Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”
Look at another instance in which Jesus dealt with this topic.
Matthew 17:24-27 “When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt. “However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”
It doesn’t mean that we want to be controlled by tyrants.
It doesn’t mean we can’t use legal means to try and change things.
It is ok to want religious freedom.
In fact Paul said to pray for it.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
We can desire religious freedom, but even if it is not a reality,
We are not permitted to rise up and seek to overthrow the government.
#2 MOTIVATION
1 Peter 2:13b
“for the Lord’s sake”
WHY SHOULD I SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNMENT?
Do it for Jesus.
The idea is that you elevate Him and His kingdom.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Look at how Paul would respond in the heat of the moment.
Acts 16:25-30 “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
There is a simple truth I want you to grasp.
Usurping the authority of one who is given charge over you
Is nothing but pure selfishness in every instance.
Any time we rise up and fight for our own personal freedoms,
It is only because of our selfish desires.
However, submission is all about Jesus.
He is the only reason a person would be willing to do it.
Matthew 20:24-28 “And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
It should be our motivation to elevate Jesus in every instance,
For only He can save.
John 12:32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”
It isn’t because we like the government, or even agree with the government.
We do it because we want Jesus to be glorified.
#3 EXPLANATION
1 Peter 2:13c-14
He is clear that we are to submit to every form and aspect of our authority.
Some make the laws, some enforce the laws,
But submission is required to all.
TURN TO: ROMANS 13:1-7
1) Resisting Authority is Resisting God (1-2)
2) Resisting Authority brings deserved punishment (3-4)
3) Resisting Authority defies the conscience (5)
4) Resisting Authority withholds what is due (6-7)
It is wrong to usurp any of the authority God has placed us under.
To do so brings swift, and deserved punishment.
BUT I THOUGHT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PERSECUTED ME, THEY ARE THE WORLD, WE ARE ON OPPOSITE SIDES?
Trust me, if you preach Jesus you will have your share of persecution.
Matthew 10:22 “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.”
But suffering itself is not the goal.
Obedience is the goal, which may very well bring suffering.
1 Peter 4:14-16 “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.”
1 Peter 2:20 “For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.”
#4 EXPECTATION
1 Peter 2:15
Here is the purpose to your submission.
THAT YOU MAY SILENCE THE ENEMIES OF THE GOSPEL
I’ve always thought Satan had two main tools.
A smoke screen, and a magnifying glass.
If you are arrested for running from a police officer,
You have only given the enemy that many more bullets for his gun.
But if you do what is right, he will have nothing to say.
At best all he can do is shove it under the rug.
Don’t give the enemy a stick to attack you with.
Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.”
This truth echoes what Peter said earlier.
1 Peter 2:12 “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
The ultimate idea behind sacrificing your own personal freedoms
For the sake of the gospel is to silence the gospel haters.
Matthew 22:41-46 “Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” They said to Him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES BENEATH YOUR FEET”‘? “If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?” No one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question.”
Jesus continually did this, not only by His words, but also by His actions.
John 9:29-34 “We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.” The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. “Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. “If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So they put him out.”
That is what God wants for you.
That is one of the ways we evangelize with submission.
#5 APPLICATION
1 Peter 2:16-17
He tells us to “act as free men”
The freedom of Christ is not the freedom to disobey rules,
And break commandments.
Which is why Peter goes on to say, “and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil”
The freedom Christ brought is the freedom not to sin.
He brought us freedom from the flesh.
He brought us the freedom to submit even when it goes against the grain of our natural ways of thinking.
And then in verse 17, Peter just gets to the point.
1) Honor all people
Of course we know that man is created in God’s image.
For this reason alone, other humans are worthy of our respect.
We have no right to harm one another,
We have no right to steal from one another,
We have no right to covet what is someone elses.
Jesus even went further than that in this submission game.
Matthew 5:40-42 “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”
We are called to submit ourselves to others.
Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
2) Love the Brotherhood
Love sacrifices self for the good of others.
In short, love is to willingly submit to your brothers in Christ.
This is also Biblical.
Romans 13:8-10 “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Ephesians 5:21 “and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”
One of the best ways that others would know that we are His disciples.
John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
3) Fear God
WHAT MOTIVATES US TO SUBMIT OUR PERSONAL FREEDOMS TO ONE WHO CAN’T PUNISH US IF WE DON’T?
GOD
Don’t do it because God is watching.
2 Samuel 12:7-12 “Nathan then said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. ‘I also gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! ‘Why have you despised the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. ‘Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ “Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. ‘Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.'”
4) Honor the King
His position demands your respect.
Titus 3:1-2 “Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.”
John MacArthur said this:
“When believers obey the principles of this passage, it gives genuine credibility to their faith. Submission to civil authority is an implementation of what might be called “evangelistic citizenship,” along with the lines of Jesus’ declaration in the Sermon on the Mount: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
(MacArthur, John, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 1 Peter. Moody Press, Chicago, Ill; 2004, pg. 153)
As you go, preaching the gospel,
Make sure your speech is accompanied by this priceless tool
