A Call to Submit
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Review
Review
It has been some months since we have been in 1 Peter so I thought we would take some time to review where we have been.
I think the rest of the book will make better sense if we put it within the context of the whole
Read 1:1-2:25
Major point:
This is what God has done for you in Christ, therefore you are called to live holy and loving lives.
Beginning of chapter 2 he gives some particulars in what living a life set apart to God and loving to others looks like.
2:4-10 again he reminds them of what God has done for them, of who they are
2:11-12 is the general exhortation that flows from 4-10
Then 2:13-5:11 is more specific instructions flowing from the general exhortation that we find in 2:11-12
There is exhortation to submit 3 times
Submit or be subject to every human institution (government)
Servants be subject to your masters
wives be subject to your husbands
This verb is used again in 5:5
3:7 husbands are called to understand what God requires of them as husbands and to live as godly husbands
3:8 there is the general exhortation to all, we could talk about more of these things but we will get to all of this, Lord willing.
But for know I want to focus more on the social commands in 2 and 3.
Specifically the command to submit or to be subject.
A call to submit
A call to submit
God puts authorities in our lives and how we live in relation to these authorities can either bring shame to our Lord or it can testify to the gospel of grace.
Government is an authority, and we are called to put or to place ourselves under the governmental authority that God has sovereignly placed us under.
In other words, as Christians we should not be a rebellious disobedient lot, instead we should be known as a people of peace and obedience.
We see all through the Bible God is the one who raises up kings and rulers
He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
And this does not mean praying for or submitting to the ones that we like but not the other ones.
Two more things with this
1. Submission clearly carries the idea of obedience with it.
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
2. In context it is clear that submission does not mean mindless obedience.
It is clear that the first loyalty is to the Lord,
v.13 says, for the Lord’s sake
We are Christians first and Americans second
Christ is our ultimate master
There is no greater loyalty than that which is to Christ, even over husband or wife.
In other words, as Christians we should be inclined to submit to those who have authority over us and the only time they should be disobeyed is when the command something opposed to God’s will.
Submission not revolution
Submission not revolution
What disturbs may modern readers is that the NT writers do not call slaves to leave their households and masters.
The church was never called to start a revolution but to be faithful to her Lord in the context in which the Lord has her.
Peter and Paul do not affirming slavery here (or in ), owning someone else and treating them as property is ungodly and condemned in the Scriptures.
“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
We know that the type of slavery that we see in the Greco Roman world and here in the United States is condemned by the Sc
enslavers is translated menstealers, kidnappers, slave traders
But it is this idea of someone who takes a human and sells them as a piece of property.
The NT authors understand that some who are saved will be in these situations and their call is for them to glorify God in the midst of the cultural situation that they find themselves.
Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.
1 Cor. 7.
When the church is the church then the church is salt and light in the midst of a dark and twisted culture and by God’s grace that salt and that light can be used by the Lord to bring about great changes within the culture, the culture can be redeemed and become more glorifying to God.
The problem with any sin or mistreatment within a culture, whether it is slavery or abortion, is the sinful heart of man; not loving God and then loving their neighbor as himself.
The only way we can love God and love neighbor is through the power of the gospel.
As much as we want to see things like this made right we must understand that the preaching of the gospel and the church faithfully being the church is the means that the Lord uses to change people and to change cultures.
This is true even in marriages,
a godly wife does not change her husband by harassing him but by being a loving godly wife and letting the Lord change him through her example and the power of the gospel
3:1-2
Peter knew that many within the church would suffer injustices and he calls them to entrust themselves to God who judges justly. (v.23)
Two encouragements to submit even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Two encouragements to submit even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
v.19-20
For tells us that Peter is giving us the reason or the ground for the command in v.18
It is a gracious thing
We see that at beginning of v.19 and end of v.20
An inclusio
If one is faithful to God and they suffer then it is a gracious thing.
What does that mean, it is a gracious thing?
I think Peter is saying that this person will be rewarded
“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
benefit is the word charis, the greek word for grace, the same word in 1 Peter
the word in v.34 credit is the word charis
3 times the word charis is used is 32-34 and then in v.35 another word is used that is translated reward
We see here that charis can be used interchangeably with this word that means reward,
it can speak of a reward, a benefit, a credit if you will
I think what Peter is saying is that it is a credit to you or you will be rewarded.
Those who suffer for doing good, those who are faithful to the Lord even in difficult circumstances and honor the Lord will be rewarded.
I think the point is that they demonstrate the work of God’s grace in their lives and because of God’s gracious work in their lives we know that one day they will receive their reward.
What is the reward?
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
2. The example of Christ calls us to submit to authorities even in difficulty.
Our Lord, the Suffering Servant of Jehovah who we are called to follow did not revile, he did not threaten, but instead He entrusted Himself to His Father, the Just Judge
Discuss the glorious theology of the end of chapter 2.
He purchased us, we are His.