Sermon Tone Analysis

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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.