Practicing submission – Part 1

Scripture reading:  1 Peter 2:15-17

Text: 1 Peter 2:13-17 – Practicing submission – Part 1

Introduction:  Warren Wiersbe says this about submission to authority, “God has established authority in this world, and when we resist authority, we are resisting God.  Parents are to have authority over their children and employers over their employees.  As citizens, we Christians should pray for those in authority, show respect to them, and seek to glorify God in our behavior.  As members of a local assembly, we should honor those who have spiritual rule over us and seek to encourage them in their ministry. 

Human government is, in one sense, God’s gift to help maintain order in the world, so that the church may minister the Word and win the lost to Christ.  We should pray daily for those in authority so that they might exercise that authority in the will of God.

This is completely opposite of a world that is enamored with self so how do we accomplish this? 

Central Idea:  In order for the believer to pursue holiness we must practice submission.

Main Transition:  We jump back into the deep end of the pool in our study in 1 Peter.  We left off understanding that we are to pursue holiness.  For the most part we understand that we should pursue holiness, but now Peter enters the deep waters of submission.  We are going to spend some time on submission, we have entitled this “Practicing submission” and the word practicing will be mentioned many times over the next few weeks.  So we begin this morning with submission to human authorities, and then Submission to the will of God, and finally that is all lived out in the submission of the servant of God.

I.  Submission to human authority (13-14)

            A.  The context of submission (13)

                        1.  We do not even hardly get started when Peter calls us to submit.

Application:  Submission is a term that even believers today look at with disdain.  The world mocks and rejects it, in fact in many if not most wedding performed today the portion of the wedding vows that speaks of submission is removed from the service.

2.  The word for submission had its roots as a military term used to identify the chain of command, from officers to the battle field. 

a.  In the non-military use it was a voluntary attitude of, giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden.

b.  There is no better example of submission then Christ, Peter uses Christ as the example in verses 21-25,

1.  We have just spent several weeks looking at the submission of Christ, to God and to Man.

2.  Philippians 2 says that Christ took on the form of bondservant.

c.  We are told in Luke 2:51 that Jesus submitted himself under his parents authority.

3.  God established submission when he placed the tree in Garden, he again established submission when he created Eve, submission is not part of the curse, although it has been tragically abused by those affected by the curse of sin.

4.  In order for us to live holy 1:16 we must learn submission.

            B.  The Christians responsibility (13)

1.  Submission has two sides, one is forced the other is voluntary, Peter calls us to submit in several of our relationships, the first is government. 

2.  Remember who Peter is writing, these are those that have lost loved ones to the emperor in Rome, they have been driven from their homes and they live on the edge of society.

a.  submission under that pretext is difficult, we struggle and usually fail when our government has not yet done this to us.

b.  The believer has the obligations to the government, not because who makes up the government, but because God has placed it there.

c.  You submit to government, because it directly reflect how you are truly submitting to God.

Application:  A word about limits needs to be spoken carefully here, We are never to obey any law or authority contrary to the word of God.  Acts 5:29 says, “Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘we ought to obey God rather than men.’”  This passage is found in the context that the Apostles were facing persecution for preaching the Gospel. 

C.     The purpose of Government (14)

1.      Civil authorities are to govern by punishing evil and rewarding good.

2.      Though the Christian’s true citizenship is in heaven, he still must live as an obedient citizen in this world so that God will be honored and glorified. Rebellious conduct by a Christian brings dishonor on Christ.

3.      The reason we must submit is not connected at all with the government, as it does not matter who is running the government, because we are to submit for the Lord’s sake, in other words, because we serve the Lord, we represent the Lord to those around us.

Transition:  Submission is an action that the world completely rejects.  It is also an action that is admired when push comes to shove.  You are responsible not to the government for your actions but to the Lord, submit to the authorities that be for the Lord’s sake. 

II.  Submission to the will of God (15)

            A.  Understanding the will of God

Illustration:  Have you ever wondered what the will of the Lord is for your life?  I had a professor in school that whenever he had a question would read through the entire Bible and write down everything that pertained to his question, when he was done, he knew what God said about the question.  If you want to know the will of God Peter is about to give you a part of the answer

1.  God’s purpose in submission is not that we be abused as an end in and of itself, but that the world may see a difference in us.

                        2.  This is one of the same reasons that we are to live holy lives. 

B.     The practice of living out God’s will

1.      You as a believer have the responsibility to be different, to submit to authority.

Illustration:  An airline pilot not long ago said, “People are just not willing to obey anymore.  There is no respect for any kind of authority.  They won’t listen to flight attendants or pilots.  They act like they are the law unto themselves.”

2.  If you are concerned about holiness, and living for the Lord, you will be concerned about submission to authorities.  If you are concerned about reaching your friends and neighbors with the Gospel, than you must be concerned about submission to authorities. 

                        3.  The practice of living out submission will be seen in your life.

C.     The visible affects of living Godly

1.  The stated purpose of submission is to silence to mouths of the foolish men.

            a.  The word for silence literally means to muzzle the mouth.

b.  Like an angry dog who bites people is controlled by a muzzle, so too is a foolish person by your submission.

2.      Submission is powerful at closing the mouth of those that attack you and malign you.

Transition:  In a world that even unbelievers say is out of control, a believer stands out more than ever before.  It is as simple as doing the right thing on your taxes, or patiently obey the traffic laws, or airport security, or respect the one in front of you in Walmart.

III.  Submission of the servant of God (16-17)

A.    Your position of freedom

1.      It truly is a wonderful truth about believers, you are free, you no longer belong to Satan, but Peter is challenging us to take that freedom and use it to become a bond slave. 

a.       This is what Christ did when he came to earth as a baby, He emptied Himself and took on the form of a bond slave.

b.      You are able to enjoy your freedom as a believer

2.      This is also a wonderful truth about the believer submission does not mean slavery, submission is cooperation with those in authority. 

B.     The purpose of freedom

1.      This freedom is to be enjoyed as you live it out for the good of others.

2.      Peter is especially mindful of the four groups that he has already mentioned

a.       Of course fear God this means to be reverent in your actions and attitudes towards God

b.      Honor all people – Those that watch you are looking more and more each day for what you have, show it to them without the blurry actions of rebellion.

c.       The brotherhood – This is the family of God that you belong to you are obligated to live out your freedom to serve those that belong to the church.

d.      Honor the king – this is the earthly authority – be in submission to them, as long as they do not contradict the Word of God be obedient.

C.     The practice of freedom

1.      Your freedom should not be a cover or a veil for you to do wickedness.

2.      Christian freedom is never an excuse for self-indulgence. 

3.      The very fact that you are free should cause you to have concern for others, reveal to them the joy of serving out of freedom.

Conclusion:  We have merely introduced a topic that Peter is going to spend some time on.  Submission is not easy, it is hard work.  If you are a believer, you have been given the freedom to be submissive.  It should never be you who it is said, they just can’t live with authority.  What a way to shine in this dark world, and what an example to follow in Christ.  Christ freely came to earth, to die on a cross, and to rise again.  His freedom was revealed in His submission to the will of the Father.  He was unencumbered by the day to day strain that a world of unbelievers faces every day.

Be a shining representation of Christ.