1 Peter 2:11-3:7. Immigrants to this world.

Immigrants to this world October 2, 2022 Godly Lives in a Pagan Society Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 11 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to 13 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 15 -- 1 Peter 2 Foreigners… submit… don’t abuse freedom 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not 15 use your freedom as a cover- up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 17 -- 1 Peter 2 Godly lives in a Pagan Society 01 Immigrants to this world 02 Help for a hurting marriage 03 Questions to consider Immigrants: how will you live? What are waging wars against your soul? Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to 11 abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 12 w o H ? Are you holy? Engaged? Disengaged Sinful Holy Engaged Power of community For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 5 -- Mathew 25 Spiritual and moral obligations “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” -- CS Lewis, Screwtape Letters Submit to human authority For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for 15 evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong 13 proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. -- 1 Peter 2 Missions in China Godly lives in a Pagan Society 01 Immigrants to this world 02 Help for a hurting marriage 03 Questions to consider Help for a Hurting Marriage Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes 1 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to 4 fear. 7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with Unjust authority? Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes 1 Inner beauty Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to 4 Instructions for husbands Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. 7 Godly lives in a Pagan Society 01 Immigrants to this world 02 Help for a hurting marriage 03 Questions to consider Questions to reflect • Verse 11 directs us to “abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” By this we are marked as ‘sojourners’ for Jesus’ sake. What are the most soul destroying seductions confronting you? • “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil.” What does this mean in your life? Questions to reflect • In 3:1 Peter observes that language has limits. “They may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives.” In practice, what does this mean? • Learn, empathize, respect, and honor instead of fix the problem or tough it out. Based on your life experience, how does this instruction to husbands strike you? • Verse 5 refers to hope in God and verse 7 to unhindered prayers. Do you actively depend on God when you wish your marriage would change for the better? Why is this often difficult to do?