SUBMISSION LEADS to GRACE- The Suffering Servant

Introduction

Story about Real estate:

I was young and ready to conquer the world

in fact I became pretty successful for a very young realtor.

and because of that my boss seemed to take it upon himself to keep me humble.

He would publically point out anything He didn’t like about how I was working,

He would belittle me and say that i was just lucky

In fact, it came to the point when an older employee accused me of a trademark issue and told the boss that If Im not asked to leave he was going to leave- that my boss came to me and told me I was trying to steal the other mans business and he told me “ you either need to immediately change all of your advertising and stop using that slogan- Which I had just spent 20k on-- or leave the company.

I had done nothing wrong. I was innocent , In fact most of the people in my office called me their friend. I was a hard worker, I was honest, I was successful in my job., and I had a good testimony of my faith, and yet I was singled out and was being penalized for things I had not done.

I dont know how you would have responded but it became really difficult for me to want to go to work. It was hard for me to want to care about my job.

Transition:

Two weeks ago we looked at how A Christians submission to the governement Brings glory to God

In our Passage today Peter is continuing on in his teaching on submission and He is writing to Christian Slaves, many of whom were having to endure hardship at the hand of their masters.

Understand that In the first century Roman Empire, slavery was deeply ingrained in the socio-economic structure of their economy.

With slaves constituting a significant portion of the population.

In Fact, Historians estimate that in the first century up to 20% of the Roman empires Population was enslaved to a master in some degree or another. ( from The British Museum website)

-that is a lot of people who were enslaved.

Individuals could become slaves through various means, including

birth into slavery,

by being a captive in war,

or even more commonly as a consequence of financial debts.

These Slaves served in many diverse capacities, ranging from household tasks to agricultural labor, to construction, and even as tutors for children or entertainers in the arts.

We need to understand that being a slave meant that you had no personal freedom or legal rights, because by Roman Law you were considered the property of your master.

Because Slavery was so prominent , many of these Christian slaves would have experienced relatively humane treatment from their masters, they would have been treated with dignity and some respect, but others had to endure evil masters with harsh discipline and hard living conditions.

Over the past 3 weeks we have been in 1 Peter chapter 2 Where Peter gives Believers the Code that all christians should live by in this life,

The Code is simple

IN EVERY RELATIONSHIP WE have- our desire should be to

AVOID SINNING and LIVE A LIFE THAT REFLECTS the HOLINESS OF JESUS CHRIST..

In our text this morning Peter is speaking specifically to those who have no freedom of their own and are bound by the will of their masters,

and he is emphasizing the significance of the submission they are called to have towards their masters.

Reminding them that their life even as a slave can be a picture of the Grace of God to the world.

Read the text

1 Peter 2:18–25 (ESV)

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Basically here is what was happening - As Slaves were being saved through belief in the gospel,They started to think that this freedom from the bondage of sin that they received at salvation was also a personal and political freedom from their masters here on earth.

And this was causing some problems in the church, and in the community.

This problem of misunderstanding the freedom one has in Christ wasn’t just in the churches of Asia

Paul addressed this same situation in the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 7 where He told the church that if you were a slave when you recieved freedom from sin in Christ- be a faithful slave on this earth as a picture of Christ, and if you were a free man when you came to Christ dont forget that you are now a servant of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7:20–24 (ESV)

20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 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. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

Paul and Peter Both wanted the church to understand the code by which they are to live even when they are enslaved to an earthly master.

Avoid Sin

and Point People to Jesus

So how does this passage about being a good slave apply to us today?

I mean as i look out at our congregation- I dont see anyone of you who is a legal slave to another.

While there are no Christian slaves today in the New Testament sense, I believe that these truths are applicable to each of us as employees and employers today.

The Big IDEA : Faithful Submission LEADS to Grace

Peter’s first directive in this text is to teach these slaves that their...

1. Our Faithful Submission Points People to God’s Grace

He wants them to know that their freedom from human slavery was not the end Goal-It was to use their circumstances to point people to God’s Grace

look with me at verse 18

1 Peter 2:18 (ESV)

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.

The directive is simple: be submissive to those in authority, regardless of how they treat you.

To Be submissive with all respect means that you should approach your work with a willingness to submit to your authority,

not because they are better or smarter or even more knowledgeable, but because you recognize that your comfort or freedom is not the end goal- as a follower of Jesus your ultimate obedience is to God. Your ultimate goal is His glory.

and He has called us as His followers to submit with all respect.

Peter is pretty clear in this teaching…TO be obedient to God means that you will be obey your masters with ALL RESPECT

as a follower of Jesus who want’s to obey Gods Word

you will follow the workplace rules, and not be divisive against your employer

You will work hard and not be lazy at the tasks you have been given,

you will respect the hierarchies that have been put in place, even if you don’t agree with them

you will strive to be obedient to the supervisors that are above you as long as they don’t require you to sin in your actions,.RIGHT!!!

But you may be sitting here this morning saying Pastor, You dont know my boss-

He’s evil,

He’s rotten to the core,

He’s selfish

he’s harsh

He’s not fair.

He treats me so badly because I’m a christian

Pastor, its hard for me to want to make his business successful when I know who he really is. Frankly He doesn’t deserve it

Brothers and sisters- Your right… it is hard sometimes doing the right thing even when no one else seems to care

Listen again to Peters words in verse 18

1 Peter 2:18 (ESV)

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.

Why would God want us, His own children, the ones He died to free from the bondage of sin, Why would he want us to have to suffer in a work environment that is not a good place?

Why does he require us to respect those who dont deserve- to those who in all reality probably hate him and his message of hope?

Why would god want us to use our gifts and abilities to build up his wealth when he will not use it for God’s Kingdom?

Look at verse 19-20 with me where Peter gives us the reason

1 Peter 2:19–20 (ESV)

19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

Did you catch the key word in this passage- Did you see the whole point Peter is trying to make in this command?

Peter said it twice-

When we do good ...and suffer for it, It is a GRACIOUS thing.

in verse 20 peter makes the distinction between being punished for what you did wrong compared to being punished even though You did what is right.

He says look -if you get punished because you were Wrong - you received exactly what you were owed, you got what You deserved

But when you do the right thing,-

When you work hard, when you respect your boss,

When you refuse to share gossip around the office,

And still endure unfair suffering -You are a picture of GRACE TO THE WORLD.

And in verse 21 Peter simply says

1 Peter 2:21 (ESV)

21 For to this you have been called..

Brothers and sisters- do you understand that God has has called you to be a picture of His grace to this world.

And what Peter is simply saying is that when we fight back and demand our rights, We no longer are a picture of God’s Grace, But instead we look just like the world.

As Believers our greatest desire should not be fairness in this world - that is not our end Goal.

Our purpose as the redeemed of Jesus is to glorify God in all we do, and the greatest way we can accomplish this goal is to live a life that proclaims the grace of God to this world.

In Romans 12 Paul is speaking to the church about what a true Believer looks like in his relationships with others,

listen to what He says

Romans 12:16–21 ESV

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Friends the best defense we have against sin is the gospel of Grace.

And the most powerful way grace is proclaimed in our lives is when we look like Jesus and do the right thing even when life seems unfair.

I shared the story with you how I was miserable at work when my boss kept coming down unfairly on me. Friends it was hard to want tot do the right thing, It was hard to not retaliate and tell everyone else how bad it was- I loved my job but in reality I was ready to give it all up and just walk away.

Things in time seemed to get better and life moved on. Two years later God led me into ministry at the camp. And through much prayer and counsel, I decided to leave my successful real estate business and go into full time ministry at the camp.

When I left- my coworkers couldn't understand why I would want to give up all of my wealth to go into a career that definitely did not pay the same. They didn't understand that I was excited to serve the lord in camp ministry. and at the time they just thought I was foolish.

But guess what happened, over the course of the next few years a couple of my coworkers came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. and in their stories they mentioned How they couldn't understand how I just took that abuse in the office place and never lashed back, and How I gave up my career for the ministry- And because of that picture of Grace in my life- they came to understand the grace that God was offering them in their own lives.

Friends understand - That when we live a life that is righteous and still endure suffering at the hands of sinful men God is giving us the opportunity to be a picture of Grace.

Friends dont waste that opportunity be the picture that points lost sinners to Jesus,

Peter wraps up his charge to these suffering slaves by encouraging them to remember the example Jesus set for us to follow.

1 Peter 2:21–25 (ESV)

21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Friends do you understand that Jesus is the fulfilment of Gods Grace in your life.

Jesus Faithful Submission is the fulfilment of Gods Grace

Without Jesus there is no Grace- He is the culmination of Gods Grace towards mankind,

Grace is God giving you what you don’t deserve

Grace is God offering you salvation when you deserve death

Grace is God loving you despite your hatred towards Him

Grace Is God saying there is nothing I wouldn’t do in order to save you and to free your from your bondage of sin- including sending my own perfect son Jesus- To die in your place.

Friends, do you understand that Jesus is the grace of God in your life?

Remember who we once were without Christ.

We were rotten to the core-

We were completely filled by sin, led by sin, mastered by sin, and condemned in our sin.

Friends before God in Grace sent jesus into our lives We were completely dead in our sin.

There was NO HOPE FOR YOU OR ME.

PETER IN VERSE 24-25 LAYS OUT THE GOSPEL MESSAGE OF GRACE

listen again to what He says

1 Peter 2:24–25 (ESV)

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree-

Do you understand that when He went to that cross He had no sin of his own to pay for. He willingly went to that cross so that he could pay the debt you owe

He took your sin upon himself

I dont know about you but that sounds an awful lot like Grace- He took my place not because I earned but because He loved me.

He did so that..

,we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

That sounds an awful lot like Grace- He died so that I might live.

By his wounds you have been healed.

Do understand that this world- including you and me, is sick with the disease of sin and there is no human cure- the only cure for sin- is eternal death and when Jesus takes that death upon himself- He heals the sickness of sin in the sinners life.

Friends I dont know about you but that sounds an awful lot like Grace.

25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Friends it is our own sinfulness that causes mankind to keep walking away from Jesus, The Bible says not one of us has ever sought after God on our own. We are like sheep- that just keep following the little pleasures in front of us even though we know that the path we are on leads to eternal danger-

But Christ our Good shepherd - the overseer of our eternal soul runs after us- He doesn't look at us and say they deserve what they are about to get, their not worth it, No He grabs us He saves us and turns us around and He brings us into his eternal fold.

Friends I dont know about you but that sounds a lot like GRACE.

1 Peter 2:24–25 ESV

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Bring it Home

When I was in the middle of being mistreated by my boss It was really hard to stand firm on what I knew was right. But looking back- I am so thankful that I did- God used me-to reach many for Christ- because of how I endured the persecution from my employer.

my life was a picture of Grace.

Friends if you have been redeemed through the precious blood of Jesus than you have recieved the grace of God in your life.

Dont ever lose sight of the fact that you did not earn your salvation,

Dont ever lose sight of the fact that You did not deserve redemption

Dont ever lose sight of the fact that it was because of Grace You have been saved..

And friends if you are in Christ- Remember what Peter said “ FOR TO THIS YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED”

Christian you have been called to take up your cross and follow Christ-

You have have been called to be an example of God’s Grace in this world.

In every relationship whether it’s easy or Hard

Choose to avoid Sin

Choose to point people towards Gods grace.

Don’t let your own human rights get in the way of being a picture of Christ to this world.