“Living Before the World” Liberty vs. Freedom in Christ

1 Peter 2:11-17

Talk about how that we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus every Sunday

Introduction: We are continuing our study on True story’s shaping our mind through scripture. Today’s topic has some true meaning and has reared its head in the church. Similar to over-emphasis on individualism vs. community, we can often emphasize individual rights too much, to the detriment of others. Taken to an extreme, we can focus only on what we can (or should be able to do), rather than what we should do for the benefit of others. In other words, our individual rights are sometimes in conflict with the well-being of others. Defining others comes from the unchurched, the Harvest, people who are looking for Jesus’s salvation.

Scripture calls us to sacrifice our rights if they are harmful to others. Once we become a child of God, Our freedom in Christ cannot be an excuse to cause others to stumble or suffer.

As believers with freedoms in Christ, we must use it responsibly and considerately. A christians actions should not lead others to sin or experience unnecessary hardship. In Christianity, the principle is derived from teachings such as those found in 1 Corinthians 8, where Paul discusses how christians should abstain from certain liberties if they could cause harm or lead weaker believers astray. In essence, it highlights the importance of love, empathy, and accountability within the Christian community.

First Corinthians 8 addresses the issue of eating food sacrificed to idols. Paul emphasizes that although believers may have knowledge and freedom, they should be mindful of the impact their actions have on others. Paul highlights the importance of building up the community rather than causing divisions or harm. Yesterday Church went spent time building up our community, and God showed us what we are capable of doing. It should excite you to be apart as well we be mindful of those who can benefit from our opportunities.

We must comprehend that your political party had nothing to do with your liberties in Christ Jesus. Whether you believe we should use actual juice and crackers over the little packets are irrelevant. Libertinism often emphasizes unrestrained personal indulgence and pleasure-seeking without regard for moral or ethical boundaries. On the other hand, freedom in Christ, as understood in Christianity, involves freedom from sin and bondage, enabling individuals to live according to God's principles and guidelines.

While libertinism focuses on individual desires, freedom in Christ is rooted in spiritual liberation and responsibility within a moral framework. The letter starts off in chapter 1 peter 1:1-3 This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.

I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.[a] 2 God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

May God give you more and more grace and peace.

As the apostle greeted his friends, he reminded them of how they stood in relation to the triune God. They were chosen by God, the Father, cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and renewed by the Holy Spirit, who is at work in their hearts. We too enjoy these privileges if we have surrendered our lives to God.

The Apostle Peter along with the help of Silas we take a look into the lifestyles of good and bad. When you open your bible to 1 Peter 2, starting at verse number one. I’m reading from the NLT 1Peter 2:1

1 Peter 2:1 (NLT)

1 So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.

1 Peter 2:9(NLT)

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,[g] a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

“The Christian’s true identity is no longer that of a sinner but that of a holy saint”

This does not mean that you become holy, but rather you are now a slave to salvation and not sin. I shared this with the group on Friday night, you don’t become a sinner when you sin, you sin because you are a sinner. That was your nature, but because God has been good to resurrected His Son from the dead we are no longer a stuck to sin. with no hope, no light and no mercy. so now that we got that out of the way verse 11 brings us to what we have is

** True Freedom in Christ**

I Peter 2:11

1. Peter begins by urging believers to live as people who are free. However, this freedom is not a license to indulge in selfish desires or sinful behavior. Instead, it's a freedom from the bondage of sin and a call to live in righteousness.

You have been set free from your sin…act like it.

But don’t continue sinning willfully relying on the grace of God to cover that sin. Live in a way that shows that you BELONG to Him! (Live like you belong to Him)

How do we do this, Peter tells us 1 Peter 1:14, 15: As obedient children. As we are rearing are children we want them to listen and comply.

No longer conform to Ignorance, we no longer pattern yourself after what you desired when you were lost. Your not lost anymore.

Holy - Be holy in all your conduct as you go about you daily living.

Application/Story: Joe Louis

Sojourners and Pilgrims Believers, as those who have received eternal life, temporarily live in this world until either their death or Jesus’ return. Thus, for a believer, life in this world is equivalent to how a foreigner or refugee feels.

This parallels how the Greek text of John 1:14 describes God’s Son taking on flesh (see note on John 1:14). Just as Jesus was not a permanent member of the world, neither are believers.

Sojourners and pilgrims: with these words, Peter reminds believers that this earth is not our home. We are foreigners here, traveling to our eternal home heaven. The word translated abstain literary means to hold away from one person. In other words, we must distance ourselves from our own self indulgence urges. Life is war and not a game, but a war to be waged, and that war is a material, a matter of eternal life or death Romans 7:23 , James 4:1 yet the war is not necessarily fault on a physical temporal plane, but on a spiritual one.

I Peter 2:12

**Responsibility and Accountability**

The passage highlights the responsibility that comes with freedom. We are called not to use our liberty as a pretext for wrongdoing but to live as servants of God. This emphasizes the accountability we have to God for how we use the freedom He has given us. having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles.

Gentiles here refers to those who are not believers in Christ, not to those who are not Jews. Peter encourages his readers to maintain good conduct so that they can positively testify to others—in this case, the Gentiles—of God’s grace.

**Respect for Authority**

1 Peter 2:13

Peter instructs believers to honor everyone, love fellow believers, fear God, and honor the emperor. This encompasses respect for all individuals, including those in positions of authority. Even in challenging times, Christians are called to demonstrate respect and obedience to governing authorities, recognizing God's sovereignty over all. “for the Lord’s sake “A proper Christian response to authority reflects positively on Jesus. For the sake of Christ’s reputation, believers should be submissive—just as Christ was during His trial and crucifixion (compare Rom 13:1 and note).

A reference to the Roman emperor. Peter’s readers should submit to the emperor’s rule, but they must not worship him (compare Matt 22:21).

Peter forcefully commands Christians to submit voluntarily to governor authorities. He does not make submission a matter of personal conviction or choice. He decrees that it is an obligation for all Christians to every ordinance of man.

Submission is at the heart of true Christianity. We are to lay ourselves aside and follow Him. We are to lay ourselves aside and put others before us (Lk. 9:23, Phil. 2:3-4)

1 Peter 2:15–16 NKJV

15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

**Servanthood as a Mark of Christian Character**

Despite being free in Christ, believers are called to embrace servanthood. This counters the world's notion of freedom as self-centeredness and instead emphasizes a life characterized by love, humility, and service to others.

“you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” By believers doing good, even in the midst of persecution, they stun their persecutors into silence.

The will of God, the authority, backing Peter's command for civil obedience, is the god of the universe, the sovereign ruler, over all citizens and governments, and overall Christians and non-Christians. Put to silence. Our actions should make our accusers speechless, like a muzzle placed over their mouths.

2:16 as bondservants of God As opposed to slaves (or servants) of sin (compare Rom 6:16–17, 20; compare note on 2 Pet 2:19). How many things have we aloud to master us: Love of money, food, unforgiveness, pride; you fill in the blanks.

Conclusion:

There was a young man who rode on a bus and was picked on, teased and name calling everyday. finally one day as the young man was getting of the bus he handed the bus driver his card and read Joe Louis, heavy weight boxing champion of the world. Even though he had the right

As we reflect on 1 Peter 2:16-17, let us strive to live out our freedom in Christ responsibly, honoring all, loving our brothers and sisters, fearing God, and respecting authority. May our lives be a testimony to the transformative power of true freedom found in Christ, lived out in service to God and others. Why are we doing this because Go back to Verse 9

You are:

Chosen.

A royal priest.

A holy nation.

His.

Called.

The people of God.

and given mercy

THAT YOU MAY: proclaim the excellencies of God!!!

The relationship between politics and religion can be complex and varies depending on cultural, historical, and social contexts. Here are some ways in which politics can intersect with religion: