Strangers and Aliens

There are many difficult words in Scripture. Some are like how Peter describes Paul’s words, “his letters include some things that are hard to understand.” But others, and perhaps the most difficult ones, are not the one’s which are complex, but the ones which are simple. They are difficult to hear because they go against our nature. This is the response of the wider group of disciples to some of Christ’s words as John records for us in John 6,

55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever. 60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”

These disciples were clearly offended by what Jesus said to them. They were offended because it went against their nature. They were offended because Jesus was claiming exclusivity in salvation.

The words that are before us here in Peter are also difficult words. They are not difficult because it is inherently complex to understand. But they are difficult because they cause offense. They are difficult because this is one of those situations where the rubber hits the road for being Christ-like. They are difficult because we are not Christ-like and struggle with the bodies of sin we still dwell in, living in a sinful world.

These words of Peter’s don’t come from nowhere. Remember where we have come from in this letter. The first section of Peter’s letter can come under the heading of a living hope. God has caused us to be born to a living hope through the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

As those have received this glorious salvation, what was begun in faith continues in that same faith as we look forward to the fulfillment of our salvation. We have an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, and kept in heaven for us. It is to this that we must joyfully set our hope for it will all be revealed at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

But now as those whose inheritance lies elsewhere, whose citizenship is now with Christ in heaven, we are considered exiles in this world. We are just sojourning here, passing through while we await our true home. We are like Abraham who dwelt in the promised land though it was not yet his. This is the character of the next section in Peter’s letter. How does life look for those who live in a place which is not theirs’?

As sojourners and exiles, we are to live by the ethic of heaven, our true home. Through salvation in Christ, we are members there. We are Christ’s, our lives are to reflect His. This evening, we will look at how that plays out in relation to the governing authorities.

So, in light of that, Peter gives a command to follow, and reason for it. These will be the headings which we will look at the text under.

A Command

I remember as a kid playing sport and before every game, I’d earnestly pray that God would give me and my team victory over the other team. I’m sure if you’ve ever been in any sort of competition or watched any sport, you’ve potentially sent up a similar prayer. “Lord, please grant victory.”

Head

We carry this same kind of thinking into our lives today. We naturally have a way of life that is one of glory and victory through conquer. Whether that be by an actual sword, or just power and authority. We naturally want to be the ones in charge and with the power.

In answer to this question, How does life look for those who live in a place which is not theirs’? Peter responds with something which will characterize the next couple of chapters, “Be subject.”

“Be subject.” These words Peter begins with grate against our very beings and nature. Being subject is not something that is natural to us. In fact, it is incredibly difficult.

This command in particular is difficult. It is difficult because it commands us to submit to leaders who aren’t godly. Not only are they not godly, but they may also outright hate us. Thankfully here at this time in our country, we don’t suffer in that way. We still look at our leaders and can quickly list off 10 things they are doing that is in violation of God’s good law.

Heart

We may have leaders that promote sin and rebellion to God, but the Christians that Peter is writing to were facing immanent persecution. This call to submit is difficult because it can mean risk to our lives. Peter Himself was martyred at the hand of the government, hung on a cross upside down. He, along with most of the Apostles and many, many Christians met this kind of end. And yet, knowing what is probably about to come, Peter still writes these words, “be subject to every human authority.”

We all have an innate desire towards self-preservation and so it is tempting to try and wriggle around this. I’m sure Peter could have been tempted to put in brackets after this (except if they go after your life).

But this is why these words of his are ultimately difficult. Because submission means humility. It means casting aside all our desires, our ideals, our pride, our desire to preserve our lives, and instead willingly follow Christ, and claim nothing as our right and instead submit to those authorities above us.

This is the unique character of Christian witness. Submission and humility are at the core of Christ’s example for us.

- He is God, yet didn’t count that as anything for our sake. Instead, He chose to take upon Himself our flesh in order that He might save us. Pause

- He suffered great injustices at the hands of the Romans yet was willing to humble Himself for our sakes. Pause

- This is the pattern that He set before us. As those who bear Christ’s name we are to reflect Him.

Hands

I said in my last sermon in Peter that we are to be like an embassy on foreign soil, governed by the laws of its country. Christians are to be like embassies or outposts of heaven, governed by the laws of heaven while here on earth. As such, your identity is found in Christ and all that He is.

An embassy is a light to the nation around them of what their country is. It is governed by its own laws, and follows an ethic set by its sending country. This is all in order that it may be a faithful witness. So, we are to be like embassy’s to the world around us.

Christ says to us that we are like a city on a hill, proclaiming a place of refuge to all those around us. And like salt in food, we are called to be distinct and peculiar after God, in order that we may season those around us.

We are governed by the laws of heaven and of Christ.

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So, we are to submit. We are to be good citizens.

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Head

This idea may not be too difficult for us to wrap our heads around, but to those in Peter’s day the burning question was, will Christ now restore the Kingdom?

This question seems to have arisen again in our day.

How are we to relate to the Kingdoms around us? Did not God’s Kingdom in Israel come by vanquishing their enemies? Did not Israel bring the Canaanites to judgement in their conquest? David’s kingdom and victory over the Philistines came about by the sword. But after God took them into exile and promised the restoration of the Kingdom, immediately their minds went to those victories again.

Spurred on by both the memory of past victories and the promise of God to restore His Kingdom, the Zealots fought against the Romans in order to bring about again, the Kingdom in Israel. But instead of victory, the Zealots brought about the complete destruction of Israel, not one stone was left unturned.

Heart

But what is the way Christ thought to bring about His Kingdom? Was it through power and glory by the sword? No, it was through suffering and death. Many struggle with this. John doubted and in reply Jesus proved to His disciples that he was indeed the Messiah prophesied of by Isaiah. Peter Himself also doubted, at the arrets of Christ, he struck the ear of the servant. The Kingdom could never come about by death?

But as one writer puts it,

John must trust the King to bring in his kingdom in his own way. That way was the way of the cross. Jesus came not to destroy people but to save them. To accomplish that, he had to defeat the great oppressor, Satan; he had to redeem sinners from the guilt of sin. His hands did not grasp a sword, but were stretched out to be pierced with nails. He did not lift a spear but received the thrust of the spear in his side. He did not come to bring the judgment, but to bear it … for us.

Christ’s Kingdom is not one of strength and power, but one of weakness and humility. The ways of the world are the force of the sword. The way of Satan is pursuing glory and victory. The way of God is the humble are exalted and the weak made strong.

Hands

Dear friends, the reason these words of Peter are so difficult for us to hear is that it goes against everything we naturally want. The Gospel is folly to our natural state. But thanks be to God, this struggle we face is not one we face on our own.

Christ has gone ahead of us and paved the way for us to follow in. Not only has He gone before us, but He also goes with us. These things He commands of us will also be aided by Him. We have been given the Spirit who works in us that which is required of us.

The way of Christ is not one of glory, like the way we approach Saturday sports, muscling our way to the top. The way of Christ is one of humility and faith. In the same way that you came to be Christ’s is the same way you are able to obey what is commanded of you now, through faith.

Though the word may be difficult, God in Christ by the Spirit has supplied everything we need to fulfill it.

A Reason

This brings me to my second point. Why does Peter call us to this life of submission?

He gives us three reasons

1. It is for the Lord’s Sake.

This may confuse us at first. Why would the Lord call us to submit to governments which hate Him? Which hate His laws?

Why should we submit to those who hate us?

We all naturally are like Peter, when the Lord began telling of His suffering and death, Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord!” What was Christ’s response? “Get behind me Satan!”

Would Christ not want us to defend His honour? These reactions are the things of man, they are the workings of Satan. The Kingdom does not come by the power of the sword, but through humility and submission.

We ought also to see that it was the Lord who put these authorities in power. No matter how bad they may be, their authority is only because it was God who put them there. In Romans, Paul says that we ought to obey these authorities. This means that God is concerned with us being good citizens in this world. Matthew Henry writes that the Lord,

Who has ordained the magistracy for the god of mankind… and whose honour is concerned in the dutiful behavior of subjects to their sovereigns.

This changes how we ought to think about the government. It is not purely a human development, but rather an institution by God. So, it must be respected.

2. To punish evil and reward good.

The second reason Peter gives for us to submit is that the authorities are to reward good and punish evil. God has deemed it fit that this would be the way we are to be governed here on earth. Unfortunately, this is where we also see the ramifications of sin in our world. Though they have a responsibility to what is good and just, often leaders will pursue what is sinful.

But even here, does this give us reason to rebel? No. We ought to appeal to what is good and just, but refusal to do so doesn’t give us license to not submit. Peter and the early Church faced many of the same problems as we do. In fact, it was a lot harder to submit for them.

The accusation in the early Church was disruption. The rulers saw the Christians worshipping Christ as a direct attack on Caesar’s power. They saw the Christians as insurgents seeking to undermine the peace and power of the state.

These things are the accusations against us also. We are considered enemies of the state because we oppose the ideals of the state. Our message and Gospel go against the way of the world.

Despite all these things, what Peter says stands true. God has placed these authorities here for the purpose of upholding justice. As subjects, it is not our place to bring judgement, rather it is to pursue honorable, beautiful lives amongst people who hate us.

Don’t place your hope in the ability of governments to be able to bring perfect justice, there is only One who can do so, and He is Lord of all. Place your hope in Him instead, cling to the promises declared to you by His death, burial and Resurrection for you. Follow Peter’s example of hoping for the inheritance at Christ’s return.

3. It is God’s Will

Peter says that the third reason we ought to submit is that it is God’s will.

God has willed that a willing laying aside of yourself and submitting to the authorities is the surest way we can silence those who accuse us. We do not silence them by the sword but by doing good. Who can hate a good man rightfully? Also, the fact that this submission is God’s will for us should be enough. What does God want me to do with my life? You may ask. Be a good citizen.

Pause.

We are free in Christ, but this freedom is not to be used for sin and rebellion, instead it is to be used for the service of others.

Martin Luther wrote in his beautiful little book, The Freedom of the Christian,

A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.

A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.

This phrase captures the essence of Christianity, and the essence of what Peter is trying to tell us of our lives here. Firstly, that we have been freed from the bondage of sin and the power that holds all men in subjection. Secondly, because that salvation has come through Christ who came as the greatest servant of all, our lives are to reflect that of our Lord.

Remember, in Christ you are to live as servants of God. This means that we have to face these difficult words before us. Words that grate against our nature. Words that are hard to swallow. Words that make us want to find a way around them. But as these are words of God, He has seen it fit that this should be our way of life.

And so, Peter concludes,

Read vs 17.

Fearing God is to love Him. What does it mean to love God? That we would also love our neighbours. So, we ought to honour all men and honour our rulers, but in particular we should show a deep love for our fellow Christians. We all find this hard, let us spur each other on to love and good works, seeking to obey God in all things, and believe the Gospel and promises of Christ that enable us to do it.