Standing Strong (4)

Big Idea: The World Works Better When Creation Submits to God’s Order

This is true even in a fallen world. God’s people are called to submit to the structures they are under. This is a precept that should be held highly. For those seeking to live a life worthy of their calling, part of our calling is to submit. We will talk about what that means. Are there exceptions? If submitting to an earthly authority means disobeying God. This passage is about humility.

1 Peter 2:13–25 ESV

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 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. 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. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 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. 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. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Context: Who: Peter is writing to the church. Remember who Peter was. He is the guy who grabbed a sword when Jesus was betrayed and arrested and he cut off the ear of the priest’s servant. Now, as an older man, Peter has learned some humility and submission. Who was his example? Jesus. That is the who. How about the when? During the rule of Nero, who was a brutal and evil leader. Yet Peter was telling the church to submit.

1 Peter 2:13 ESV

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,

So even the very evil Emperor was to be submitted to by Christians. Obviously this did not mean that they worshipped the emperor over God. And this did not even mean that they could never speak truth about the emperor. Just as today, believers have a responsibility to be proclaimers of truth. In fact, we have an even greater freedom to do so. And not only the emperor, but those whom he appointed as governors.

1 Peter 2:14 ESV

or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.

So in Peter’s Day, he was telling the church to submit to worldly leadership, and not leadership that was voted for in any democratic way. They were to submit to an evil, tyrannical system. But sometimes Tyranny can come in a democratic republic as well. I remember a line from the movie the Patriot. In a scene where the SC legislature was meeting to discuss joining the revolution against King George, the main character, who at that point was still against defying England, said this: “why should I trade one tyrant three thousand miles away for three thousand tyrants who live one mile away?”

So it can be, and clearly it is the case, that even in our nation, as great as our system of government is, that there are people in communities who are oppressed by local, state, or even the federal government. Perhaps they are over taxed.

Certainly anyone in an HOA can understand that there can be tyrants living right in your neighborhood, who want to strictly enforce every little rule, and sometimes these rules are not enforced uniformly, so that one member of the HOA might receive a fine for doing the same thing that someone else did who did not receive a fine. What then?

It may seem very minor, but what does the believer do? Well, a believer is to submit to the governance he or she is under. And that is not dependent on whether the governance is being fairly applied. I know someone who tried to fight something. His point was that he was being told to get some things into compliance, but there were others who had other deficiencies that were not being addressed. Does he get to say “It’s not fair” and defy the rules?

The point here is that injustice exists, but even when injustice exists, that does not mean that we get to defy the law or rules we are under. However, we are supposed to respect and submit to the authority of those who are in positions of authorities.

In Peter’s day, the emperor and his governors were to punish those who did evil and praise those who do good. We actually have far more layers of government in our lives. Federal, State, county, city or village, HOA, structures of authority at work. Anyone who has been in the military has at some point had to try and figure out how to reconcile 2 seemingly incompatible orders. What do you do when your sergeant give you an order that conflicts with the captain? In that situation, there is a change of command to deal with. But sometimes in civilian life, it is difficult to discern what to do.

So why are Christians called on to be subject to the rulers and governments they are under?

1 Peter 2:15 ESV

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

It is the will of God that his people demonstrate these qualities, and an outcome of that is that it will silence the ignorance of foolish people.

1 Peter 2:16 ESV

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

What freedom? Freedom in Christ. Both Paul and James touched on this topic as well. It seems that in the early church, just as today, there were people who thought they could do whatever they liked, because being in Christ meant forgiveness of sins and freedom meant freedom, not only from the moral law, but from the secular authorities. Peter is clearly saying that this is not the case. Likewise, Paul said:

Romans 13:1–7 ESV

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

So even respect is owed. Now, we live in a very different system. Some people in our system think disrespecting those in authority is their duty. We have a system where a believer has the right, and even the obligation, to participate in the system to the extent they can. Citizens have a sacred right to vote, and their vote should be weighed in light of the moral truths of scripture. Unfortunately, we usually do not have a perfect choice when we vote in most cases. No perfectly moral person exists to vote for, no perfectly moral party exists. So believers have to weigh which way they vote most honors God.

And then, once the leaders are in place, there is to be respect and honor given to those appointed. So whether that authority is in the federal government, local government, the authorities at your job, or in the church, we are to be respectful and have honorable conduct towards leaders we are under. And we can be respectful, even if we are disagreeing or calling for change. We can petition our government to change, but we must do so in a respectful way. One of the reasons our country is so divided politically today is because there is a total lack of respect among many who disagree.

1 Peter 2:18 ESV

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

Servants: Compare to today, a person who is given free education to work in a certain field for a while (a nurse whose college loan is paid by a hospital, but they have to work at that hospital for a minimum of 5 years) Many fields have some version of this. Even truck drivers sometimes get all their classes and licensing reimbursed by a trucking company, but they agree to drive for that company for certain period of time.

Some people served in these situations and were well treated. Others were not. Regardless, whether one serves a good boss or bad boss, there are to be subject to them, with respect. That respect is not only in the outward actions, but in the heart as well.

1 Peter 2:19–20 ESV

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 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.

We need to trust the justice of God. If we are doing good and mistreated, we need to trust him. David trusted God to avenge those who mistreated him. He demonstrated submission to God’s appointment of leaders by not killing Saul, even though Saul was being unjust towards him. He even trusted God to deal with the man who had insulted him in a very public way, as David was fleeing his son, Absolom.

Peter is saying it is one thing to be persecuted or mistreating for doing good, which God will reward us for, and being mistreated for doing evil, or sinning. Many people like to call the natural consequence of their sin persecution. If you get pulled over for going 20 miles over the speed limit, and the officer is not a Christian, you don’t get to say that you are being persecuted for your faith. You were wrong.

But if you are at work and refuse to participate in something that violates your faith and conscience, and lose out on a promotion, or get fired, or something else, then you may be mistreated for doing the right thing. If that should happen, it is a gracious thing in the sight of God. Now, why should we be calm, and at peace, and even have joy, when those types of trials may come, the type of trials that come while we are doing are best to serve the Lord honorably, but the world rejects and mistreats us for?

1 Peter 2:21 ESV

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.

This is where it becomes difficult for many in our modern society. Many have been told, “Come to Christ, and all your problems will disappear”. Maybe not those words, exactly. But perhaps they have been presented a gospel that is really not the gospel. It’s a gospel that says if you accept Jesus into your heart (words you will not find in the bible), then your earthly troubles will go away. If you have money troubles, just trust Jesus and give more money to the preacher and it will come back multiplied to you. Have health issues? Come to Jesus and that will all disappear. Unless of course, your faith isn’t strong enough. Have emotional hurts? Come to church and that all will go away. But the fact is, that even though some healing happens, sometimes believers still struggle.

Even the great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, suffered from what many say today would have been diagnosed as major depression? Maybe it was something like PTSD. Why? Because at one of his preaching events, someone yelled fire and caused a stampede, and people were killed in the crush. Things can happen that instead of increasing your peace in this life, they can cause doubt, despair, and profound sadness. The believer is not shielded from all hurtful things in this fallen world.

Christ is our example. He suffered. His suffering was while he was doing good. He didn’t suffer for doing evil.

1 Peter 2:22–25 ESV

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 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. 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. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Jesus suffered greatly in doing the good he was to do. Why? He was submitted to his role, he voluntarily emptied himself. He suffered greatly to complete the work he was called to do. It would have been no credit to Jesus if he had sinned and beaten for it. But he was the example of what Peter said, he did good and suffered for it, and it was a gracious thing in the sight of God. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but what did he do?

He entrusted himself to him who judges justly. And so did David, when he was in a position to kill God’s anointed, Saul. When Shemei cursed him. David entrusted himself to God’s justice. With the examples of David, a sinner, and much more so, Jesus, who did not sin, so we can entrust ourselves to God’s justice when someone sins against us. Let us remind ourselves of the suffering of Jesus:

Isaiah 52:13–53:12 ESV

Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand. Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

The believer must be humble like Jesus was humble.

Philippians 2:1–11 ESV

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When a believer is drawn to Christ by the Spirit of God, there has to be the first step of humility. That is the step of humbly agreeing with God that we are sinners, that we have violated the commands of a righteous, holy God.

But that is only the first step of humility in the life of a believer, for whom humility must continue, and even be magnified, in their life. We ought to grow in humility throughout our life in Christ, with him as the premier example of humility for us to emulate. If he could submit to the father, we can submit to the Father. If he could submit to the earthly authorities, we can submit. He submitted even to death for doing good. We do not do perfectly good. We should submit.

He submitted himself to mistreatment, mocking, ridicule, anger, hate. All for proclaiming truth. So we ought to be willing to proclaim the truth, no matter the consequences.

I started off by saying this passage is about humility. It is also about trust.

Ultimately, we submit to the authorities in humility because God has so ordered the world that even in its fallen state, we are to submit to the authorities in place. They are imperfect authorities to be sure. At times they may be unjust. You could argue that taxes are injustly too high, that certain laws are unjustly applied or misapplied. You could argue that some people in positions of authority are not qualified, or worse, they are even criminals.

This is why, beyond the humility we need to submit to their authority, we need trust. Trust in God that his justice will prevail.

2 Samuel 16: Shimei was cursing David. Abishai said, let me go over and take off his head. But David trusted the Lord. First, he said that Shimei’s cursing may very well have been ordained by God. Then he says the Lord will do good for me for enduring this cursing.

Not written there, but David knew his own faults. He knew what he had done in his life, his many faults, his many sins. In fact, he may have heard this man cursing him and said, “you know what? you are right. I am a worthless man, my house did experience bloodshed because of my sin. I am a man of blood. In fact, it is much, much worse, than you know! I have to constantly go to God for correction and plead for his help to create in me a clean heart. I ask him not to withdraw his Holy Spirit from me. Shimei, I am a much worse man than you think I am! But by the grace of God I trust him, and he will deal with me justly in the end, and he will deal justly with you in the end.”

If David, with all the power given to him by God, and the favor and promises of God he received, can say this, how much more can we? I’m sure I can say the same. Whatever faults are visible in me, whatever anyone thinks about what sort of person I am, I guarantee it is much worse than you imagine it is. I am a very great sinner, but I have a very great savior.

I have no righteousness of my own, but I have received the righteousness of Christ. I have no humility of my own, but he grants me humility to live in submission to him and to the authorities in my life.

So it is that Peter is telling us that we must emulate Christ, that is, to imitate, to become like him. It means submitting in this life, and trusting God to bring justice when we are mistreated.