People of Honor in a World of Hate

2 Peter 2

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.

2 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

3 In their greedthese teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness[b] to be held for judgment;

5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;

6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;

7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless

8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—

9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.

10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;

Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from[d] the Lord. 12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.

11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from[d] the Lord.

12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.

13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable;they are experts in greed—an accursed brood!

15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness.

16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.

18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.

19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”

20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.

21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.

22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

Introduction: Song by Taylor Swift, “Shake it off Lyrics” How does a Christian live in a world of Hate?

I stay out too late, got nothing in my brain That's what people say, that's what people say I go on too many dates, but I can't make them stay At least that's what people say, that's what people say

But I keep cruising Can't stop, won't stop moving It's like I got this music in my mind Saying it's gonna be alright

Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake I shake it off, I shake it off Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake I shake it off, I shake it off

Let’s Revisit our Identity - Peter becomes more detailed.

We are a Holy Priesthood

Building Blocks of Faith - “Bore no More”

- Have people from the congregation bring kids building blocks to build a structure on a plywood foundation

Say: Our builders have done a wonderful job constructing this tower on the foundation of this plywood. As we said last week if the foundation for our identity remains unshaken, the building is no danger. But if the foundation is comes from what we do, what we have, what others say about us, or our desires, then it is shakey - Our identity is built on Jesus - vs 5 - Talking about the church not just individually.

Vs. 5 - Identity = to be Holy as God is Holy - Seperate -

1:13-25 - Being Hopeful - Gospel

Do not conform to your passions from before

Conduct yourselves in Reverence to God - More on that later

Love your brother’s and sister’s in Christ sincerely

Offering Acceptable Sacrifices - Household codes =

V 9-10 - Quoting....

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 19

6 but you, you will belong to me as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the ⌊Israelites⌋.”

Continuity Chart.

Chosen Race (Combined Jew and Gentiles in Jesus), Royal - Kings Leaders, Priesthood - Connect people to God, Holy Nation - Set apart for this mission to proclaim How Good God is.

So that is who we are when we say we are Children of God - Church.

While Peter is calling the church Royal Priest’s - “They Rule” There is another reality going on.

We May Face Haters

vs. 11 Reality on the Ground - They are soujerners and exiles - They are literally refugees. And they are small - no status in society or rights for that matter. - The feel Hated by the Authorities...

Most if not all are probably slaves - Possibly because of refugee status are slaves, but possibly slaves prior as well. - Feel Hated by their Masters...

Peter says they are like Jesus - “A Stone rejected by men.”

Side Note on Slavery - This passage is “NOT” a justification for Slavery, especially the kind developed in North America.

Reasons for Slavery. - Large portion of population slaves

Birth

Unwanted Children

Selling one’s own child - often for their sake.

Voluntary - For Debt or protection.

Pay for a crime

Kidnapping and piracy

Differences -

Central features that distinguish 1st Century slavery from that later practiced in the New World are the following: racial factors played no role; education was greatly encouraged (some slaves were better educated than their owners) and enhanced a slave’s value; many slaves carried out sensitive and highly responsible social functions; slaves could own property (including other slaves!); their religious and cultural traditions were the same as those of freeborn; no laws prohibited public assembly of slaves; and (perhaps above all) the majority of urban and domestic slaves could legitimately anticipate being emancipated by the age of 30. - S.S. Bartchy, “Slavery (Greco-Roman,” 66.

They really had no political/Economical/Social power in this world to do anything buck the system.

They are persecuted for their Judeo-Christian Faith

It was

They could not rise-up/Protest/Create a civil-rights movement/or any social justice movement.

They could have - Jewish revolts in Jerusalem - They could use their new found freedom and Authority as “Royal Priests” to tackle these injustices

And here is the crux of what Peter is telling them to respond to a world of haters around them

People Who are Holy, Live to Give God Glory

vs. 12

A People who are Holy, Live to Give God Glory

The Church is King/Priests under the Authority of God almighty. This makes us free from all bondage.

In essance.... What Jesus Said,

The New Revised Standard Version The Dispute about Greatness

25 But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves.

When Peter Says...”Submit” This is a voluntary act. Use your freedom and authority, not to Lord It over, but to purposefully, freely, give over control to others. Let them perform their role in society, and you serve them. vs. 16

So the application here is…honor the authorities around you, and the system that has been developed.

Some Time’s haters come in the form of Authorities. We live in a different system, a democracy, not a dictatorship as in ancient Rome. So we apply this by.

Using our freedom to Honor the law of the land as long as it does not go against God’s will right.

Honor our leaders - Do not worship them - respect them.

We in our system are allowed to free speech, so use it, but use your freedom of speech to serve others, which means that the way we speek matters. The way we come across matters. Use speech that speaks truth, but always find a way to do it with love and respect, even if it is with “so, called” enemies - “Show proper respect to everyone.” That includes the “Haters.”

When I find myself speaking angrily it is often because my identity is wrapped up in “My reputation.” what others say about me. But if we spoke to our “Haters” in a way that Glorifies God, I might speak differently.

So At school, honor your teachers, and respect them.

Not because you are obligated to, not because you will get in trouble if you don’t, not because you want everyone to say how “good” you are. No, because you are a Child of God. That is who you are. You are free, you are of an order of King/Priests, and Free King/Priests of God rule by serving others - That is an acceptable sacrifice - Serving in Christ’s Name.

Story of Senior Lounge...

Some Times Hating comes in the form of Employers. They lived in an economic system that relied on slave labor - Praise God that has been abolished - I believe that the entire Gospel Story points to the abolishing of Slavery as economic/racial exploitation in his Kingdom

We live in a free-market system which rely’s on a system of employees and employers.

Story of Boss who wanted to see the meaningfulness of being in Finance.

Seeing myself as a Child of God at work...

Dealing with Crazy expectations - Serve to Glorify God…So you do the best you can for Jesus, and if the expectations are truly too great, trust that God will vindicate you.

Too Low Expectations - Serve to Glorify God by exceding expectations.

Story about Over-Time.

Conclusion:

In your sermon notes, I am going to challenge you to work this week on these two questions.

1.Who are the authorities in my life, and how can I submit to them in a way that Glorifies God?

2. Who are the Boss’ or Teachers in my life, and how can I submit to them in a way that Glorifies God?

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Chatechism: Q&A 32-33, 52, 54, 62-64, 86, 91, 101, 104-105 Belgic Confession: Article 24, 27, 36 Canon’s of Dort: Head V , Article 12 Belhar Confession: Articles 1-5

Belgic Confession: Article 16 Canon’s of Dort: Head I, Articles 6-14; Head II, Articles 8-9; Heads III&IV, Articles 6, 10-16; Head V , Article 1-6, 9-13 Belhar Confession: Articles 1-5