5.8.39 8.25.2019 1 Peter 2.13-17 In Obedience to the Lord

Entice: We have privileges most people have never enjoyed. We have freedoms many people cannot even imagine. God is certainly good to us. And often we take Him for granted. We have grown so accustomed to His blessings that we think that gives us editorial power over His words. Because, honestly, there are some of them that we would rather forget, ignore, or explain away.

Start:

Entice: We have privileges most people have never enjoyed. We have freedoms many people cannot even imagine. God is certainly good to us. And often we take Him for

granted. We have grown so accustomed to His blessings that we think that gives us editorial power over His words. Because, honestly, there are some of them that we would

Engage: If it was all gone, all the freedoms you have grown accustomed to, if you had dark skin or lived in a country hostile to faith. Would you still believe? Is your faith your defining characteristic…or is it just a convenient expression of what it means to grow up in a first-world country? It is an inconvenient truth that within the decade that Nero would kill them both Paul and Peter instructed Christians with the binding words of scripture to obey him and his government.

rather forget, ignore, or explain away.

Engage: If it was all gone, all the freedoms you have grown accustomed to, if you had dark skin or lived in a country hostile to faith. Would you still believe? Is your faith your

1 Peter 2:13–17 ESV

13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

defining characteristic…or is it just a convenient expression of what it means to grow up in a first-world country? It is an inconvenient truth that within the decade that Nero would

kill them both Paul and Peter instructed Christians with the binding words of scripture to obey him and his government.

Expand: This is not an easy text. It is harder for others than for us. Still, it is what the Apostles called a "hard" (skleros) saying. Intellectually rough to the touch. Hard to accept. Even insulting. Because of our privilege and position in the world we cleverly look for loopholes to its stubborn truth. "We are to submit unless…or because of…or when…"

There are no exceptions to the mandate to obey God

Expand: This is not an easy text. It is harder for others than for us. Still, it is what the Apostles called a "hard" (skleros) saying. Intellectually rough to the touch. Hard to accept. Even

insulting. Because of our privilege and position in the world we cleverly look for loopholes to its stubborn truth. "We are to submit unless…or because of…or when…" There are no

especially when that obedience is hard. We teach ourselves to see exceptions to the text where there are none, and forget that this obedience to the Master cost our ancestors their lives.

exceptions to the mandate to obey God especially when that obedience is hard. We teach ourselves to see exceptions to the text where there are none, and forget that this

obedience to the Master cost our ancestors their lives.

Excite: Yet we think we are smarter and more advanced than our forbearers. We all tend to exceptionalism . Each of us can explain exactly why something that the Bible clearly says does not apply to us. Peter may also have remembered Jesus saying that "what is impossible with man is possible with God." Maybe it's time for us to stop complaining about parts of the Bible we find offensive and embrace the fact that obedience is really easy to understand; but often difficult to execute.

says does not apply to us. Peter may also have remembered Jesus saying that "what is impossible with man is possible with God." Maybe it's time for us to stop complaining about

parts of the Bible we find offensive and embrace the fact that obedience is really easy to understand; but often difficult to execute.

Peter wants us to grasp the liberating fact that…

Explore:

Obeying God’s command expresses God’s will which accomplishes God’s purpose.

Explain: ...To that end God expects obedient believers to reflect 4 qualities.

Body of Sermon:

1 Submission. 13, 14

1.1 Honors God.

1.2 Respects how God ordered society.

2 Goodness. 15

2.1 God’s will is done by the obedient.

2.2 God’s will is that our good behavior silences the ignorance of fools.

3 Freedom 16

3.1 Real freedom is not self-serving.

3.2 Real freedom serves God.

4 Responsibility. 17

4.1 Honor everyone.

4.2 Love the members of the Church.

4.3 Fear God.

4.4 Respect the Government.

Being OK with not getting our way...

Much of what ails the 21c western church is self-inflicted. We fall in and out of love with our culture. We confuse the means of our society with the methods of the Master. We neglect the Spirit of God and nourish the spirit of the age. We forge ahead seeking power and forget the simplicity of prayer. All that and then we are surprised by disappointment.

neglect the Spirit of God and nourish the spirit of the age. We forge ahead seeking power and forget the simplicity of prayer. All that and then we are surprised by disappointment.

There is no guaranteed human right that says you will get your way. All governments, even ours are self-serving. Like the band said "the road to empire is a bloody stupid waste."

There are no exceptions to the mandate to obey God

especially when that obedience is hard.

You might think that that statement is a little odd considering we are coming to a time of decision. One thing you could never say is that I lied to you. It is not always easy to obey.

But it is worth it. Not only because of the eternity which awaits but because of the lives that are changed by that obedience. It's time to get to work Church.

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