Duties of the child of God

Duties of the Child of God

1 Peter 2:11-25

Introduction:

All of these duties are based on what He has done for us:

U      Chosen generation

U      Royal priesthood

U      Holy nation

U      A special people

U      People of God who were not a people of God

U      Sojourners and pilgrims

            Now He says:

                        Have an honorable conduct

                        Submit to the ordinances of men

                        Submit to your masters

                        Do what is right no matter what

I.                   Have an honorable conduct vv. 11-12

1.      Reason for an honorable conduct: v. 11

They are strangers and pilgrims

U      They are dwellers in a strange land that is not their own

U      They are visitors who tarry for a time in a foreign country, not permanently settling in

How much difference would it make in the actions and attitudes of believers today if they grabbed on to this truth?

What is often used as an excuse?  “Everybody else is doing it!”

That is what the children of Israel used in the OT when they wanted a king

They is what the Children of Israel quickly did when they settled in the promised land.

2.      What this conduct entails:  abstaining from fleshly lusts v. 11

Adam Clarke, “As ye are strangers and pilgrims, and profess to seek a heavenly country, do not entangle your affections with earthly things. While others spend all their time, and employ all their skill, in acquiring earthly property, and totally neglect the salvation of their souls; they are not strangers, they are here at home; they are not pilgrims, they are seeking an earthly possession: Heaven is your home, seek that; God is your portion, seek him. All kinds of earthly desires, whether those of the flesh or of the eye, or those included in the pride of life, are here comprised in the words fleshly lusts.

Galatians 6:16-26

Romans 7:15-25

3.      What it looks like v. 12

Having your conduct honorable among the gentiles

You live in the country of the gentiles, live in a way that becomes a believer.

Example of Daniel:  Daniel 6:1-5

What can people find against us?

Phil. 2:14-16

II.                 Submit to the ordinances of men vv. 13-17

1.      To what extent?  All who are in authority over us

Romans 13:1-7

            God ordained govt. and set it up to restrain evil

2.      The motive?  V. 13

U      “for the Lord’s sake”  1 Cor. 10:31

U      This is God’s will v. 15

U      That foolish men might be put to silence v. 15

3.      The exception:

      When we are asked to break God’s law

                  Daniel and his friends

                  Apostles in Acts with preaching the gospel

4.      What it looks like v. 17

Pulpit Commentary:

St. Peter illustrates the well-doing which he enjoins in ver. 15, drawing out his general exhortation into four rules of conduct. First, he bids us give honor to all men. The Christians of Asia Minor saw heathenism and vice all around them; they heard of the abominable life of Nero and his courtiers at Rome. They were conscious of a great and elevating change which had passed over themselves; St. Peter has just been enumerating the dignities and privileges of the Christian life. But they must not be lifted up; they must despise no one, but honor in all men the handiwork of God, created after God’s own image, though sadly marred and defaced by sin. Respect is due to all men, of course in varying degrees and to be shown in different ways; but in some sense it is due to all, to the humblest and even to the worst. The aorist imperative (timh>sate) seems to lay down this principle as a sharp, definite rule, to be accepted at once, and to be applied as need arises, according to the circumstances of each case. The three following imperatives are present; the duties which they prescribe are viewed as continuous, recognized elements in well-doing. There was something new and strange in the command to honor all men; it is expressed forcibly, once for all, by the aorist imperative. Love the brotherhood. The word ajdelfo>thv, brotherhood, is peculiar to St. Peter; it stands for the aggregate of Christian brethren regarded as one body in Christ. The Lord bids us “love our enemies.” St. Peter’s rule does not weaken the force of the Savior’s precept. But love must vary in depth and degree according to the varying relations of life; and the love which true Christians feel for the like-minded must be one of its strongest forms. Fear God. Honor the king. The holy fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of God as the King of kings will lead us to give due honor to earthly princes, who rule by his controlling providence. It was especially necessary to urge the fear of God as a motive, when the king to be honored was such as Nero.

III.              Submit to your masters vv. 18-20

1.      God did not approve of slavery

2.      Peter is instructing them how to live in godliness

3.      How could he give them such instruction?

      Peter was looking at things from an eternal perspective not a temporal one

4.      Why were they to do this?  V. 20 it is commendable to God

IV.              Do what is right no matter what vv. 20-25

1.      Even if it leads to suffering, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong

Chorus:  “It is always right to do what is right and wrong to do what is wrong.”

Anyone can do wrong and suffer for it

2.      The greatest example of this is the Lord Jesus and His suffering