Grace and Government

How does a Christian whose ultimate citizenship is in heaven - relate to this world and in, particular to the government that rules over him/her.

Or, in our modern climate, what do we do about local and state government mandates that we disagree with?

Peter in this passage talks about the Christian and his response to the world and government in particular.

Our participation in government processes is very different from those of Peter’s under the Roman Empire.

Yet, we still can glean clear commands and principles to help us navigate the times in which we live.

So, what did Peter say?

Believers ought to be disciplined in life

Peter writes and tells them to abstain or resist the fleshly desires.

This would include any desire that is out of place in a Christian life - any desire that is contrary to the holiness of God. These are the natural desires that human beings have apart from the work of the Spirit. In 1 Peter the “flesh” (sarx) represents the weakness of human beings in this age (cf. 1:24; 3:18; 4:1–2). The verse is instructive because it informs us that those who have the Spirit are not exempt from fleshly desires.

Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude, vol. 37, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003), 120–121.

So, that could mean not just immorality, but also a desire for food, a desire for entertainment, a desire to sleep in (can we say snooze alarm?) - any strong desire that would ruin our behavior among the unsaved.

Are we controlled by a desire that affects our testimony?

Believers ought to be upright in character

the word honest here is the general word for good or beautiful.

In other words, Christian’s behavior should be atttractive to those outside the church.

Peter did not summon believers to a verbal campaign of self-defense or to the writing of tracts in which they defend their morality. He enjoined believers to pursue virtue and goodness, so that their goodness would be apparent to all in society.

Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude, vol. 37, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003), 122.

James, 1, 2 Peter, & Jude A. For a Lifestyle Attractive to the Unsaved (2:11, 12)

As Robert Bell expresses it, “Heavenly citizens are to practice the habits and customs of their own land”

Does my speech, attitude, and actions exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit to others?

Believers ought to be submissive to government

Do we honor the government officials that create COVID-19 mandates or other laws?

Aaron Blumer is a former pastor and current IT professional. He wrote recently about the Christian and the COVID-19 mandates. He lives in WI where the state government has enforced much stricter protocols than we in SC are living with.

But he made some good points within his article:

Reality One: All rules are stupid at the margins

Reality Two: Leaders on the wrong side are still humans with ordinary human motivations

Reality Three: Leadership is hard and leaders need prayer

Reality Four: When stakes are high, fear’s other name may be wisdom

Reality Five: I would want an open mind if I were in their shoes

Reality Six: We’re in a war, but it’s not really a political war

The bottom line: honor the authority God has placed in your life. You have the ability and privilege to question their decisions, but they are in a place of authority that God has placed them in - and you need to respect them.

Peter puts it this way

1 Peter 2:13 KJV 1900

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

1 Peter 2:14 KJV 1900

Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

Notice that Peter does not comment on their character or on the rightness of their actions and attitudes - instead Peter focuses on the reality that God has ordained them as authorities within our lives.

Again, we are free in this society to disagree and to tell the government that we disagree

However, we must still honor them and remember that they are not automatically evil.

James, 1, 2 Peter, & Jude 1. The Christian’s Basic Duty (vv. 13, 14)

The second example is submission to governors, and the added qualifications indicate that these are lesser rulers under the general authority of the king. In Peter’s time, the Roman Caesar was assisted, in turn, by lesser “procurators” (and others) in various districts of the broad empire, although “governors” is broad enough to encompass “rulers generally” (Wand 77). These are therefore characterized as (literally) “having been sent by him”—almost certainly by the king just mentioned, not by God. These are therefore the king’s representatives, serving his governing interests in their particular localities. We have seen that Peter’s readers resided in several provinces; each of these would have a provincial governor commissioned by the central government in Rome.

Believers must fulfill the Will of God

1 Peter 2:15 KJV 1900

For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

James, 1, 2 Peter, & Jude 2. The Christian’s Motivation in Fulfilling This Duty (vv. 15, 16)

they must understand that their freedom as Christians from subservience to men is really servitude to God. “Servants” (Greek doulos) is the word for bondservants, slaves. Christians are free, but they are slaves of God. They are therefore obligated to do His will, and that includes both manifesting subjection to civil authorities and having a spirit that is free of any vice.

Believers must honor all in their actions

The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Peter, Jude (1) Submit to the Government (2:13–17)

Peter did not see human authorities as ultimate. Christians obey governing authorities because such obedience is God’s will. Hence, the supreme authority for Peter was not the emperor but God himself. Further, in v. 16 believers are to submit as those who are free in Christ and as slaves of God, and not from a subservient spirit.

1 Peter 2:16 KJV 1900

As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

1 Peter 2:17 KJV 1900

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Peter uses four imperatives with the first of honor seeming to summarize the believers complete duty. He then gives three ways to honor all:

Love the church

Fear God

Honor the King