Practicing Submission – Part 2
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:21-24
Title: 1 Peter 2:18-25 - Practicing Submission – Part 2
Introduction: I want you to think back to your first job that you had where someone else was your boss. He or she may have been a great boss or they may have been a terrible boss. Regardless of whether you enjoyed them, if they had more employee’s then just your self, you no doubt heard complaints and even participated in them and saw others, or maybe yourself give only half hearted efforts.
The work place is infected with the same lack of respect of authority that we mentioned last week. Many employee’s don’t feel they have to obey their bosses. Some steal materials and often pilfer time from their employers by conducting personal business on company time. Yet they feel justified because the corporation is big and powerful and can afford the loss.
But should the Christian engage in that behavior?
Central Idea: Christ as the lowly servant provides us with the perfect example to practice submission.
Main Transition: We obviously continue this morning in the theme we began last week, Practicing Submission. This is a very hard series to have to hear, but it also very hard to apply. Submission goes against our sin nature and our desire to preserve self. It also requires us to walk out of step with a world that rejects submission. It is part of what make you different in the same way that Christ was different. So we begin with the truth that submission is required in the workplace, then you have the responsibility to practice submission and finally we look at Christ as He displays quiet submission that we need to follow.
I. Submission is required in the workplace (18-20)
A. Submission to your boss (18)
1. In our day in age we have replaced servants with employee, given them a few more rights, but with the same purpose.
2. As a Christian the most prominent place to stand out is the work place.
Illustration: I have had the privilege of being both an employee and a boss. I tell you the truth that there is nothing better to a believing boss than an employee willing to go the extra mile even when they do not understand where you are going. Their testimony is powerful, especially when they are mocked for their faith and ridiculed.
3. Believer this submission must happen whether or not your boss is great or whether he or she is unruly and difficult. As long as you are under their employment you submit to their authority, because you are not submitting to them, but to God.
B. Finding favor with God (19)
1. It is interesting to note that Peter takes the negative, assuming that at some point you will have an unruly boss who abuses you unjustly
2. Peter’s point is that in that time, the most difficult of all, in your submission God is glorified, you are concerned about your testimony, you are concerned about making sure that you are submitting to the right authority.
Application: Believer you show a difference to your unruly boss when you submit to God, but submitting to their authority and completing your work as unto the Lord. Not talking about the boss in a demeaning manner, even when they abuse you, or insult you. You may never on the earth see the benefits of that submission, even if it never changes the crusted hard heart of your employer it pleases the Lord. And here is why
C. Suffering unjustly (20)
1. If you suffer because you deserved I, there is no glory in that. You deserved punishment
2. But if you do not deserve to suffer, and you still suffer and do so in submission, God finds favor. Christ is our example to this that we will look at in a few moments.
a. This is completely against the wisdom of the world, The world says don’t let anyone abuse you, but abuse others
b. God’s wisdom says, don’t abuse others and bear up under the weight of abuse to you. This pleases the Lord, not that you suffer but that you prove who you are submitting to, not those that abuse, but God.
c. It is those times that God uses to reach out to those around, it maybe the boss, or another employee, regardless you will stand out and God is glorified in your obedience.
Transition: You and I will likely never have a more actively fought battle then this. Most of us have worked for unruly bosses and suffered at the hands of worldly men and women. But the purpose of it is to show to us who we are serving, if we are serving our selves or our bosses there is no glory there, but if we are serving God then we will do our work heartedly unto the Lord. You and I are responsible to practice submission.
II. Your responsibility to practice submission (21-22)
A. You were called by God (21)
1. we have spent some time away from this books so lets remind ourselves of our calling 1:1, if you are a believer, you were chosen by God for the gift of Salvation. You are given an inheritance, some of it enjoyed today, much more of it to be enjoyed in heaven 1:3-4, you are tested by trials even today 6-7. You are called to be holy 16. It is summed up for us in 2:9, you were chosen to proclaim the excellences of Him who has called you, when you were lost.
2. Your calling entitles you, but also empowers you,
a. It entitles you to Salvation, inheritance and so forth
b. But it empowers you to proclaim what it is that God has done, your testimony is a wonderful witnessing tool of the marvels of our gift of salvation.
B. Christ suffered for you (21)
1. Peter is about to add another empowerment to your calling, but he first establishes the example of Christ’s suffering
2. Christ’s death on the cross was to free us from the wages of sin, but was also to provide an example for the followers to come,
Application: Tonight we finish our look at the high priestly prayer of John 17 and we will consider the concern Christ had for you and I even before His death and resurrection were accomplished.
C. Christ provided an example to follow (22)
1. Peter is concerned that we understand that we are not forging a road no one else has been on.
2. Christ has given us an example to follow in his steps, does this mean that we go to Israel and upset the religious structure so that eventually they are forced to hang us on a cross?
a. NO!! It means that the are to have the same attitude toward others that Christ had,
b. the death and resurrection are completed and we never have to continue to put Christ on the cross, or for that matter ourselves.
Transition: You and I who are chose must understand that we are empowered to share the gospel message, but also to be submissive even when it would be impossible for the world to do so. You and I re responsible to practice submission, its not only required of us to pursue holiness, but is also required for us to live out our calling. That is the very heart of this book. So now that we are understand that we have the responsibility, let’s look at how we are going to have to do that.
III. Christ displays quiet submission (23-25)
A. Christ entrusted himself to the final judge (23)
1. Christ did not return the vile words against Him, He did not retaliate against the terrible verbal and physical abuses.
2. But Peter says that Christ kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.
Illustration: John MacArthur says this, “To entrust” was to “hand over to someone to keep.” Christ was delivered to Pilate; Pilate handed Him over to the Jews; Christ handed Himself over to God, suffering in surprising silence, because of His perfect confidence in the sovereignty and righteousness of His Father.
3. What Peter is revealing is that in order to follow Christ, which we were called to do, we must have confidence in the sovereignty and righteousness of God.
4. This may sound easy enough, but when push comes to shove we struggle to not blame God let alone rest assured that God is in complete control and using us to accomplish His perfect eternal will.
B. Christ’s submission was for you (24)
1. Christ’s submission was ultimately for good of the entire human race, but it greatest good is for those that believe in this gospel, That Jesus died on the cross for sins that He did not commit, but that you did, that by His wounds, you are purified if you will only trust in Christ as Savior.
2. This was done so that you do not have to die a sinner separated from God, but that you may die to sin, be separated from sin and live in righteousness.
a. Peter is saying that when you trusted in Christ you died to the former things of your life
b. This then means that you are able to live in righteousness, you can make the choice, where as the world of the lost is not able to.
C. You were called out of your rebellion (25)
1. Before you came to know Christ you were wondering all over as a sheep that is separated from the flock, you were aimless and open to any and every attack of Satan, with no other option but to submit to Satan.
2. But now you have turned back to Christ, who not only is our substitute but our caregiver and protector.
a. Who not only is the physical protector, but cares over our souls.
b. These two words about Christ are the same words that refer to a pastor in 1 Timothy and Titus. Godly human pastors do this same thing week in and week out, but we are under shepherds and under guardians to the Great Shepherd, and Great Guardian Jesus Christ.
Conclusion: Peter called us out this morning to realize that the actions of our everyday relationships effects the way that we submit to God. Your submission at work reflects your submission to God, just the same as your submission to government. The example we have to follow is Christ, who refused to disobey the Lord even to the point of death, that you might be redeemed. Christ died to show a lost world the hope and life of redemption. You are called by God to show that same dark world the light of the gospel in your actions of submission. Taking a stand on biblical grounds is right, but engaging in sin just to appease your evil desires is not godly and must not find its place into the work force. When you are tempted to consider the road of rebellion consider your calling, consider your Savior. Are you submitting to God or to self?