Submitting in Our World

Introduction:

Matthew 16:21–23 (NKJV)

Revelation of Jesus’ Death

Mark 8:31–33; Luke 9:22

21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”

23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not pcrow till you have denied Me three times.

John 13:36–38 (NKJV)

Christ Foretells Peter’s Denial

Matt. 26:34, 35; Mark 14:30, 31; Luke 22:33, 34

36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”

Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”

37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”

38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

John 18:10–11 (NKJV)

10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

God changed Peter from a self-reliant, well-intentioned, rebellious man and turned him into a man who understood that reliance upon God comes through proper submission.

Proposition: God desires for us to follow Christ’s example of submission.

Interrogative: How do we follow Christ’s example of submission in the world?

I. We submit by following Christ’s Manner (2:18-19)

1 Peter 2:18–21 (NKJV) Submission to Masters

18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

A. The Command: - 18a.

Servants must be submissive

To your masters

A word should be said here about the common New Testament admonitions that slaves should submit to masters (cf. Eph 6:5–9; Col 3:22–25; 1 Tim 6:1–2; Titus 2:9–10; Philemon).

1 Corinthians 7:17–24 (NKJV)

Live as You are Called

17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

B. The Manner - 18

1. With all fear - this is not fear of man, this is fear of God.

In every instance in 1 Peter fear is directed toward God, not human beings (1 Pet 1:17; 3:2, 6, 14, 16).

In fact, Peter spoke against fearing human beings in 3:6 and 3:14.

The phrase “conscious of God” in 2:19 also constitutes evidence for this view

2. Not only to the good and gentle

3. But also to the Harsh

The word “harsh” is not the best translation, for the emphasis is on the moral bankruptcy of some masters (cf. Acts 2:40; Phil 2:15C. The Motivation - 19

The evil of slavery is reflected in Seneca’s criticism of harsh masters: “You may take (a slave) in chains and at your pleasure expose him to every test of endurance; but too great violence in the striker has often dislocated a joint, or left a sinew fastened in the very teeth it has broken. Anger has left many a man crippled, many disabled, even when it found its victim submissive” 1. For this is commendable (rewarded)

C. The Reward - 19

1. For this is commendable

Now we return to the question posed above. What is commendable in the lives of believers? It is “grace” (charis) if they endure pain while suffering unfairly.

2. If because of conscience toward God

That such suffering comes because of their Christian faith is clear from the phrase “conscious of God.” The word for “conscious” (syneidēsis) usually refers to the “conscience” in the New Testament (e.g., Acts 23:1; 24:6; Rom 13:5; 1 Cor 8:7, 10, 12; 10:25, 27–29; 1 Tim 1:5, 19; 3:9), and it even has this meaning in 1 Pet 3:16, 21.

3. If one endures grief and suffering for wrongdoing.

D. The Reasoning - 20

1. What is Normal

a. For what credit is it if,

b. When you are beaten for your faults

c. You take it patiently

2. What is Commendable

a. If you do good and suffer

b. If you take it patiently

c. This is commendable

2:20 Verse 20 elaborates on v. 19, explaining (“for,” gar) in what circumstances believers will be rewarded and in which circumstances they will not. Peter began with the instance in which believers endure pain,93 but they do so because they have “done wrong” (amartanontes) and as a consequence received beatings.94 In such cases they will receive no reward from God since they are simply receiving what they deserve. On the other hand, if they endure suffering as a consequence of “doing good” (agathopoiountes)—a favorite word of 1 Peter (2:15; 3:6, 17; cf. 2:14; 3:11, 16; 4:19) and translated “do right” by the NIV here—then one will receive a reward (“grace,” charis) from God.

Transition:

II. We submit by following Christ’s Purpose (2:21)

21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

A. Our Calling: because Christ also suffering for us,

B. Our Purpose:

1. Leaving Us an Example

2. That we should follow in His steps

Transition:

III. We submit by following Christ’s Example (2:23)

A. The Example of Perfection - 22

He was without sin

He had no deceit

2:22 Peter now begins to elaborate on Jesus’ exemplary suffering, depending significantly on Isaiah 53 in doing so.102 His selection of Isaiah 53 is no accident since the focus in Isa 52:13–53:12 is the suffering of the Servant of the Lord.

By the time Peter wrote, Isaiah 53 was firmly established in Christian tradition as a text that pointed to the suffering and exaltation of Jesus the Messiah (cf. Matt 20:28; Luke 22:37; Acts 3:13; Rom 4:25; 1 Cor 15:3; Phil 2:7). Peter alluded in this verse to Isa 53:9, and the only variation is the substitution of the word “sin” (hamartian) for “lawlessness” (anomian). Perhaps the word “sin” is used to harmonize the allusion with v. 24, where Isaiah 53 is again cited. In any case, the meaning is not affected. The distinctiveness of Jesus stands out here, for Peter was not merely saying that Jesus resisted sinning in suffering but that he never sinned.

Jesus’ sinlessness is widely attested in the New Testament (Matt 27:4; John 7:48; 8:29, 46; 18:38; 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1 John 3:5). Peter’s main purpose was to commend Jesus as an example. If Jesus as the servant of the Lord did not sin or use guile, despite suffering intensely as the righteous one, then believers should follow his example and refrain from sinning or using deceit when they are mistreated as Christ’s disciples.

Isaiah 52:13–15 (NKJV)

The Sin-Bearing Servant

13 Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently;

He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.

14 Just as many were astonished at you,

So His visage was marred more than any man,

And His form more than the sons of men;

15 So shall He sprinkle many nations.

Kings shall shut their mouths at Him;

For what had not been told them they shall see,

And what they had not heard they shall consider.

B. The Example of Focus - 23

1 Peter 2:23 (NKJV)

23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

1. When he was reviled, did not revile in return

Isaiah 53:7 (NKJV)

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,

Yet He opened not His mouth;

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,

And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,

So He opened not His mouth.

2. When He suffered, He did not threaten

Matthew 5:38–48 (NKJV)

Retaliation

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Love

Luke 6:27, 32

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

3. But committed Himself to him who judges righteously

Romans 12:19–21 (NKJV)

19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

If he is thirsty, give him a drink;

For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Jeremiah 11:18–23 (NKJV)

Jeremiah’s Life Threatened

21 “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the men of Anathoth who seek your life, saying, ‘Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord, lest you die by our hand’—22 therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Behold, I will punish them. The young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine; 23 and there shall be no remnant of them, for I will bring catastrophe on the men of Anathoth, even

Conclusion:

God wants us to be submissive to those who are in authority over us vocationally.

We must submit with God as our focus - for Him and leaving the results up to him.

On a personal level, executing justice is not our responsibility, it is God’s role.