Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Society

How do we behave as citizen of heaven during our time here on earth?

Walk Honestly (11-12)

Remember where that you are a citizen of a heavenly kingdom.

A chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation … along with all other believers!

Recognize the enemy of your own flesh. Christ has overcome the world! It is the flesh that we are battling the most.

Do not give in to immorality. The focus is on living for the Lord, not for your own passions.

Live honorably in the site of the world.

The world accused the early church of many slanderous things, they were accused of being rioters (Nero burning Rome), they were accused of being cannibals (misunderstanding the Lord’s Table), they were accused of

Your good works are not for salvation, but for your witness to the glory of God.

Matthew 5:15–16 ESV

15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Walk Humbly (13-16)

Peter says to submit to human authority “for the Lord’s sake.” The submission is both national (emperor) and local (governors).

The Purpose of Submission

The word submit takes on a major theme in the next several paragraphs:

Christians submit to governing authorities, employees to employers, wives to husbands.

Submission literally means to line up under. It is a military term.

Jesus demonstrated this attitude:

Luke 2:51 ESV

51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

The Son of God, the Creator of the Universe, submitted himself to his earthly parents for a time to fulfill the purposes of God.

This takes a Christlike humility.

The Priority of Submission

Obedience to the Lord takes precedence over man’s instructions.

Acts 4:18–20 ESV

18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

The role of government is to punish evil and praise those who do good. When government steps outside of that role, through unjust laws, or the punishment of those who are doing good, they will be judged by God!

Earthly rulers must remember that they will give an account to God for how they ruled! Those who arrest people for peacefully assembling to worship the Lord Jesus will one day stand before Christ Himself and have to give an account.

Walk Honorably (17)

Live in freedom by doing what is good! True freedom is the liberty to do what is right!

Walk Honorably in Human Relationships

Honor All people - every person is made in the image of God and therefore due the dignity an respect as a human being. Christ ministered to the “least of these”.

Love the Brethren - there is a difference in how we treat fellow believers, we show genuine love and concern for brothers and sisters in Christ.

Walk Honorably in Hierarchical Requirements

Honor the king means to respect the office and authority of the governor.

Fear God means that He takes the first place in our worship and allegiance!