1 Peter 2 13-17 - Don't be John Wayne; Submit to the Goverment
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Thankful for American - landing at LAX
Don’t be John Wayne; Submit to the Government
Don’t be John Wayne; Submit to the Government
Recap
Recap
Mercy sets the framework for how we approach everything
We proclaim what he has done - at work and in our darkest moments
We proclaim with our moth and deeds
11-12 - as an exile - conduct yourself in an honorable way
Government
Servants
Marriages
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Submission
Submission
“to order oneself under, or according to, a given relationship,”
Gen 1&2
God is Lord - humanity is royal - appointed to rule
Sin creates a power struggle - every human institution
It’s easier to honor the emperor way over there than the local anchorites right here
Military vs Cops
When to submit?
Exceptions
17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Context is everything
Peter is aware of the exception
1 Peter 2:13
Exceptions not the rule
X- Xylophone
P-Pneumonia
G-Gnat
W-Wrap
K-Now
Don’t start with the exception - start with the rule
Rule
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.
When to submit?
Error on the side of the rule
Closeness with God - Prayer and fasting
Why?
For the Lord’s sake
For the Lord’s sake
What did Jesus do - trained like Jesus always had an exception
Jesus sees Humanity as his image
vs 15 - God’s Will
vs 15 - God’s Will
Culture - Christians were accused of being cannibals and participating in insets - ignorance of what Christians really stand for
What's the will of God?
Doing good - taking care of public works, care of people
Not just church organized projects
If the church vanished would we be missed?
When the government and society speak badly of you - do the will of God - Do good even when other’s don’t understand you
VS 16 - Freedom
VS 16 - Freedom
Christians did not have social or political power - the next few weeks…
Genesis 1-2
You are free so submit freely as a servant of God - like Jesus did
Free to comply - object
But don’t use it for evil - treating anyone as though they are not an equal image-bearer and royal. worth Jesus’ blood.
Honor everyone - young old, rich poor, smart - less smart
Love the brotherhood - your love is for the kingdom of God
Fear God - not the biggest badest person around
Honor the emperor - the guy who is making your life hard
*Honor everyone - honor the emperor
Conclusion
Conclusion
N.T. Wright
“Serving the true God by living a peaceful, wise, visibly good life is, in the end, far more revolutionary than simply overthrowing one corrupt regime and replacing it with another.”
Revolution of the heart
Ultimate allegiance to God and to the church family is not an excuse or out for how we treat God’s loved children