Living as Good Travelers

Introduction

Two weeks ago we began this large section within first Peter, which concerns how believers are to interact with the world around them. We heard in verses 11-12 that we don’t belong to this world, he calls us sojourners and pilgrims. This is a short stopover and when the time is right we will move on to our true home. we are only passing through this world and so we are to abstain from the things of the world, in 2:11 Peter calls them “fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” He then offers part of the solution to this ongoing war, and that is to live honorable lives. In verses 13-17, he uses a very broad brush to paint a picture of what this is like on a major scale, he says to “submit to every ordinance of men.” This means being obedient to those in authority over us. The only time Christians do not submit to the secular authorities is when their command is directly opposed to God’s Word. In every other part of life God has given the command to submit.

Submitting to authority does not mean merely respect of their position, but refers to humble, even joyful and cheerful, obedience. This attitude is something that is sorely missing from modern Believers. If we are told to do something we think is stupid or worthless, we may do it but we will do it with lots of grumbling and a look of disdain on our faces. internally we are holding malice in our hearts. Something Peter tells us to put off in 2:1.

In this passage we see how first century Christian slaves were to submit to those who are in authority above them, or more specifically, what the right attitude is and the right response to those in authority who mistreat, malign, and deal unjustly with us.

The Admonition (2:18-20)

Slaves Submit to Masters

Please keep your Bible open at the second chapter of First Peter. We will continue our study from verse 18, Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. All this talk of servants seems well out of time in modern society. We Australians don’t have, and I don’t think anyone here has never had slaves in their home. We live in a “free” country. But in the ancient world slavery was extremely common. Slaves often came from conquered countries, or it may have been a way to pay off a debt, and some were born into slavery. It may come as a surprise that over 50% of the population in Rome were slaves. Some had good masters and were treated better than poor citizens. Others were poorly treated and mishandled by their Masters. This is doubly so as Christian slaves stood out as “non-conformists.” That is fascinating because all the way through the centuries True Bible Believing Christians were non-conformists. Even now it is a word that we Christians, who hold to Biblical ethics and morals, are becoming known for once again.

This first word servants refers specifically to the slaves who operated within the confines of the house. In the ancient world some slaves worked outside, perhaps on the farm, while others worked inside the house. Those who were household slaves often had the task of teaching the children, cooking the dinners, cleaning the house, and also as the doctor. In some cases people were much better off as slaves than they were as free people, as poverty was rife, but as a slave of a good and gentle master, they had a roof over their head, food, clothing, etc. Slaves didn’t always have it easy and many were treated very badly.

Fear

But whether the master was a good and gentle one, or a harsh one, the attitude of the Believer to either was the same. Peter says be submissive to your masters, with all fear. Who are the servants to fear? At first glance it looks like Peter is calling these Christian slaves to fear their masters, but I think the clue is in verse 17. In that verse we are told to fear only one being, God. Both Proverbs and Ecclesiastes tells us to fear God, because it is the beginning of knowledge and apex of existence. In First Timothy 6 and twice in Revelation, chapters 17, 19, we are told that Jesus is the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. What these verses are really saying is that everything, all creatures great ans small, and all inanimate objects, relate to God in a submissive manner. That not one thing in all creation is even close to His level of power and authority. That Jesus has the Sovereign Throne. In the Old Testament we read that when God condescends upon the earth, we usually read of smoke, thunder and lightning, and earthquakes.

This is Biblical language showing us that the whole natural world fears God. It has the sense to shake in fear as the Most Holy Master visits. We also see this in some of the interaction between God and His people. At the foot of Mount Sinai we see the tribes of Israel cower in fear at the coming of the LORD, saying to Moses, in Exodus, reading a verse in Chapter 19, then skipping to Ex 20:18, Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. God then gives the Ten commandments and immediately following we read Israel’s response to Gods immediate presence, Ex 20:18, Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” Again when Isaiah and Ezekiel meet with God, they both prostrate themselves before Him. they fall to the ground A meeting with the Holy God results in fear and trembling. These objects and people had the sense of God’s holy presence and shake in fear.

Secular people see the battlefield as the world and will fight for their own stake in it. Christians though are not to be like the world. Our battlefield is the Spiritual. We are to show proper respect to earthly authority, in a submissive, gentle manner because we know and trust the One who sits above them. The world does not fear God, but we do. We have a right fear of God and so will stand out in ways that are at odds with the world. In knowing our Saviour, we are called to submit to both the easy masters, but also to the harsh, and the word harsh is the same word we use for a spine that looks like an S, scoliosis. The harsh master is someone who is crooked, perverse, or dishonest. The very masters who we openly detest, gossip about, and our hearts burn against are the ones Peter is telling us to submit to. This means that if the authority has done some wicked thing, we are to follow our orders, however we are allowed, even called, to lawful channels to obtain justice. We don’t go out and cause a ruckus, or join a strike, or violent protests. Last week I mentioned the Canadian pastor James Coates. He was told to either sign the health order, which would stop church from meeting, or go to jail. He wouldn’t sign the health order and so submitted to jail, while at the same time followed lawful channels to get the orders overturned.

Motivation

Back to 1 Pet 2:19-20, For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. In verse 13 we were told to submit for the Lord’s sake; in verse 15 we are told that it is the will of God. Now we are told that is commendable. The Greek word behind commendable means a winning quality or attractiveness, when the subject is God it is translated grace, but with a human as the subject can mean attractiveness, or winsomeness. In God’s eyes, Christians who suffer when they have done nothing wrong is attractive. Anyone is able to take punishment when they deserve it. There is no honour in that, but when you endure the suffering at the hands of others when you have done nothing wrong, God will commend you. And the commendation from God is our eternal inheritance, back in 1 Peter 1:3-5, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Our motivation then comes from the reward God gives to us, the reward of eternal life with Him.

The Example (2:21-25)

Reminder, Reminder, Reminder

I love how Peter continually brings us back to the central aspect of our salvation, Jesus Christ. In 1:2 we are saved by the sprinkling of His blood. In 1:3 we are born again because Christ was resurrected from the dead. In 1:6-7 we are able to rejoice in suffering because Christ will come again to vindicate us. In 1:13-2:3 we live a life of holiness because Christ became incarnate and died for us. And now in 1 Peter 2:21-25, he once again uses the example of Christ to silence any more objections, and encourage us in what he has just instructed. He says in 1 Peter 2:21-24, For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 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; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Testaments to right suffering

There are many examples in the Scriptures of how to live rightly under the rule of bad authority. In the Old Testament we see Joseph as the model slave, whom God blessed through his submission to authority, even though he suffered many years in prison. In the New Testament Peter could have used Paul’s life as an example of how to live honorably under the authority of wicked people. Instead he goes straight to the source. The Gospels are four accounts of the one life of Jesus Christ. These four are the perfect example for us to follow. All Jesus’ actions, and his attitude, and his response, toward those around him show us how we too can live rightly under authority, even those opposed to Christian faith.

Conclusion

Commit Our Lives to the Lord

Peter says in verse 21-22 that Christ suffered to give us a perfect example. In verse 23 he goes on to show what that example is, 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. The example we are to follow is not to lash out our tongues toward our persecutors, not to do violence to those who make us suffer. That does not demonstrate God’s love toward anyone. Jesus did not revile as fellow Jews through accusations at Him. Jesus did not threaten violence to the mob, or to Pilate, or to the soldiers.

What did He do?

Verse 23, He committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. What a beautiful picture. His death wasn’t just an example, though. The primary reason for Jesus death on the cross was to save sinners from God’s wrath. Jesus, who now sits at the right hand of God the Father, who will come and judge the living and the dead, did nothing at that time. One to give us an example but secondly, to bare our sins on the tree - by His strips we are healed. God has given us one way to eternal life, that is through the once for all death of Second person of the Godhead, Jesus Christ. Peter has done great pains over and over again to remind his readers that our life here is but temporary because Jesus has taken us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. Or as Peter says in verse 25, For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. We sheep are alive ONLY because Jesus Christ died for our sins, and rose to life to bring us home. he is the Great Shepherd and Overseer, or Guardian of our souls. What a great comfort we have as we travel through this world, on our way home.

Amen. Let us pray.