Holiness in an unholy world... (9)

Showing proper respect to everyone...

This morning, we are going to look at what it means to have godly respect and submission. We live in a society where we have been given a Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This very document is supposed protect us from oppression from those who lead us and those who live around us.

Let’s read 1 Peter 2:13-21

1 Peter 2:13–21 NIV

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Peter starts this section with the words

Submit yourselves...

This means to accept all human authority because it has been instituted by God. To submit is to obey the laws of the land.

What harmless laws do we break because we don’t think that it affects anybody else? Probably one of the biggest ones that we overlook, is the speed limit. If it says 90, we generally know that we can get away with a 100. Does that make it right? “Well Pastor, I’d be holding up traffic if I drove the speed limit.” What about stop signs? What about cardboard for recycling? It takes too much time to break down the cardboard. The container is almost full anyways or it’s empty, there’s lots of room.

Many of these laws seem silly, or they are just suggestions. I’ll do what I want to do, but when we break the law and get a ticket for something that we could have easily prevented, it’s not a feather in our cap or a star in our crown. People in positions of authority such as the Police, have been sent to punish people for doing wrong and others are sent to reward you for doing right.

The Why...

I think that it’s important to answer the why when it comes to submission and respect.

As a six or seven year-old child, I remember riding around on our John Deere 800 swather. It was an open air machine, and I would stand next to my Dad and ask question after question. As my Dad answered questions, for clarification, I would ask the question, “Why?”

Today we will answer the Who, and the What, and even possibly the where and the how, but let’s start by answering the Why.

1 Peter 2:13 NIV

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority,

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake...

Let’s not submit to governments out of fear. 2 Timothy 1:7

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Let’s not submit to governments because we are forced to submit. That’s like the child that was told to sit down, and they did, but they were still standing up on the inside. This only leads to bitterness and eventually hatred to those who are in control over us.

Romans 13:1–2 NIV

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

We submit and honor those in authority over us because we love and honor God. It is because God has established that authority. In our world we have kingdoms, democracies, communism, authoritarian, and totalitarian states. Nobody can rule unless the Lord allows it.

You may shake your head at how somebody becomes President, Prime Minister, or Chancellor. It may cause confusion as to how a country can be led by Communist Dictators, but nobody rules unless God allows it.

Here’s case and point, Nero, one of the most ruthless Emperors, was in power at the time that Peter wrote this letter. In fact, it was during Nero’s reign that Peter was executed by crucifixion, and yet Peter honored those in authority because he honored God.

When is it ok to disobey?

It’s not in this passage, but it’s obvious that the early church disobeyed those in authority when they were in opposition to God.

In Acts 3, there was an invalid that was forced to beg at the temple gate just to try and make the ends meet. God used Peter and John to heal a man that had no strength in his legs and ankles.

When the religious leaders saw the commotion and that people were praising God because a man was healed in Jesus name, they knew that they needed to do something so,

Acts 4:18–20 NIV

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

In Acts 16, we have the story of Paul and Silas being thrown into prison because a demon possessed girl had been set free. It doesn’t appear that the early church was afraid of any confrontation with religious or governmental authorities, but they were by no means activists. We are not called to be political activists, be are called to be sons and daughters of God.

2 Timothy 2:3–10 NIV

Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

What was the result?

Paul talked about suffering.

2 Timothy 2:8–9 NIV

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.

The apostles had been with Jesus. They had seen His anguish and agony to bring about our salvation that they too were willing to suffer anything for Christ.

2 Timothy 2:11–13 NIV

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

We have become accustomed to living the lives of our dreams, and yet Jesus promised that we would be persecuted because of Him.

Matthew 5:11–12 NIV

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Most of the apostles died or at least suffered persecution for the sake of the gospel. Approximately 2/3’s of Christians live under the rule of repressive governments. (Life Application) That stat is a little bit staggering. In the Western world, we cling to our freedoms. We know that we have rights, and we know that we have religious freedoms. Even with all of our freedoms, it seems that the church is growing the most where there is struggle.

I wonder if we struggle most with watching our rights and freedoms evaporate right in front of our very eyes because we know that our forefathers sacrificed much to keep them.. There’s no question that we need Christians involved in politics whether Federal, Provincial, or even Municipal. It’s hard to help set policy if we aren’t in the room when policies are being determined.

We need to pray for our leaders. I believe that even though a person can make their plans, that God can still direct our leaders. Proverbs 16:1-3

Proverbs 16:1–3 NIV

To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Doing what is good...

Last week, we looked at living such good lives in front of people that haven’t come to faith in Jesus, that they will glorify God on the day that He comes to visit.

Here, Peter talks about silencing ignorant talk. Not many around us will accuse of doing good to others. It’s God’s will, His desire, that we live good lives. He wants us to listen to our commanding officer.

1 Peter 2:15 NIV

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

Freedom

1 Peter 2:16 NIV

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.

In the book of Romans, Paul asked the question, “Should we keep on sinning so that grace can increase?” Because God has set us free, should we take advantage of God’s mercy and do what is wrong. God’s mercy and His grace is so that we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do what He has called us to do and to be the people that He has called us to be.

Galatians 5:1 NIV

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Jesus has the power to set you free. His death on the cross has broken the power of sin off of your life. There is no sin that He can’t break off of us. There is no stronghold that Jesus did not die to set us free from.

John 8:32 NIV

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:36 NIV

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

According to 1 John 3:7-8

1 John 3:7–8 ESV

Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

When we commit our lives to Christ, we are called to be slaves of God. Slavery has a connotation that we don’t like.

A Slave

someone who is legally owned by another person and is forced to work for that person without pay. (Meriam-Webster Dictionary)

Zondervan Dictionary

Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.

Not only does sin have consequences, but also each time we sin, we reinforce a pattern that becomes harder and harder to break.

Romans 6:22–23 NIV

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Showing proper respect...

1 Peter 2:17 NIV

Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

Life Application New Testament Commentary (Respecting People in Authority / 2:13–17)

The word “respect” means to honor, value, or esteem.

Believers should be especially conscious that God made all people in his image, whether or not they believe in Christ.

I believe that it is important that we respect and value others, but have you ever met that person that just gets under your skin? Maybe you’ve met somebody that just looks different or isn’t as gifted as you. Maybe somebody isn’t as clean as you or just plain stinks. Yet God call us to value each human life because they too have been created in God’s image.

Philippians 2:3 NIV

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

You may have heard about the Good Samaritan who helped out a stranger. The stranger had been beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. I’m sure that the Samaritan had other things that he could have done and yet he stopped and cared for the man that was in need. He even paid the bill for him to be nursed back to health at an inn.

He could have walked past like the others, but yet he desired to value this man’s life as fragile as it was. Will you help someone when it’s not convenient? Will you value others with the same kind of love that sent Jesus to the cross?

We are also called to:

Love the family of believers

This is that agape love, sacrificial love.

John 15:13 NIV

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Look around at your family. These are your brothers and sisters, but this family is so much bigger than just us. This family is anyone who calls on the name of the Lord.

This kind of love can be with our time, spending time with a brother or sister in Christ that just needs someone to talk to. It can be money. When we see someone in need, and God lays it on our hearts, we can give. Here’s just a few examples: missions, orphans, someone with a vehicle breakdown, a disaster in the world.

It can be something as simple as using talents that God has given us to help someone who can’t. Changing a tire, shoveling snow, etc.

Let’s always be willing when God speaks to our hearts.

Honor the King

We don’t have a king, but I’d say Queen Elizabeth II is quite well respected.

Let’s bring it a little more down to earth. For many in Western Canada, it wasn’t hard to honor Stephen Harper because over half the west voted for him. We tend to vote conservative. I’m here to tell you what to vote or who to vote for.

But we have a tendency not to honor those we don’t vote for. We often feel that there isn’t even a point to vote because it’s often decided before it even gets to us.

Peter didn’t have the right to vote for Nero and yet he encouraged the believers that were going through trials to honor the one that was in office.

This morning, I want to encourage you as well as myself that we need to pray for our Prime Minister as well as each MP, MLA, Mayor, Reeve, and councilors that God has allowed to be in power. It’s easy to complain, because even our elected officials are human, but it’s a lot easier to honor somebody that we are praying for.

There have probably many that have been in office that we liked that others didn’t. I’ve noticed that it’s a lot easier to give somebody a mulligan who you like or voted for than somebody you didn’t.

Conclusion

Let’s ask God to instill in each of us a respect for others. Let’s not do it because people deserve it but because we are all created in God’s image.

Let’s be looking for ways that we can show others how we value them.

Let’s ask God to increase our love for our Christian brothers and sisters. In our prayer time this week, let’s be asking God where we can be sacrificially be loving others. Let’s be asking God for opportunities as well as the ability to help when the opportunities arise.

Finally, let’s be praying for those in authority over us. Let’s be praying for our elected officials that God would bless them and give them godly wisdom to govern this country.

Also, let’s pay attention to our thoughts and our words in regards to our government, because God thought that it was ok that they were elected. Let’s show honor where honor is due.

Let’s pray.