Be Good Citizens (Part 1)

Introduction

The passage for exposition this morning is 1 Peter chapter 2 verses 13 -17. So if you would open you bibles to 1 Peter 2 we will start in verse 13.

As Peter beings explaining on what he meant in in verse 12 saying, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Pe 2:12, ESV)

The word Gentiles as a broad application among all believers, we brothers and sisters are the Isreal of God, and nonbelievers are gentiles to use.

Do not be unequally yoked.

Isreal of old was not allowed to marry foreigners, we are not permitted to marry nonbelievers.

Peter using the word Gentiles here also have a very narrow application.

The Jews of the day were not regraded kindly be anyone because of there willingness to stand apart from the roman system.

As we learned in church history class, after the completion of the temple many many people became jobless and tensions and insurrections in and around Jerusalem will grow until the emperor send General Titus and destroys Jerusalem.

At that event in 70 AD the split between Judaism and Christianity is completed.

From 70 AD onward, one is either a christian or a jew.

But that has not happen in the time Peter is writing. There are many believers that are both Jewish and Christian.

Peter is telling those believers, you see the mess going on back at home right now, the blood shed, the violence, the rejection of the real Messiah, don’t you be like that.

Jesus came and he said blessed are the peace makers, you be peace makers.

So with that context lets read verse 2:13-17

1 Peter 2:13–17 ESV

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.

May God bless the reading of his Holy and Infallible Word

Lets Pray

Transition

Peter has instructed the believers to keep their conduct honorable, we see that this instruction as application to all God’s people as the walk as royal priest, ambassadors, of Christ. As we look in the verse 13 we see the Peter reminds us of our role. Lets read verse 13.

Body

Main Body Division 1

Text

1 Peter 2:13 ESV

13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,

Exposition

Be subject for the Lord’s sake

Exposition

The be subject is continuing thought from honorable conduct.

The words For the Lords sake are takes us back.

Verse 5

“a holy priesthood” “offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God”

Verse 9

“a chosen race” “a royal priesthood” “a holy nation”

Verse 10

“once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy”

Application

The Lord is making a place for us and he will come and get us, we are his reps here.

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church” (Col 1:24, ESV)

"Transition

The questions then is subject to what? Be subject for the Lord sake to every human institution

to every human institution

Exposition

Its imported to think about what Peter means by human institution.

By human institution Peter does mean that it is instituted within the realm of human governance.

He does not mean other that it is a human idea.

“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.” (Ro 13:1, ESV)

Not just government

the primary point here is government but every institution is included

Marriage

Jared Longshore recently said in a Cannon Press Video, “Marriage includes vows, but the vows do not lead Him [God], He leads the vows” [1]

Church

Family

Application

God has divided to the world into three spheres of influence and he has set the role of each of these

Family

It does not take a village to rase children, it takes a family

Church

The appointed organization for the gathering, feeding, growing, and discipline for Gods people.

The focal and hub for Gospel proclamation tot he world.

Government

God opinionated minster for justice and peace

Each one has their spheres, its not the government job to training the children, is not the church job to have an army, and its not the families job to replace the gathering of the saints.

Illustration

Since this lines are very blurred in our current culture there are many illustration.

The lack of any kind of biblical morality taught in schools today

The Church failing to call the saints to gather and providing sound doctrine and church disciple.

The Government legislating futility over and over.

When these system operate as God outline withing the boundaries that God provided a country will prosper.

If not…

Transition

Now, as we have scene Peter is talking about all institution that flow out of God decree for the flourishing of humanity. Over the next chapter and a half Peter will make application to all of these areas

he is going to talk about

Government right here is verse 13-17

Slaves and Master (employees and workers)

Husbands and Wives (Family)

So he goes on here in verse 13 saying. “whether it be to the emperor as supreme”

whether it be to the emperor as supreme,

Exposition

The appropriate respect for the authority withing the human institution.

The constitution of the US

Application

Government is an authority structure and within any structure like that there is an supreme authority.

Knowledge of the order, ignorance is not something a christian is allowed to do.

We also remember that that supreme authority of the Government is still subject to the higher authority of God.

That’s going to be very important as we talk about how we responded to a government that has overstepped, misused, and just pain hates the roll that God has given for it. We will get to that.

Illustration

But before we got there how about an example of authority within a government. What does shall not be infringed mean?

Transition

Lest the reader might think that God is giving permission to ignore government that is not the supreme authority, Peter god on i n verse 14 to say “or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.”

Main Body Division 2

Text

1 Peter 2:14 ESV

14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.

Exposition

or to governors as sent by him

Exposition

The Governments legitimately have different levels as we said be for.

Application

The speed-limits though

If you cannot say amen say ouch.

Transition

We will come back tot he speed limit thing later. Here Peter helps us understand that the Government has a God given role and what they role is when he says “punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good”

or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good

Exposition

What is the governments duty

“For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.” (Ro 13:3–4, ESV)

Application

It may, however, be objected here and said, that kings and magistrates often abuse their power, and exercise tyrannical cruelty rather than justice. Such were almost all the magistrates, when this Epistle was written. To this I answer, that tyrants and those like them, do not produce such effects by their abuse, but that the ordinance of God ever remains in force, as the institution of marriage is not subverted though the wife and the husband were to act in a way not becoming them. However, therefore, men may go astray, yet the end fixed by God cannot be changed. [2]

Illustration

The Fiery furnace boys.

Neb had over stepped his authority

We will not bow to your gods

Transition

This job of the Government “to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good” is the will of God so if we resist the lawful governance, again governance within the order that God has created, weather its an emperor or the constitution, or the speed limit, if we resist it is resisting God. Look at verse 15.

Main Body Division 3

Text

1 Peter 2:15 ESV

15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Exposition

For this is the will of God

Exposition

Holy royal priests do the will of God

What is the will of God?

“For the Lords Sake”

Application

We don't do this because we want an easy life.

Cops, Speed Limits, Tickets.

We are ambassadors

Are you a holy Priesthood Offing up acceptable sacrifices to God?

This is the will of the God

Are you are Royal Priesthood that represent this Lord.

This is the will of God

Illustration

The drunken ambassadors

Transition

The end of verse 15 is two parts “by doing God” and to put to silence”

that by doing good

Exposition

We do not get to invent how we will change the world.

Application

I have met many young and biblically ignorant believers that fall into the trap, the slavery, of progressive humanistic pragmatic thinking because they want to change the world.

The progressive humanistic pragmatic thinking says, i am going to take a little bit of God’s word, some philosophy, some history, a little human ingenuity mix it all up and progressive humanistic pragmatic thinking presto better world for everyone.

How many time even within my own family i have head the words “I don’t think that’s effective”

Doing things God’s why is foolishness to the human mind, but its the only thing that is effective.

The human ideas might seem to work for time but the word of God says,

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Pr 14:12, ESV)

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” (Pr 3:5–8, ESV)

We are facing a moment of choice in the SBC right now.

guidepost Report

We have a book and we have instructions.

This convention will say a lot,

We will have the will of the God

Or will we follow the pragmatic ideas of a secular, LGBTQ affirming institution?

Toon in next week and we will report.

Transition

We don’t get to change the world our way, we don’t get to defend and represent God our way, we must act within the instructions of His word and we must insist that that human institutions in our society also operate within the context of what God has said.

This is what it means to be “a holy priesthood ... offer[ing] spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God” (1 Pe 2:5, ESV)

What we do it Gods way it will “put to silence the ignorance of foolish people”

you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people

Exposition

“Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers.” (1 Pe 2:12, ESV)

Why will they speak against us, they are foolish and ignorant, speaking against God chosen, holy priesthood, that he bought with his own blood? What a foolish thing to be doing.

Application

What Paul was at Caesarea in Acts 25, “When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove.” (Ac 25:7, ESV)

Remember what Peter said in verse 12,

“Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” (1 Pe 2:12 ESV)

On the day the judgment happens everyone one of those Jew that falsely accused Paul will say, “an I am lier” I was the foolish one” God is righteous and I am a sinner”

It may happen in this life it my not, but our representation of our king is to be exemplary. We are to represent him, his way, for his Glory, by his book, and that means being good citizens.

Conclusion

Are we to be good citizens of our fathers heavenly kingdom? Yes. That means being Good Citizens within the human institution that our father has placed us. They will speak evil of us, they will act foolishly towards the king, but we have a book and we are to follow it.

Benediction

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

References

[1] All Marriages Are Calvinistic and Covenantal, YouTube (Cannon Press, 2022), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKdQN6D7oTU.

[2] John Calvin and John Owen, Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 82–83.

Bibliography

All Marriages Are Calvinistic and Covenantal. YouTube. Cannon Press, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKdQN6D7oTU. Time index 3:06

Calvin, John, and John Owen. Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010.