Sermon Tone Analysis

Be Good Citizens (Part 2)

Introduction

Open Bible 1 Pet 2:13-17.

We will read verses 13 - 17 of 1 Peter this morning, and then focus in on the exposition of verses 16 and 17.

Last time we examined the statement by Peter in verse 13.

“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution” (1 Pe 2:13, ESV)

This forced the question, what is a human institution.

It is God who ordained the institutions that govern how humanity is to operated.

Marriage and family

The Church

The Government

These are the building blocks of a human society, they are human institutions in that they run human society.

They are in humanity

They made up of humans

They are administered by humans

They are ordained by God

Peter will discuss some of the other human institutions later on in the chapter and next Chapter, in this text he is is directly addressing the government.

We have to remember that the government Peter is writing about is not friendly.

Within just a few years of writing this letter the emperor will execute Peter and his wife.

The bottom line is that we are to respect the institutions that God has ordained, even when it’s not being respectable.

God also set the rules about how these institution are to run.

In verse 14 Peter said the Government is “to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.”

(1 Pe 2:14, ESV)

So when the government comes with orders that contradict God’s ordained commandments our answer is, just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, respectfully, no.

It seems to me that with the LGBTQ and woke agenda’s tightening grip on our society its not long before the government says its hate speech to call for Biblical marriage, to not use a person preferred pronouns, or saying maybe we don't abuse children by giving them puberty blockers or killing them in the womb.

The government can say we’re not allowed to talk about these things, But our Answer must be respectfully no, we will speak for our .

God ordained marriage and it is between a man and a woman

God assigned a person gender, it is either male of female and he was not confused.

A baby is alive from the moment of conception and it is murder to end that life.

When Peter says submit to “every human institution” it is not a blind submission that place such an institution in the place only occupied by the one true king Jesus.

We submit Because it is the will of God, as Peter said in verse 15.

For God’s Glory

As God’s ambassadors

For the good of others and out of the Love for neighbor that we are called to.

Its not loving or being a good citizen to pretend there are not eternal consequences for living an unrepentant LGBTQ life style.

No boy or Girl can ever be all God made them to be by pretending to be of the opposite gender.

And its not loving to encourage them in the delusion they they can change what God has decreed.

We are governed first in all our actions be what James called “the royal law” (James 2:8, ESV) The law of love, properly defined, biblically defined, love.

Lets Read 1 Peter 2:13-17 now as we get into what it means to live as a free subjects.

May God Bless the Reading of his Holy and Infallible Word

Lets Pray

Transition

We are free subjects.

We are free slaves.

The truth is that in Christ we are truly free.

We have freedom in Christ.

At the same Time we are the duolos, the slaves, of Christ.

These two realities exist at the same time in the life of the believer.

As we proceed into the verse 16 we see Peter tell the people that he just told to be subjects, that they are free.

Lets read verse 16.

Body

Main Body Division 1

Text

Exposition

Live as people who are free

Exposition

Its is freedom in Christ that makes service as subjects possible.

Imagine if you had to define the role of government?

You don't, you are free, God has already done that and in Christ, despite our sins, we are good citizens

We proceed from a place of freedom to our duties for the king.

We are free subjects and thats one of the ways we represent God here.

We live as free people subject to the laws of the Land.

It is God’s sovereignty that makes this possible.

When Peter was being crucified up side down by the honorable emperor.

Peter is not wondering, God did you make a mistake?

No, God has appointed a evil ruler for his purposes and justice will be done in the end.

Application

This sovereignty of God, means comfort for the believer.

On October 11th, 1798, the then president John Adams wrote to the Massachusetts Militia, saying.

“While our Country remains untainted with the Principles and manners, which are now producing desolation in so many Parts of the World: while she continues Sincere and incapable of insidious and impious Policy: We shall have the Strongest Reason to rejoice in the local destination assigned Us by Providence.

But should the People of America, once become capable of that deep simulation towards one another and towards foreign nations, which assumes the Language of Justice and moderation while it is practicing Iniquity and Extravagance; and displays in the most captivating manner the charming Pictures of Cando[]r frankness & sincerity while it is rioting in rapine and Insolence: this Country will be the most miserable Habitation in the World.

Because We have no Government armed with Power capable of contending with human Passions unbridled by morality and Religion.

Avarice, Ambition, Revenge or Gallantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net.

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People.

It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other” [1]

We are the good citizens that Adams speaks of, that on bound by “morality and Religion” (notice he didn’t separate those two) without us this nation will be “most miserable Habitation in the World”

So we steps forward in freedom

Where God brought propriety before he may now bring judgment and to this we say amen

Transition

The purpose of freedom is not lusciousness.

Theres a good KJV word for you.

Peter goes on and says, “not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil” (1 Pe 2:16, ESV)

not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil

Exposition

The word evil means something.

Its what God says is Evil.

Last week we talked about the Decadent “Avarice [and] Ambition” to use John Adam’s words, that Nero’s parties were.

Peter is saying, our freedom to submit to these authorities, does not include pretending they are not evil, when they are.

Its not enough here to simply not do evil ourselves, we cannot cover over for any evil.

Application

Nero you are a murdering, drunken, reviler and that is evil.

America it is shameful and evil that for the last 40 years, nears 70 million innocent babies have been murdered legally.

These are not disrespectful things to say, and good citizens will be the first to say them, lets the consequence be what they may.

Illustration

A man once walked into a cobbler's shop to find a the owner standing behind the counter with knife and wearing a blood stained apron.

The shop owner asked what cut of meat the man wanted.

The man had a confused look on his face, and said I came in here to get my shoes fixed.

Why would you do that the shop owner replied, the man said because your sign says cobbler.

The man is not being disrespectful to ask for what was advertised.

The Christian is not being disrespectful to say, the sign say government and that means you, government are “to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.”