Independence Day Challenge

1 Peter 2:13–17 KJV 1900

13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Introduction

Do y’all recall any of the times where I challenged you about prioritizing the discipleship of your children above anything else in their upbringing?

More than athletics.

More than education.

More than arts.

More than citizenship.

That’s because a disciple of Jesus will have a right relationship with all of these other areas.

If we are following Jesus we will be good citizens.

Jesus gave us directions for how we are supposed to relate to our government.

Spoiler alert, we are supposed to obey the laws of our government.

Too often this is not the testimony of Christians and churches

Whether we want to talk about the $59B that will be embezzled from churches this year.

Or if you want to talk about 700+ Southern Baptist pastors that have been credibly accused of sexual assault.

Or if you want to talk about the speed limit that you broke on the way to church tonight.

All of us need to make fealty to the law of the land something more than just loyalty to our government.

A call to submission. 13-14

Peter writes with the authority of the Holy Spirit to compel his readers to submit to the governmental authority that they are placed under. 13

Rome had some unjust and awful laws.

The Christians were supposed to submit to them.

He even specifically tells them to obey the King and Governors equally.

They weren’t supposed to pick and choose betwen federal and local laws.

The emperors were often corrupt, but sometimes there were generous local governors.

The compelling argument here is understood when we remember the treatment of Christians by the Roman government.

Peter knew better than us about what it meant to live for Christ in a true anti-Christian society.

And yet he uses his pen to call Christians to submit.

Acts 5:29 “29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”

Even if it isn’t true, government was established by God for this purpose.

They are deputized by God to punish evil-doers.

They are authorized by God to praise them that do well.

Galatians 5:22-23 “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

We do it for the Lord. 15

We submit to human authority for the Lord’s sake.

Peter tells us that it is the will of God.

This is not an absurd or flippant request

God wants us to do this as a testimony of the gospel.

We obey not because we love our governor or president.

We obey the law because we love God.

We do it to silence the detractors. 15

Alliterated phrasing a- a- a-.

Peter and many of the early Christian leaders were having to deal with the false accusation of especially the Jews.

Their biggest beef was that the Jesus-followers were antinomianists.

They were anarchists that didn’t believe in any laws.

This, of course wasn’t true.

It wasn’t even true that Christians had no use for the Jewish law.

They just didn’t see it as necessary for salvation.

That didn’t stop the Jews from projecting the Christians as a threat to the law and order of Rome.

Peter says that Christians must be mindful of obeying the laws of their government.

Doing this removes the opportunity for critics to justify their rejection of the gospel.

There is another aspect to a Christian’s obedience to the law.

Someone who lacks the motivation of love for God, why do they obey the law?

They don’t want to face the consequences.

As believers, however, we obey the laws of our government understanding that we are servants of higher authority.

I am a citizen of a greater kingdom than any on this earth.

As a citizen of heaven, I have total freedom that no government can take away.

However, I do not leverage this freedom maliciously to disregard this temporary home I have.

God has asked me, His servant, to obey the laws of the land where I am representing Him.

So I obey.

Finally, Peter gives a summary of how a Christian can be a good citizen and example in their community.

Honor all men.

Love the brotherhood.

Fear God.

Honor the king.