Prayer & Praise
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Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
This passage calls us to live as free slaves.
Wait what?
How does that work?
Those are opposites!
What does this mean?
Well, that’s what we are going to try and unpack a little tonight.
The key text here is actually in verse 16
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
As Christians, and especially as American Christians, this is the hardest possible thing I think we are given to do as Christians.
On one hand, as Christians we are servants, and though we are meek, we are NOT WEAK!
We aren’t sniveling cowards who just do as we told without thought or concern.
On the other hand, we are not just free - we are slaves of God.
Look at verse 13:
1 Peter 2:13 (ESV)
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution
This verse is commanding us to be subject to civil authority.
Citizens respect, obey, and serve the magistrate
Slaves respect your masters
So what does this mean?
The first thing is means that authority is NOT bad - it’s not evil.
In fact, it comes from God and so it is good.
And to reject what God has called good, is to rebel against God.
The fact is, as the passage tells us,
God instituted human authority.
It says. “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted …” by God, sent by God.
God created human authority. He made it.
What areas in life do we find God-given authority?
Family - with Husbands submitting to the Lord, and with wive submitting to their husbands, and children to their parents,
Within the church, as pastors submit to the Word of God and congregants submit to their pastors.
And with civil government.
And at this point, as good post-enlightenment, American Christians who have been born and raised in a culture of rugged individualism,
we say: THAT SOUNDS UNFAIR!
UNJUST!
But it’s not - it’s actually beautiful and good, because it’s designed by God.
Think about it: What if musicians in an orchestra refused to submit to the composer or even the conductor?
What if they said: “It’s up to me to decide what Key this song should be played it!”
Or, “I’ll determine the tempo thank you very much Mr Composer!”
How’s that going to go?
It’s not going to work
it’s going to be absolute chaos!
But with us following God-given authority, we can experience order,
And we see this every time we stop at a stoplight, every time we get play music with a group, or follow our church leaders lead
All of that is choosing to submit ourselves to authority, instead of chaos and anarchy.
But wait a minute, why not just have the group decide?
Why can’t we all just be in charge, TOGETHER?
Well, that’s just democracy - which America isn’t by the way - we are a constitutional republic - which is good, because a democracy is 2 wolves and a sheep deciding what’s for dinner!
Pure democracy never works, because it’s based upon the whims of the majority, not transcendental TRUTH!
“But I’ve seen abusive leadership! So why would I submit myself to leaders knowing their is the chance they might abuse their power?”
Well, first off - we don’t offer BLIND submission, as we submit to God above them.
BUT, we must never forget that what lies behind civil government, what lies behind whatever authority is before you, is the authority of God almighty!
Which means, that MIGHT doesn’t MAKE RIGHT!
because authority is a mixture of power and legitimacy!
Did the Nazi’s have the power to throw the Jewish people into the concentration camps?
Clearly.
But did they have the legitimize right to do so?
Well, that depends on whether there is a God or not from Whom all authority flows.
Because the truth is, when we say: “This is bad government! They are trampling on human rights and they ought not do it” you’re assuming there is another higher divine authority, some higher judgment which you are appealing to.”
BUT if there isn’t a God - then who cares - do whatever you want if you had said power, because “Might Makes Right!”
It’s survival of the fitness, and so have it!
As one theologian puts it: “The Bible says there is a difference between rightful authority and authoritarianism.”
Do you remember the place where the religious authorities tell the disciples, “You can’t preach about Jesus anymore”?
What does Peter say in Acts 4?
he says: “We cannot comply with your demands for there is an authority above you.”
As free slaves, Christians, unlike the radical individualists of the West, believe there is an authority behind human authority.
And so we respect the offices.
We respect parents, even the bad ones, because we know what is behind them.
We respect people in authority.
There is a kind of loyalty we have.
There is a kind of respect we give - no matter how respectable they might or might not be!
On the other hand, because we believe there is a divine authority behind all human authority, we can judge the authority.
Why?
Because we believe that God has spoken to us in his Word.
There is revelation from the real Authority by which we can judge all human authority,
Which makes us neither lap dogs nor pit bulls when it comes to the authority that is before us.
Peter says here, “Live as free slaves,” and there is this wonderful balance here.
It means Christians should be known as people who are both INCREDIBLY supportive of authority
AND people who are known to be rational and thoughtful people, who don’t just vote and support people who are on “their team.”
No one gets a free pass!
And so even if if 99% of the people in our political party agree with something that’s not godly - we don’t go along with the crowd!
Instead, we stand graciously but boldly against it as we appeal to THE higher authority Who is God.
As Peter tells us verse 17, we must “show respect” to “EVERYONE.”
What does that mean?
In the old King James translation it says, “Honor everybody.”
And in the Greek the word Peter uses here is the word timao from which you get your word Timothy.
And the word Timothy means “to fear God.”
It actually is the word you get the word timid from because it means fear and trembling, awe, respect.
This an amazing concept!
Because “If you understand what it means to live as free servants, you will honor everybody. You will treat everybody with honor. You will treat everybody with the utmost respect.”
What does that mean?
Largely, it means to interact with people with a servants heart!
A disposition to GIVE not to GET
Which is the exact opposite of how we tend to be!
Think about it.
Every relationship we approach is based upon a “getting” mentality.
“What’s in it for me?!”
And yet, as Christians, that’s the opposite of how we are supposed to approach other people.
Now - we approach ALL relationship to SHOW HONOR because we are TIMAO’s - or Timothy’s
We are people WHO FEAR GOD - and that fear cancels out ALL other fears leading us to serve and honor others!
So practically here, what does it look like when we talk to a free-servant?
What will that be like?
They will make us feel honors
They will focus on us - not their phones, themselves,
You won’t feel like they are trying to hijack the conversation into areas where they are interested.
Instead, they find out what you’re interested in.
They are always encouraging and complimenting you - and not in a way to manipulate you to into doing something they want.
“Wow, you’re so good at cleaning - you should come over and clean my house with me!”
A real servant doesn’t exaggerate their compliments, nor hold them back!
A real servant finds the best in you and brings it out, mentions it, and focusing ON IT - instead of your flaws.
When you talk to them, you feel affirmed, built up, and hopeful - not discouraged!
How can we answer this in light of verses 18-19?
A real servant isn’t always demanding their rights.
They aren’t seeking position (verse 18: “They are subject to their masters.”
Why?
Remember James and John say to Jesus, “When we come into the kingdom, one of us wants to be on your left and one wants to be on your right hand.” Jesus says, “Don’t you understand? If you understand what I’ve done for you, I took the lowest place. I had the position, but I didn’t hold on to my position. I emptied myself, and I became a servant. I became obedient unto death. If you understood what I was doing for you, you wouldn’t be after position.”
Christians already know that. Why go after the position? Christians go to be servants. “You want to be the greatest in my kingdom?” says Jesus. “Serve the most people.”
“How?
By remembering what Christ did for you.
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Whenever the Bible says, “I want you to live lives of selfless service. I want you to submit to authority. I want you to go the extra mile. I want you to turn the other cheek. I want you to forgive those who have spitefully used you. I want you to serve people, even unhappy people, even stubborn people, even unlovely people, even hard people to love. I want you to serve them. I don’t want you to be selfish. I want you to live an unselfish life,” they never, ever, ever say that without referring to what Jesus has done for you, ever.
Otherwise it’s just moralism. Otherwise it’s just legalism. Otherwise it’s just another crushing burden of something else on your to-do list. Instead, what they say is, “Remember what Jesus did for you.”