Submission, Pt 2
1 Peter • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Peter, the disciple and apostle, the fisherman, the friend of Jesus is writing this letter to Christians who have been scattered around Asia Minor.
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Peter is writing to them as his dear friends. More accurately, as those who are beloved. His readers are beloved, not only by Peter, but even more so by God.
These beloved by God are to these words by Peter, inspired by God for them right where they’re at. They find themselves in a culture hostile to Christians, a culture with vastly different values than Christians. These Christians find themselves foreigners and exiles [strangers] living in a strange land.
Many people, myself included, could make the same case for Christians living in 21st Century America.
We are strangers living in a strange land. And it’s always been the case. There has never been a time when Biblical values have been entirely or appropriately reflected in society (this one or any other).
Sadly, horrifically, under the guise of Christianity, those who profess to be followers of Christ have done and supported some truly despicable things.
We have to discuss one of those despicable moments in our history in order to understand our text this morning.
Peter has addressed all believers, telling them to submit to every human creature, including the emperor and governors.
Now, Peter turns his attention to slaves/servants.
This the topic we need to discuss briefly this morning. We must understand this: slavery in the Roman world was markedly different from the slavery in our country as practiced in the 17th-19th Centuries.
Scott Bartchy writes that there were central features distinguishing 1st century slavery from that which was practiced here not all that long ago.
“In the 1st Century, racial factors played no role, education was greatly encouraged (some slaves were better educated than their owners); many slaves carried out sensitive and highly responsible social functions. Slaves could own property and publicly assemble. The majority of urban and domestic slaves could legitimately anticipate being emancipated by the age of 30.”
Tom Schreiner writes that in the Roman world,
“People became slaves by being captured in wars, by being kidnapped, or because they were born into a slave household. People who were facing economic hardships sometime chose to sell themselves into slavery in order to survive. Some slaves served as doctors, teachers, managers, musicians, and artisans. Roman slaves could even own other slaves. It would not be shocking for slaves to be better educated than their masters.”
Slavery in the Roman world was markedly different from the slavery in our country as practiced in the 17th-19th Centuries.
When we read here in our text this morning Peter addressing slaves, we cannot start to think this is the Bible’s approval of slavery.
The Bible does not approve of slavery, and certainly does not approve of slavery based on race and forced subjection.
Remember what Abraham Lincoln once said: “If you are a racist, I will attack you with the North.”
No kind of favoritism is allowed in the Christian life. To look upon another as less-than simply because of their station in life, their socio-economic status, the color of their skin, the clothes they wear—this is appalling behavior out of line with faith in Jesus.
In fact, the Bible condemns in no uncertain terms, the thinking and ideology which led to slavery practiced in North America. In 1 Timothy, Paul makes a list of activities that are contrary to sound doctrine.
1 Timothy 1:8–11
We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
The Bible is clear about slavery in the way Americans probably think about slavery. Trafficking in human beings is simply wrong. It’s abhorrent and despicable. It’s sinful and reprehensible. Paul lists those who practice it as “ungodly”, “sinful”, and “unholy.” There’s no justifying it.
In our text this morning Peter is addressing slaves, but not slaves like we might have in mind.
These are 1st century Roman slaves—household servants—men and women employed as managers and helpers in the home. They ran the agrarian workplace. It’s this servant class Peter is writing about at this point in his letter.
Peter is writing to these Christian brothers and sisters, instructing them how to live in whatever situation they find themselves. They are slaves/servants/household help.
Peter tells them (and us) to submit.
If you have your Bibles (and I hope you do), please turn with me to 1 Peter. If you are able and willing, please stand for the reading of God’s Holy Word:
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.
May God add His blessing to the reading of His Holy Word!
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Though slaves are addressed here, the issue is the same as the previous section from (now) two weeks: submission.
This is “Submission, Pt. 2”, cleverly entitled like the last sermon on 1 Peter 2:13-17. I spend minutes each week coming up with catchy sermon titles for you. Minutes and minutes.
I actually thought about entitling this one “Submission, Part Deux”, but then wasn’t sure anyone would appreciate it.
Just as citizens are to submit themselves to the government, so slaves—household servants (οἰκέται)—are commanded to submit to their masters.
Submitting literally means to place yourself under another person, out of a respect that is expressed in obedience appropriate to the relationship.
Peter calls for submission from these Christians, slaves/servants though they may be. This is what he says:
Christians Must Live in Reverent Fear of God
Christians Must Live in Reverent Fear of God
The submission in these verses is to be carried out, your Bible might say, “with all reverence.”
What it says literally is: “with all fear.”
There’s a problem with translations like “with all respect” and “with all deference.” Those translations suggest that what matters here is that the slaves have, before anything else, a proper attitude toward the slave masters.
This interpretation and translation is unlikely since in every single instance in 1 Peter “fear” (the word used in verse 18) is directed toward God alone, not to any human being.
The word—phobos—means “profound respect and awe for deity, for God.”
The reason slaves are to submit to masters is, not out of respect for their master, but because of the Christian slaves’ relationship with God.
Because they revere the LORD, they will submit themselves to the government and, if they are slaves, they will submit themselves to their masters.
Submission is a by-product of worship, of reverent fear. Fear, not of any person or people, but a reverent fear reserved for God alone.
It’s a different world for the Christian. The Christian house slave or servant behaves differently than the rest.
And that’s the point.
Peter applies the injunction to submit to both good and kind masters as well as to masters who cruel and crooked. Some masters were morally bankrupt and evil, as you can imagine.
Believers could not opt out of obeying masters who were wicked. Peter isn’t telling them to participate in evil; Peter is merely saying that slaves cannot exempt themselves from doing what a master says, even if the master is wicked.
The reason for the Christian slave to behave in this way is found in the opening sentence. In reverent fear of God.
The principles that were taught in 1 Peter 2:11-12 now become critical.
1 Peter 2:11–12 (NIV)
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
The point of the Christian slave submitting themselves to their masters is that their living such good lives will be a witness to God’s grace.
A Christian slave/servant behaving differently than is natural to a harsh slave master would cause others to take notice.
There are no slaves in our gathering today. There are no house servants present today. So what is the point of this? Why are we talking about this?
We talk about this because this is God’s Word for us here and now.
It’s applicable to us right where we find ourselves, believe it or not. What Peter says here is a principle of general application.
In all our social relationships, our conduct should spring out of our reverence for God and a desire to do His will.
The fundamental question must always be: What does God want me to do?
Think about what this might mean for you in the workplace. Or at home. Or at school. If you are a Christian, if you go by His name, your behavior, regardless of what you think about the people in your life—your behavior speaks to what you believe about God.
What does God want me to to do? If we live our lives with that as a guiding question, our jobs, our schools, our homes, our society in general will be affected for the better.
What does God—the One I fear—want me to do?
Christian, live in reverent fear of God.
Christians are Mindful of God as they Suffer
Christians are Mindful of God as they Suffer
Notice, won’t you, at the beginning of verse 19 and the end of verse 20 the word “commendable.” For it is commendable…this is commendable.
There is suffering that is commendable—suffering for doing good. And there’s suffering that is displeasing to God—when His people suffer because they’re being rebellious or sinful.
It’s of God, Peter argues, for His people to endure suffering in spite of, or even because of, doing good.
When a person puts up with suffering because he/she is conscious of God, this is commendable.
God is pleased when His people trust Him in the midst of unjust suffering, imitating the example of Jesus.
If you, Christian, suffer in this life because of your faith; if you suffer because of your identification with Jesus, God is pleased with you.
Suffering is not in vain. Suffering is working out something in our lives, whether or not we can see what it is.
The trusting awareness of God’s presence and never-failing care are the key to righteous suffering. It is the confidence that God will ultimately right all wrongs which enables a Christian to submit to an unjust master without resentment, rebelliousness, self-pity, or despair.
Slaves are commended, then, if they suffer pain because of their relationship with God. Slaves who endure unjust suffering because of their relationship with God will be rewarded by God.
What’s that reward look like? It seems Peter is think about the Christians’ future inheritance:
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
To be mindful of God as we suffer—whatever it is we might suffer in this life—means we are aware of His presence and His never-failing care.
To be mindful of God as we suffer is a realization that there is a reward awaiting us, a future inheritance, an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs any of our sufferings here.
Christian, Jesus has told you to expect suffering: “In this world, you will have trouble.” The lesson, the important thing to do through suffering is to be mindful of God.
Every bit of suffering serves as a reminder that God is at work. Suffering points us to our Savior. Suffering is a nice kick in the seat of the pants; it’s often what gets our attention and helps us to sense the Lord’s presence and care.
As you suffer, be mindful of God.
Christians Receive Grace from God
Christians Receive Grace from God
If we were to look at these verses together and go word-by-word, we’d find some interesting word choices. Peter’s up to something here, something the early readers would have picked up on. This is what he writes in verses 19-20:
1 Peter 2:19–20 (NIV)
19 For it is commendable (grace; a gracious thing) if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 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 (grace; a gracious thing) before God.
When you, Christian, endure unjust hardship, you are doing a gracious thing. It is a gracious thing before God.
In other words, there is grace from God in the midst of suffering. As you endure, you’ll find grace from the Father—favor from Him, reward from Him.
Grace, favor, blessing, reward.
There’s grace from God to get through suffering. Grace from God to endure. Grace for the slave and the servant; grace for the Christian here today who is suffering.
Beyond God giving grace to His people, He gave us His Son, Jesus as the perfect example:
21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Peter, writing to his Christian brothers and sisters, those beloved by God, knows how difficult our time in this world will be. He knows we need God’s grace to make it. But he doesn’t stop there. He reminds us of our example, the One we imitate, the One we follow.
We were called to suffer. To this you were called writes Peter. We are to follow Jesus’ pattern and endure suffering in this present age.
The word “example” is used of children tracing over the letters of the alphabet in order to learn to write the shapes correctly.
We follow Jesus’ steps. We place our feet in the imprints His feet made. We endure every pain and insult received, just as Jesus did.
Peter gives us our motive for dealing with suffering: suffer well because Christ suffered for you and set the example.
Peter’s teaching clearly states what is involved in following Jesus. The pattern that must be followed is His refusal to retaliate when He was attacked.
Peter’s teaching about how slaves should behave comes from his general understanding of how Christians should react to injustice.
We don’t avenge ourselves. Vengeance belongs to the LORD. We are able to forgive, even the most egregious and hurtful wrongdoing, because of what Jesus has done for us. It’s His example we follow. And this we know: every wrong deed in the universe will either be covered by the blood of Christ or repaid justly by God at the final judgment.
Christians who have been forgiven their sins (past, present, and future sins) should be quick to forgive those who have wronged us and caused us to suffer. There’s grace there for that.
We—slave or free—depend upon the grace of God in each moment of the day. And we receive grace from Him for each and every moment.
>Submission is difficult, even under the best circumstances. Submission is not easy, nor is it often fun. We’d rather do our own thing instead of placing ourselves under another person or system of authority.
I can’t imagine how difficult it would have been for Roman slaves to submit [them]selves to [their] masters. I don’t know what this was like for them, but the principles stand true for us today.
We submit out of reverent fear for God, no matter who we are or where we find ourselves. Our fear and reverence for God affects every single part of our lives.
As we submit, even if we suffer while doing so, we must be mindful of God—His presence and His daily care for us. As a shepherd cares for His sheep, He watches over us.
The really good news is that our gracious God gives grace in abundance. Submission doesn’t come naturally, and that’s why He gives grace. That’s why He gave us Jesus—our Savior, our Substitute, our Shepherd.
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