1 Peter 2:13-25, Our witness is dependent upon how we respond to society, our bosses, and injustice to our self

• Review themes:
• Stand firm, you are going to suffer
• We are strangers here, this world is not our reward.  We should live as strangers and not get too attached
• We need to live for things that are eternal -- God, His Word, and people
• We live here, not because it is a reward but because we are supposed to be witnesses
• Will other people use our witness as an excuse for why the never believed?


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.


• To whom are we to commanded to submit?
• How do we define "human institution?" Or what does it not include? Or is it only governors and kings?
• What was the situation at the time the letter was written?
• Is there a limit to our submission?
• Immoral laws cannot force us to disobey God.  Give me an example
• So would that include speed limits, traffic signals, and taxes?
• KEY PRINCIPLE: God has designed everyone to be under authority.  You are never not under authority.  Authority is a good thing and it protects us (in more ways than we know)
• Why is this (submission to authorities) an important Christian virtue?
• It silences the talk of ignorant foolish people
• What characterizes the talk of ignorant foolish people?
• Ignorant implies it is not based on fact -- possibly hearsay, gossip
• Does arguing with these people or correcting their facts work in changing their opinion?  Why or why not?
• We represent a threat to a person's worldview.  As long as they can discredit our lives, they don't have to contemplate our message
• Arguing will not have an impact if they are foolish (hence emotional)
• They require both experiential knowledge and new facts to refute their preconceived notions.  We need to live in such a way that we force people to acknowledge and struggle with our worldview
• Peter provides the principle later in the letter:
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) — 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
• We are free, which means what?
• Two things: One, we have the ability and power  to choose not to sin. The unbeliever may temporarily change behavior but he/she is a slave to sin
• Secondly, this isn't even our world. We obey be our savior has asked us to obey
• What does it mean to show respect to everyone?  How is that done?
• How do you show respect to those who serve you, i.e., the cashier, the waiter, the attendant, etc.? 
• It is easy to show respect to a famous person (4-star General, David Robinson), but the real measure is how we show respect to those who are seemingly unimportant?


1 Peter 2:18–20 (ESV) — 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 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.


• In Israel, there were two types of slaves.
• Some slaves were under a contractual obligation that lasted seven years.  It is very similar to professional athletes who sign contracts to play for a certain team for x number of years.  They do not have the freedom to play for another team until the end of the contract
• Other slaves had volunteered to be slaves for life
• Slavery in Rome was much different from our concepts of slavery in America
• Slavery was for life, although there were a number of legal avenues to freedom
• Slaves were usually treated well because of the cost of acquiring them, although not in all cases
• The very fact of three servile wars in Rome (Spartacus being the most famous) argue that slaves did not like being slaves
• Slaves actually created a large unemployment problem among freedmen in Rome, ultimately creating the mobs that brought down the Republic
• Here we have specific guidance for submission, what is Peter's admonition?
• Submit to our owners (today, the closest example would be our employers)
• The submission is not a quid pro quo type of submission.  We are to submit independent of the owner's kindness
• Peter gives two examples, what are they?
• Suffer (punished) for doing wrong… and how should you respond?
• This seems self-evident, but I would challenge you that most people never believe that they were deserving of a particular tongue lashing or discipline
• Stop, think, reflect, … did I, maybe, do something wrong? 
• Forget whether the punishment fits the crime, that's a subjective argument
• "What can I learn from the situation?" -- I have found that in nearly all cases, there is some truth in the other person's contention against me
• But you can also suffer for doing good, what can you learn from that?
• We know that if we endure it, God will commend us
• What does it mean to endure, practically?
• It does not mean telling everyone how badly we were mistreated
• It does not mean being bitter at the individual
• It does not mean figuring out how to get back at the person


1 Peter 2:21–25 (ESV) — 21 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. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 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. 24 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. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.


• Why is Jesus our example?
• If anyone was ever innocent, it was Jesus.  He was perfect and yet he suffered
• How did he specifically suffer?
• People hurled insults -- he did not retaliate
• He physically suffered -- he made no threats
• He took our sins (for which he was not guilty) and died in our place
• And we get all bent out of shape because ...
• someone said something against us
• we have to bear the penalty for something someone else did


• APPLICATION:
• It is a Christian virtue to submit to authority
• It is for our good to be under authority
• We must do what is right so that we force others to examine the claims of the gospel
• We must follow Jesus' example and be willing to suffer without trying to get back or making a big deal or throwing a big fit or … (AGAIN, THE REASON WE ARE IN THE WORLD WHICH IS NOT OUR HOME IS FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL)