Christian Governance-&-Government-2 Series

‘For The LORD’S SAKE’—1Peter 2:13—3:12

A. CHRISTIAN GOVERNANCE-&-GOVERNMENT--II—1Peter 2:13-17

So far in our study of 1Peter we have examined the fact that

Christians are...CONSIDERED ALIEN(1:1-2)...

We’ve examined...WHAT’s So GREAT About GOD—(1:3-12)

Discovered God’s means of...UNLEASHING Your SPIRITUAL VITALITY/Vigor—(1:13-21)

And we’ve found the importance of LOVING THE BRETHREN(1:22—2:12).

Now we are going to see how those truths play into the scheme of SUBMISSION...the give-&-take of relationships in our world.

And particularly, the role Submission plays in the Christian’s relationship with government.

Attention:

After the presidential election last week(Nov. 8, 2016), there were protest marches in some of the larger US Cities. They were disappointed with the election results...so they complained about it. Who does that? Eerily, there are many people who absolutely have to have their way so that they cannot take it when they do not get what they want.

It’s unnerving to me that there are people who are held by such emotionally driven fear, that they literally feel their lives are hanging in the balance because of a new president. Oddly enough, such people blindly assume they are at odds with the president & his agenda before he even gets into office to prove himself!

BUT, Americans don’t have to stage a revolt to oust some ‘wind-up’ blood-thirsty fascist dictator who has wrongly assumed control. A peaceful transfer of power is one of the things that makes America the most blessed & uniquely independent nation on earth! We are a country of the people & by the people...even though we not see things eye-to-eye. That’s the beauty of individually population-based elections. That’s the beauty of representative government.

Coddled & indulged people whine & belly-ache, threatening to leave the country because their hope is seated in human government rather than in the God who has ordained the order arising from said governance.

More pointedly, such people need to realize that their ‘genuine’ salvation has always been before them. The bottom line is that their genuine hope, rescue, & peace is found in Christ Jesus alone!

Americans indeed have a love-hate relationship with government.

BUT...

Peter maintained & pressed the importance of Christians operating within the bounds of secular governance

Christian submission is indissolubly linked/tied to secular governance.

How do Christians properly relate to secular governance & vice-versa?

6 facets of Christian governance.

We’ve found previously that Christian governance & Government addresses...

1. The SUBMISSION To/Of GOVERNANCE(:13a-c)

2— Christian governance & Government also addresses...

The REACH of GOVERNANCE(:13d-14a)

Explanation:(:13d-14a)At every level/As a whole/Fullness/Entirety

2:13d—“Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,”

2:14a—“or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers & for the praise of those who do good.”

:13d-14a—

“...whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him...”

This is to be directed toward all of the highest levels of government as well as to the lowest. Submission to the entire range of governance is because its entire gamut is intended to be tied together in cohesively presenting God’s sovereignty.

Christians are to submit to these heads(Rom. 13:1) knowing that they all integrally carry out both the just punishment of evildoers as well as “the praise” of doers of good.

Rom. 13:1-2—“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, & the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, & those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.”

Governmental Reach touches every outward part of our lives for good or for bad. The reach varies from being largely ‘hands off’(libertarian) to entirely invasive(totalitarian), to anything in-between.

“King”—basileuv—Noun Masc.—1) Leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king. Strong—A sovereign(abstractly, relatively, or figuratively).

“Supreme”—uperecw—Verb—1) To have or hold over one; 2) To stand out, rise above, overtop—2a) To be above, be superior in rank, authority, power—2a1) The prominent men, rulers, 2b) To excel, to be superior, better than, to surpass. Strong—To hold oneself above, i.e. figuratively--To excel; participle(as adjective, or neuter as noun)--Superior, superiority. Used 5X.

From—uper—1) In behalf of, for the sake of; 2) Over, beyond, more than; 3) More, beyond, over. Strong—“Over”, i.e. (with the genitive case)of place--Above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case--Superior to, more than.—&—ecw or scew—1) To have, i.e. To hold; 2) To have i.e. Own, possess; 3) To hold one's self or find one's self so & so, to be in such or such a condition; 4) To hold one's self to a thing, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to. Strong—a primary verb; To hold.

“Governors”—hgemwn—Noun Masc.—1) A leader of any kind, a guide, ruler, prefect, president, chief, general, commander, sovereign—1a) A “legatus Caesaris”, an officer administering a province in the name & with the authority of the Roman emperor—1a1) The governor of a province, 1b) A procurator, an officer who was attached to a proconsul or a proprietor & had charge of the imperial revenues—1b1) in causes relating to these revenues he administered justice. In the smaller provinces also, which were so to speak appendages of the greater, he discharged the functions of governor of the province; & such was the relation of the procurator of Judaea to the governor of Syria., 1c) First, leading, chief—1c1) Of a principal town as the capital of the region. Strong—A leader, i.e. Chief person(or figuratively--Place) of a province. Used 22X.