Our Witness Among The World

Our Witness among the World

1 Peter 2: 11-20

After revealing the need for believers to abide in the Word, growing thereby, and building their lives upon Christ, the Corner-stone of our faith, Peter reminded us of our standing with the Lord, being positioned in Christ. Those who abide faithfully in the Word and in Christ will naturally show forth the transformation that has taken place in their lives, revealing their faith for all to see.

Having provided sound instruction and guidance, Peter then addressed the life every believer is expected to live before others. Dr. Adrian Rogers said, “A faith that can’t be tested, can’t be trusted.” Peter knew the church would encounter difficulty and adversity along the journey. There will be times when our faith is tested; there will be times when we encounter situations that test our resolve to live committed lives unto the Lord. Even in the midst of these trying times, we must continue to portray a positive Christian witness. Our testimony is one of the greatest tools we have in reaching others for Christ. We must continually guard and display a Christian witness if we are to be effective in reaching those apart from Christ.

Our text today is not necessarily difficult to understand, but it can be difficult to put into daily practice. As we discuss the virtues every believer should possess and portray, I want to consider: Our Witness among the World.

I. The Believer’s Personal Life (11) – Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. Peter offered a stirring reminder that believers are mere pilgrims and strangers in this life. This world is not our home; we are now citizens of another country, on our pilgrimage to that eternal land. Being pilgrims and strangers, the lure of this world and all it offers should not be desirable to believers. In fact, much of what we encounter is contrary to the Christian life, totally incompatible with a victorious, Christian life.

We are challenged to abstain from fleshly lusts. We must refrain from such lusts, literally casting those aside and refusing to engage in such pursuits. Peter knew the danger of fleshy lusts, as these war against the soul, being detrimental to victorious life in Christ. Paul was aware of these dangers and warned of them as well. In fact, he provided a list of these lusts to the Galatians. Gal.5:19-21 – Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness (moral impurity,) lasciviousness (indecency,) [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance (contention,) emulations (coveting,) wrath, strife, seditions (rebellion,) heresies, [21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings (uncontrolled indulgence,) and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

II. The Believer’s Social Life (12-17) – Having shared a fundamental admonition regarding our personal lives, Peter then addressed the social life believers are expected to pursue. This regards:

A. Our Conversation (12) – Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Believers were to have an honest conversation among the Gentiles – they were to walk uprightly before the world. The word conversation refers to much more than the words we speak and the conversations we have. This involves our behavior among others, literally how we present ourselves on a daily basis. Although the believer may be spoken evil against initially, his good works and upright life would eventually be noticed and make a positive impact on those who watched his life. Simply, these were to live a life that honored Christ, bearing witness to the transformation they had received, before those they encountered. They were to walk and talk as becoming a believer.

B. Our Submission (13-15) – 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. Bear in mind, Peter is writing to the strangers scattered throughout the Roman provinces due to persecution of their faith. They were now living in a hostile environment, governed by those who were not sympathetic to their faith. Peter does not encourage insurrection or rebellion against the authorities; in fact, he encouraged just the opposite – submission to those in authority. This included kings and governors, literally all who held a position of governmental authority. Their obedience to rulers would please God and put to silence those who spoke against them.