INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• As citizens of Heaven we have talked about how important it is for our life to reflect our true citizenship. This means that we are not to be a reflection of the world we live in but rather a reflection of the God we serve!
• Today as we continue with that theme Peter is going to share a basic Christian civics lesson so that we know what God expects from His people concerning the area of civics.
• Civics is defined as the study of the rights and duties of citizens.
• This subject is important for us so that we can be the examples that God wants us to be as we live here.
• One of the fascinating parts of this passage that we need to understand is that Nero was Emperor of Rome (54-68 A.D.) at the time this was written.
• The same Nero who burned Rome and blamed and heavily persecuted the Christians.
• Let’s turn to 1 Peter 2:13-17 for a lesson in civics today. Let’s begin in verse 13
• SLIDE #2
• 1 Peter 2:13(ESV) 13Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. A Christian’s attitude toward governing authority.
• What if we do not like who is governing us or what if we did not vote for who is governing us? What of those in charge do not represent the animal we like?
• Since we are citizens of Heaven what is our attitude toward the governing authorities supposed to be?
• Peter gives us the answer. This answer can be hard to swallow at times.
• The answer is that we are to have an attitude of submission toward that authority.
• Every human institution refers to civil authority.
• Can you imagine what the readers of this letter must have thought as you consider WHO the leader of Rome was at the time?
• It would seem a bit surprising that God would want His people to be submissive toward an ungodly ruler.
• We are called to submit to the ruling authorities. The word “submit” denotes as voluntary submission for our own benefit.
• The phrase “be subject” also implies that the subjection or submission is a conscience act of the will.
• It is voluntary acceptance or obedience to a superior authority.
• We are called to submit to the “King” or in our case “President” and to all those who represent his power and authority right down to the local authorities.
• During Jesus day there were people who openly opposed the government, they were known as Zealots. Simon, one of Jesus apostles was called Simon the Zealot (Matt 10:4)
• It is hard for a royal priest to do the work God has called them to do it they are crossways with the ruling authorities. We will have a hard time functioning if we are labeled “anti-government”
• It was the Zealots who were in part responsible for the ransacking of Jerusalem in AD 70 by Titus.
• This does not mean we BLINDLY submit to the ruling authority.
This does not mean we cannot work within the system to change things, but as Christians our life should not be just about politics.
I am political as the next person, but politics is not going to save people or change their hearts, only Jesus will do that.
• We do not have to submit to laws or authority which contradicts God.
• When Peter and John were arrested for spreading the gospel, the religious leaders told them to not preach about Jesus. They responded to the human authority.
• SLIDE #4
• Acts 4:19-20(ESV) 19But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
• Something very similar happens in Act 5. Look at Peter’s response.
• SLIDE #5
• Acts 5:29(ESV) 29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
• They were BEATEN because they refused to disobey God in favor of the ruling authority. Verse 41 shows their response to the beating!
• Acts 5:41(ESV) 41Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
• We are told we are to submit for the Lord’s sake. Jesus is the motivation for civil obedience. If we are always in trouble with the government we will have a hard time doing what God called us to do.
• Jesus submitted Himself to governing rulers at the time also. Matthew 17:24-27
• How many like paying taxes especially when you see how it is wasted? When Jesus was asked about paying taxes to Caesar, look at how He responds. Jesus asks whose image is on the coin. This ties to Romans 13:6-7 also.
• SLIDE #6
• Matthew 22:21(ESV) 21They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
• Let’s next turn to verse 14 so we can receive another part of the civics lesson.
• SLIDE #7
• 1 Peter 2:14(ESV) 14or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
• SLIDE #8
II. The governing authorities calling from God.
• For this we are going to look at some verses in Romans 13.
• Before we do that, if we have a responsibility to the civil government, it makes sense that that civil government has some responsibilities before God and man also.
• WE need to remember what we see in Romans 13, that God establishes government.
• SLIDE #9
• Romans 13:1-2(ESV) 1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
• Does it not make sense that if government derives its authority and calling from God that it should do what God calls it to do?
• In our passage we told the calling from God is to punish those who do evil. They are to keep order in society by making sure habitual evil-doers are appropriately punished.
• Secondly, they are called to praise the righteous.
• This is the opposite of punishment. Praise includes recognition but it also includes protection of personal property, defending one’s God-given rights, etc..
• Look at how Romans 13:3-4 build on this thought.
• SLIDE #10
• Romans 13:3-4(ESV) 3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
• God’s plan for government is that they praise and protect the righteous and punish the evil-doers or lawbreakers.
• That is not to say that they cannot do other functions, but that is outside of the scope of their calling.
• God NEVER intended that we rely on government; we are called to rely on God. I find it interesting that God only asks for 10% and government takes…
• SLIDE #11
• 1 Peter 2:15-17(ESV) 15For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants£ of God. 17Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
• SLIDE #12
III. A Christian’s duty toward our fellow citizens.
• Peter explains once again that it is God’s will that by doing good we can change people’s hearts concerning God. Most do what they do to Christians out of ignorance.
• Since we are citizens of heaven, technically we could be exempt from the laws of man, but Peter tells us that we are not to conduct ourselves that way.
• Foreign Diplomats have this thing called Diplomatic immunity.
• Diplomatic immunity is a form of legal immunity and a policy held between governments, which ensures that diplomats are given safe passage and are considered not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution under the host country’s laws (although they can be expelled)
• WE have heard instances diplomats abusing the privilege. As Christians we are not to do that.
• We are also told not to abuse our freedom. There may be many things that are LEGAL, but we need to remember we are representing Christ.
• I remember reading Kurt Warner’s Book “All Things Possible”. At one time he played in NFL Europe. They played for Amsterdam. In that society EVERYTHING is legal, but Kurt knew that even though it was legal to do just about anything, he knew his citizenship in heaven would not permit him to do many things.
• We are told how to respond to four groups of people (3 plus God)
• Honor all men. This means that we are to look at all people as precious, especially those who have not given their lives to Jesus. They are special to God, He does not want to see a single person lost.
• We are to despise no person, we are to not be prejudice toward others.
• Love the brotherhood. This means that not only are we to love our brothers and sisters in the church, but we are to love ALL Christians everywhere. People in churches throughout the world are our brothers and sisters in Christ also!
• We are called to fear God! This is not a horror movie type fear or a fear of punishment, it is a respect of God and who He is. When we respect God, we will listen and learn from Him! Psalm 111:10 reminds us the fear of God is the beginning of knowledge.
• Honor the King. For us this would be the president. No matter who it is we are to honor the office.
CONCLUSION
We need to be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking government is the salvation of mankind, that is Jesus.
WE need to be involved and plugged in, but we also need to realize that real change and real hope comes through Jesus and the salvation He offers!
As Christians, we never know who is watching us, we have an obligation to live up to the person we serve.
Even though our citizenship is not here, we want to live in such a way as to attract people to the gospel.
Each one of us is a billboard for Jesus. Once again, is the Jesus we are selling one people would want to purchase?
