Ill:
• A surgeon, a civil engineer, and a computer software engineer were chatting.
• And the discussion rolled around to whose profession was the oldest.
• The surgeon said that his was, since in the Book of Genesis,
• God created Eve from one of Adam's ribs, and surely that involved surgery.
• The civil engineer countered by saying that before God created man,
• He created the heavens and the Earth from chaos, surely a feat of civil engineering.
• The computer software engineer just smiled and said,
• "Where do you think chaos came from?"
We live in a chaotic world, a world where life ain’t fair:
• Those words ‘It’s not fair!” So easily fall from our lips;
• ill: According to Ann Landers,
• The average teenager uses the phrase “it’s not fair”, 86 times a day!
• ill: If you put those words “When life is not fair” on an internet search engine:
• Depending which search engine you use;
• But your search will yield a staggering 97.2 million results.
Enduring unfair treatment is tough.
• All of us at some stage have been there;
• And when hard times come and we don't have the answers,
• We cry out to God about the unfairness of it all.
• But sometimes He seems silent when we so badly want Him to speak to us in our need.
• We admire people who endure pain and difficult circumstances that they don't deserve;
• But if we are honest, we just don't want to be one of them!
• In our verses this morning;
• The apostle Peter reminds his readers (and us) that “Life aint fair!”
• His good, practical advice is simple – press on!
• Unfair treatment is part of the package, part of the normal Christian life,
• Your master and Lord was not treated fairly (verses 21-25);
• So why do you (follower and servant of Christ) expect to be treated any better?
Quote: Amy Carmicheal (18-67-1951):
• She was a missionary in India for 55 years;
• Author of 35 books,
• Worked among girls who were victims of sexual-abuse, or temple prostitution.
• Help with the babies born as a result of the temple prostitution.
• On numerous occasions she faced legal charges of kidnapping,
• And often faced physical threats.
• Following a serious fall;
• She spent the last the last twenty years of her life as an invalid.
She wrote some incredible and challenging poetry, including: ‘Hast thou no scar?’
Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,
I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star,
Hast thou no scar?
Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers, spend,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned:
Hast thou no wound?
No wound, no scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And, pierced are the feet that follow Me;
But thine are whole: can he have followed far
Who has no wounds nor scar?
Note:
• In these verses this morning;
• The apostle Peter uses four word-picture illustrations to encourage and help us;
• Followed by a section on ‘submission’ (that’s right submission);
• He reminds us that the Christian life is a life of submission.
(A). Christian Life: Metaphors (vs 11-12):
• There are four imaginative images contained in these two verses;
• Metaphors that describe to us that life for the Christian ‘aint fair!’
(#1). Temporary residents (vs 11a):
• N.I.V: “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world.”
• The Message: “Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cosy in it”
• The beginning of this letter (chapter 1 verses 1-2) informs us of the audience;
• The people that Peter was writing too.
• The list of believers mentioned were varied:
• Jewish & Gentile,
• Slave & free (some of those ‘free’ were even fully-fledged Roman citizens.
• But regardless of their official status, or origin;
• Once they put their faith in Jesus Christ,
• Peter reminds them that they became "aliens and strangers" in this temporal world.
Ill:
• An American tourist once visited the 19th century Polish rabbi, Hofetz Chaim:
• The tourist was astonished to see;
• That the rabbi's home was only a simple room filled with books,
• Plus a table and a bench.
• The tourist asked, “rabbi, where is your furniture?”
• "Where is yours?" replied the rabbi.
• "Mine?" asked the puzzled American. "But I'm a visitor here. I'm only passing through.'
• "So am I,” said Hofetz Chaim, "So am I,”
• According to this book, all of us are pilgrims in this world:
• None of us are residents!
Note: “Strangers and pilgrims.”
• A strangers is someone who is away from home;
• In Bible days a stranger was a ‘resident alien’;
• Who lived alongside the people of the land but was not one of them.
• A pilgrim is someone on their way home.
• That is passing through a country but always heading homeward.
• A bit like a traveller, a holiday maker – just passing through.
The apostle Peter speaks plainly these Christians and reminds them:
• That their allegiance to Jesus Christ, means they are no longer of this world.
• They are in the world but not of the world!
• So expect trouble and opposition!
Ill:
• Normally people are wary of ‘strangers’ and ‘foreigners’.
• In Hounslow, London where I run a yearly Holiday Club for children.
• The invasion of Eastern Europeans has caused a backlash from 2nd generation Asians.
• What white English people once said about Asian and African immigrants;
• They are now saying the same words to those from Eastern Europe!
• i.e. Taking our jobs by working as cheap labour etc.
• i.e. Jumping the housing queue.
• Once they (& you) pledged your allegiance to Christ, and became his followers;
• YOU! Are now the ‘stranger’ and ‘foreigner’,
• So expect some prejudice! Expect some hardship or insults.
(2). Fighting soldiers (vs 11b):
• N.I.V: “Abstain from sinful desires, which WAR against your soul.”
• K.J.B: “Abstain from fleshly lusts, which WAR against the soul;”
Becoming a Christian ends one war but starts another:
• We are no longer at war with God:
• “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
• (Romans chapter 5 verse 1).
• Although we are no longer at war with God;
• We are at war with the things that are against God!
• In every Christian a civil-war takes place;
• Our old sinful nature is fighting it out with our new Christian nature.
Ill:
• One evening, a Native American Indian;
• Told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
• He said, "My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.
• One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, greed, and arrogance.
• The other is Good - It is peace, love, hope, humility, compassion, and faith."
• The grandson thought about this for a while and then asked his grandfather,
• "Which wolf wins?"
• To which the old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
• TRANSITION:
• In every Christian a civil-war takes place;
• Our old sinful nature is fighting it out with our new Christian nature.
• The word translated ‘War’ carries the idea of a ‘Military campaign’.
• In other words, we don’t just win one battle and the war is over!
• It is constant warfare,
• And we must always be on guard.
Note: The phrase “Sinful desires”:
• Stands for the human nature of man without God’s standards.
• All that is characteristic of fallen human nature.
Ill:
• A man walking through a park, passed a massive oak tree.
• A vine had grown up along its trunk.
• The vine had started small—nothing to bother about.
• But over the years the vine had gotten taller and taller.
• By the time the man had passed by that tree,
• The entire lower half of the tree was covered by the vine’s creepers.
• The mass of tiny feelers was so thick;
• That the tree looked as though it had innumerable birds’ nests in it.
• Now the tree was in danger.
• This huge, solid oak was quite literally being taken over; the life was being squeezed from it.
• But the gardeners in that park had seen the danger.
• They had taken a saw and severed the trunk of the vine—one neat cut across the middle.
• The tangled mass of the vine’s branches still clung to the oak,
• But the vine was now dead.
• That would gradually become plain as weeks passed;
• And the creepers began to die and fall away from the tree.
Peter tells his readers that we must abstain from “Sinful desires”:
• These desires often start out small and seemingly insignificant,
• Yet they can grow until they have a strangling grip on our lives.
• Peter would warn us to cut the desire while it is still small;
• Do not allow it to become a huge creeper that will hinder & destroy.
Peter tells his readers to go to war with that which is wrong in our lives;
• As I mentioned earlier;
• The word translated ‘War’ carries the idea of a ‘Military campaign’.
• In other words, we don’t just win one battle and expect the war to be over!
• We are in a constant warfare, and we must always be on guard duty!
(3). Beauty consultants:
• In verse 12; Peter urges Christians to live ‘Good lives’.
• The Greek word for ‘Good’ literally means ‘Beautiful’ or ‘Attractive’.
Ill:
• I love the old story of the farmer who placed an ad in the newspaper that read:
• “Farmer wants to marry beautiful woman, with tractor.
• Please send picture of tractor.”
Ill:
• In the late 1800’s Charles William Eliot was the president of Harvard University,
• He had been born with a large birthmark on his face that bothered him greatly.
• As a young man, he was told that surgeons could do nothing to remove it.
• Someone described that moment as “the dark hour of his soul.”
• Eliot’s mother gave him this helpful advice:
• “My son, it is not possible for you to get rid of that hardship…
• But it is possible for you, with God’s help,
• To grow a mind and soul so big that people will forget to look at your face.”
Peter tells his readers that our living should be so attractive:
• That it has a magnetic drawing power for outsiders;
• It should make them sit up and think”
Ill:
• Penny has her hair cut;
• Much to my disgust! She has her naturally curly hair straightened.
• But her friends and other people who know us say one of two things.
• “Your hair likes nice!” or “Where did you get it done?”
• That is the reaction Peter wants non-Christians to ask us;
• “You are different, a beautiful person” - “Why do you act & behave like that?”
(4). Defence witnesses:
• Verse 12: “They accuse you of doing wrong”.
• At times all Christians are in the dock!
• They will be falsely accused of ‘doing wrong’.
The Christians in Peter’s day were accused of all sorts of things (3 quick examples):
• e.g. Accused of disloyalty to Caesar:
• Roman world ‘Caesar was Lord’ Christians however declared that ‘Jesus was Lord’.
• e.g. Accused of Cannibalism:
• Rumours regarding Christ body was eaten and his blood drunk at the Lord’s supper.
• e.g. Accused of breaking up families ill: Jim.
• As new converts became ‘aliens & strangers’.
Peter’s response to these accusations is not by words but by life:
• That is seen in verse 12 (C.E.V):
• “Always let others see you behaving properly”.
• Verse 15 (N.L.T):
• “…Your good lives should silence those who make foolish accusations against you”.
• Peter reminds us that the most effective way with dealing with opposition;
• Is living ‘the good life!’
Ill:
C.S. Lewis and Mrs Williams.
• Peter reminds us that the most effective way with dealing with opposition;
• Is ‘the good life!’
• And that brings us to the next section in this letter;
• We will not look at all of it but it is built around one theme – submission.
(B). Christian attitude: Submission:
• Now there is a word to cheer you up!
• Let’s face it we don’t want to submit to other people;
• We want other people to submit to us (or is that just me)!
• What you have in these verses 13a to 17;
• Are a series of instructions all built around that word submission.
(1). The command for submission (vs 13a):
• N.I.V: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sakes”
• The Message: “Make the Master proud of you”
• For relationships to work we all have to submit to each other in one way or another;
• For the sake of order and for things to function correctly;
• Submission must be part of the process.
• The word and the act of “submission” do not mean becoming inferior,
• Rather it is the way relationships work for a greater purpose.
Ill:
• We know that Jesus Christ submitted himself to the Father,
• He was subject to the command and the will of God the Father,
• But that didn’t make him inferior;
• That attitude worked for a greater purpose.
• Without that submission, the provision of salvation could not have taken place!
In his letter, Peter will tell his readers they will need to submit in 4 areas of their lives:
• In society at large (verses 13-17).
• At the work place (verses 18-20).
• In the home (chapter 3 verses 1-7).
• And within the Church family (chapter 5 verses 5).
• The word and the act of “submission” do not mean becoming inferior,
• Rather this how relationships work for a greater purpose.
Ill:
• Now if like me, you are probably thinking;
• “Hold on……:
• You do not know what my authorities are like.
• You do not know what my work situation is like.
• You do not know what my home circumstances are like.
• You do not know what my Church family is like.
• That’s true I don’t but it will not be as unfair as the situation Peter’s readers were facing.
• And it would not be as unfair as to what Jesus faced in verses 21-25!
The point the passage makes is this:
• God expects his people (Christians) to respect authority.
• We do that (we show respect) by being good citizens.
• By obeying the laws of the land.
• Unless those law ask us to do something that contradicts his word.
Remember Peter lived in an openly sinful, decadent society:
• It was infamous for evil:
• e.g. Homosexuality, infanticide, government corruption;
• Abuse of women, immorality & violence
• The apostle Peter did not tell his readers to defy civil authority;
• He and the other New Testament writers are quite clear in their message;
• Which is submit to authorities.
• We may or may not like our government;
• But Peter gives us clear commands regarding it.
ill:
• David Cameron and his Cabinet;
• Were meeting over a lunch to discuss some very important decisions.
• The waiter, approaching David Cameron with his notepad and asked him:
• "Sir, what will you have?"
• "I'll have the Beef Wellington," replied the Prime Minister promptly,
• Eager to get on with the business at hand.
• "And for the vegetables?" continued the waiter politely.
• Without looking up David Cameron replies; "They'll have the same."
• We may or may not like our government;
• But Peter tell us to respect it and submit to it.
Note:
• Today one-third of all Christians live in freedom.
• While two-thirds of all Christians live under repressive governments.
• The Bible does not recommend one form of government over another;
• It is not concerned with dictatorship or democracy.
• Rather it simply asks Christians;
• To accept the government under whose authority they find themselves.
(2). The motive for submission (vs 13b)
• N.I.V: “Submit yourselves for THE LORD'S SAKE”
• C.E.B: “THE LORD WANTS you to obey all human authorities”.
• Christians are called to ‘submit’ because this pleases God.
• And that should be the only motivation we need!
Ill:
• At his father’s funeral,
• American Carl Lewis placed his 100-meter gold medal;
• From the 1984 Olympics in his father’s hands.
• “Don’t worry,” he told his surprised mother. “I’ll get another one.”
• A year later, in the 100-meter final at the 1988 games,
• Lewis was competing against Canadian world-record-holder Ben Johnson.
• Halfway through the race Johnson was five feet in front.
• Lewis was convinced he could catch him.
• But at 80 meters, he was still five feet behind.
• It’s over, Dad, Lewis thought.
• As Johnson crossed the finishing line,
• He stared back at Lewis and thrust his right arm in the air, index finger extended.
• Lewis was exasperated, and he thought to himself:
• “I didn’t have the medal, but I could still give to my father by acting with class and dignity,”
• Lewis said later. He shook Johnson’s hand and left the track.
• But then came the announcement that Johnson had tested positive for anabolic steroids.
• He was stripped of his medal.
• The gold went to Lewis, a replacement for the medal he had given his father.
• His motivation was; to please his Father.
• And that should be the motivation of each and every Christian!
Christians are called to submit to the authority vested in human government:
• It does not mean we must obey every individual law;
• But rather we respect and try to obey the institutions that make and enforce the law.
• It is possible to submit to the institutions;
• And still disobey the laws.
Ill:
• Acts chapters 4-5 the Jewish council ordered Peter to stop preaching.
• He refused because he was under a higher authority that had told him to ‘Go & preach’.
• Once again Peter and his associates did not cause a rebellion;
• Or in anyway question or deny the authority of the council.
• They submitted to the institution;
• But refused to stop preaching.
• They showed respect to their leaders;
• Even though these men were opposed to the gospel.
(3). The extent of submission (verse 13c-14)
“Whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right”.
Peter goes on to names for us those various offices that we are to respect:
• Verses 13-14: “Every authority”.
• From the person at the top to those at grass roots;
• From the Queen, the Prime Minister to the lowest local official.
• Though we may not like them or agree with them, we are to still show them respect.
• Because (verse 14) they are appointed by God;
• To punish those who do evil and praise those who do good.
• This ideal was certainly not reached in Peter’s day and still isn’t reached in our own;
• But the point is respect the office even if we cannot respect the officer.
ILL:
• A policeman said to a woman, “Here is your parking ticket”
• The woman said, “And just what you do you do when you catch a real criminal?”
• The police officer replied,
• “I don’t know. All I ever catch are the innocent ones.”
ill:
Paul wrote similar words in Romans chapter 13 verses 3-7 (The Message):
“Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you'll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you're breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren't there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That's why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it's the right way to live.
6-7That's also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfil your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.”
(4). The reason for submission (vs 15)
“It is God's will that your good lives should silence those who make foolish accusations against you.”
• God has willed that we silence the critics by doping good;
• Not by opposing the authority.
• By submitting honourably to the ruling governments,
• We quiet our critics.
Foolish accusations come from the mouths of foolish people:
• Peter does not pull any punches, he calls them “Stupid and ignorant”.
• But Peter always did tell it like it was.
Ill:
• Talking of foolish people;
• I did here the story this week of the man who phoned the emergency services;
• He spoke frantically into the phone,
• "My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart!" "
• When the doctor asked him: “Is this her first child?"
• The man shouted down the phone, "No! This is her husband!"
Peter tells his readers to expect to encounter:
• Foolish, stupid and ignorant” people;
• Who will make false accusations against you.
• He says the best way to silence these foolish critics;
• Is not by opposing their authority, but by doing good
• The Greek word that Peter uses here for “silence”;
• Means "to close the mouth with a muzzle."
• It seems that throughout the Roman Empire;
• Many rumours were being spread about Christians;
• About their secret meetings, their unusual customs, their subversive ideologies,
• Their loyalty to another kingdom, and their plans to lead an insurrection.
• To muzzle these rumours,
• Peter encouraged his readers to let their lives and actions do their talking!
(5). The Attitude of Submission (vs 16)
“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.”
The Message: “Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules”.
• At our conversion we were set free in Christ:
• Free from condemnation.
• Free from the Law’s penalty.
• Free from Satan’s bondage.
• Free from the worlds control.
• Free from deaths power.
Peter cautions us (those who are free):
• Not to use that freedom as a covering for evil.
• Covering indicates placing a mask or veil over something.
Ill:
• An angry church member once went up to her pastor.
• And asked him
“Why do you keep on preaching to us Christians about sin. After all, sin in the life of a Christian is different from sin in the life of an unsaved person”
• The pastor replied,
• “Yes you are correct, sin in Christian is different. It is much worse.
Ill:
• A policeman who breaks the law is worse than an ordinary person,
• You expect better, higher standards!
• A Christian who breaks the law is also worse than an ordinary person,
• Because they belong to the king!
• Therefore you should expect better, higher standards!
Attitude is all important:
• ill: During the war a chaplain was speaking to a soldier on a cot in a hospital.
• “You have lost an arm in the great cause,” he said.
• “No,” said the soldier. “I didn’t lose it--I gave it.”
Peter wants his readers to be genuine:
• Not to be good citizens on the outside;
• But full of evil on the inside.
• The word ‘evil’ here means: ‘baseness’.
• As you submit outwardly do not let bitterness, resentment, anger arise inwardly.
• Have the right attitude;
• And it will turn our ‘submitting’ into service for God rather than a burden!
(6). The application of submission (vs 17)
“Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers,
fear God, honour the king”.
• In this verse Peter summaries into four practical, applicatory points;
• The things that he has been sharing about submission & citizenship.
(1). HONOUR ALL PEOPLE
“Show proper respect to everyone”.
• Every person was made in God’s image;
• And therefore due some respect.
• We are not to discriminate against any people because of;
• Race, nationality, economic status, even sexual preferences!
• That does not mean we tolerate everyone’s behaviour or ideology;
• It does mean we show respect for the individual made in God’s image.
(2). LOVE OTHER CHRISTIANS “Love the brotherhood of believers”
• Christians are to show that they love one another;
• This is so basic but so necessary;
• Don’t just sing about love – do it!
Ill:
• Fish do not attend classes to learn how to swim (pun: even though they swim in schools),
• Birds do not attend classes in order to fly.
• They do it automatically, it’s their nature.
• Because a fish has a fish’s nature, it swims; because a hawk has a hawk’s nature, it flies.
• Because a Christian has God’s nature (2 Peter 1:4),
• He loves, because “God is love” (1 John 4:8).
(3). FEAR GOD.
• Fear God are words that weave themselves all through the Bible.
• Respect him and trust whatever your circumstances.
• If you do a study of the phrase ‘The fear of the Lord’ in the book of Proverbs.
• You will discover the multiple blessings which are ours as a result.
(4). HONOUR THE KING.
• Which brings the issue full-circle back to the basic command in verse 13.
• ill: Words of Jesus come to mind: “Give to Caesar what is Caesars”
• When we live like this we will impact our world:
