"Submission: The Government"
1 Peter 2:13-17
Pastor John Bright
1 Peter 2 “13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”
Have you ever been trying to do it your way and somebody got in the way? Like, should I be able to drive at any speed I want? Do you know why they put up those speed limit signs on the roads? To punish or suppress you? For your safety?
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Today I will introduce this new topic in 1 Peter – SUBMISSION. I think it is one of the most misunderstood words in our Bibles. What is the biblical definition of submission? “Submission is a yielding to the will or authority of another. To submit is to surrender to the choice or control of someone else. The Bible reveals God’s will as to whom, when, and why we are to submit.”
“For Christians, biblical submission starts with arranging one’s life under the will and direction of God. We surrender to God’s choices and defer to His will. Submission to God is a just, rational response when we recognize, in humble gratitude, His supreme authority (Hebrews 6:13), goodness (Matthew 19:17), and love (1 John 3:1).” https://www.gotquestions.org/definition-of-submission.html
I think we would all agree on this type of submission – the Followers of Jesus will submit ourselves to God and His will. This happens every time we read God’s Word and make this simple admission – “God you’re right and I’m wrong.” We can fight against God’s will for our lives or surrender; as we discovered in the Wesleyan Covenant Service. Please keep re-reading that service at home. All of us, including me, need to grow into that covenant with God during the next few weeks and months. As I mentioned last Sunday, expect to see God moving in this process of covenant-making!
These teachings in 1 Peter are similar to others parts of the New Testament. They are known as “Household Codes.” In Ephesians 5:22 - 6:9, we read about the relationships of husbands, wives, children, parents, slaves and masters. The same relationships are addressed in Colossians 3:18-41. More on these the next two weeks.
Today, we will look at God’s desire for us to be submitted to the government.
Submission is not blind obedience, v. 13-14
“13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.”
I can’t imagine that I even need to say this, but you never know… just because it’s legal, that does not make it right for the Jesus Follower. Can we all agree on that? Peter puts it this way in v. 16: “as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice.’ Paul puts it another way in 1 Corinthians 10:23: “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.” Folks in our state are working hard to enshrine abortion as a right in the state constitution. As most of you know, I speak from personal experience in this matter – every elective abortion kills one human being and injures many others. The wounds that those parents and grandparents carry are a tremendous burden that can be lifted by going to the Lord with a humble heart and words of repentance.
If you carry this kind of burden, remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 “28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” That invitation is for everyone of us on every day – even today!
God has ordained governments to provide order to society. God has placed leaders in the government above us at several levels – national, state, and county/city/town. God will even allow evil rulers to lead His people as we see in the Old Testament. God brought judgement for sin to Israel and Judah through the Assyrians and Babylonians. When Peter is writing to the Jesus Followers in that day, he is urging them to be submitted to the Emperor Nero. Yet he would be gone in a few years. Then, in about 30 years they would be persecuted by the most cruel Emperor Domitian.
Here’s some background on Domitian – “The emperor Domitian, who was naturally inclined to cruelty, first slew his brother, and then raised the second persecution against the Christians. In his rage he put to death some of the Roman senators, some through malice; and others to confiscate their estates. He then commanded all the lineage of David be put to death. Among the numerous martyrs that suffered during this persecution was Simeon, bishop of Jerusalem, who was crucified; and St. John, who was boiled in oil, and afterward banished to Patmos.”
https://www.biblestudytools.com/history/foxs-book-of-martyrs/the-second-persecution-under-domitian-a-d-81.html
During that time, Jesus Followers were arrested and had to renounce their faith in Christ or suffer death. This was where submission to the government breaks down. We do not submit to a government that requires us to violate God’s Word. The first Apostles faced this situation with the religious leaders in Jerusalem. In Acts 3, Peter and John minister a healing miracle to a man unable to walk from birth. They were teaching in the Temple when they were arrested and taken before the ruling council, the Sanhedrin.
Acts 4:18-20 “18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
How would we react in their situation? Would we speak truth to power? In the past, Jesus Followers spoke up and rose up in civil disobedience to fight injustice. I hope we would do that today if it comes to it.
Remember – the alternative to order in society is anarchy. We have seen the rise of anarchist groups in the last few years. We saw Antifa use violence to create chaos. This is nothing new. As Jesus Followers, we should seek to have order “for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.”
God’s will for you and me, v. 15-16
“15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.”
Peter is returning to a topic that he introduced in chapter 2:11-12 “11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
As I mentioned back then (and a few other times😊), the world is watching. They see us in the community. They see us at work. They see us on social media. Do they see us doing good? Have we been seen “using liberty as a cloak for vice?” Is that why they call us hypocrites?
When Jesus Followers were the main part of the culture several decades ago, that didn’t really matter because we were the top dogs in the community. Now, we are more like the Early Church than any time in the last 200 years. They were on the outside of the culture looking in – so are we. It’s more important than ever that we are living lives that shine forth the light of Christ – holy lives that are submitted “to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake.”
Let’s return to something I mentioned at the beginning today – following the speed limit. Why not? Maybe you don’t like being told what to do? That’s the definition of rebellion. Maybe you know better than everyone else. If so, those closest to you suffer the most! The starting point is safety. I have some family members that refuse to wear a seatbelt. Not sure why? Guess what, it’s the law, so we should wear it. The reason we have speed limits on the roads are for safety. Not just your safety, but the safety of others.
What would happen if we let everybody drive the speed they want? You would not like it if folks were driving in your neighborhood at 60 mph. On the other hand, you want to drive the roads outside your neighborhood at 60 mph no matter the posted speed limit. One of the definitions of anarchy is “everyone does what is right in their own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)
People are often amazed when I tell them I try to drive the speed limit most of the time. Many ask me what I do on the interstate? Good question. Since most weeks, I have to spend time on one of our interstate highways, let me explain what I do. I usually drive 4 or 5 mph over the speed limit. That keeps me in line with 90% of the cars. If I have to slow down for a car in my lane and let others pass me – no problem. There are also times when all the lanes are moving faster than I usually like to go. So, that’s when I get in line with them and go the speed everyone is going. It won’t last too long and then I can slow down and get in line with the other folks going my speed. All of this helps me be at peace.
I do this willingly, not because of the threat of a speeding ticket. I do this because I willingly submit myself to God – as a bondservant. What’s that? We read about the bond servant in the Old Testament. “… the Mosaic Law allowed an indentured servant to become a bondservant voluntarily: “If the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life” (Exodus 21:5-6).” https://www.gotquestions.org/bondservant.html
I can use my freedom to create chaos or be submitted to the order set out by the government. As Jesus followers, we get to choose.
Giving respect and honor, v. 17
“17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”
I can give respect and honor to all people because each person is a creation of God that is loved by God. Those are all the people in the other cars on the highway. Do we respect and honor them if we curse and complain about the way they are driving? NO! Try saying this: “SO WHAT?” Try saying a little prayer for their safety and thank God for keeping you safe. Try being compassionate because we have all had episodes of bad driving along the way.
Peter closes with three exhortations under giving respect and honor:
• Love those in the church – even those that are hard to like.
• We give the greatest honor and respect to God. He is the Master and we are His bondservants. That way, we don’t have to fear the government because the government is NOT our master.
• Giving honor and respect to our political leaders has nothing to do with political party or ideology. Giving honor and respect is part of our prayer life for those men and women. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
We still have two more weeks to talk about submission – work & marriage. Should be fun. Maybe.
Homework:
• Look up all the Bible verses on your teaching sheet. Have you taken the view that it’s not wrong if I don’t get caught? Remember – the world is watching us.
• Have you used your God-given freedom to be in rebellion? Take some time to pray over the worksheet in the bulletin.
• Next week: 1 Peter 2:18-25 “Submission: Work.”
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TEACHING SHEET
1 Peter 2:13-17
“Submission: The Government”
What is the biblical definition of submission? “Submission is a yielding to the will or authority of another. To submit is to surrender to the choice or control of someone else. The Bible reveals God’s will as to whom, when, and why we are to submit. For Christians, biblical submission starts with arranging one’s life under the will and direction of God. We surrender to God’s choices and defer to His will. Submission to God is a just, rational response when we recognize, in humble gratitude, His supreme authority (Hebrews 6:13), goodness (Matthew 19:17), and love (1 John 3:1).” https://www.gotquestions.org/definition-of-submission.html
These teachings in 1 Peter are similar to others parts of the New Testament. They are known as “Household Codes.” Ephesians 5:22 - 6:9 & Colossians 3:18-41.
Submission is not blind obedience, v. 13-14
1 Corinthians 10:23 Matthew 11:28-30
God has ordained governments to provide order to society. God has placed leaders in the government above us at several levels – national, state, and county/city/town. God will even allow evil rulers to lead His people as we see in the Old Testament.
Here’s some background on Domitian – “The emperor Domitian, who was naturally inclined to cruelty, first slew his brother, and then raised the second persecution against the Christians. In his rage he put to death some of the Roman senators, some through malice; and others to confiscate their estates. He then commanded all the lineage of David be put to death. Among the numerous martyrs that suffered during this persecution was Simeon, bishop of Jerusalem, who was crucified; and St. John, who was boiled in oil, and afterward banished to Patmos.”
https://www.biblestudytools.com/history/foxs-book-of-martyrs/the-second-persecution-under-domitian-a-d-81.html
We do not submit to a government that requires us to violate God’s Word.
Acts 4:18-20 Remember – the alternative to order in society is anarchy.
God’s will for you and me, v. 15-16
Peter is returning to a topic that he introduced in chapter 2:11-12 Do they see us doing good? Have we been seen “using liberty as a cloak for vice?” Is that why they call us hypocrites?
One of the definitions of anarchy is “everyone does what is right in their own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)
We read about the bond servant in the Old Testament. “… the Mosaic Law allowed an indentured servant to become a bondservant voluntarily: “If the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life” (Exodus 21:5-6).”
https://www.gotquestions.org/bondservant.html
Giving respect and honor, v. 17
Peter closes with three exhortations under giving respect and honor:
• Love those in the church – even those that are hard to like.
• We give the greatest honor and respect to God. He is the Master and we are His bondservants. That way, we don’t have to fear the government because the government is NOT our master.
• Giving honor and respect to our political leaders has nothing to do with political party or ideology. Giving honor and respect is part of our prayer life for those men and women. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Homework:
• Look up all the Bible verses on your teaching sheet. Have you taken the view that it’s not wrong if I don’t get caught? Remember – the world is watching us.
• Have you used your God-given freedom to be in rebellion? Take some time to pray over the worksheet in the bulletin.
• Next week: 1 Peter 2:18-25 “Submission: Work.”
