Text: 1 Peter 2:13-17
Introduction: Christians make good citizens. We really do! I believe that if America’s leaders understood that our faith obligates us to this, they would encourage men and women to follow Christ. Permit me to share just a few ways that we bless our country:
1. We pay our taxes (See Romans 13:6-7).
2. We do good to others (See Galatians 6:9-10).
3. We obey our leaders (...and therefore the laws they make--See Titus 3:1).
4. We pray for our leaders (See 1Timothy 2:1-2).
5. We strengthen the moral fiber of our nation (See Romans 12:17). Many years ago, Alexis de Tocqueville, the famous French political philosopher, visited America. He came here when this nation was very young to find the secret of our greatness. He traveled from town to town, talking with people and asking questions. He examined our national government, our schools and centers of business, without finding the reason for our strength. Not till he visited the churches of America and witness the pulpits of this land "aflame with righteousness" did he find the secret of our greatness. Returning to France, he summarized his findings with a compliment and then attached a word of warning: "America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."
In short, Christians have long been a great blessing to those among whom we have lived, though we are aliens and strangers in the world because our true citizenship is in heaven--See 1 Peter 2:11; Philippians 3:20. This has always been the case with God’s people so that the same thing was expected of the Jews, even when they lived in exile (See Jeremiah 29:7). A major factor in the way we become this kind of blessing to America is by learning to submit to the authority of those who govern us. This is the main point of the passage that we’re looking at together this morning.
Now it seems to me that there is a lot of confusion about the principle of submission, and that, in some ways at least, the concept has undeservedly earned a bad reputation here in our great country. We have confused the freedom to govern ourselves, purchased for us by those who shed their blood fighting for our independence, for the right to do whatever we want whenever we want, a notion that is unsupportable in the Scriptures. I would like to take the next few moments and address the topic of submission by looking at the words of the Apostle Peter found in 1 Peter 3:13-17.
I. The concept of submission. The word in the Bible is a compound word meaning "to arrange under." It was primarily a military term, the concept of which is alluded to in Matthew 8:8-9. There the centurion communicated his understanding of the Roman military system. All "authority" belonged to the emperor and was delegated to others. Therefore, because he was under the emperor’s authority, when the centurion spoke, he spoke with the emperor’s authority, and so his command was obeyed. To disobey would have been regarded as nothing short of an act of treason in defying the orders of the emperor himself! Here are just a couple of thoughts about submission as it applies to us.
A. Submission is a godly thing. (See verse 15a - "For it is God’s will -- what does this mean if it is not referring to submitting to the governing authorities?) Even Jesus, Himself, lived in submission to the Father. This was the point that the centurion was making in Matthew 8. He recognized that because Jesus always served under God’s authority (submission), when He spoke, God spoke. As a matter of fact, one could argue that the quality of submission characterized Jesus life almost more than any other (See John 4:34).
B. Submission is a good thing. In this passage Peter refers to it as "doing good (See Verse 15b)." What’s so good about submission? Think about what a society would look like if no one submitted. It would have devastating consequences. This is precisely Peter’s point about the exercise of freedom in verse 16. Where there is no submission to authority, we do not have freedom, but chaos (See Judges 21:25). Illustration: Submission often seems to be an unappealing option to those who value the freedom to do as they please. Yet God assures us that it is both a godly and good thing. In the movie, The Poseidon Adventure, an ocean liner is hit by a large wave and flips over. The only way for anyone to be rescued is for them to make their way to the bottom of the ship, which is now the top! The handful that choose this option ultimately survive. For the rest, the move makes no sense and so they decide to remain on the floor nearest the deck which is now 75-100 feet beneath the surface. They perish as the waters eventually come rushing in. Just as deciding to make their way to the bottom of the ship seemed odd, so the idea of submitting to authority may at times be contrary to popular opinion. But as Christians we know that only one opinion matters and that is God’s.
II. The choice of submission (See 1 Peter 3:13-14). Submission in this passage is not something that God expects to have to force upon us.
A. We are to submit ourselves. Submission is a choice! So, also, is rebellion (See 1 Samuel 15:22-23--just in case you’re wondering the sins of divination and idolatry were detestable in God’s sight!).
B. We are to submit for the Lord’s sake. In the next chapter, Peter argues that our submission provides opportunities to glorify Christ (See 1 Peter 3:13-15) by speaking of His grace.
C. We are to submit to every authority instituted among men. The amazing thing about the words of Peter are that the given in the context of Nero’s rule in Rome, a city that he ordered to be burned to the ground, resulting in great loss of life. This he blamed the Christians for, starting a great persecution against them. Believers were killed by dogs by having the hides of beasts attached to them, or they were nailed to crosses or set aflame, and, when the daylight passed away, they were used as nighttime lamps. Illustration: Things have not changed much in this way. Writer Justin D. Long points out the startling fact that more people have died for their faith in the 20th Century than in all of the previous centuries combined. “During this century, we have documented cases in excess of 26 million martyrs. From AD 33 to 1900, we have documented 14 million martyrs.” Possibly the worst organized killings of Christians in this century took part in Turkey. Paul Marshall in his book, Their Blood Cries Out, co-authored with Lila Gilbert, wrote, "Although Turkey is now a country with relatively few Christians, this was not always the case. Less than one hundred years ago, Turkey, or rather its Ottoman predecessor, was about 30 percent Christian. This situation changed when some two million ethnic Armenian Christians were massacred between 1905 and 1918, a genocide which the Turkish government still denies. Many of the remaining Christians fled immediately." We do not know what the future holds for us, but just like our 1st century brothers and sisters in Christ, we know the One who holds the future so we submit.
III. The consequence of submission (See 1 Peter 2:15). When we submit ourselves to the authority of human government we ’silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.’ The word ’silence’ is the translation of a Greek word which means ’to close the mouth with a muzzle (See 1 Corinthians 9:9). Matthew uses it of Jesus putting the Sadducees to silence in Matthew 22:23-34. It speaks here of ’reducing to silence’ those who are critical of Christianity and seek to cause the movement harm. So it is with our submission. It takes away any opportunity for others to slander the reputation of Christ (See 1 Peter 3:16). Application: Isn’t it interesting to note that we form the public’s opinion of Jesus not just by helping others, but by our willingness to submit to those who govern us?
IV. The circumstances of submission (See 1 Peter 2:17).
A. When shouldn’t we submit? Yes (See Acts 5:27-29). The principle is...we should not submit to any authority when it commands us to do something that is clearly contrary to the revealed will of God found in the Holy Scriptures. There has been cause for this in the past, and it may be that we will have to disobey at some time in the future. When this happens and we choose to disobey, we must be ready to submit to the consequences as they are handed down by the authorities established by God (See 1 Peter 3:13-14; Acts 5:40-42).
B. When should we submit? Peter gives us a general command to show proper respect to everyone, believing that this is the ultimate outcome of submission. Then he provides greater detail by giving three specific circumstances in which it is to be evidenced.
1. When it will result in demonstrating love for our Christian brothers and sisters (See Ephesians 5:21).
2. When it will result in demonstrating the fear of God. Note that Peter does not tell us to fear the king, but God. Oswald Chambers says, "The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else." Fearing God means that we obey Him knowing that He disciplines those He loves that it might yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness (See Hebrews 12:11).
3. When it will result in honoring the King. When we honor someone we ascribe value to them. Submission to the king (remember that in this case Peter was probably referring to Nero) will ascribe value to him as one who has been placed there by God for His purposes. Application: We might to consider these words when we are critical of politicians!
Conclusion: It is important to learn to submit to the authorities God has placed over us. This only becomes possible when we recognize that all authority rests with Jesus (See Matthew 28:18), so that everything and everyone is ultimately under His sovereign control. So we are able to obey our parents, spiritual leaders or, in the case of the passage we’ve been addressing today, the government, because we are confident that God is using them to shape and mold us into the very character of Christ. It’s all about trust! Illustration: A while back, The Department of Transportation set aside $200 million for research and the testing of an Automated Highway System. This system would purportedly relieve traffic woes with "super cruise control" in heavily congested cities. Special magnets embedded in the asphalt every four feet would transfer signals between each vehicle and the main computer system. Steering, acceleration, and braking would be controlled by sensors, computers navigation systems, and cameras along the side of the road. Control would be returned to drivers at their specified exit. Researchers and government officials claim they have the technological capability to address any potential problem. But one challenge they have yet to address. Says Mike Doble, Buick’s technology manager, "The only thing we can’t do yet is get people to comfortably trust the system. It’s not a technology issue. Would you drive, closely spaced, at high speeds, through San Diego?" Trust is always the question especially when it comes to submission.
