Submission: The Government Series

"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?

&&&&&&&&&&&&

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.