September 23, 2018
Evening Service

Continuing from this morning’s message, Peter had appealed to Christians in many ways to live an honest, respectful, and loving life. This is the type of behavior that is difficult to speak against as being an evil-doer with any credibility to the accuser. We were encouraged to abstain from all matters of evil-doings, because these are the characteristics that war against our very souls. We learned that Christ is the cornerstone of the building of the church and we are the living stones that united with Christ make up the church. The cornerstone was also said to be a stumbling stone and a rock of offense to the disobedient. So for the non-believer, this cornerstone will mean their destruction on the day of the Lord’s coming. We have reason to be very grateful that now we are a chosen people who once we were not, we were once in the darkness and have been called into the Light of the Lord. We were told to offer ourselves, praises, prayers, money, food, or anything needed to glorify the church of our God through Jesus our Lord and Redeemer. These are the spiritual sacrifices which can now be accepted by God through Jesus and would not be accepted except by the righteousness of Jesus as our high priest. Now, we continue into the Word concerning our conduct toward figures of authority in the flesh and of the Spirit.

1Peter 2:13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, 

1Peter 2:14 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. 

1Peter 2:15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 

1Peter 2:16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 

1Peter 2:17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 

As Christians, we are expected to obey the laws of our governments and appointed authorities. In Romans 13:1 it says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” Obedience to the laws of our government is not only the laws of man, but also the laws of God according to His Word, from the highest ranking leaders to the lowest leaders appointed by authority. There are good reasons for obeying the laws and having laws to govern, evil-doers and law breakers shall be punished and those who obey the law will receive the protection of the people, their property, their rights, and may even be given authority as well by being a trusted law abiding person. In verse 15 the reference to the foolish men are the ones who spoke against Christians and were claiming they were harmful and insubordinate to the government. We are told here to do good and be of strict integrity in our daily walk to live down these false statements about Christians, this makes it difficult for the wicked to reply to this argument. Peter then tells us we are free as in John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free”, but this is not to be used as a cloak for malicious behavior, in fact the opposite of this is the truth. We are bondservants of God and not free from all restraint, but bound to serve God in obedience to His laws. Therefore, not free to indulge in anything in violation of His laws and in doing these violations they would bring dishonor to Him. As Christians we are expected to honor all people, to love one another and build up our fellow believers and to honor the top governing officials. Mostly, to fear God paying Him the utmost respect and honor and reverence in all that we say and do as believers in Jesus.

1Peter 2:18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 

1Peter 2:19  For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 

1Peter 2:20  For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 

1Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 

 

In these verses, they speak to people in servitude to others to be submissive with all respect and honor not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh and offensive authorities. Slavery was common in these days and not so common now, but this can be applied to any and all respects of people hired to do work or tasks. It clearly says in this scripture that if you are punished for wrongdoings and take it patiently, there is no credit to God because the offense you suffered was due. However, if you suffered wrongfully and was in fact innocent of any evil or wickedness, this is commendable before God. The facts are that Jesus suffered in our behalf and did no wrongdoings of His own, this is the example set for us to follow and the steps we should follow as believers in Christ and when we put on His righteousness.

 

1Peter 2:22 ”Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 

1Peter 2:23  who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 

1Peter 2:24  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 

1Peter 2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 

 

The attributes of our Lord and Savior are so pure and perfect that this is the reason God sent Jesus to be the sacrificial Lamb in our behalf. No human being without the Divine powers of our Father in Heaven could ever be a sacrifice for human kind, we humans are born into sin because of the first humans on the earth way back to the Garden of Eden. Man is so corrupt in nature that we would never be redeemed to our Father without Jesus being willing to do the will of His Father in Heaven and ours. Jesus suffered all the temptations of the flesh as we do, but without any act of sin to be found in Him. He never once sinned in the flesh, nor ever told any lies nor offered any kind of deceit ever. When Jesus was attacked by the Jewish leaders of the day and the Roman government through insults and abusive and insulting mannerisms, he did not revile back in any way. He committed Himself to Him who judged righteously and did not concern Himself with the judgments of men who were not unbiased in righteousness. He relied strictly on His Father in Heaven to rightfully judge Him according to His actions and walk on this earth. Jesus set the perfect example of submission to God in all respects and when he was called “good”, in Matthew 19:17 “So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for our benefit, he allowed Himself to be nailed to a tree and died on the cross for us sinners, and by His stripes we are healed. Through the great sacrifice of Jesus, we too dying to sin through our belief in Him are able to live through His righteousness. The reference to us as sheep is an excellent observance of our lives, without Christ we wandered far away from the fold as sheep sometimes do with no protector and were exposed to every kind of danger. But we have hope because of God in His great and wonderful mercy has offered to us a Redeemer by the plan of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.

I again appeal to any and all who hears this Good News to submit to God and claim His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. For in Acts 4:12 it says, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” This name is Jesus and He now lives in Heaven as our Redeemer!