Verses 13 to 17.
Just another prayer before we begin.
Father, we recognize this is your word and we ask that you would help us to understand it.
And that in understanding it, we would believe it.
And that in believing it, we would obey it.
For your son's sake. Amen.
Well, I suspect that the section of Peter's letter into which we now venture
will be a difficult one for many of us, if not all of us, to accept.
We should be fully prepared in the next few weeks and in the next few passages
for God to offend us.
Which is something we should expect as fallen sinners, right?
It's something that we should embrace as redeemed sinners.
It was Tim Keller who said,
Only if your God can outrage and challenge you
will you know that you worship the real God
and not a figment of your imagination.
If your God never disagrees with you,
you might just be worshiping an idealized version of yourself.
And we need to be prepared anytime we come to the word,
but maybe especially in these next few passages
and the content that Peter deals with here.
Prepared for God to challenge us.
Prepared for him perhaps to disagree with us.
And of course, embrace that.
Repent where repentance is necessary.
And to be faithful.
Now the reason I say that is because the overarching principle
of this section is detestable to modern sensibilities.
The theme of Peter's instruction,
beginning in verse 13 all the way down to verse 7 of chapter 3,
is submission.
Submission.
Citizens are to submit to their rulers.
Slaves are to submit to their masters.
Wives are to submit to their husbands.
Submission is difficult enough.
But in each of these cases, as we read God's word,
Peter instructs this submission,
even though the authority figure is unbelieving,
often corrupt,
and even oppressive.
And what's more,
is that it isn't the potential oppressors
that Peter actually addresses.
He could have.
The scriptures certainly do.
He doesn't.
He addresses those who are most likely to be mistreated
and abused in each of those relationships.
Now modern theories like to look at this
and they categorize and determine that the problem
is authority itself.
That it's power dynamics itself
that create the issue.
And that true liberation only comes
when people are free from such power dynamics.
And you see this in all kinds of modern theories,
particularly critical theory and its outworkings.
The Bible wholeheartedly disagrees.
It is not authority itself.
The Bible recognizes that the real issue is sin.
The real issue is sinners
who rebel against God's good design.
The scriptures affirm that it is God
who authorizes human government
with the power of the sword.
He authorizes the church
with the keys of the kingdom.
The Lord authorizes husbands to rule their homes,
parents to rule their children,
teachers to rule their students,
employers to rule their employees,
and so on and so forth.
Authority itself is God's idea.
And the godly exercise of authority
is one way that we actually bear the image of God
in the world.
From the most powerful of us
to the least powerful.
In his book called Authority,
Jonathan Lehman is so helpful on this point.
Even to say, even as children,
we are invested with a sphere of authority.
Caden's sphere of authority
at this point in his life
might be his bedroom.
He rules over that bedroom.
He has responsibilities
that come along with that reign.
And as a sinner,
he can ruin it.
As someone who has fallen,
he can exercise that authority
in a way that isn't godly
and is unrighteous.
And so on it goes for each one of us.
But authority is God's idea.
We bear his image through it.
And until Jesus returns
to bring the fullness of his kingdom
and his perfect rule,
sinners are all that there is
to fill the authoritative roles
that God has designed
for his glory
and for our good.
In other words,
the answer to oppression
is not to reject
or to alter God's design in authority.
The answer to oppression
is to call sinners to repentance
and to faith
and to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
And we do that
by calling out sin,
by standing for truth,
while also properly
submitting to the authorities
that God has established.
Whether that's in the sphere
of the government
or in the sphere of the church
or in the sphere of the home
or in the sphere of our workplaces
and so on.
Well, there's two things
we need to acknowledge
about this text
in this series of texts.
And one is that Peter
didn't seek to deal
with these categories exhaustively.
This is not a comprehensive treatise
on these issues
and we can certainly look
to other passages of Scripture
in the Bible
to help build
a more robust theology
of authority and submission.
And we ought to do that.
That's not what Peter is doing here.
We need to recognize that.
And yet still,
this is the word of God.
And we need to let it speak
without trying to blunt
the sharp edges
of the sword of the Spirit.
There is a way
for us to approach texts
like this one
and the next one
and the one after.
Over-qualifying them
so much
that we end up
rendering them ineffective.
We end up rendering them
as if they have
no authority over us at all.
And we need to recognize
that what Peter writes for us
in these texts
is God's word.
This is God's word for us.
So we will not
over-qualify them this morning
in order to try
to remove the sharpness
of what Peter intends to say
and what God intends to say
to us.
We need not think of this
as all that God has to say.
And yet we still must recognize
that this is indeed
the word of the Lord.
And so Peter is addressing
the specific situation
of these Christians
in the first century
which has plenty of parallels
to even our circumstances today
and for Christians
all over the world.
He does not seek to
weigh out the ethics
of political revolution.
He does not seek here
to weigh out the ethics
of when and how
it's permissible
for oppressed people
to resist
resist
or to even flee
from their oppressors.
There are passages
that help us with that.
This is not one of them.
That's not what he's attempting to do.
We need to recognize that.
The second thing
that we need to recognize
is that submission itself
is not the goal of the text.
Submission itself
is not the goal of the text.
Now, there is a way
to take a text like this
and many like it
and we see this mostly
in the applications
of the marriage relationship
when we come to texts like this.
We find those
who would come so strongly
from the perspective
of authority
that they would see
submission
as the great end
of these passages
and that is not
the great end
of these passages.
The entire section
revolves around
the example of Jesus
in verses 21 to 25.
You won't read it now
but you might mark it.
You might even see
the next series of sections
even getting into chapter 3
and further deeper
into chapter 3.
Peter's dealing
with all of these things
and he's intentionally
right at the heart of it,
right in the middle of it,
he's put the example
of Christ
and Christ's own submission
telling us
that the goal of this text
is to instruct us
on true Christ-likeness.
Submission isn't the goal.
Christ is the goal
and as we are pursuing Christ,
we must learn as his people
to rightly submit
to proper authority.
Thriving in exile then
is about faithfully following Jesus
and that is what is Peter's concern here.
Now, the first category he covers
is submission
to civil authorities.
Thriving in exile
means thriving
under the emperor
and Peter helpfully instructs us here
on just how to do that.
Now let me give you
the summary of his thesis
and then we're going to dig in.
Here's his point, okay?
Christians must submit
to civil authorities
under Christ.
Obeying the rule of law
except when doing so
would result in disobedience to God.
And the goal of this submission
is to be like Jesus
and to prove the goodness
of Christianity
in the public sphere.
That's the general idea here.
Peter's saying
Christians must submit
to civil authorities
insofar as obedience
to the civil authority
does not require
disobedience to God.
And the reason we must do this
is because we want to be like Jesus
and we want to make Jesus
look good to the world.
Okay?
Four things to work through here.
First, let's look at
the general principle.
The general principle
in verses 13 and 14.
Be subject for the Lord's sake
to every human institution
whether it be to the emperor
as supreme
or to governors
as sent by him
to punish those who do evil
and to praise those
who do good.
Now Peter's supplying
a moral principle here.
This is a moral principle
that transcends
all systems of human government.
So that a Christian
in the democratic United States
in communist China
those who live beneath
the Islamic State
in a place perhaps like Iran
or in other places
around the world
despite the vast differences
of our cultures
despite the vast differences
of our social orders
despite the vast differences
of our political systems
we are all bound
to this moral principle
that Peter affirms here.
We may apply it
in unique ways
depending on those differences
but the principle itself
stands.
And the principle
in a general sense
is this.
We must willfully submit
to human authorities
that rule over us.
We must willfully submit
to human authorities
that rule over us.
Let's work this out
in the text.
The ESV renders this
human institutions.
Human institutions
in this case
doesn't refer to
societies
or organizations.
It refers to principles
of order
instituted
by human authorities.
Okay, so this is
not Peter's way
of saying
you must be loyal
to a political framework.
This is not Peter saying
Christians must be
loyal
to a particular
type of order.
He's saying
we must be
subservient to
subject ourselves
to
those
principles of order
that are instituted
by the authorities
that we have.
older translations
like the King James Version
render this as
ordinances
which I think
probably gives us
a better sense
of what Peter's
focus is here.
And that Peter
has civil authorities
particularly in mind
is made clear
from the fact
that he names
the supreme ruler
of the empire
Caesar in his case
along with
whatever officials
that ruler
has authorized
to carry out
punishment
for evil
and
praise for good.
Now punishment
for evil
praise for good
that's God's idea
in it.
It is God
who establishes
human government
he authorizes
that human government
with the power
of the sword.
That is a distinct
power.
The church
does not have
that power.
That was one
of the problems
coming through
middle ages
even through
some of the
reformation time
is the church
was in some cases
trying to hold
the power
of the sword
and the government
was trying to hold
the power
of the keys
of the kingdom.
We can't mix
those things up.
God has given
civil authority
the power
of the sword
and generally
speaking
that is to
punish those
who do evil
and praise
those who do
good.
In our situation
we don't have
a supreme emperor
we have a president
and a vice president
we have a congress
representative government
and so it flows.
Governors
state congresses
we have federal
institutions
that are
for law enforcement
we have local
institutions
that are for
law enforcement
all of it
included here
first to the
supreme leader
and then to all
whom he puts
underneath
that's what
Peter makes
clear.
Now that
he emphasizes
they are human
institutions
or human
ordinances
is important
pushes against
the cultural
notion
of Peter's
day
that the
emperor
was divine.
Peter's making
it clear
that when he
tells these
Christians
that they
must be
subject
to human
authorities
he is not
saying that
their subjection
is the same
as their
subjection
to God.
It is
vastly
different
and we must
understand
the distinction.
There is a
distinction
between God's
law
and man's
law
and Peter
makes that
clear for us.
Now the bottom
line here is that
we are to submit
to the rule
of law
even though
that law
issues
from creatures
rather than
God
and this is
Peter's
affirmation
that God
himself
ordains
government
and gives
it the power
of the sword.
So though
Christians are
first and
foremost
certainly
concerned
with the
law
of God
and obeying
God
we are
servants
of God
that doesn't
mean that we
are automatically
free to
rebel against
the laws
of men.
In other
words
the disposition
of the
Christian heart
is to be
one of
submission
not of
anarchy
obedience
not
rebellion
and someone
may come
to this
passage
and say
Peter
is just
so
ignorant
here
so naive
to the
kind of
oppression
that comes
from human
authorities
if Peter
really cared
about the
marginalized
in society
he wouldn't
have focused
so much
on such
an offensive
command
but we
know that
isn't
true
Peter
was the
marginalized
he wasn't
ignorant
of that
and he
wasn't
naive
to it
Peter
was a
personal
witness
to the
wicked
corruption
that led
to the
crucifixion
of the
son of
God
he himself
had been
beaten
and imprisoned
by Jewish
authorities
in Jerusalem
not for
breaking
the law
but for
preaching
the gospel
let's not
forget
that the
Roman
emperor
at the
time he
wrote this
letter
was none
other than
Emperor
Nero
an avowed
hater
and persecutor
of Christians
Peter
himself
would eventually
be crucified
by the
very man
that he
writes here
that Christians
are to
submit to
and to
obey
and yet
this is
the word
of God
and God's
word
stands
the moral
imperative
to submit
to the
rule of
law
is not
negated
or diminished
when the
rulers
themselves
are wicked
men
and they
are almost
always
wicked
men
how could
Peter press
such a
command
what could
possibly be
the reason
he tells
us
at the
very
beginning
be
subject
he says
for the
Lord's
sake
be
subject
for the
Lord's
sake
this is
as much
about what
Peter says
here as
what he
doesn't
say
he didn't
say
submit to
them for
the
preservation
of your
life
he didn't
say
submit to
them
so that
you can
try to
help build
a better
tomorrow
for your
children
he didn't
say
submit to
them
so that
you might
pursue
peace
all of
those things
are great
all of
those things
would be
affirmed
in other
passages
that's not
what Peter
says
because none
of those
things are
foundational
to the
moral
imperative
the moral
imperative
is founded
on the
glory of
Christ
we
submit
because
Christ
taught
this
submission
we
submit
because
Christ
modeled
this
submission
we
submit
because
God
is glorified
in this
submission
it's not
fundamentally
for our
sake
it is
fundamentally
for the
Lord's
sake
and as
we have
sung
so often
in the
last
several
weeks
his
glory
is
our
good
even
when
his
glory
means
suffering
that's
the
general
principle
now
let's
look
at a
particular
motivation
a
particular
motivation
we find
this
in
verse
15
look
at it
with
me
again
for
this
is
the
will
of
God
that
by
doing
good
you
should
put
to
silence
the
ignorance
of
foolish
people
this
is
the
will
of
God
he
says
why
well
in
part
it
is
so
that
by
doing
good
which
is
directly
connected
to
the
previous
verse
the
good
that
governors
are
meant
to
praise
in
God's
design
by
doing
good
being
a
good
citizen
you
will
put
to
silence
the
foolishness
of
or
the
ignorance
of
foolish
people
now
I want
you to
put
yourself
in
these
Christian
sandals
for a
moment
Christians
in the
Roman
Empire
at that
time
were
already
held
in
suspicion
this
is
a
long
time
before
the
days
of
Constantine
where
Christianity
was
set
up
as
something
to
be
encouraged
that
is
not
the
condition
and
the
circumstances
these
Christians
were
in
they
were
held
in
suspicion
they
rejected
the
Roman
gods
even
though
they
were
not
atheist
as
we
acknowledge
atheism
that's
the
label
that
they
were
given
not
because
they
didn't
believe
there
was
a
god
but
because
they
didn't
believe
in
the
Roman
gods
well
that
causes
some
suspicion
in
Roman
culture
they
refused
to
worship
the
emperor
historically
culturally
in
Asia
minor
the
emperor
cult
was
magnified
Caesar
the
emperor
he
was
not
just
a
leader
he
was
divine
a
son
of
God
and
so
when
the
Christians
come
through
and
decide
that
they
will
not
bow
to
him
they
will
not
worship
him
and
we
have
many
examples
of this
playing
out
in
history
they
were
persecuted
they
were
killed
for
that
the
Christians
in
this
day
as
they
should
be
doing
!
lived
in
stark
contrast
to
the
immorality
of
Roman
culture
that
produces
suspicion
unbelievers
looked at
Christian
worship
gatherings
they
called
them
secret
meetings
and
that
provided
this
opportunity
for
rumors
of
sedition
to
begin
to
spread
so
the
people
outside
of
the
church
looked
at
the
church
not
as
something
that
was
good
not
as
something
that
was
positive
they
didn't
look
at
it
as
a
well
we'll
just
agree
to
disagree
kind
of
thing
they
looked
at
it
with
suspicion
and
so
when
Nero
decides
that
he
will
send
a few
people
to
set
the
city
on
fire
who
does
he
blame
the
Christians
why
they
were
the
easy
target
they
were
already
under
suspicion
all
of
that
happening
at
the
time
that
Peter
is
writing
this
letter
that
Peter
is
pastoring
in
the
city
of
Rome
in
the
heart
of
it
all
Nero
taking
advantage
of
the
public's
misconceptions
blaming
them
for a
great
many
things
leading
to
widespread
martyrdom
Nero
himself
put
nearly
a thousand
Christians
in Rome
to death
in the
Colosseum
for the
entertainment
of the
mob
they
cheered
as you
and me
were
devoured
by animals
and put
to death
and executed
for sport
that's
the culture
they lived
in
and of
course
none of
this is
true of
real
Christianity
is it
it was
easy for
them to
look and
say well
we have
a king
his name
is
Nero
but they
say they
have a
different
king
whose
name
is
Jesus
we
bow
to
Nero
they
bow
to
this
other
Jesus
surely
that is
a threat
to Rome
surely
that is
a threat
to our
way
of
life
they
say
that we
ought not
live the
way
we
live
that God
is
displeased
by that
that God
will pour
his
judgment
out on
us
for that
they
talk of
this
place
called
hell
they're
trying to
ruin
our
way
of
life
that's
how
they
were
looked
on
and
of
course
that was
a
misconception
wasn't
it
Jesus
himself
when being
interrogated
by Pontius
Pilate
said
my
kingdom
is
not
of
this
world
if my
kingdom
were of
this
world
my
servants
would
have
been
fighting
that I
might
not
be
delivered
over
to
the
Jews
but my
kingdom
is not
from
this
world
and what
is it
that Peter
has
repeatedly
referred
to
Christians
as in
this
letter
exiles
this is
not
our
home
loved
ones
this
is
not
our
home
and we
are
not
to try
and make
it
our
home
we
are
exiles
in the
world
but the
church's
mission
is not
to
overtake
the
world
that's
not
why
God
has
left
us
here
Jesus
has
overcome
the
world
for
us
the
church's
mission
is to
preach
the
gospel
the
church's
mission
is to
display
the
glory
of
Christ's
kingdom
while
we
await
its
fullness
at his
return
it's
not
for
us
to
make
the
kingdom
of
this
world
our
own
but
to
represent
the
kingdom
of
God
as
glorious
and
superior
to
the
kingdom
of
this
world
and
Peter's
point
is that
proper
submission
to
authority
is the
strongest
apologetic
we have
against
those
who would
assume
that
Christians
are
always
up to
no
good
that
submitting
properly
to
civil
authorities
proves
to
the
world
around
us
that
we
are
not
fundamentally
revolutionist
and
like
the
suspicions
of
first
century
Rome
it's
not
uncommon
for
unbelievers
to
paint
Christians
today
as
threats
to
their
way
of
life
we
are
not
a
threat
to
their
way
of
life
God
is
the
gospel
is
and
there's
a
difference
in
those
two
things
but
it's
God's
will
that
by
living
in
proper
submission
to
the
rule
of
law
the
church
will
silence
the
ignorance
of
foolish
people
who
love
their
sin
more
than
they
love
the
truth
that's
the
bottom
line
does
this
mean
that
we
are
to
blindly
obey
everything
the
government
says
is
there
any
sense
in
which
Christians
can
and
should
stand
in
opposition
to
human
authority
well
that's
what
Peter
answers
next
third
I
want
you
to
notice
a
necessary
clarification
a
necessary
clarification
we find
it in
verse
16
live
as
people
who
are
free
not
using
your
freedom
as a
cover
up
for
evil
but
living
as
servants
of
God
do
you
see
what
he's
doing
do
you
see
the
clarification
he's
making
here
in
verse
13
he
tells
us
that
we
are
subject
in
verse
16
he
tells
us
we
are
free
but
we
are
free
because
we're
a
different
kind
of
servant
he
says
in
verse
16
we're
free
because
we're
servants
of
God
now
again
Peter's
intent
is not
to
provide
a
comprehensive
treatise
on
this
it's
not
what
he's
doing
we
shouldn't
expect
every
question
to be
answered
here
we go
to
other
texts
for
that
but
he
does
provide
a
really
helpful
clarification
though
we
are
subject
for
the
Lord's
sake
to
every
human
authority
we
are
to
live
as
people
who
are
free
in
other
words
human
authority
is
not
our
final
authority
and
there
are
times
when
we
are
free
in
Christ
to
rebel
against
it
why
because
we
are
first
and
foremost
servants
of
the
living
God
he
no pun
intended
trumps
the
emperor
Nero
may have
been the
emperor
but he
wasn't
Peter's
lord
and
as
citizens
we
must
honor
the
rule
of
law
but
as
Christians
we
must
prioritize
the
law
of
God
over
and
above
human
law
therefore
in
any
circumstance
in
which
obedience
to
civil
authority
means
disobedience
to
God
Christians
are
not
only
free
to
rebel
but
we
must
rebel
after
all
it
was
Peter
himself
who
after
being
commanded
to
stop
preaching
the
gospel
said
in
Acts
5
29
we
must
obey
God
rather
than
men
in
other
words
he
told
the
Jewish
leaders
who
finally
let
him
out
of
prison
after
they
beat
him
up
real
good
he
said
listen
we're
not
here
to
make
things
hard
for
you
we're
here
to
preach
the
gospel
that's
what
God
has
sent
us
to
do
that's
what
we
will
do
and
we
don't
care
if
you
don't
like
that
we
will
obey
him
more
than
we
will
obey
you
but
this
clarification
comes
with a
warning
doesn't
it
the
warning
is
that
we
are
to
live
as
free
in
Christ
only
we
are
not
to
use
that
freedom
as
a
cover
up
for
evil
ourselves
I
think
there's
two
essential
applications
to this
warning
the first
one is
this
do
not
attempt
to use
your
faith
or the
scriptures
to
justify
what is
really
just
your own
rebellious
heart
do
not
attempt
to
cover
up
the
rebellion
in
your
own
heart
as
if
it's
God's
fault
woe
to
the
one
who
twists
the
scriptures
to
circumvent
God's
command
to
obey
the
rule
of
law
your
body
is a
temple
of the
Holy
Spirit
is
addressing
sexual
immorality
not
mask
mandates
if
you
don't
want to
wear
a
mask
you
can
take
that
up
with
the
authority
but
don't
say
God
told
you
can't
wear
a
mask
love
your
neighbor
as
yourself
is
not
a
justification
for
illegal
immigration
oh
no
one
anything
doesn't
mean
you
shouldn't
pay
taxes
Jesus
himself
said
render
under
Caesar
that
which
is
Caesar's
and
give
to
God
that
which
is
God's
the
warning
is
yes
you
are
free
in
Christ
but
let's
make
sure
if
we
are
to
rebel
that
we're
using
the
scriptures
properly
and
not
just
trying
to
cover
up
our
own
spirit
of
rebellion
that
is so
prevalent
in our
nation's
history
as
Americans
we
revel
in that
don't
we
there
is a
spirit
of
rebellion
that
exists
in the
American
history
it's
kind
of
in
our
nature
that
we
recognize
that
we
will
stand
against
tyranny
in all
forms
I
love
that
about
our
heritage
Peter
does
not
justify
that
on
the
basis
of
a
Christian
principle
here
we
do
not
twist
the
scriptures
as a
cover
up
for
just
our
own
sense
of
wanting
to
stand
in
solidarity
with
Americans
gone
by
who
have
stood
against
their
government
we
need
to
understand
that
the
second
application
of
this
do
not
use
the
wickedness
of
the
state
and
it
is
often
wicked
we
see
it
every
day
don't
use
that
wickedness
to
justify
your
own
sinful
response
to
it
is
possible
to
make
the
right
stand
the
wrong
way
for
example
I'm
so
grateful
as I
said
for
what
Sarah
has
been
doing
and
she's
really
spearheaded
this
whole
thing
with
linking
up
in
a
partnership
with
the
pregnancy
center
I'm
so
grateful
for
that
the
reason
I'm
grateful
for
that
is
because
Christians
must
stand
against
the
evils
of
abortion
more
than
60
million
babies
have
been
murdered
legally
in
the
United
States
since
1973
that
should
outrage
us
we
should
demand
that
it
be
abolished
maybe
even
criminalized
however
we
do
not
have
the
right
to
bomb
an
abortion
clinic
or
set
fire
to
Planned
Parenthood
or
to
harass
and
harm
those
who
disagree
with
us
on
this
issue
our
freedom
in
Christ
is
not
a
license
to
do
evil
ourselves
we
stand
for
truth
we
stand
against
sin
but
we
cannot
justify
or
use
the
wickedness
of
the
state
to
justify
our
own
sinful
disobedience
that's
just
one way
we
can
apply
it
there's
many
ways
we
can
apply
that
but
to
be
sure
human
authorities
are
lesser
authorities
than
Christ
but
they
do
still
have
true
authority
in
God's
design
he
commands
that
we
honor
and
obey
the
rule
of
law
in
so
far
as
it
does
not
prevent
us
from
truly
honoring
and
obeying
him
but
whenever
submitting
to
the
king
means
sinning
against
God
we
must
live
as
servants
of
God
because
that's
who
we
are
at
the
end
of
the
day
we
do
not
belong
to
this
world
we
belong
to
a
different
kingdom
and
we
are
awaiting
the
fullness
of
that
kingdom
this
world
is
not
our
home
and
whenever
our
time
here
becomes
a
contradiction
to
what
we
know
we
must
do
to
please
our
God
we
will
happily
live
free
in
Christ
as
a
servant
of
God
fourth
and
finally
we
have
a
final
summary
in
verse
17
and
I
love
the
way
that
Peter
kind
of
ties
off
this
category
before
he
moves
on
honor
everyone
he
says
notice
the
contrast
but
love
the
brotherhood
honor
the
emperor
fear
God
he
gives
us
these
short
little
pithy
rhythmic
statements
no doubt
with an
intent
to give
us
something
easily
remembered
we
may
not
memorize
this
whole
passage
but
that's
pretty
easy
to
remember
honor
everyone
love
the
brotherhood
fear
God
honor
the
emperor
we
can
remember
that
so
when
we're
at
work
the
next
day
or
when
we're
at
this
thing
or
that
thing
and
we're
presented
with
this
opportunity
we must
ask
the
question
what
does
it
mean
for
me
to
represent
Christ
now
and
we
can
remind
ourselves
honor
everyone
love
the
brothers
fear
God
honor
!
the
emperor
!
honor
honor and
respect
as image
bearers
with an
inerrant
dignity
we are
to love
in a
special way
God's
people
do not
let this
contrast be
lost on
you
this is now
repeated a
number of
times in
the first
half of
Peter's
letter
don't let
it slide
by
yes
every
human
has an
errant
dignity
that must
be
loved
respected
honored
but there
is a
special
love
that you
are to
have
for one
another
a
special
loyalty
that you
are to
have
to the
people
of God
and in
the same
way
he says
we are
to
demonstrate
honor
and respect
for those
whom God
has
providentially
placed over
us in
the public
sphere
our
fear
and worship
belong to
God
and to
God
alone
Jesus
said
do not
fear
those who
can destroy
the body
fear the
one who
has the
power to
destroy both
body and
soul
our fear
is reserved
for God
and God
alone
we will
honor and
respect
those he
puts over
us in
this world
but not
to sacrifice
our duty
to him
David Helm
I love
this
write it
down
memorize it
this is so
good
David Helm
said
submission
defines
the
Christian's
ways
because
being like
the Savior
describes
the Christian's
goal
submission
defines
the Christian's
way of
life
because
being like
Jesus
describes
the Christian's
goal
that's what
this is about
it's not
submission for
submission's sake
and let's not
forget just how
Jesus modeled
this very
submission
think about
it
teenagers who
are in the
room today
I know the
kids are out
but the
teenagers in
the room
you know why
you must obey
your parents
fundamentally
because Jesus
obeyed his
and if you're a
Christian
your goal is to
be like
Jesus
and think
about what
that took
Joseph
and Mary
were created
by Jesus
and Jesus
humbly
submitted to
their parentage
if the creator
of this world
Ashlyn
humbled himself
before Joseph
and Mary
surely you can
humble yourself
to the mom
and dad
that God
has given
you
how else
did Jesus
do this
well he
certainly did
it in the
way that we
have just
seen in
first Peter
didn't he
the king
of kings
submitted
himself to
the rule
of law
he wasn't
an insurrectionist
the Jews
wanted him
to be
he wasn't
he boldly
spoke the
truth against
the corruption
of human
leaders
there is no
shortage
of conflict
between he
and the
Pharisees
and the
gospels
on occasion
he even
referenced
Herod
the Roman
ruler of the
time
whoever
Rome
Rome had
put there
to rule
over his
area
he honored
them
he respected
the rule
of law
as a
citizen
the king
of kings
even when
their wickedness
led to his
murder
he did not
sin
he prayed for
the father's
mercy on
them
he willingly
subjected
himself to
this corruption
bringing about
the greatest
good the world
has ever
known
the eternal
salvation of
sinners
submission
is the
Christian's
way
because
being like
Jesus
is the
Christian's
goal
since our
Lord lived
this way
so must
we
but there's
another piece
to this
isn't there
we can look
around with
tremendous
discouragement
and outrage
at the condition
of our
world
but we
know
that it
will not
ultimately
get better
it ebbs
and flows
sure
it's not
really going
to be better
no matter
who's in
office
why do we
know that
because we're
sinners
and there is
no one who
will fill the
offices of our
nation and
of our
town
who isn't
a sinner
but there is
one who is
not a sinner
who reigns
over all
we belong to
his kingdom
and we await
his kingdom
we can suffer
here with joy
because we
know
something far
greater is
coming
the world
does not
know that
they must
labor and
fight now
that's the only
hope they think
they have
we know
different
there is
something far
greater
coming
it is
the kingdom
of God
Jesus
will return
his kingdom
will come
in his
fullness
his perfect
reign
will cover
the entire
world
and it is
breaking through
even now
it isn't here
yet but it's
coming and we
know it's
coming because
we see it
in his
people
the true
citizens
are the
kingdom
are making
it visible
even as
they follow
Christ's
example
and proper
submission
that's what
it means to
thrive in
exile
thriving in
exile is not
about ease
it's not
about comfort
it's not
about pleasure
it's not
about your
happiness
thriving in
exile
is about
following Jesus
as we
await his
return
and this is
part of how
we'll do it