WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.140 Now, our readings, our first reading is from Jeremiah 29, verses 1 to 14. 00:00:13.140 --> 00:00:22.620 This is a letter that God directed Jeremiah to deliver to the exiles in Babylon. 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:26.640 So, Jeremiah 29, from verse 1 to verse 14. 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:41.480 This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets, and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 00:00:42.100 --> 00:00:51.340 This was after King Jehoiachin and the Queen Mother, the court officials, and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the skilled workers, and the craftsmen had gone into exile from Jerusalem. 00:00:51.340 --> 00:01:00.859 He entrusted the letter to Elasa, son of Shaphan, and to Gemariah, son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah, king of Judah, sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. 00:01:01.220 --> 00:01:01.640 It said, 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:08.620 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 00:01:09.239 --> 00:01:11.599 Build houses and settle down. 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:14.700 Plant gardens and eat what they produce. 00:01:15.420 --> 00:01:17.599 Marry and have sons and daughters. 00:01:18.379 --> 00:01:24.640 Find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. 00:01:25.460 --> 00:01:27.060 Increase in number there. 00:01:27.500 --> 00:01:28.579 Do not decrease. 00:01:28.579 --> 00:01:34.200 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:40.060 Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. 00:01:40.420 --> 00:01:43.920 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says. 00:01:44.359 --> 00:01:47.140 Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:49.980 Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 00:01:50.099 --> 00:01:52.200 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:54.739 I have not sent them, declares the Lord. 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:56.939 This is what the Lord says. 00:01:56.939 --> 00:02:04.480 When 70 years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my good promise to bring you back to this place. 00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:08.139 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. 00:02:08.699 --> 00:02:10.919 Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. 00:02:11.500 --> 00:02:13.360 Plans to give you hope and a future. 00:02:14.060 --> 00:02:17.759 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me. 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:19.680 And I will listen to you. 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:25.140 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 00:02:25.620 --> 00:02:30.159 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity. 00:02:30.159 --> 00:02:41.879 I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile. 00:02:41.879 --> 00:02:50.280 And especially that emphasis on seeking the peace and prosperity of the city where they lived in exile. 00:02:50.780 --> 00:02:54.639 We'll see that sort of idea reflected in Peter's teaching. 00:02:54.919 --> 00:03:05.379 So let's turn to 1 Peter chapter 2 and let's read at verse 11 to verse 17. 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:08.060 Let's hear God's word. 00:03:08.060 --> 00:03:20.680 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from sinful desires which wage war against your soul. 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:29.960 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 00:03:30.939 --> 00:03:37.480 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority, 00:03:37.479 --> 00:03:43.219 or to governors who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:49.219 For it is God's will that by doing good, you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 00:03:50.019 --> 00:03:54.579 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. 00:03:55.359 --> 00:03:57.259 Live as God's slaves. 00:03:58.120 --> 00:04:00.099 Show proper respect to everyone. 00:04:00.839 --> 00:04:02.719 Love the family of believers. 00:04:03.539 --> 00:04:04.659 Fear God. 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:07.159 Honour the emperor. 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:17.180 Now, let's turn back to our Bibles and to that passage that we read in 1 Peter chapter 2. 00:04:17.599 --> 00:04:25.719 And what we're thinking about today is the idea of having a visitor mindset for the glory of God. 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:32.160 I remember the first year that we were working with international students in Glasgow. 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:42.540 We thought it would be a really nice thing and a big deal to invite some international students to our home to share Christmas with us, to share Christmas dinner with us. 00:04:42.600 --> 00:04:43.640 We thought it was a big deal. 00:04:43.639 --> 00:04:46.599 Everybody showed up, apart from one guy. 00:04:46.860 --> 00:04:48.560 He texted me about half three in the afternoon. 00:04:48.699 --> 00:04:50.860 Sorry, I slept through Christmas and Christmas lunch. 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:52.939 It wasn't from our country. 00:04:53.039 --> 00:04:53.939 It wasn't from our culture. 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:55.039 Christmas was new to him. 00:04:55.339 --> 00:04:56.039 Not a big deal. 00:04:56.040 --> 00:04:58.080 And that's something that's true of visitors. 00:04:58.360 --> 00:05:06.340 Typically, as visitors to a country, we don't normally adopt the customs and the practices of the nation. 00:05:06.339 --> 00:05:09.500 What else is true of visitors and strangers? 00:05:10.219 --> 00:05:22.479 Again, to borrow from my imaginary playground, I have vivid memories of my primary school playground in Skye of a new boy arriving in our little school, 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:29.379 coming from this exotic, magical land I've never heard of before called Polmont near Falkers. 00:05:29.580 --> 00:05:32.000 Whoa, this guy is so exotic. 00:05:34.400 --> 00:05:38.120 And visitors and strangers then stand out from the crowd. 00:05:38.900 --> 00:05:41.640 Maybe you've had that experience as a traveller. 00:05:42.600 --> 00:05:48.879 Visitors can tend to be watched very closely to try and learn what they're all about. 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:55.699 Of course, negatively, and we know this is true, visitors and strangers can face exclusion and persecution. 00:05:57.079 --> 00:06:03.379 And sometimes the news reports that the tragedy of racist abuse to refugees or asylum seekers. 00:06:05.259 --> 00:06:07.519 But Peter is writing to the church and he's saying, 00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:15.240 the Christian church, wherever we are, needs to have a visitor mindset. 00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:19.199 So he pulls these different factors together. 00:06:19.319 --> 00:06:22.699 He says to them, like, remember in the first place your true identity. 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:26.519 Remember where we were last week, chapter 2, verse 9, you're a chosen people. 00:06:27.139 --> 00:06:28.240 You're a royal priesthood. 00:06:28.300 --> 00:06:29.019 You're a holy nation. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:30.420 You're God's special possession. 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:34.740 The stamp on your passport now says kingdom of heaven. 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:39.879 But they're living in the Roman Empire where Caesar is Lord, 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:44.079 where Christianity is on the margins and where they're facing opposition. 00:06:45.719 --> 00:06:51.819 So he urges them in verse 11, as foreigners and exiles, to have that visitor mindset. 00:06:52.620 --> 00:06:56.839 He urges them to live out the values and the practices of God's people. 00:06:57.579 --> 00:07:04.680 He urges the church to stand out for the sake of God and the gospel. 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:07.959 And he acknowledges people will be watching. 00:07:08.759 --> 00:07:14.379 And some will be watching with hostile eyes and wanting to persecute and make life difficult. 00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:20.560 But others will be watching and God will use your witness to turn them to trust in Jesus. 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:28.699 But he's saying regardless, our task, our calling is to live with that visitor mindset, 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:32.759 to live as an exile for the glory of God. 00:07:32.759 --> 00:07:36.339 And that works itself out in this passage in three different ways. 00:07:36.519 --> 00:07:40.120 He talks about good deeds, says live good lives for God's glory. 00:07:40.699 --> 00:07:41.959 Talks about submission. 00:07:43.060 --> 00:07:46.060 Submit to human authority for God's sake. 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:48.620 And he talks about freedom. 00:07:48.719 --> 00:07:52.639 And he says live with freedom as God's slaves. 00:07:52.699 --> 00:07:53.759 And we'll think about each of those. 00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:59.420 And this is essentially lifestyle evangelism part one. 00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:01.899 So let's begin with good deeds. 00:08:01.899 --> 00:08:04.479 Live good lives for God's glory. 00:08:04.599 --> 00:08:06.879 We see this in verse 11 and 12. 00:08:06.979 --> 00:08:08.319 Let me read verse 12. 00:08:08.939 --> 00:08:13.839 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, 00:08:14.379 --> 00:08:18.279 they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:25.539 So these verses are a general introduction to what follows all the way to chapter 3, verse 7. 00:08:25.540 --> 00:08:29.900 And the general principle is live good lives and do good deeds. 00:08:30.060 --> 00:08:38.680 Now, in chapter 1 and verse 17, he has reminded them that they are being observed by God. 00:08:38.740 --> 00:08:40.159 And so they are called to be holy. 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:48.399 But here, they're called to live good lives and do good deeds because they're being observed by the unbelieving world. 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:52.799 Maybe you've heard that expression or that challenge. 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:57.279 You may be the only Bible somebody else ever reads. 00:08:57.319 --> 00:08:59.539 In other words, they're going to look at you as a Christian. 00:08:59.659 --> 00:09:04.039 That's where they're going to get that idea of God and his love and his salvation from. 00:09:05.319 --> 00:09:06.579 Peter recognises that. 00:09:06.580 --> 00:09:11.780 Now, the question is then, what kind of good lives, what kind of good deeds does Peter have in mind? 00:09:12.420 --> 00:09:18.160 Well, from all that he's said, we can surely say that these are good deeds that flow from one's Christian identity 00:09:18.160 --> 00:09:22.139 as a life is built in and on Jesus Christ. 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:30.100 To borrow from verse 3, these are part of our spiritual sacrifices that we offer as a royal priesthood. 00:09:30.100 --> 00:09:36.820 And the aim of those good deeds isn't to make a great name for ourselves, but to give glory to God. 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:39.800 Good deeds motivated by faith. 00:09:40.800 --> 00:09:42.480 Now, what will this involve? 00:09:42.580 --> 00:09:51.259 It will involve, on the one hand, verse 11, abstaining from sinful desires which wage war against your soul. 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:58.080 It will mean engaging in spiritual battle and recognising that often that battle lies within. 00:09:58.080 --> 00:10:04.240 It will mean conquering the evil desires that characterise them in their past. 00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:07.800 So in chapter 1, verse 14, he can say, 00:10:07.900 --> 00:10:12.440 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:13.720 Live as a child of God. 00:10:13.780 --> 00:10:21.980 And that means abstaining from certain things, seeking to conquer evil desires for the sake of your Christian witness. 00:10:21.980 --> 00:10:31.360 And they're also told to live those good lives among the pagans, so that others may see their good deeds. 00:10:31.460 --> 00:10:34.800 Now, so remember, this isn't monastery life. 00:10:35.820 --> 00:10:42.060 The church in the past, some branches of it thought that it meant sort of retreating and forming monasteries. 00:10:42.059 --> 00:10:53.819 But Peter is saying we're called to live as exiles for God's glory in a religiously diverse and sometimes hostile society like we recognise in our own time. 00:10:54.099 --> 00:10:57.719 And what's the goal of these good lives and good deeds? 00:10:58.439 --> 00:11:02.539 Again, the emphasis until now has been the glory and honour of God. 00:11:02.539 --> 00:11:09.599 We do those good deeds as a grateful response to the goodness of God in sending Jesus to be our saviour. 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:10.659 And that remains true. 00:11:10.959 --> 00:11:16.819 But here, there's an emphasis on looking ahead to the day God visits us. 00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:19.099 In other words, looking ahead to the day of judgment. 00:11:19.240 --> 00:11:21.059 So the return of Jesus is in mind. 00:11:21.179 --> 00:11:22.980 Jesus as judge. 00:11:22.980 --> 00:11:34.120 And the hope that Peter offers is that some who slandered the church, some who accused Christians, will be saved. 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:42.759 And they will testify, I came to trust in Jesus through watching your lives. 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:47.539 And that mirrors that teaching of Jesus that we shared with the boys and girls. 00:11:47.539 --> 00:11:54.120 Let your light shine so that men may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 00:11:54.779 --> 00:12:02.480 Let me share a story to illustrate from the life of Jim and Elizabeth Elliot, who were missionaries in Ecuador. 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:05.899 So they were working in Ecuador. 00:12:06.180 --> 00:12:16.600 But Jim felt compelled to go to this tribe, the Oca people, who were known for being very hostile and aggressive to outsiders. 00:12:17.139 --> 00:12:24.340 In a previous century, there'd been exploitation of the land during a rubber boom and with oil exploration that had gone on. 00:12:24.379 --> 00:12:25.800 So they were very hostile and suspicious. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:29.180 But Jim wanted to share Jesus with them. 00:12:29.179 --> 00:12:35.039 And so he found a team of five young men who flew into this remote island. 00:12:35.139 --> 00:12:37.859 And their first meeting, they brought gifts and they met the tribe. 00:12:38.099 --> 00:12:39.500 And the first meeting seemed positive. 00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:44.739 And so they were encouraged to come back a few days later to hold a worship service on the beach. 00:12:44.859 --> 00:12:53.179 But as they landed and as they got out of the plane, each of those missionaries was speared to death. 00:12:54.859 --> 00:12:57.019 Two years later, so that was 1956. 00:12:57.019 --> 00:13:05.759 Two years later, Elizabeth Elliot, the widow of Jim, arrives to live among that tribe. 00:13:08.079 --> 00:13:18.759 And the result of her forgiveness of them, her love towards them, her acceptance of them, was that many of them turned to trust in Jesus Christ. 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:27.559 The very first convert to Christianity was a man called Minkai who had personally speared two of those missionaries. 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:35.460 Their lives are a powerful example of good lives and good deeds for God's glory. 00:13:35.460 --> 00:13:41.139 That God, in the fullness of time, has used to make a huge impact on that tribe. 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:47.019 So still today, they reckon 20% of that tribe is still Christian. 00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:51.400 And especially the older generation who remembers those first missionary visitors. 00:13:51.700 --> 00:13:55.740 Many of them are followers of Jesus. 00:13:55.740 --> 00:14:03.399 Now, what lessons can we draw for ourselves as we are told to do good deeds and live good lives? 00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:06.120 One, let's think about public goodness. 00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:10.440 Jesus said the church was called to be a city on a hill. 00:14:11.220 --> 00:14:14.600 The light of our lives is to be attractive. 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:18.379 It's part of God's means of saving people. 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:20.360 The way we live matters. 00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:23.480 And that means we need to be in the world but not of it. 00:14:23.580 --> 00:14:29.600 We need to live among our neighbours, our colleagues, our family and friends who are not Christians. 00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:34.700 And at the same time to stand out as being different, as being God's people. 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:39.639 There's also implications for church goodness. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:44.080 Because remember, this is written to a church, a community. 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:49.040 Yes, they were scattered, but they were also, there was pockets of believers together. 00:14:49.560 --> 00:14:55.040 And he's encouraging them towards that powerful witness of, what can we call it, family love. 00:14:56.180 --> 00:14:58.900 Within the church that can break down barriers. 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:02.800 That can unite very different people. 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:07.580 And to become a powerful testimony to the power of God's saving grace. 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:13.340 Those good lives and good deeds can clear barriers away. 00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:17.480 We can clear barriers by goodness. 00:15:17.780 --> 00:15:21.639 Barriers that stop people considering God, considering Jesus. 00:15:22.180 --> 00:15:28.200 Sam Chan, an Australian evangelist, has written a very helpful book, Evangelism in a Skeptical World. 00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:36.080 And one of the things he emphasises is the power of hospitality and community to change perception. 00:15:36.080 --> 00:15:41.700 One Christian on their own at a distance from others. 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:46.800 It's easy to label that Christian as weird. 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:53.500 But bring someone into your home or bring someone into Christian community where they're enjoying friendship with other Christians. 00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:57.940 All of a sudden you'll find that some people will begin watching and thinking. 00:15:57.940 --> 00:16:05.400 And in the fullness of time and by God's grace, some people will become worshippers from weird to worship. 00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:09.540 As our goodness, our kindness, our welcome can clear barriers. 00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:15.719 I've been reading a short book by Roger Carswell, a British evangelist. 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:27.220 And he spoke of 28 years of showing hospitality and kindness to a man who'd been a teacher, colleague, an atheist. 00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:34.519 But 28 years of spending time with him and his wife until they both came to Christ. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:36.200 It's wonderful. 00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:38.460 But are we ready for that kind of commitment? 00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:47.460 I think it's one of the reasons why we long for open homes so that we can begin to clear some of the barriers and misconceptions by inviting people in. 00:16:48.940 --> 00:16:54.259 We're also reminded from verse 11 that we need to fight for goodness within. 00:16:55.280 --> 00:17:01.820 Because you know as well as I do that the world is looking for an excuse to say, see, I told you following Jesus is no good. 00:17:01.860 --> 00:17:03.840 I told you Christians are just hypocrites. 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:13.579 So we need to pursue holiness and obedience and integrity because we don't want to be the obstacle that turns people away. 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:20.700 And remember too that the gospel is what fuels our goodness. 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:26.079 We need to keep coming back to God's goodness to us in Christ. 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:37.199 When we feel disheartened and discouraged and rejected, remember that God in Christ has loved you and turned you from being an enemy to being a friend of God. 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:46.980 That you came with your guilt and your sin and that God's goodness in Christ has purchased your forgiveness by the precious blood of Jesus. 00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:53.099 Spiritually dead in Christ given eternal life. 00:17:53.099 --> 00:17:59.500 And that goodness that we receive and we reflect on is that goodness that we then extend to others. 00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:07.899 So a visitor mindset lives good lives for God's glory in a hostile world to point others towards Jesus. 00:18:10.179 --> 00:18:16.439 And then it begins to take a very particular shape from the general to the specific. 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:23.960 Over the next three Sundays, we'll think about how Peter applies this principle into three different life settings. 00:18:24.120 --> 00:18:27.600 Here, it's our response to government and governing authorities. 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:31.340 Next week, the image of slave and master and workplace. 00:18:32.360 --> 00:18:35.779 And the week after that, family and marriage. 00:18:36.840 --> 00:18:38.440 So here, the call is to submission. 00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:42.940 Submit to human authorities for God's sake. 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:45.440 And that's what we have in verse 13. 00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:57.160 Submit yourself for the Lord's sake to every human authority, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority or to governors who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 00:18:57.240 --> 00:18:58.680 So remember our setting. 00:18:59.420 --> 00:19:00.779 This is Roman Empire. 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:08.580 So we're not yet at the stage where there's a full blown cult of the emperor, like similar to what we have in North Korea, I guess. 00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:19.240 But we know from chapter 1, verses 6 to 9, these are Christians who are beginning to suffer for their faith, certainly in their family and in their community. 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:22.960 But also they're beginning to experience oppressive government. 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:30.119 And that government, that power of the empire, would soon turn to executing Christians. 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:33.000 Now, why is it important to remember that? 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:38.940 Because it's in that context that Peter calls the church to submit to governing authorities. 00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:44.079 See, the temptation that we might well have is to say, but hang on, Peter. 00:19:44.859 --> 00:19:47.680 You don't know my prime minister, my first minister, my president. 00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:53.660 Peter knew firsthand oppressive government. 00:19:53.660 --> 00:20:01.400 Peter witnessed oppressive government colluding with religious authorities to kill Jesus. 00:20:01.400 --> 00:20:08.820 All that to say we are not the exception to this rule when we're asked to submit to governing authorities. 00:20:09.780 --> 00:20:10.860 What's the command? 00:20:11.380 --> 00:20:16.140 Simply to submit to the human institutions of government. 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:22.060 The general principle for the people of God is that we should submit respectfully and obey. 00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:27.840 Yes, there are exceptions, but we're dealing with the general principle that we're called to submit and to obey. 00:20:28.780 --> 00:20:30.900 With a particular Christian motivation. 00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:32.420 So what's the Christian motivation? 00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:34.840 Verse 13, do you see it? 00:20:35.280 --> 00:20:37.800 We submit for the Lord's sake. 00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:39.220 We look first to God. 00:20:39.340 --> 00:20:40.800 We recognise we belong to God. 00:20:40.860 --> 00:20:42.780 So we have that visitor mindset. 00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:51.740 But then in obedience to God, we submit to those rulers who have been appointed for us in God's wisdom. 00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:55.240 Romans 13 and verse 4 makes that clear. 00:20:55.240 --> 00:21:01.039 Verse 14 is showing us God's proper aim for government. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:05.099 To punish wrong, to commend what is right and just. 00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:13.240 And we are called to honour and obey as governing authorities serve to carry out God's design. 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:20.240 Again, what's the Christian motivation given in this section? 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:22.819 Again, we are to live out our identity. 00:21:23.059 --> 00:21:26.700 We are to submit as a way to show our obedience to God. 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:31.940 As a way to honour God by honouring those institutions he and people he has established. 00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:39.960 And there's also the Jeremiah 29 principle that we are to seek the welfare of the city. 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:50.779 And verse 15, it is God's will that by doing good, by doing the good of submitting, you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 00:21:51.340 --> 00:21:59.539 By living as good citizens, they will silence some of the slander, some of the prejudice that's being levelled against the church. 00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:03.620 People were really suspicious of this new Christian faith. 00:22:03.619 --> 00:22:06.399 They thought Christians were bad citizens. 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:07.579 They were disloyal. 00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:10.419 They were engaged in weird practices. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:18.179 And so Peter says, for God's honour and for the sake of your mission, live good lives. 00:22:18.459 --> 00:22:20.619 Submit, be a good citizen. 00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:28.019 Now, I want to make three direct applications to ourselves. 00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:33.139 Because I think we need to hear them in the time that we live in. 00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:48.139 First one, we must as Christians honour our governing authority, our prime minister, our first minister, our present, whoever you happen to be. 00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:52.459 They have been appointed by God. 00:22:53.399 --> 00:22:56.819 And they are made in the image of God, as we'll think about in a few moments. 00:22:56.879 --> 00:22:59.859 So they deserve our honour and respect. 00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:04.099 Now, of course, that doesn't mean we agree with them on every point. 00:23:04.159 --> 00:23:07.319 We can disagree, but we must disagree respectfully. 00:23:07.899 --> 00:23:12.579 What we cannot do is we cannot dehumanise them. 00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:15.699 We cannot slander them. 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:18.819 We cannot mock them. 00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:23.139 So we need to examine our words. 00:23:24.179 --> 00:23:26.639 How do we talk about our governments? 00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:31.939 How do we type about, blog about, comment about our government? 00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:44.960 And that's so important for us today, I think, because we live at a time when there's no question that the media now gladly engages in a greater level of tribalism and personal attack. 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:53.519 And when social media disconnects us and allows just trash talking others at a safe distance. 00:23:54.180 --> 00:24:07.700 Will we as Christians stand out by honouring, by talking respectfully of those God has appointed over us? 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:12.140 So it's a really important issue of honour. 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:21.059 There's also the need for humility, humility to receive authority, because naturally you and I are anti-authority. 00:24:22.080 --> 00:24:25.059 That's what the Bible teaches, what we know about human nature. 00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:26.720 You think about the Garden of Eden. 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:33.220 Not content to have all the privilege and glory of being with God and being made in the image of God. 00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:36.900 Adam and Eve wanted to be God-like and so they rebelled against God's authority. 00:24:38.600 --> 00:24:39.740 Think about childhood. 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:44.960 It doesn't take long for a child to begin imposing their own will. 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:51.000 And that's a trait that we struggle with and that continues through our lives. 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:56.319 But here we are called to humbly listen to what our Creator says to us. 00:24:56.359 --> 00:25:05.700 And our Creator calls us to submit first to Jesus as Lord and then to government in obedience to the Lord. 00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:08.319 So there's a call to humility. 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:17.960 I would suggest too there's a call to prayer for the Christian church, to pray for governments and lawmakers. 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:28.120 Here in summary is a good design for government to punish wrong, to pursue justice and to commend right, positive justice and peace. 00:25:29.120 --> 00:25:40.559 So let's pray for our governments, for lawmakers, to pray for Christian MPs as they look to bring the light of Christ to bear in public debate and policy. 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:48.259 Pray that peace and justice and flourishing of good would be seen in places where it is not like Myanmar and like North Korea. 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.480 So we pray. 00:25:51.659 --> 00:26:05.240 But Peter reminds us a visitor mindset chooses to submit to authority for God's glory in a hostile world to silence criticism of Christianity. 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:13.960 And connected to this idea, but expanding it slightly, he moves on to talk about freedom. 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:20.079 Live with freedom as God's slaves. 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:21.120 Verse 16. 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:25.859 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover up for evil. 00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:27.680 Live as God's slaves. 00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:29.200 So this connects with what's come before. 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:31.620 So verse 16, you're a free people. 00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:34.920 You've been set free by God's grace. 00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:39.940 God has sent Jesus to be the saviour of the world. 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:43.900 And by looking to him, by trusting in him, your sin is forgiven. 00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:47.880 Yet you're no longer a slave to sin and guilt leading to death. 00:26:47.900 --> 00:26:49.299 And you belong to God. 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.799 So God has first loyalty. 00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:54.680 And that means you're living as exiles. 00:26:54.680 --> 00:27:00.380 But Peter says that freedom has limits. 00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:02.660 What's the limit? 00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:03.340 Verse 16. 00:27:03.580 --> 00:27:06.519 Don't use your freedom, verse 16, as a cover up for evil. 00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:11.000 So we're not allowed to say, well, now Jesus has saved me. 00:27:11.080 --> 00:27:12.660 Now I can live as I please. 00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:14.860 I'm a follower of Jesus. 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:16.860 I can treat people however I want. 00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.700 I'm a follower of Jesus. 00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:20.960 So I can mock the government. 00:27:21.820 --> 00:27:22.220 No. 00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:22.279 No. 00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:27.339 We are set free for lives of obedience. 00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:34.420 We are set free to enjoy life within the proper limits that God has established. 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:38.319 This always makes me think of goldfish. 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:41.660 We have a couple of goldfish in our dining room. 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:44.319 And sometimes we forget to feed them. 00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:53.399 And so imagine the goldfish sees us tucking into our dinner and think, oh man, if I can just escape the confines of this bowl, there'd be food to be had. 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:55.500 The goldfish manages to break free. 00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.339 What's going to happen? 00:27:57.659 --> 00:27:58.980 He's not going to last very long, is he? 00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:00.759 He was made for the water. 00:28:01.139 --> 00:28:06.079 You and I were made to live well within the boundaries that God set. 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:13.000 If evil is slavery, then God sets us free to do good, to submit to God's authority. 00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:15.480 That influences the honour that we show. 00:28:15.919 --> 00:28:18.579 It influences the submission that we give. 00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:21.419 And the point then leads to verse 17. 00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:25.099 Freedom influences how we relate to others. 00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:26.740 It influences relationships. 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:33.259 So if we're set free by God to live for God, it means show proper respect to everyone. 00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:34.740 So honour everyone. 00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:37.359 This goes back to Genesis 1. 00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:46.039 Recognise everyone is made in God's image, has dignity and value, and treat them as such. 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:50.339 Second, love the family of believers. 00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:51.960 Love the church family. 00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:56.059 And remember that in Christ we have a special bond to other Christians. 00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:58.419 We have one Father, our Father in heaven. 00:28:58.539 --> 00:29:00.079 We have one Lord, the Lord Jesus. 00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:05.139 We have one Spirit living in us who's testifying to the fact that we're children of God, 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:08.000 who's revealing to us more of the glory of the Father and the Son. 00:29:08.159 --> 00:29:10.980 Remember, we're one people with one mission. 00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:12.480 So we love the church family. 00:29:13.419 --> 00:29:14.359 Fear God. 00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:19.240 That's a reminder of where ultimate loyalty and honour lies. 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:22.139 Not with the Emperor, but with God. 00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:26.080 But, verse 4, then number 4, we honour the Emperor. 00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:31.280 Which involves the submitting and respecting that he spoke of earlier. 00:29:31.340 --> 00:29:35.200 In other words, every area of life is governed by our faith. 00:29:35.380 --> 00:29:38.580 And two points to consider in this regard. 00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:45.119 One, again, in a sense, a warning about the polarised culture in which we live. 00:29:45.699 --> 00:29:50.919 It's very easy and it's very tempting to divide into them and us. 00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:52.720 And we see it all the time. 00:29:53.399 --> 00:29:59.359 And it's very easy and tempting to delight in attacking the other. 00:29:59.919 --> 00:30:04.599 To delight in those likes that we might get for sarcastic or disrespectful comments. 00:30:04.599 --> 00:30:09.119 But to do that is to dishonour Jesus. 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:14.939 We need to fight to show honour. 00:30:18.019 --> 00:30:22.119 Even to and especially to those who we disagree with. 00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:26.319 It will mark us out as positively different. 00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:33.259 And in this regard, let me also remind you of the beauty of the Gospel. 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:36.279 Using freedom to live as slaves. 00:30:37.439 --> 00:30:40.879 Because remember the words of Jesus in Mark chapter 10 and at verse 45. 00:30:40.879 --> 00:30:45.960 Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve. 00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:49.759 And to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:30:50.439 --> 00:30:52.720 He is the foundation of our faith. 00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:56.039 And he sets us free that we might love like him. 00:30:56.539 --> 00:31:03.200 So a visitor mindset chooses to freely honour and love others to the glory of God. 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:07.180 Are we ready to live with a visitor mindset this week? 00:31:08.359 --> 00:31:13.799 Our starting point, your starting point must be to have faith in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. 00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:17.480 He must be the foundation of faith, the source of your identity. 00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:23.759 If you're not yet following Jesus, let me encourage you today to turn from your sin. 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:28.180 To trust that when Jesus died on the cross, he died to forgive your sin. 00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:30.879 To bring you into the kingdom of God. 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:33.180 To live with him as your Lord. 00:31:33.299 --> 00:31:37.180 And then, as those who know that we belong to God. 00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:39.039 That heaven is our true home. 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:44.000 And with God's help, will we this week live good lives for God? 00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:46.299 In our unbelieving world. 00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:53.819 Will we willingly submit to authorities and respect them for the Lord's sake? 00:31:53.819 --> 00:32:00.159 Will we use our Christian freedom to honour and to love others? 00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:06.240 Yes, by some we may be regarded with suspicion and we may meet with rejection. 00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:13.639 But others may be led towards Christ as they see Christ in us. 00:32:16.299 --> 00:32:16.319 We may be