WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.219 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church 00:00:06.219 --> 00:00:08.700 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:13.019 If you are new or visiting with us, welcome. 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:14.980 We're glad that you're here. 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:18.539 And we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:21.140 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:21.500 --> 00:00:25.859 And as we follow Jesus together, we're convinced that there's no one so good, 00:00:25.859 --> 00:00:30.199 that they don't need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it. 00:00:31.079 --> 00:00:33.479 And that's the reason that we come back week after week 00:00:33.479 --> 00:00:37.359 and we spend a large part of our worship service looking at what God has to say in His Word. 00:00:37.539 --> 00:00:40.399 We believe that God has something to say to everyone. 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:44.640 If you've been with us, you know that we are in the book of 1 Peter. 00:00:45.100 --> 00:00:47.019 And the book of 1 Peter is actually a letter. 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:49.320 It's a letter written by a man named Peter. 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:55.399 And he writes it to Christians who are living in the first century in what is now modern-day Turkey. 00:00:55.859 --> 00:01:00.179 And he writes to these Christians to encourage them and instruct them. 00:01:00.219 --> 00:01:03.679 And he does that because they are facing opposition in the world 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:07.099 because they're living lives that reflect Jesus Christ. 00:01:08.039 --> 00:01:10.260 And they're also feeling out of place in the world 00:01:10.260 --> 00:01:12.620 because they're living lives as Christians. 00:01:13.579 --> 00:01:17.120 Peter writes to encourage them that Jesus is worth it. 00:01:18.180 --> 00:01:20.659 Jesus is worth them living for and loving for. 00:01:21.319 --> 00:01:23.739 He's worth them suffering for and dying for. 00:01:23.739 --> 00:01:27.399 And he also writes not just to encourage them but to instruct them 00:01:27.399 --> 00:01:30.659 that they would know how they should live in the world as Christians 00:01:30.659 --> 00:01:35.899 and that they would know how to respond when living as Christians leads to opposition from the world. 00:01:37.500 --> 00:01:40.039 Last week, he gave them something of a mission statement. 00:01:40.199 --> 00:01:43.519 He told them that they were priests among the nations. 00:01:43.679 --> 00:01:45.079 And we talked about what that means. 00:01:45.179 --> 00:01:48.759 Essentially, it means that these are people who are meant to represent God to the world 00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:50.660 and represent the world to God. 00:01:50.740 --> 00:01:53.020 That people would know about God and his goodness 00:01:53.020 --> 00:01:55.060 because of the way that his people live. 00:01:56.320 --> 00:01:58.719 Now, Peter, in doing that, was just laying the groundwork, 00:01:58.780 --> 00:02:00.820 the framework for what's to come in this letter 00:02:00.820 --> 00:02:04.340 because now he's going to tell us specifically how we can act as priests. 00:02:04.340 --> 00:02:09.460 How can we live in a way that would bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ? 00:02:10.240 --> 00:02:14.219 And how can we live in a way that would reflect what's true about God to the world 00:02:14.219 --> 00:02:16.480 and bring other people to know him? 00:02:17.340 --> 00:02:19.960 In fact, that's how we left off last week in verse 12. 00:02:20.420 --> 00:02:20.939 Peter says, 00:02:20.939 --> 00:02:34.819 So the goal is that the people receiving this letter, by their actions, would bring glory to God. 00:02:36.379 --> 00:02:38.240 This week, Peter's going to get practical. 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:41.479 We're going to look at how Christians bring glory to God 00:02:41.479 --> 00:02:45.000 in the way that they interact with the government that's been given to them. 00:02:46.120 --> 00:02:49.860 And so it's with that question about government that we're going to turn to 1 Peter 2. 00:02:49.860 --> 00:02:51.840 We're in verse 13. 00:02:52.040 --> 00:02:53.480 You can open up your Bibles to that. 00:02:53.580 --> 00:02:55.700 You can open it up on your phone or you can follow along. 00:02:55.780 --> 00:02:57.280 It's near the end of your worship guide. 00:02:58.060 --> 00:03:00.860 Remember as we come to this passage that this is God's word. 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:07.440 And God tells us that while grass withers and flowers fall, 00:03:08.340 --> 00:03:10.460 his word will remain forever. 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:14.520 And so that's why we read now beginning at verse 13. 00:03:15.460 --> 00:03:19.320 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution. 00:03:19.860 --> 00:03:26.520 Whether it be to the emperor as supreme or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil 00:03:26.520 --> 00:03:28.620 and to praise those who do good. 00:03:29.620 --> 00:03:31.580 For this is the will of God, 00:03:32.040 --> 00:03:36.420 that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 00:03:37.420 --> 00:03:38.080 Verse 16. 00:03:39.080 --> 00:03:40.520 Live as people who are free, 00:03:40.920 --> 00:03:43.980 not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, 00:03:44.420 --> 00:03:46.440 but living as servants of God. 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:48.460 Honor everyone. 00:03:49.419 --> 00:03:50.560 Love the brotherhood. 00:03:51.419 --> 00:03:52.259 Fear God. 00:03:53.159 --> 00:03:53.879 Honor the emperor. 00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:59.819 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:04:02.859 --> 00:04:08.479 Father in heaven, we thank you again that you've given us another week to live 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:14.599 and you've also given us another Sunday to hear from you with your people. 00:04:14.599 --> 00:04:19.480 We ask that you would send your Holy Spirit because we confess that we need help. 00:04:20.659 --> 00:04:25.399 Without your help, we will not be able to hear from you or understand what you had to say to us. 00:04:25.639 --> 00:04:29.199 And so we ask that you would do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. 00:04:30.060 --> 00:04:31.500 That you would speak clearly. 00:04:32.060 --> 00:04:35.680 That we would understand and believe and act. 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:39.160 We ask all these things not because we have earned them, 00:04:39.259 --> 00:04:41.199 but because Jesus has earned them for us. 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:43.019 And so we ask them in his name. 00:04:43.620 --> 00:04:43.879 Amen. 00:04:46.939 --> 00:04:49.040 If you've been following the news recently, 00:04:49.139 --> 00:04:51.079 you know there's been a very controversial story 00:04:51.079 --> 00:04:54.519 about the relationship of the United States to the United Kingdom. 00:04:55.139 --> 00:04:56.879 And it all started at the end of August 00:04:56.879 --> 00:05:00.019 when there was this woman, an American citizen named Ann Sackalas, 00:05:00.019 --> 00:05:04.759 and she ended up having a tragic accident in her car with a motorcyclist 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:06.359 who was a citizen of the United Kingdom. 00:05:06.659 --> 00:05:10.939 And that man named Harry Dunn ended up passing away pretty quickly after the accident. 00:05:11.819 --> 00:05:15.240 And there are, of course, all kinds of motor vehicle accidents all around the world, 00:05:15.299 --> 00:05:16.680 all the time, that we don't hear about. 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:20.699 But this one made the news because Ann Sackalas' husband works for the U.S. government. 00:05:21.719 --> 00:05:25.959 And so instead of staying in the country to see this case prosecuted, 00:05:25.959 --> 00:05:27.859 she fled and returned to the U.S. 00:05:27.860 --> 00:05:31.720 and she made a claim that she does not have to face any consequences 00:05:31.720 --> 00:05:34.180 because of something called diplomatic immunity. 00:05:35.139 --> 00:05:36.740 Now, if you're familiar with diplomatic immunity, 00:05:36.860 --> 00:05:39.740 you know that it's a way of protecting foreign diplomats 00:05:39.740 --> 00:05:40.780 when they're in other countries. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:44.180 So if you're representing the United States, say in France, 00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:47.879 the government can't harass you as a representative of another government. 00:05:48.100 --> 00:05:50.400 And it's to avoid all kinds of conflicts of interest. 00:05:50.860 --> 00:05:53.040 But there's been a controversy now over whether this is, 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:55.340 first of all, an appropriate use of diplomatic immunity, 00:05:55.339 --> 00:05:58.099 and second of all, whether it even applies to Ann. 00:05:58.779 --> 00:06:01.759 There's some controversy since her husband apparently was not stated 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:03.339 to be an official diplomat. 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:04.739 He was working for the U.S. government, 00:06:04.919 --> 00:06:06.819 but whether he's a diplomat or not is controversial. 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:12.479 Now, in that situation, no one was trying to use diplomatic immunity 00:06:12.479 --> 00:06:14.799 to get away with doing wrong, right? 00:06:14.819 --> 00:06:15.719 This was an accident. 00:06:16.559 --> 00:06:17.479 Ann Sackalas didn't think, 00:06:17.599 --> 00:06:19.479 I'm going to collide into this motorcycle 00:06:19.479 --> 00:06:20.620 and I'm going to get away with it. 00:06:20.620 --> 00:06:24.660 However, there are people who do abuse diplomatic immunity. 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:27.560 I had a classmate in college. 00:06:27.819 --> 00:06:29.680 He thought very highly of himself. 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:34.220 And his parents were both very high-level political operatives 00:06:34.220 --> 00:06:35.139 in Washington, D.C. 00:06:35.699 --> 00:06:38.980 And he went to a very elite private school in the city. 00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:40.920 And he had a classmate 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:43.800 who was the son of a foreign diplomat. 00:06:43.800 --> 00:06:46.259 And so he would tell us stories 00:06:46.259 --> 00:06:48.100 about when they wanted to have parties, 00:06:48.579 --> 00:06:51.079 they would throw them at this individual's house. 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:54.600 And so there'd be all kinds of illicit and illegal things 00:06:54.600 --> 00:06:56.020 going on at these high school parties 00:06:56.020 --> 00:06:57.980 and the police would show up 00:06:57.980 --> 00:06:59.639 and this classmate of mine, 00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:01.860 he would tell stories about how he would walk out of the house 00:07:01.860 --> 00:07:03.580 and he'd come up and approach the police. 00:07:04.139 --> 00:07:05.180 And they would ask him, 00:07:05.259 --> 00:07:06.540 what's going on at that house? 00:07:07.500 --> 00:07:08.639 And he would say, you know what? 00:07:09.540 --> 00:07:12.180 That's the house of the ambassador. 00:07:12.180 --> 00:07:15.340 It doesn't really matter what's going on in this house. 00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:18.600 And as frustrated as they would be, 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:21.120 the police in that situation had to accept that answer 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:22.420 because they had no authority 00:07:22.420 --> 00:07:25.199 to go into the home of a foreign diplomat 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:26.079 and start arresting people. 00:07:26.180 --> 00:07:28.139 That man was covered by diplomatic immunity. 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:31.639 Now I mention that in 1 Peter 00:07:31.639 --> 00:07:33.899 because Peter has just told these people 00:07:33.899 --> 00:07:36.340 in our passage from last week, verse 9, 00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:39.680 that they are a chosen race and a holy nation. 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:42.579 They're their own group of people. 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:45.759 And it would be tempting for them hearing that 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:47.199 to think, that sounds amazing. 00:07:48.139 --> 00:07:49.639 We're our own nation. 00:07:49.780 --> 00:07:52.519 I mean, God has given us these rules that apply to us. 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:54.439 We don't have to worry about 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:56.540 what the government has to say about anything. 00:07:57.079 --> 00:07:59.120 We're just going to follow God's laws. 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:01.319 And if the government requires us of something 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:02.780 that God doesn't require of us, 00:08:03.100 --> 00:08:04.399 well, we don't have to worry about that. 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:05.680 We're Christians. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:07.660 We're a holy nation. 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:13.860 Peter comes making sure at the very beginning 00:08:13.860 --> 00:08:16.160 that there is no possibility for these people 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:17.160 to have that misunderstanding. 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:19.240 There is, in other words, 00:08:19.860 --> 00:08:22.399 no diplomatic immunity for Christians. 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:25.939 Just because we belong to God 00:08:25.939 --> 00:08:27.220 and have been chosen by God 00:08:27.220 --> 00:08:29.319 does not mean that we get to disregard 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:31.540 the authorities that he's put over us. 00:08:31.980 --> 00:08:33.460 And so he tells us, verse 13, 00:08:33.460 --> 00:08:35.040 be subject for the Lord's sake 00:08:35.040 --> 00:08:36.379 to every human institution, 00:08:37.080 --> 00:08:38.639 whether it be to the emperor as supreme 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:40.139 or to governors as sent by him. 00:08:40.540 --> 00:08:41.320 They have a purpose. 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:42.920 They're punishing those who do evil 00:08:42.920 --> 00:08:44.920 and praising those who do good. 00:08:46.660 --> 00:08:47.800 Even more than that, 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:48.940 so they're not just people 00:08:48.940 --> 00:08:49.920 who are keeping the law. 00:08:50.019 --> 00:08:52.580 Verse 15, this is the will of God. 00:08:52.660 --> 00:08:56.019 By the way, people spend enormous amounts of time 00:08:56.019 --> 00:08:58.259 trying to discover God's will for their life. 00:08:59.300 --> 00:09:01.220 And you have the great fortune 00:09:01.220 --> 00:09:02.160 of being here this morning 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:03.719 and getting to skip all of that. 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:05.959 Because this passage is going to tell you 00:09:05.959 --> 00:09:08.319 very clearly what God's will for your life is. 00:09:09.199 --> 00:09:09.860 This is it. 00:09:10.219 --> 00:09:11.139 You don't need to search anymore. 00:09:11.699 --> 00:09:12.620 This is the will of God. 00:09:13.179 --> 00:09:13.980 That by doing good, 00:09:14.059 --> 00:09:14.939 you should put to silence 00:09:14.939 --> 00:09:16.379 the ignorance of foolish people. 00:09:17.259 --> 00:09:18.219 In other words, 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:21.500 Christians are not just people who obey the law. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:24.159 We're not just people who pay our taxes. 00:09:25.100 --> 00:09:27.980 We're not just people who respect police officers. 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:29.980 We're not just people 00:09:29.980 --> 00:09:33.060 who try to obey and follow the laws 00:09:33.060 --> 00:09:33.879 that have been given to us. 00:09:33.940 --> 00:09:35.659 We're not just people who follow the rules of the road. 00:09:37.019 --> 00:09:38.920 We're also people who are seeking to do good. 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:41.000 And so Christians are also serving their community. 00:09:41.740 --> 00:09:43.320 They're also caring for the poor. 00:09:43.420 --> 00:09:45.300 They're also actively promoting good 00:09:45.300 --> 00:09:46.300 in their communities, 00:09:46.420 --> 00:09:47.039 in their neighborhoods, 00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:47.740 in their cities. 00:09:47.740 --> 00:09:52.340 Not only do Christians not have diplomatic immunity, 00:09:53.060 --> 00:09:55.440 not only are there people who are obeying the law, 00:09:55.560 --> 00:09:56.700 even more than that, 00:09:57.019 --> 00:09:58.220 like we talked about last week, 00:09:58.299 --> 00:10:00.120 there are people who are promoting good. 00:10:01.259 --> 00:10:02.659 They're not just seeking to do 00:10:02.659 --> 00:10:04.019 the very minimum necessary 00:10:04.019 --> 00:10:06.220 to get by in their society, 00:10:06.220 --> 00:10:07.799 but they're actually looking for ways 00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:10.019 where they can promote God's goodness 00:10:10.019 --> 00:10:11.539 and his justice in the world. 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:15.879 As Peter's writing to these people, 00:10:15.980 --> 00:10:17.299 then he's encouraging them 00:10:17.299 --> 00:10:21.039 that that's how they respond 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:22.120 when they face opposition. 00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:25.479 When we face opposition from this world, 00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:26.459 we don't respond by saying, 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:27.919 well, we don't care anymore. 00:10:28.039 --> 00:10:29.099 We don't care about your rules. 00:10:29.199 --> 00:10:30.299 We don't care about your government. 00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:34.179 But instead, they double down on doing good 00:10:34.179 --> 00:10:36.819 and living as citizens 00:10:36.819 --> 00:10:38.299 who are models to the world 00:10:38.299 --> 00:10:40.299 and are a pleasure for their governors 00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:41.179 and their emperors. 00:10:42.459 --> 00:10:43.779 Now, we don't have emperors 00:10:43.779 --> 00:10:44.779 in the United States, right? 00:10:44.819 --> 00:10:46.240 This was written to first century 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:48.200 people in the Roman Empire, 00:10:48.419 --> 00:10:52.100 but we still have a government. 00:10:52.200 --> 00:10:53.480 We still have government officials, 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:54.919 people who make laws and rules, 00:10:54.919 --> 00:10:56.720 and as much as we're able, 00:10:57.399 --> 00:10:59.060 as Christians, we obey those things. 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:01.820 Now, there's other parts in the Bible 00:11:01.820 --> 00:11:02.639 that talk about this. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:03.460 There's times, right, 00:11:03.500 --> 00:11:04.820 when the government's going to ask us 00:11:04.820 --> 00:11:06.740 to do something that God says is a sin, 00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:09.279 and Peter's not talking about that. 00:11:09.340 --> 00:11:10.759 We see that in Romans chapter 5. 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:13.480 The people in Romans are told, 00:11:13.539 --> 00:11:14.899 or not Romans, Acts chapter 5. 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:17.259 The disciples are told in Acts chapter 5 00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:18.480 to stop preaching the gospel, 00:11:18.580 --> 00:11:18.899 and they say, 00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:19.799 well, we can't do that. 00:11:19.879 --> 00:11:21.460 God's commanded us to preach the gospel. 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:23.019 That's not a rule we can obey. 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:25.580 But that's not what Peter's talking about here. 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:27.019 He's talking about the basic rules 00:11:27.019 --> 00:11:27.779 in the world 00:11:27.779 --> 00:11:30.340 that help society to function. 00:11:30.340 --> 00:11:34.519 So one question is this. 00:11:34.580 --> 00:11:36.019 If we, I mentioned last week, 00:11:36.860 --> 00:11:38.540 a church that's come under fire, 00:11:38.899 --> 00:11:39.920 not from the government, 00:11:40.019 --> 00:11:41.740 but just in their general culture and society 00:11:41.740 --> 00:11:42.879 because of some of their views 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:43.920 about human sexuality, 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:46.139 and that church is also doing 00:11:46.139 --> 00:11:47.660 what Peter talked about last week. 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:48.980 They're doing good works. 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:50.920 So people are on the one hand 00:11:50.920 --> 00:11:51.700 criticizing them. 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:52.300 On the other hand, 00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:53.220 they can't help but notice 00:11:53.220 --> 00:11:54.080 the good that they're doing. 00:11:54.940 --> 00:11:56.460 Peter repeats that here. 00:11:56.680 --> 00:11:57.360 Verse 14, 00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:59.060 these governors are punishing the evil, 00:11:59.059 --> 00:12:01.319 and praising the good. 00:12:03.239 --> 00:12:04.739 If we came under fire 00:12:04.739 --> 00:12:06.619 here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church 00:12:06.619 --> 00:12:08.019 because of our views 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:09.379 of agreeing with the Bible 00:12:09.379 --> 00:12:10.099 and what it teaches, 00:12:10.859 --> 00:12:12.259 would our governors be able 00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:14.000 to praise us for doing good? 00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:16.779 Would they be able to say, 00:12:16.979 --> 00:12:18.339 you know, we really wish 00:12:18.339 --> 00:12:20.739 that those folks would get in line with us 00:12:20.739 --> 00:12:22.000 and some of their beliefs, 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:24.799 but we can't help but notice 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:27.099 the blessing that they are 00:12:27.099 --> 00:12:27.719 to their community. 00:12:29.059 --> 00:12:30.659 And as much as we'd love 00:12:30.659 --> 00:12:31.819 for them to stop operating, 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:33.059 we also understand 00:12:33.059 --> 00:12:35.000 the tremendous devastation 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:35.539 that would happen 00:12:35.539 --> 00:12:36.639 if this church pulled out 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:37.239 of our community. 00:12:40.119 --> 00:12:42.319 Can our governors praise us 00:12:42.319 --> 00:12:43.299 as people who do good? 00:12:45.119 --> 00:12:46.019 Even more than that, 00:12:46.099 --> 00:12:47.099 verse 15, he says, 00:12:47.239 --> 00:12:47.919 this is the will of God 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:48.839 that doing good, 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:50.299 you should put to silence 00:12:50.299 --> 00:12:51.699 the ignorance of foolish people. 00:12:52.939 --> 00:12:53.979 And I mentioned last week 00:12:53.979 --> 00:12:55.500 this church that's come under fire. 00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:55.859 By the way, 00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:56.679 there's a second church 00:12:56.679 --> 00:12:57.919 that I learned about this week 00:12:57.919 --> 00:12:59.319 that's a little closer to home. 00:12:59.379 --> 00:13:00.379 It's actually not a sister 00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:01.339 denomination of ours, 00:13:01.439 --> 00:13:03.000 but it's in our denomination 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:04.959 that's come under a lot of fire 00:13:04.959 --> 00:13:05.719 for holding true 00:13:05.719 --> 00:13:06.759 to their biblical commitments. 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:09.839 And so this is something 00:13:09.839 --> 00:13:10.819 that's coming closer 00:13:10.819 --> 00:13:11.519 and closer to home, 00:13:11.559 --> 00:13:12.099 and the question is, 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:12.819 how do we respond 00:13:12.819 --> 00:13:13.779 and how are the people 00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:14.859 outside going to view us? 00:13:16.259 --> 00:13:17.079 Peter's telling them 00:13:17.079 --> 00:13:18.079 that those who are outside 00:13:18.079 --> 00:13:18.639 of the church 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:19.659 should view the church 00:13:19.659 --> 00:13:20.399 as a place 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:21.479 where people do good. 00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:23.879 And no matter what criticisms 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:25.139 they have about our beliefs 00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:26.360 or our practices, 00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:27.500 they cannot argue 00:13:27.500 --> 00:13:29.340 with the benefit 00:13:29.340 --> 00:13:30.399 that the church is 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:31.159 to the world 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:32.920 because of the way 00:13:32.920 --> 00:13:33.940 that they are reflecting 00:13:33.940 --> 00:13:35.659 Jesus and his character 00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:36.560 as priests. 00:13:41.060 --> 00:13:41.920 Peter tells us 00:13:41.920 --> 00:13:42.720 that we have a reason 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:43.560 for doing this too. 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:44.220 Verse 13, 00:13:44.340 --> 00:13:45.600 it's for the Lord's sake. 00:13:47.180 --> 00:13:48.740 And then in verse 16, 00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:49.840 he tells us 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:51.300 that we are servants of God. 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:54.300 In other words, 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:55.720 our primary purpose here 00:13:55.720 --> 00:13:56.980 is to represent God 00:13:56.980 --> 00:13:57.480 in the world, 00:13:57.560 --> 00:13:58.279 whatever we do 00:13:58.279 --> 00:13:59.240 that it would serve him. 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:01.600 Our goal is to make 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:02.740 Jesus famous 00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:04.360 by the way 00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:04.940 that we interact 00:14:04.940 --> 00:14:05.440 with government. 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:07.320 And our goal is 00:14:07.320 --> 00:14:08.740 that Jesus would be famous 00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:10.700 because of the ways 00:14:10.700 --> 00:14:11.480 that we serve 00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:12.720 the community around us. 00:14:15.240 --> 00:14:16.320 And so what would we do? 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:17.100 Let's just think about it 00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:17.480 for a second. 00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:18.159 Thought experiment. 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:19.980 There was a politician 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:20.539 recently 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:21.860 who suggested 00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:23.360 that churches 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:24.679 that hold faithful 00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:25.379 to certain biblical 00:14:25.379 --> 00:14:26.699 commitments about sexuality 00:14:26.699 --> 00:14:27.879 should have their 00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:29.199 tax-exempt status removed. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:32.199 What would we do 00:14:32.199 --> 00:14:34.099 if our tax-exempt status 00:14:34.099 --> 00:14:34.699 was removed? 00:14:35.599 --> 00:14:36.219 By the way, 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:36.779 if it was, 00:14:36.819 --> 00:14:37.939 we'd still be more privileged 00:14:37.939 --> 00:14:38.719 than most Christians 00:14:38.719 --> 00:14:39.579 in the history of the world. 00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:42.000 But what we would do 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:42.919 is we would be 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:44.139 1 Peter kind of people. 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:45.959 We would recognize 00:14:45.959 --> 00:14:46.959 1 Peter 1, 00:14:47.079 --> 00:14:47.539 verse 1, 00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:49.240 that we are elect 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:49.799 and exiles. 00:14:49.899 --> 00:14:50.459 We've been chosen 00:14:50.459 --> 00:14:50.980 by God, 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:51.599 but we're exiles 00:14:51.599 --> 00:14:52.120 in the world. 00:14:54.319 --> 00:14:55.219 We would know 00:14:55.219 --> 00:14:55.819 that our hope 00:14:55.819 --> 00:14:56.799 is not in this world, 00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:58.759 but we have a king 00:14:58.759 --> 00:14:59.679 who's coming back 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:00.319 for us. 00:15:01.199 --> 00:15:02.039 We have a salvation. 00:15:02.259 --> 00:15:03.000 This is chapter 1, 00:15:03.059 --> 00:15:03.980 still ready to be revealed 00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:04.719 in the last time. 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:05.579 And we can rejoice 00:15:05.579 --> 00:15:06.759 in our trials 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:08.179 because we know 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:08.860 that it's confirming 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:09.639 that we belong 00:15:09.639 --> 00:15:10.539 to Jesus Christ. 00:15:10.539 --> 00:15:14.699 And then, 00:15:15.299 --> 00:15:16.459 still in chapter 1, 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:17.000 we can prepare 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:17.819 our minds for action 00:15:17.819 --> 00:15:18.539 and set our hope 00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:19.179 on what it is 00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:19.980 that really matters, 00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:21.459 the kingdom of God. 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:25.240 We can remember 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:27.439 that Jesus is the one 00:15:27.439 --> 00:15:28.059 who was foreknown 00:15:28.059 --> 00:15:28.839 before the foundation 00:15:28.839 --> 00:15:29.339 of the world 00:15:29.339 --> 00:15:30.219 but was made manifest 00:15:30.219 --> 00:15:31.099 for us. 00:15:31.459 --> 00:15:32.139 That's chapter 1, 00:15:32.179 --> 00:15:32.639 verse 20. 00:15:34.339 --> 00:15:34.980 And then, 00:15:35.059 --> 00:15:35.740 what else would we do? 00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:36.679 Well, chapter 2, 00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:37.639 we'd put away malice 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:38.059 and deceit 00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:38.719 and hypocrisy. 00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:42.759 And we'd continue 00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:43.579 to this section 00:15:43.579 --> 00:15:44.219 realizing, 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:45.879 as we saw earlier 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:46.500 about the stone, 00:15:46.599 --> 00:15:47.059 that there are people 00:15:47.059 --> 00:15:47.679 who are going to stumble 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:48.219 on the stone. 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.079 And then, 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:52.459 we would give praise 00:15:52.459 --> 00:15:53.099 and honor 00:15:53.099 --> 00:15:54.079 and glory to God. 00:15:55.480 --> 00:15:56.599 And we would continue 00:15:56.599 --> 00:15:57.519 serving Him, 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:00.059 submitting to the authorities 00:16:00.059 --> 00:16:00.679 in the world, 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:02.419 and also, 00:16:02.579 --> 00:16:03.299 the mission statement 00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:04.299 that we saw last week, 00:16:04.419 --> 00:16:05.679 proclaiming the excellences, 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:06.759 this is verse 9, 00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:08.360 proclaiming the excellencies 00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:09.399 of Him who called you 00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:09.879 out of darkness 00:16:09.879 --> 00:16:10.980 into His marvelous light. 00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:11.720 In other words, 00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:13.840 if our tax-exempt status 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:14.480 was removed, 00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:15.639 what would we do? 00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:17.720 We would praise God 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:18.240 for the goodness 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:18.960 of His grace, 00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:20.879 and we would continue 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:22.039 doing good in the world 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:23.500 for the sake of His name. 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:29.240 How do we represent God 00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:30.279 as priests 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:32.379 when it comes to our relationship 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:33.279 with the government? 00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:35.579 We submit to them 00:16:35.579 --> 00:16:37.419 as much as we can, 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:39.659 and we do it 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:40.459 for the sake 00:16:40.459 --> 00:16:41.639 of Jesus Christ. 00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:44.179 We do it 00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:45.339 so that verse 12 00:16:45.339 --> 00:16:46.059 from last week 00:16:46.059 --> 00:16:46.620 would be true, 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.100 that some might see 00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:48.759 your good deeds 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:50.120 and glorify God 00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:51.419 on the day of visitation. 00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:52.959 Our goal, 00:16:53.079 --> 00:16:53.659 in other words, 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:54.459 when it comes 00:16:54.459 --> 00:16:55.419 to government 00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:56.179 and our relationship 00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:56.539 with it, 00:16:56.579 --> 00:16:57.720 our number one goal 00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:59.039 is that God 00:16:59.039 --> 00:16:59.839 would be famous, 00:16:59.839 --> 00:17:00.720 that He would receive 00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.740 honor and glory 00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:02.399 and praise, 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:05.079 because of the way 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:05.940 that His people 00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:07.759 submit to the authorities 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.460 that are over them. 00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:12.240 That is our number one goal, 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:15.720 that God would be famous 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:16.779 in the world. 00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:19.779 I had a, 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:22.099 you all know, 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:22.859 I was a teacher before, 00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:23.359 I've mentioned that 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:23.880 a few times, 00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:24.160 and I, 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:25.400 at one point, 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.339 was teaching a high school 00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:27.240 Greek class, 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:29.279 and I had a student 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.599 who was in the class 00:17:30.599 --> 00:17:31.200 and also 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:32.980 her family was at my church, 00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:34.019 this was back in Virginia, 00:17:34.660 --> 00:17:35.539 and at one point, 00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:36.900 her dad came up to me, 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:37.519 and this was, 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:37.880 you know, 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:38.519 on a Sunday, 00:17:38.620 --> 00:17:38.840 and he said, 00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:38.980 you know, 00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:40.140 we've really been 00:17:40.140 --> 00:17:40.980 digging into the Greek 00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:43.220 and we've been studying 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:44.440 Revelation chapter 4, 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:45.880 and we've been looking 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:46.880 at that section 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:48.140 in Revelation chapter 4 00:17:48.140 --> 00:17:49.000 where the elders 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:51.480 cast down their crowns 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.700 before the throne of God. 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:54.799 And you know, 00:17:54.860 --> 00:17:55.080 I was, 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:55.900 I'm really trying 00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:56.580 to figure out, 00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:59.059 what's the possessive nature 00:17:59.059 --> 00:18:00.879 of the word there 00:18:00.879 --> 00:18:01.460 when it comes 00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:02.419 to the crowns? 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:04.879 Because I want to see, 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:08.419 do those crowns, 00:18:08.439 --> 00:18:09.339 do they help support 00:18:09.339 --> 00:18:09.879 the view 00:18:09.879 --> 00:18:11.240 that the Bible 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:13.399 supports private property? 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:17.639 Now, 00:18:17.699 --> 00:18:18.339 don't get me wrong, 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:20.399 the Bible's in favor 00:18:20.399 --> 00:18:21.139 of private property. 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:22.039 If you don't believe me, 00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:22.579 look in the book 00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:23.139 of Proverbs. 00:18:24.379 --> 00:18:25.199 The point 00:18:25.199 --> 00:18:26.699 of Revelation chapter 4 00:18:26.699 --> 00:18:28.519 is that people 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:29.319 are so moved 00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:30.299 by God's honor 00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.119 and his glory 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:32.019 and his majesty 00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:33.240 that private property 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.220 has no place 00:18:34.220 --> 00:18:34.759 in their mind 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:35.240 because they have 00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:35.859 no choice 00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:37.319 but to take their crown 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:38.419 and give it to God. 00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:41.259 Our goal 00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:41.779 when we think 00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:42.419 about government 00:18:42.419 --> 00:18:43.379 not primarily 00:18:43.379 --> 00:18:44.299 is to figure out 00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:45.720 different philosophies 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.159 and theories 00:18:46.159 --> 00:18:46.960 and ways of thinking 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:47.279 about it. 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:47.799 I'm not saying 00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:48.579 those things are bad, 00:18:48.639 --> 00:18:49.079 those are good, 00:18:49.139 --> 00:18:50.559 but our primary goal 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:52.419 is to bring 00:18:52.419 --> 00:18:53.339 honor and glory 00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:53.879 to God. 00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:56.960 Our primary goal 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:57.859 is that people 00:18:57.859 --> 00:18:58.599 would see 00:18:58.599 --> 00:19:00.000 and know Jesus 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.460 because of the way 00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:02.220 we interact 00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:02.740 with government 00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:03.240 and the way 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:04.299 we think about government. 00:19:05.879 --> 00:19:06.899 It's not wrong 00:19:06.899 --> 00:19:07.779 to ask questions 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:08.500 about what the Bible 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:09.799 teaches about private property. 00:19:11.379 --> 00:19:12.159 It's just that 00:19:12.159 --> 00:19:12.720 there's something 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:14.000 so much more important 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:14.819 and glorious 00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:15.559 than that. 00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:17.179 There is something 00:19:17.179 --> 00:19:17.659 better. 00:19:17.660 --> 00:19:21.100 And so it's not 00:19:21.100 --> 00:19:21.680 that we don't do 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:22.100 those things 00:19:22.100 --> 00:19:22.580 or those things 00:19:22.580 --> 00:19:23.060 don't matter 00:19:23.060 --> 00:19:24.460 but what we do first. 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:26.960 The first question 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:27.580 we ask 00:19:27.580 --> 00:19:29.160 is how can I 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:30.160 interact with the government 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:31.120 in such a way 00:19:31.120 --> 00:19:31.779 that people 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:33.200 would praise God? 00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:37.740 How can I interact 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.220 with the government 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:39.180 in such a way 00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:40.120 that people 00:19:40.120 --> 00:19:41.779 would praise God? 00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:46.620 Finally, 00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.460 Peter tells them 00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:50.039 that they're putting 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:50.360 together, 00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:50.980 verse 15, 00:19:51.100 --> 00:19:51.500 not finally 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.000 but in the middle 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:52.900 that they're putting 00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:53.380 to silence 00:19:53.380 --> 00:19:53.819 the ignorance 00:19:53.819 --> 00:19:54.620 of foolish people. 00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:58.759 In other words, 00:20:00.340 --> 00:20:01.380 if people are going 00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:02.519 to speak ill about you, 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:02.840 if they're going 00:20:02.840 --> 00:20:03.500 to speak poorly 00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:04.120 about you, 00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:06.500 let them speak 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.380 poorly about you 00:20:07.380 --> 00:20:08.480 because you follow Jesus. 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:11.279 Don't let them 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:11.920 speak poorly 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:12.360 about you 00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:13.279 for any other reason. 00:20:14.900 --> 00:20:15.480 Don't let them 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:16.259 speak poorly 00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:17.940 about the way 00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:19.220 that you talk 00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:20.799 about politicians 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:21.660 that you don't like. 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.700 Don't let them 00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:25.579 speak poorly 00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:26.619 about you 00:20:26.619 --> 00:20:27.920 because you're someone 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:28.539 who doesn't seem 00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:29.660 to care about 00:20:29.660 --> 00:20:30.220 your neighborhood 00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:31.519 or the community 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.059 that you're in. 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:34.759 Give them only one reason 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.480 to speak poorly 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:37.559 and give them 00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:38.359 every reason 00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:39.379 to speak well 00:20:39.379 --> 00:20:40.160 of Jesus. 00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:44.340 You're free 00:20:44.340 --> 00:20:44.900 in Christ. 00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:45.540 Verse 16, 00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:46.100 live as people 00:20:46.100 --> 00:20:46.759 who are free, 00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:48.400 free from the penalty 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:48.960 of sin 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:50.380 and the power 00:20:50.380 --> 00:20:50.800 of sin 00:20:50.800 --> 00:20:53.320 and so live 00:20:53.320 --> 00:20:53.680 in a way 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:54.460 that brings honor 00:20:54.460 --> 00:20:54.820 and glory 00:20:54.820 --> 00:20:55.320 to the person 00:20:55.320 --> 00:20:55.840 who freed you 00:20:55.840 --> 00:20:56.300 from sin. 00:21:00.840 --> 00:21:01.320 Yes, 00:21:01.360 --> 00:21:01.880 you're free 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:02.900 but you're a servant 00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:03.620 of God. 00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:07.779 Peter's really 00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:08.599 giving two 00:21:08.599 --> 00:21:09.939 main instructions 00:21:09.939 --> 00:21:10.519 here about 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:11.079 how to live 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:11.599 faithfully 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.239 as priest 00:21:12.239 --> 00:21:12.799 in relationship 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:13.399 to the government. 00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:14.239 Instruction one, 00:21:15.379 --> 00:21:15.979 obey the authorities 00:21:15.979 --> 00:21:18.559 that are over you 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:20.179 and do good. 00:21:21.639 --> 00:21:22.339 And then he gives us 00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:22.959 another instruction 00:21:22.959 --> 00:21:23.579 here at the end, 00:21:23.639 --> 00:21:24.359 verse 17, 00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:26.199 one about honor. 00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:27.479 Honor everyone, 00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:30.039 love the brotherhood, 00:21:30.979 --> 00:21:31.739 fear God, 00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:33.259 honor the emperor. 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:33.339 Remember, 00:21:33.859 --> 00:21:36.099 you're living 00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:36.700 in a world, 00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.680 recipients of 1 Peter 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.700 and also Christians 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:40.240 in America, 00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:42.640 where some people 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:43.440 are not going to like 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.059 what you believe 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:44.460 or do. 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:48.920 And how you respond 00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:49.640 to each and every 00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:50.119 one of them 00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:51.180 is with honor. 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.779 We make Jesus famous, 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:56.960 we make God famous 00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:57.879 and bring him honor 00:21:57.879 --> 00:21:59.039 and glory and praise 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:00.900 when we treat 00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:01.559 every person 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.099 with dignity, 00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:02.799 whether they agree 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.519 with us politically 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:03.980 or not. 00:22:07.579 --> 00:22:08.619 That's part of how 00:22:08.619 --> 00:22:09.480 we are priests 00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:10.200 to the nation. 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.099 That's how we make 00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:11.740 God known 00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:12.359 to the world 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:13.779 and represent 00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.299 the world 00:22:14.299 --> 00:22:15.099 to God. 00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:20.440 Christians bring shame 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.559 to the name 00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:22.379 of Jesus Christ 00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:23.579 when we pick 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:24.259 and choose 00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:25.539 which politicians 00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:26.639 we'll speak well of 00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.139 and which ones 00:22:27.139 --> 00:22:27.579 we won't. 00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:30.859 Now I'm not saying 00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:31.480 we can't disagree 00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:32.119 with someone. 00:22:33.699 --> 00:22:34.379 I'm not saying 00:22:34.379 --> 00:22:35.019 we can't criticize 00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:35.480 someone. 00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:37.539 But we speak 00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:38.139 about someone 00:22:38.139 --> 00:22:38.859 with honor 00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:40.099 and we honor 00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:40.759 their position 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.839 even if we disagree 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:42.279 with them. 00:22:44.859 --> 00:22:45.619 And we honor 00:22:45.619 --> 00:22:46.480 the people around us 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:47.099 even if they have 00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:48.220 different convictions 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:50.139 about all sorts 00:22:50.139 --> 00:22:50.480 of things 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.019 in this world. 00:22:52.179 --> 00:22:53.119 And we do it 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:53.980 not because we're 00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:54.859 doormats 00:22:54.859 --> 00:22:55.839 but because we want 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:56.579 God to be honored. 00:22:59.459 --> 00:23:00.399 And so we want 00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:01.179 them to see 00:23:01.179 --> 00:23:02.039 that even as they 00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:03.279 walk away from him 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:05.119 we see the image 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:06.199 of God in them. 00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:10.539 I've been reading 00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:11.059 through this 00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:12.859 book that I've been 00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:13.379 loving called 00:23:13.379 --> 00:23:14.619 Evangelism as Exiles 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:15.699 which is based on 00:23:15.699 --> 00:23:17.039 the book of 1 Peter 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:18.719 and he says it 00:23:18.719 --> 00:23:19.699 much better than I am 00:23:19.699 --> 00:23:20.299 so I'm going to read you 00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:21.159 I will so I'm going to 00:23:21.159 --> 00:23:21.899 read you a short quote 00:23:21.899 --> 00:23:23.219 here talking about 00:23:23.219 --> 00:23:24.539 this idea of how 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.079 we interact with 00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:25.460 the world. 00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:27.599 It's written by a man 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:28.319 named Elliot Clark 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:29.180 and he says the fact 00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:30.960 is ridiculing your 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.899 opponents is the 00:23:31.899 --> 00:23:32.500 privilege of the 00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:32.899 powerful. 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:35.119 But now as an 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:36.079 excluded minority 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:37.720 American Christians 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.599 no longer have 00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:39.319 the upper hand. 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:41.720 Maligning our 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:42.559 cultural and 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:43.779 religious adversaries 00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.759 is therefore no 00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.639 longer an effective 00:23:45.639 --> 00:23:46.200 strategy. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:48.819 The days of 00:23:48.819 --> 00:23:49.940 mocking atheists 00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:52.240 crash joking about 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:53.599 homosexuals 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:54.859 slurring Muslims 00:23:54.859 --> 00:23:56.139 and making 00:23:56.139 --> 00:23:57.240 derogatory remarks 00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:58.000 about political 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.899 rivals need to 00:23:58.899 --> 00:23:59.199 end. 00:24:00.179 --> 00:24:00.939 They should have 00:24:00.939 --> 00:24:01.759 never existed 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:03.459 but the church 00:24:03.459 --> 00:24:04.179 could get away 00:24:04.179 --> 00:24:05.279 with such impudence 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:05.939 when we were the 00:24:05.939 --> 00:24:06.779 cultural majority. 00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:08.339 Not anymore. 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:11.359 And of course 00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:11.959 what Elliot Clark 00:24:11.959 --> 00:24:12.719 is doing is 00:24:12.719 --> 00:24:13.699 not introducing 00:24:13.699 --> 00:24:14.279 something new 00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:14.919 but calling the 00:24:14.919 --> 00:24:15.639 church back to 00:24:15.639 --> 00:24:16.740 what 1 Peter wrote 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.639 in the first century. 00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:20.020 that Christians 00:24:20.020 --> 00:24:20.600 would be known 00:24:20.600 --> 00:24:21.380 as people who 00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:22.500 submit to their 00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:23.120 authorities and 00:24:23.120 --> 00:24:23.800 obey the laws of 00:24:23.800 --> 00:24:24.140 the government 00:24:24.140 --> 00:24:24.900 they find themselves 00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:25.340 in. 00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:26.980 That they'd be 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:27.480 people who would 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.380 be doing good 00:24:28.380 --> 00:24:29.220 seeking the good 00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:29.759 of the community 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.340 and the city 00:24:30.340 --> 00:24:30.780 and the world 00:24:30.780 --> 00:24:31.320 that they're in. 00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:32.720 And finally 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:33.240 they'd be people 00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:34.560 who honor everyone. 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:36.920 That we would 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.780 surprise the world 00:24:37.780 --> 00:24:38.580 around us because 00:24:38.580 --> 00:24:39.520 unlike them we 00:24:39.520 --> 00:24:40.580 refuse to engage 00:24:40.580 --> 00:24:41.200 in that sort of 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:41.560 behavior. 00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:43.340 But we disagree 00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:44.220 with people with 00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:45.140 tremendous respect 00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:45.960 and honor and so 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:47.420 they have a sense 00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:48.080 of what God's 00:24:48.080 --> 00:24:48.840 love to them 00:24:48.840 --> 00:24:49.500 could look like. 00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:53.140 Finally Peter 00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:53.900 tells us that the 00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:54.500 way that we 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:55.600 interact with God 00:24:55.600 --> 00:24:56.620 is different than 00:24:56.620 --> 00:24:57.300 the way we interact 00:24:57.300 --> 00:24:58.000 with everyone else. 00:24:59.140 --> 00:25:00.000 We honor 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:01.720 everyone 00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:03.960 and we honor 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:04.420 the emperor. 00:25:05.640 --> 00:25:06.380 We love the 00:25:06.380 --> 00:25:07.020 brotherhood by the 00:25:07.020 --> 00:25:07.640 way so we're 00:25:07.640 --> 00:25:08.820 committed, we're 00:25:08.820 --> 00:25:09.540 faithful to the 00:25:09.540 --> 00:25:10.740 church in a 00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:11.380 special way 00:25:11.380 --> 00:25:14.640 but we fear 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:15.040 God. 00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:20.460 part of the 00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:20.900 way that we're 00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:21.580 able to honor 00:25:21.580 --> 00:25:22.200 everyone is 00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:22.820 because of our 00:25:22.820 --> 00:25:23.460 fear of God. 00:25:26.580 --> 00:25:27.520 We know that 00:25:27.520 --> 00:25:27.940 there's something 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:28.560 more than this 00:25:28.560 --> 00:25:28.860 world. 00:25:30.780 --> 00:25:31.240 And so if we 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:32.240 lose something in 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:33.000 this world because 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:34.120 of obeying our 00:25:34.120 --> 00:25:34.660 authorities 00:25:34.660 --> 00:25:37.680 that's a small 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:38.480 loss compared to 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:39.020 the future that 00:25:39.020 --> 00:25:39.560 God's prepared 00:25:39.560 --> 00:25:40.060 for us. 00:25:42.560 --> 00:25:43.440 And we also 00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:44.120 know that as we 00:25:44.120 --> 00:25:44.560 obey the 00:25:44.560 --> 00:25:44.980 authorities, 00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:45.740 God is the 00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:47.360 only one who 00:25:47.360 --> 00:25:48.220 can bring true 00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:49.000 and full and 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:49.920 final justice. 00:25:52.520 --> 00:25:53.340 Matthew chapter 00:25:53.340 --> 00:25:54.340 10 verse 28 00:25:54.340 --> 00:25:55.000 says this, 00:25:55.100 --> 00:25:55.560 And do not 00:25:55.560 --> 00:25:56.380 fear those who 00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:57.020 kill the body 00:25:57.020 --> 00:25:57.759 but cannot kill 00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:58.240 the soul. 00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:00.360 Rather fear him 00:26:00.360 --> 00:26:01.180 who can destroy 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:02.400 both soul and 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:03.340 body in hell. 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.780 And of course 00:26:05.780 --> 00:26:06.259 that's talking 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:06.900 about God, 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:07.140 right? 00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:09.440 That God is the 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:10.320 only one that we 00:26:10.320 --> 00:26:11.120 truly fear. 00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:12.119 God is the 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:12.619 Lord. 00:26:12.619 --> 00:26:13.119 Because there's 00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:13.799 no government 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:14.679 or power even 00:26:14.679 --> 00:26:15.279 as we submit 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:15.679 to them that 00:26:15.679 --> 00:26:16.199 can destroy 00:26:16.199 --> 00:26:16.819 our souls. 00:26:21.219 --> 00:26:21.679 Peter's 00:26:21.679 --> 00:26:22.259 recipients are 00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:23.079 able to receive 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:23.819 this and honor 00:26:23.819 --> 00:26:24.459 their authorities 00:26:24.459 --> 00:26:25.139 even when it's 00:26:25.139 --> 00:26:25.839 hard because they 00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:26.579 know everything 00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:27.099 that Peter has 00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:27.719 already told them. 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.119 They've been 00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:28.959 chosen by God 00:26:28.959 --> 00:26:29.439 and they belong 00:26:29.439 --> 00:26:29.819 to God. 00:26:31.179 --> 00:26:31.819 They've been 00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:32.519 sprinkled by 00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:33.359 Jesus' blood. 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.439 They're servants 00:26:35.439 --> 00:26:35.939 of God. 00:26:36.379 --> 00:26:36.919 They're not under 00:26:36.919 --> 00:26:37.699 the power of sin 00:26:37.699 --> 00:26:38.279 anymore and they're 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:38.939 servants of God 00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:39.500 because of what 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.259 Jesus has done 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:40.779 for them. 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.400 The sprinkling 00:26:42.400 --> 00:26:43.220 of Jesus' blood 00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:43.920 comes from 00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:44.620 Jesus' death 00:26:44.620 --> 00:26:45.360 on the cross 00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:46.259 when he suffered 00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:47.120 the penalty 00:26:47.120 --> 00:26:47.620 that we should 00:26:47.620 --> 00:26:48.019 have suffered 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:48.799 for our sins. 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:51.100 And he lived 00:26:51.100 --> 00:26:51.759 the life that 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.340 we should have 00:26:52.340 --> 00:26:52.880 lived and he 00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.420 gave his 00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:54.340 righteousness to 00:26:54.340 --> 00:26:54.980 us and took 00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:55.860 our sin upon 00:26:55.860 --> 00:26:56.320 himself. 00:27:00.600 --> 00:27:01.420 And so he's 00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:02.120 given them not 00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:03.400 just that forgiveness 00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:04.000 but as we've 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.559 talked about a 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:05.340 true and full 00:27:05.340 --> 00:27:06.200 inheritance that 00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:06.640 they have to 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:07.320 look forward to 00:27:07.320 --> 00:27:07.900 in the world to 00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:08.140 come. 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:10.580 And so because 00:27:10.580 --> 00:27:11.400 of that there's 00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:13.140 nothing that they 00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:13.980 can lose, 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:16.320 there's nothing 00:27:16.320 --> 00:27:17.180 they can't afford 00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:18.000 to lose to these 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.440 authorities as long 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:19.880 as they remain 00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:20.640 faithful to God 00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:22.460 because they have 00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:23.799 everything that is 00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:24.500 coming for them to 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.660 inherit in the 00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:26.240 world to come. 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:29.220 And so that's how 00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:30.059 they can be priests. 00:27:31.580 --> 00:27:32.400 They're willing to 00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:32.700 suffer. 00:27:34.080 --> 00:27:34.900 They're willing to 00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:35.900 love and live for 00:27:35.900 --> 00:27:37.460 Jesus, representing 00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:38.360 him to the world 00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:39.699 even when it's 00:27:39.699 --> 00:27:41.459 hard and 00:27:41.459 --> 00:27:42.159 representing him 00:27:42.159 --> 00:27:42.979 to the world by 00:27:42.979 --> 00:27:43.619 the way that they 00:27:43.619 --> 00:27:44.419 interact with 00:27:44.419 --> 00:27:44.779 government. 00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:47.759 How do we 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.759 represent God as 00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:50.500 priests when it 00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:51.259 comes to the 00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:51.899 government of 00:27:51.899 --> 00:27:52.679 Colorado Springs 00:27:52.679 --> 00:27:53.479 and Colorado in 00:27:53.479 --> 00:27:54.219 the United States? 00:27:56.219 --> 00:27:57.279 We obey our 00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.079 leaders as much as 00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:59.539 possible unless they 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.259 tell us to sin. 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:03.559 do good so that 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:04.359 they would see 00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:05.720 God's character 00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:06.599 even as they 00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:07.379 oppose God. 00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:10.059 And we honor 00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:10.720 them and treat 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.480 them with dignity 00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:13.059 that they would 00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:14.519 have one small 00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:15.460 glimpse of God's 00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:16.140 goodness and his 00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:16.460 love. 00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:18.819 And we do all 00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:20.680 of it, verse 13, 00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.500 for the Lord's 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:24.240 sake, verse 16, 00:28:24.339 --> 00:28:24.799 because we're 00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:25.720 servants of God, 00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.799 and verse 17, 00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:28.599 because we fear 00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:28.940 God. 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.379 That's how we can 00:28:32.379 --> 00:28:32.940 be priests, 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:34.240 bringing people who 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:35.319 don't know Jesus to 00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:36.319 know him and bring 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:37.680 praise and honor and 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:38.279 glory to God. 00:28:39.639 --> 00:28:40.240 That's what we're 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:40.879 going to do in our 00:28:40.879 --> 00:28:43.059 closing hymn in 00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:43.579 which we're going to 00:28:43.579 --> 00:28:44.819 sing, all hail the 00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:46.200 power of Jesus' name. 00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:47.099 So I invite you to 00:28:47.099 --> 00:28:47.599 pray with me. 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:48.639 Before we do that, 00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:49.299 please pray with me. 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:49.919 Dear Father in 00:28:49.919 --> 00:28:50.799 heaven, we thank you 00:28:50.799 --> 00:28:52.519 that you speak to us 00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:53.379 clearly in your word. 00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:54.200 Lord, we ask that 00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:55.080 you would help us 00:28:55.080 --> 00:28:57.180 to represent you 00:28:57.180 --> 00:28:58.280 well in this world, 00:28:58.420 --> 00:28:59.040 submitting to the 00:28:59.040 --> 00:28:59.900 authorities you've 00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:01.420 given to us for the 00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:02.120 sake of your name. 00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:04.260 And we ask these 00:29:04.260 --> 00:29:05.520 things in Jesus' name 00:29:05.520 --> 00:29:06.200 because he has 00:29:06.200 --> 00:29:07.060 earned them for us. 00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:07.660 Amen.