Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men,
whether to the King 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. For it is God's will that by doing good
you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your
freedom as a cover-up for evil. Live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone. Love
the brotherhood of believers. Fear God. Honour the King. Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters
with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.
But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it?
But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in
his steps. He committed no sin and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at
him, he did not retaliate. When he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to
him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree so that we might die to sins
and live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray,
but now you have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.
Thanks, Chris. As we pray, keep your Bibles open to 1 Peter and just cast your eye back to
1 Peter chapter 1 verse 24 and 25. Let me read that as we pray together.
1 Peter chapter 1 verse 24.
All of us are like grass and all our glory is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.
Father, we recognize that we are fragile and weak and that the world we live in is so uncertain.
And so what we long for is something that is sure and certain, something that is strong, something that we can build our lives upon that will not shake, that will not move.
And so we come to you, the living word.
Asking that your truth would be the foundation of our lives.
Asking for your spirit's help that we might build upon this foundation.
That we may live lives that display Christ.
And bring hope where we walk.
Father, we are so desperate for your help.
And we need it.
So help us, we pray.
Amen.
So are you a good living kind of person?
I don't mean have you signed up to the don't smoke, don't curse, don't drink brigade.
What I mean is this.
If you are a Christian,
does the quality of your life display Christ?
Does the quality of your life display Christ when you walk into work,
when you go to college,
when you hang out with your friends?
Look at 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 12.
Live such good lives among the pagans,
among those who are not yet followers of Christ,
that though they accuse you of doing wrong,
though they don't like what you believe,
don't like what you say,
they may see your good deeds
and glorify God on the day he visits us.
You see, if we are Christians,
if we're followers of the Lord Jesus,
our lives,
look at verse 12 again,
are to be among
those who are not yet followers of Christ.
Rather than run from the world
and hide in the comfort of our nice,
safe, religious ghetto,
we are to immerse ourselves in the world
and we are to engage with the world.
We are to form friendships
and we are to do good where we walk.
You see, God's people,
the church,
has been called to attract the world to Christ
through our actions
and reflect Christ to the world
through our deeds.
In other words,
our good behaviour
displays the beauty of Christ.
And the reason for our good deeds
is simply this,
that our good deeds
can soften hard hearts,
can break stubborn minds,
shatter disinterested souls,
so that people want to hear the truth
about Jesus Christ.
Our good behaviour,
as we display the beauty of Christ,
can soften hard hearts,
break stubborn minds,
shatter disinterested souls,
so that people want
to hear the truth
of Jesus Christ.
Christ.
So,
live such good lives.
This morning,
we're going to look at two things.
What this good living looks like
and how we can live it.
First,
what good living looks like.
Number one,
what good living looks like
in society,
within our community.
Look at verse 13.
Submit yourselves,
for the Lord's sake,
to every authority
instituted among men,
whether to the king,
we don't have a king,
but we have a Taoiseach
and a government,
as the supreme authority,
or to governors,
like the guarda
or the courts,
who are sent by him
to punish those
who do wrong
and to commend those
who do right.
Our good living means,
verse 13,
we are to submit
to every authority.
That means we're to obey
our rulers
and the laws
that they put in place.
So if it's household tax
or water charges,
we pay it.
If it's the income
that we earn,
we declare it.
All of it.
If it's about speed limits
or driving restrictions,
we follow it.
We are to submit
to our rulers
and follow the laws
that they put in place.
We say,
why should we do that?
Why be so pernickety
about the way we live?
Well,
for two reasons.
We submit
to every authority.
Here's the first reason.
Verse 13,
submit yourselves
for
the Lord's sake.
You see,
the rulers
that are in place,
the government
that is in office
has ultimately
been placed there
by God.
Yes,
we have voted.
Yes,
we live in a democracy.
But every authority,
every government
that is in office
has ultimately
been placed there
by God.
You see,
through the governing authorities,
God maintains
order and justice,
which is good
for society.
That's why
he's put them in place,
verse 14,
to punish those
who do wrong
and to commend
those who do right.
So when we obey
the laws of the land,
when we follow
our rulers,
we are simply
pointing people
towards our ultimate
king who loves
justice
and order.
When we obey
our rulers,
when we follow
the laws of the land,
it is an expression
of our obedience
to our true king,
Jesus Christ.
So first,
we submit
for the Lord's sake.
Second,
we submit
to every authority,
look at verse 15,
because
it is God's will
that by doing good,
you should silence
the ignorant talk
of foolish people.
people.
You see,
your friends
might mock you
for what you believe
about Jesus.
Your work colleagues
may laugh at you
because of your views
of the Bible,
that you believe
it's true.
You can be shut out,
you can be pushed out,
people might have
no time
for your Christian values.
But what they will see
as they look
at your lives
are people
who love justice
and love order
and that,
verse 15,
will silence
their ignorant talk.
Through our good living,
people will see
that we care
about people's rights,
that we're concerned
for the protection
of the vulnerable,
that we want justice
for those who are homeless,
that we want order
in society,
that we don't want
the guilty
to get off scot-free,
that we want
evil people
who do things
that are wrong
moved from society
and others
are protected.
You see,
when Christians
lovingly submit
to our ruling authorities,
we are displaying
the kind of world
that one day
God is going to establish
in all its perfection.
By our obedience
to our government,
we are giving people
a glimpse
of what it's like
to live under God's
good and loving rule,
rule, a rule
that cares for people
and wants things
to be right and good
and to be a blessing.
You see,
it is through
our good living
that we can soften
hard hearts,
break stubborn minds,
shatter disinterested souls
so that people
want to hear the truth
about Jesus Christ.
Well, I'm sure
you're all thinking,
are we meant
to obey
everything
the government does?
What if I live
in a country
or what if
we're in a situation
where the government
isn't right
or fair?
Because there are
some very bad
and evil governments
and dictators
that live in the world.
Well, Peter is mindful
of that
and the Christians
that he was writing to
basically lived
in a dictatorship.
So what does he have
to say?
Well, look at verse 16.
There will be times
when we do need
to disobey.
Verse 16,
Live as free men
but do not use
your freedom
as a cover-up
for evil.
Live as servants
of God.
Sometimes
the laws
of our governments
will be unjust
and they will go
against God's
good order
for society.
So if the government
decides,
along with the people,
to repeal
the Eighth Amendment,
well, we don't
support it.
we stand against it.
We use the freedom
that God has given us
to stand for justice
and order.
Because God's kingdom
is marked
by justice and order
and as people see us
stand for what is right
that we will not
put up with injustice.
People will be attracted
to the beauty
and wonder
of who God is.
If we must disagree
and if we must
disobey
our rulers,
verse 17,
show proper respect
to everyone.
Love the brotherhood
of believers.
Fear God
because it is him
who we will stand
before
as judge.
But honour
the government
and the leaders.
Yes,
we can disagree
but we do so
respectfully.
we don't slag them
off unmercifully.
We don't shout out
in hate.
We stand firmly
for what is right
because God loves
what is right.
God seeks to protect
all life
and watch over
all life
and at the forefront
of all of this
of good order
and justice
should be the
Christian community
as they live
such good lives
where they are.
Because it is
through our good living
that we soften
hard hearts.
We break
the stubborn mind.
We shatter
disinterested souls
so that people
will want
to hear the truth
about Jesus Christ.
So we live
good lives
in society
and we live
good lives
in work.
Look at verse 18.
Slaves,
submit yourselves
to your masters.
Now let me
make it absolutely
clear that
all slavery,
all slavery
is wrong.
Whether it was
the slavery
which involved
the kidnapping
and selling
of black
Africans
to America
and Britain
or whether
it's the slavery
today of young
girls and young
boys being trafficked
through the sex
trade,
it is a terrible
evil.
Slavery
is a great
offence to God
and it should be
a great offence
to us.
So why
is Peter
telling slaves
to submit
to their masters?
Well we've got
to understand
that slavery
in the first
century in
Roman world
was different
to how we
might think
about slavery
today.
It was a little
bit more like
the employer
employee
relationship
that we have.
It wasn't
perfect.
Masters
abused their
position from
time to time.
However it
was the kind
of normal
working
relationship.
So in this
context as we
read we could
read it that
verse 18
employees
submit
yourselves to
your employers
with all
respect.
Not only to
those who are
good employers
and those who
are considerate
but also to
your boss
who can be
harsh.
So if you
are an
employee or
if you are
in any
position where
somebody is
in authority
over you
how do you
relate to
them?
How do you
relate to
your teachers
to your
lecturers?
How do you
relate to
your boss
when you
go in on
Monday
morning?
Do you
join in
with the
rest of
the staff
and slag
and abuse
the boss
when they're
not listening?
Do you
pretend to
look busy
when the
boss is
walking
around and
when the
boss has
disappeared
go back to
playing Angry
Birds on
your phone?
You see
how we
behave with
our or
among our
work colleagues
really matters.
Verse 18
We are to
submit with
all respect
not only to
those who are
good and
kind and
considerate who
you love
working for
but also
when they're
harsh.
even in
our workplace
when we
do nothing
wrong and
we work
really hard
and never
get any
thanks for
it
even when
we do
more than
we ask
and we
never go
home early
or doss
off but
just get
criticised
by our
boss
even in
those
situations
we are
to show
respect.
Now why
would you
do that?
You're on a
hiding to
nothing.
Nobody shows
respect to
their harsh
boss, do
they?
Well if we
are Christians
we do
and here's
the reason
the first
reason
we respect
our boss
because
look at
verse 19
because
it is
commendable
if a
person
bears up
under the
pain of
unjust
suffering
because
he is
conscious
of God
or because
he is
mindful
of God
in other
words as
employees
we work
not to
get praise
from our
boss
but to
please
God.
We respect
our employer
because
well we want
to honour
God
because as
Christians
we are
serving a
greater
master
the Lord
Jesus
Christ
we are
conscious
of God
as we
work
we're
mindful
of him
and we
work
to
please
him.
Yeah
your fellow
workers
might want
to hear
your
beliefs
but
they're
sure
going
to
take
notice
of
you
when
you
are
still
respectful
even
when
they
mistreat
you.
Colleagues
will rubbish
you over
your views
in the
Bible
but it
is certainly
going to
stop them
in their
tracks
when you
speak
kindly
to
your
boss
even
though
he
has
been
unfair
to
you.
You
see
it's
radical
living
through
our
good
lives
we
soften
the
hardened
heart
we
break
the
stubborn
mind
we
shatter
the
disinterested
soul
so that
people
sit up
and take
notice
and want
to know
the truth
about
Jesus
Christ
but there's
another
reason why
we should
respect
our
boss
because
look at
verse 20
how is it
to your
credit
if you
receive a
beating
for doing
wrong
and endure
it
if you
go into
work
tomorrow
morning
and you're
dossing
around
like
everybody
else
and your
boss
takes you
into
the
office
and gives
you a
tell-and-off
or fires
you
worse
how is
that
going to
be a
witness
you
deserve
it
but
verse 20
if you
suffer for
doing
good
and you
endure it
this is
commendable
before
God
your
boss
might
reward
you
for all
the hard
work
you put
in
you may
never
get a
pay rise
or a
promotion
but
God
is
watching
your
every
work
and all
that you
do
and all
that you
say
and he
will
commend
you
when you
stand
before
God
you
will
get
the
welcome
well
done
good
and
faithful
servant
you see
if we
behave
like the
rest of
the
employees
what's
really
different
people
never
ask
questions
of those
who
behave
like
everyone
else
they
ask
questions
of
why
are
they
so
different
through
our
good
lives
we
speak
into
people's
hard
hearts
we
open
up
their
minds
we
bring
interest
to
them
so
that
people
are
why
are
they
like
that
they
ask
questions
and
we
want
to
hear
the
truth
about
Jesus
Christ
so
we
are
called
to
live
good
lives
in
society
in
our
community
where
we
are
in
work
as
we
go
from
here
into
college
into
school
into
our
workplace
amongst
our
friends
and
family
you say
that's
well and
good
I get
that
but
that's
really
hard
that's
really
hard
so
how
can
we
live
good
lives
how
are
we
actually
going
to
do
it
well
we've
got
some
great
help
look
at
verse
21
to
this
you
were
called
that
is
the
call
to
live
good
lives
in
society
and
work
this
is
our
calling
as
Christians
you
were
called
to
this
because
Christ
suffered
for
you
leaving
you
an
example
that
you
should
follow
in
his
steps
when
our
kids
were
smaller
we
used
to
go
climbing
along
the
rocks
and
along
the
cliffs
down
at
Roberts
Cove
and
Rocky
Bay
I
would
lead
and
they
would
just
simply
follow
behind
and
to
make
it
possible
I
just
kept
saying
this
put
your
foot
where
my
foot
goes
you
watch
where
my
foot
goes
you
put
your
foot
in
the
same
place
follow
my
steps
and
you'll
be
able
to
do
it
now
Christ
is
calling
us
verse
21
to
follow
in
his
steps
follow
me
he is
saying
to
us
follow
me
on
my
journey
on
my
road
to
the
cross
as
you
follow
me
to
the
cross
put
your
foot
where
my
foot
goes
see
how
I
walked
in
this
world
and
in
this
life
follow
me
on
that
same
path
and
you
will
see
how
you
can
live
such
good
lives
four
things
we
learn
as
we
follow
Jesus
as
he
walked
towards
the
cross
the
first
one
is
this
Jesus
walked
where
we
now
walk
Jesus
walked
where
we
now
walk
look
verse
22
it's
telling
us
about
Jesus
life
that
he
committed
no
sin
and
no
deceit
was
found
in
his
mouth
Jesus
was
the
perfect
man
he
lived
the
perfect
good
life
no
charge
could
be
found
against
him
he
never
disobeyed
the
authorities
he
never
disrespected
those
around
him
he
was
completely
innocent
but yet
he
suffered
but
when he
suffered
verse
23
when
they
hurled
their
insults
at
him
when
they
abused
him
and
threatened
him
he
didn't
retaliate
when
he
suffered
when
he
was
flogged
when
he
was
beaten
when
they
crushed
the
crown
of
thorns
in
his
head
he
made
not
one
single
threat
Jesus
has
walked
a
path
of
innocent
suffering
he
knows
what
it
is
to
face
a
corrupt
system
failed
leaders
and
unjust
rulers
who
made
up
stories
who
told
lies
who
in
the
face
of
what
was
true
ignored
it
and
crucified
him
so
Jesus
understands
what it
is like
to walk
in this
world
he
understands
when
you
walk
into
your
workplace
tomorrow
he
understands
when
you
go
to
college
or
to
school
what
it
is
to
face
a
tough
situation
he
knows
what
it's
like
to
obey
leaders
and
what
it
is
to
respect
your
boss
even
when
it's
hard
he
understands
and
he
walks
with
you
he
walks
with
you
as
we
walk
to
the
cross
the
second
thing
we
learn
not
only
is
Jesus
walking
with
us
but
that
Jesus
entrusted
himself
to
the
father
let's
read
verse
23
again
when
they
hurled
their
insults
at
him
he
didn't
retaliate
when
he
suffered
he
made
no
threats
instead
he
entrusted
himself
to
him
his
father
who
judges
justly
you
see
if
anyone
had
the
right
to
fight
back
it
was
Jesus
if
anybody
deserved
justice
it
was
Jesus
if
anybody
had
the
power
to
call
down
an
army
of
angels
and
beat
up
the
Roman
authorities
it
was
Jesus
but
Jesus
didn't
have to
justify
himself
he
didn't
have to
prove
himself
he
didn't
have to
retaliate
he
simply
end
of
verse
23
entrusted
himself
to
him
who
judges
justly
so
as we
go into
our
workplace
wherever
we
may
go
it's
really
not
about
our
rights
we
don't
need
to
be
concerned
about
how
we
are
treated
God
the
judge
will
put
all
things
right
he
will
correct
every
wrong
he
will
set
the
record
straight
God
will
judge
every
leader
and
hold
every
boss
accountable
so
if
God
will
put
everything
right
then
like
Jesus
we
do
not
need
to
retaliate
we
do
not
need
to
make
threats
we
do
not
need
to
fight
back
or
to
take
justice
into
our
own
hands
do
good
and
let
God
be
judge
back
up
to
verse
20
the
end
of
verse
20
if
you
suffer
for
doing
good
and
you
endure
it
this
is
commendable
before
God
will
commend
you
the
third
thing
we
notice
and
it's
slightly
different
to
what's
on
the
screen
this
is
the
title
for
the
third
one
Jesus
suffered
to
give
us
a
new
way
to
live
Jesus
suffered
to
give
us
a
new
way
to
live
as
we
follow
on
the
road
to
the
cross
this
is
what
we
see
he
suffered
to
give
us
a
new
way
to
live
verse
24
he
Jesus
himself
bore
our
sins
in
his
body
on
the
tree
so
that
we
might
die
to
sins
and
live
for
righteousness
by
his
wounds
you
have
been
healed
as
we
follow
Jesus
as we
follow
in
his
footsteps
we
are
to
stop
at
the
foot
of
the
cross
and
we
are
to
gaze
at
the
cross
because
we
can't
go
to
the
cross
here
is
where
Jesus
has
stepped
in
for
us
and
here
as
we
look
at
the
cross
we
see
that
our
life
has
been
changed
and
transformed
verse
24
he
himself
bore
our
sins
in
his
body
on
the
tree
Jesus
the
innocent
one
took
the
judgment
of
God
for
all
my
bad
behavior
all the
times
that I
have
disobeyed
and
disrespected
my
leaders
and my
boss
every
time
I have
misused
the
things
the
things
Jesus
has
taken
all
my
sin
on
himself
and
here's
the
reason
look at
verse
24
so
that
we
might
die
to
sins
and
live
for
righteousness
he
took
all
my
bad
sinful
behavior
and
in
place
of
that
he
has
given
me
his
good
perfect
life
so
that
we
might
live
such
good
lives
in
the
world
live
for
righteousness
so
that
as
we
go
about
living
our
good
lives
we
soften
the
hard
hearts
we
break
the
stubborn
minds
we
shatter
the
disinterested
souls
so
that
people
want
to
hear
and
know
who
Jesus
is
by
his
wounds
we
have
been
healed
in
Jesus
as
we
gaze
at
the
cross
we
see
that
our
life
has
been
transformed
we
have
now
been
given
a
new
way
to
live
our
past
forgiven
and
the
future
to
live
for
him
but
as
we
follow
in
his
footsteps
number
four
we
see
that
Jesus
is
our
protecting
shepherd
verse
25
for
you
were
like
sheep
going
astray
but
now
you
have
returned
to
the
shepherd
and
the
overseer
of
your
souls
you
see
the
reality
is
without
Jesus
we're
wandering
we're
lost
we're
broken
without
Christ
we've
got no
hope in
this
world
and
we've
got
no
hope
to
bring
to
the
world
but
as
we
trust
him
as
we
return
to
him
as
we
walk
with
Jesus
as
we
follow
in
his
steps
we
find
a
shepherd
the
overseer
the
protector
of
our
lives
this
is
one
that
we
can
trust
in
this
broken
and
mad
world
look
back at
chapter 1
verse 5
here is a
picture
of our
protecting
shepherd
chapter 1
verse 5
who
through
faith
in
our
shepherd
the
Lord
Jesus
we
are
shielded
by
God's
power
until
the
coming
of
salvation
that
is
ready
to
be
revealed
in
the
last
time
authorities
may
fail
you
your
boss
may
treat
you
unjustly
but
Jesus
our
shepherd
will
work
will
walk
before
you
he
will
protect
you
he
will
bring
you
through
this
life
and
he
will
bring
you
into
our
eternal
life
as
we
walk
with
Jesus
as
we
follow
in
his
footsteps
we
learn
how
to
live
such
good
lives
through
our
good
lives
as
we
walk
into
the
workplace
as
we
go
about
the
community
we
display
the
beauty
of
Christ
we
soften
hard
hearts
we
break
stubborn
minds
we
shatter
disinterested
souls
so that
people want
to hear
the truth
about
Jesus
Christ
walk
the way
of
Jesus
follow
him
let's
pray
God
hope
does
y
even
a
poet
he
who
can
speak
a
man
he
and
why
he
worth
a
love
you
I
why
I
like
...