WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.679 So you find your place, 2 Peter, I mean 1 Peter, chapter 2, verse 11, the Bible says this, 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:05.679 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.539 And then what he's going to do these next few verses in these chapters is specifically show us what that looks like. 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:42.140 So he gives us a general view of how to live, but now he's going to talk about very specific things. 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:43.740 That's what we see in verse number 13. 00:00:43.740 --> 00:00:51.560 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king as supreme, 00:00:51.960 --> 00:00:58.840 or unto governors as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 00:00:59.400 --> 00:01:06.920 For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, 00:01:07.219 --> 00:01:11.920 as free and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:14.219 but as the servants of God. 00:01:15.019 --> 00:01:20.680 Honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. 00:01:21.579 --> 00:01:24.680 So Peter comes right out of the gate, and we're going to see in a minute, 00:01:24.760 --> 00:01:28.040 this would have been a difficult part of the letter to stomach, 00:01:28.520 --> 00:01:31.180 and the culture and the society they were living in. 00:01:31.480 --> 00:01:36.960 And I would submit to us tonight that we probably have a lot of correlation in some of those ways, 00:01:36.960 --> 00:01:41.820 how we view the society and the culture and the government that we live under as well. 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:47.359 But the Lord still wants to use whatever like that is in our life, and I think we can learn a lot from it. 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:50.019 And so let's go to the Lord in prayer and ask him to bless our time. 00:01:50.099 --> 00:01:52.379 Father, thank you for this time to gather again. 00:01:52.460 --> 00:01:54.200 Thank you that we can open up your word. 00:01:54.299 --> 00:01:57.439 Lord, I'm so thankful that your word, it touches every area of our life. 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:03.340 And we look at something like this in a text that speaks of authority and government and different things. 00:02:03.480 --> 00:02:05.500 And Lord, that you care about everything. 00:02:05.739 --> 00:02:08.039 And I pray you would help us to have a good spirit about this. 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:14.259 Lord, you would help us to evaluate our life and to make sure that we're living a life of submission to you ultimately, Lord, 00:02:14.659 --> 00:02:16.079 as we try to let our light shine. 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:17.280 I pray that you'd be with us now. 00:02:17.579 --> 00:02:20.479 You would help us to take these truths, apply them to our life. 00:02:20.860 --> 00:02:21.579 Lord, I pray you'd be with me. 00:02:21.580 --> 00:02:24.400 You would just give me the words to say that it would be a blessing to your people tonight. 00:02:24.460 --> 00:02:25.500 We ask it in Christ's name. 00:02:26.040 --> 00:02:26.360 Amen. 00:02:26.880 --> 00:02:27.740 Thank you so much for standing. 00:02:27.800 --> 00:02:28.180 You may be seated. 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:35.980 I just want us to imagine for a moment that we're living under a government that is completely corrupt. 00:02:36.680 --> 00:02:40.560 Now, I know we can laugh and we can have opinions about ours, but we have a lot of flaws. 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:43.800 But there is still some semblance of a democracy here. 00:02:44.660 --> 00:02:46.520 Imagine that you're not living in a democracy. 00:02:46.700 --> 00:02:49.380 It's not a republic, but an absolute ruler. 00:02:49.379 --> 00:02:54.240 A dictator, and this dictator is a man who is self-indulgent. 00:02:54.379 --> 00:02:55.759 He is self-serving. 00:02:55.879 --> 00:02:57.840 He is morally bankrupt. 00:02:58.919 --> 00:03:04.000 This man has no regard for God, no concern for the truth, really no care for the people. 00:03:04.139 --> 00:03:09.939 The people are just there to make his life better, to help him in whatever he wants to do. 00:03:10.740 --> 00:03:17.500 Now, imagine that's what you're living under, and you're a committed follower of Jesus Christ in that culture, 00:03:17.500 --> 00:03:19.719 in that environment. 00:03:20.500 --> 00:03:26.219 So much so that you love everything that the ruler hates. 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:32.280 And on the other side, you stand for basically everything that he opposes. 00:03:33.259 --> 00:03:37.000 And when those two things clash, it's going to make life difficult. 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:40.759 And when you try to move forward, and when you're trying to do the right thing, 00:03:40.819 --> 00:03:44.599 maybe you're going to be mocked by the circle around you. 00:03:44.659 --> 00:03:45.860 You're going to be ridiculed. 00:03:45.939 --> 00:03:47.259 You're going to be mistreated. 00:03:47.400 --> 00:03:49.800 And you're thinking, is there ever any end to this? 00:03:49.979 --> 00:03:52.080 I need somebody to give me some good news. 00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:54.360 And then you receive a letter. 00:03:54.939 --> 00:04:01.900 You're at church, and you receive a letter from a well-known, well-respected spiritual leader within the early church. 00:04:01.900 --> 00:04:10.300 A man who you admire, a man who much of his teaching has helped you understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:17.939 Maybe directly or even indirectly through this man's teaching ministry, your life has been changed eternally. 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:23.300 And when the letter comes, and it arrives, and you're excited, and you open it up, and here's what it says. 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:24.840 Submit to the king. 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:27.180 Honor the king. 00:04:27.180 --> 00:04:33.079 And I think if that was us, I don't think we would be encouraged by that letter. 00:04:33.180 --> 00:04:34.959 Did he mean to write that in here? 00:04:35.699 --> 00:04:38.139 Does he know what we're living in? 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:39.019 Confused? 00:04:39.240 --> 00:04:39.460 Sure. 00:04:39.699 --> 00:04:40.180 Frustrated? 00:04:40.420 --> 00:04:40.900 Probably. 00:04:42.259 --> 00:04:43.860 But that's not some pipe dream. 00:04:43.939 --> 00:04:46.300 No, that's exactly what Peter is doing here in 1 Peter. 00:04:46.879 --> 00:04:53.819 That is the moment that we find ourselves in this little letter, and he's writing to these people that are fleeing persecution. 00:04:53.819 --> 00:04:58.379 And they're still loving the Lord, and they're still sharing the gospel, but life is difficult. 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:05.240 And this leader that we mentioned, he's very detestable, and we mentioned this morning, his name is Nero. 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:11.100 And I know not everybody loves history, but you've probably at least heard that name. 00:05:12.019 --> 00:05:16.899 Nero is a name that is synonymous with cruelty and corruption. 00:05:17.139 --> 00:05:20.039 I mean, he would just kill Christians for fun. 00:05:20.040 --> 00:05:24.379 He would use them as human torches within the city limits of Rome. 00:05:24.580 --> 00:05:26.680 He was all about building himself. 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:28.900 He lived a life of debauchery. 00:05:30.400 --> 00:05:33.540 And yet, Peter says, honor the king. 00:05:34.580 --> 00:05:41.820 I think naturally the question may have been for them and even for us just thinking about Nero, how does that make sense? 00:05:42.759 --> 00:05:44.300 Surely, Peter doesn't mean that. 00:05:45.020 --> 00:05:47.879 I mean, Peter may be off his rocker here. 00:05:48.100 --> 00:05:49.300 I'm not sure that's what he means. 00:05:49.300 --> 00:05:50.939 No, but that is exactly what he means. 00:05:51.780 --> 00:05:54.520 But if we lean a little further, I want us just to think about this question. 00:05:54.740 --> 00:05:56.139 What does it look like for us today? 00:05:57.400 --> 00:05:59.939 Because, praise the Lord, we're not under somebody like Nero. 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:04.300 But we're also living a world that is against the things of God. 00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:07.740 The spirit of Antichrist is here. 00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:08.480 It's been here. 00:06:08.540 --> 00:06:09.740 It always has been. 00:06:09.980 --> 00:06:11.439 But we can look at Scripture. 00:06:11.560 --> 00:06:13.060 We've already kind of looked a little bit in Luke. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:15.600 As we see the days approaching, we feel like this. 00:06:15.620 --> 00:06:17.100 It's just getting worse and worse. 00:06:17.100 --> 00:06:18.960 And I don't think that's just a feeling. 00:06:19.060 --> 00:06:20.480 I think that's a biblical statement. 00:06:20.980 --> 00:06:22.780 Because it's going to get worse and worse. 00:06:23.220 --> 00:06:24.820 And Peter understood that. 00:06:24.900 --> 00:06:27.200 And we understand it maybe intellectually. 00:06:27.460 --> 00:06:29.980 But we've got to realize we're going to live our life like this. 00:06:30.200 --> 00:06:31.280 And we have to go to work. 00:06:31.300 --> 00:06:32.439 And we have to do these things. 00:06:32.580 --> 00:06:33.760 And you've got to pay your taxes. 00:06:34.939 --> 00:06:35.400 I know. 00:06:35.580 --> 00:06:35.780 Yeah. 00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:38.740 That was a very depressing amen. 00:06:38.740 --> 00:06:38.900 Amen. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:39.840 Amen. 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:41.679 I get it. 00:06:43.579 --> 00:06:50.279 But really, basically the first chapter and a half, Peter is reminding his readers this. 00:06:50.739 --> 00:06:59.239 When you know who you are, when you know how much God loves you and how much He's changed your life, 00:06:59.359 --> 00:07:04.739 when you know those things, it will affect how you live the rest of your life. 00:07:05.019 --> 00:07:10.480 It's going to affect how you serve and how you submit and how you respond to situations. 00:07:11.100 --> 00:07:13.740 So that's what we looked at last week in verse 11 and 12. 00:07:13.819 --> 00:07:16.579 He said, listen, there's a battle that goes on even within us. 00:07:17.079 --> 00:07:18.620 Sometimes we want to blame the devil. 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:19.879 And we want to blame the government. 00:07:19.960 --> 00:07:20.939 We want to blame our coworkers. 00:07:21.319 --> 00:07:24.860 But here, the majority of the problem we have is right within our own flesh. 00:07:25.699 --> 00:07:26.759 That we're battling these things. 00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:28.259 We want what we want. 00:07:28.259 --> 00:07:32.420 But he says, because Christ has saved you, that's not what we're living for. 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:35.620 We need to fight the battle against these fleshly lusts. 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:39.800 And we need to live a life, have your conversation honest among the Gentiles. 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:42.620 Because the reality is, people are watching us. 00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:44.360 They see how we live. 00:07:44.599 --> 00:07:45.639 They know we go to church. 00:07:45.699 --> 00:07:46.300 We invite them. 00:07:46.379 --> 00:07:47.259 We hand the track out. 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:48.399 We ask if we can pray for them. 00:07:48.399 --> 00:07:52.500 But they want to see if the way we live matches up with what we preach. 00:07:53.259 --> 00:08:00.019 And so what Peter's going to do is he's going to get very specific now and show us kind of some real life practical ways that that shows up. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:02.560 So if you're taking notes, here's the question we want to answer. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:09.100 How should Christians live under earthly authority in a broken world? 00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:12.439 Because I think that's relevant for the first century. 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:14.240 I think it's relevant for 2026. 00:08:15.079 --> 00:08:17.100 Because this world has always been broken. 00:08:17.699 --> 00:08:21.379 And any leadership, whether it's in a church or it's the President of the United States, 00:08:21.379 --> 00:08:24.899 is always going to be broken because we are broken, sinful people. 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:28.360 But how do we move forward and how do we do the right thing? 00:08:29.100 --> 00:08:33.860 Well, Peter gives us two clear instructions on how to do this in our everyday lives. 00:08:34.179 --> 00:08:36.379 The first thing we see is in verses 13 through 16. 00:08:36.539 --> 00:08:40.820 It's this, that we must submit to divinely ordained authorities. 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:45.639 We must submit to divinely ordained authorities. 00:08:45.639 --> 00:08:51.639 See, before we dive into Peter's commands here where he tells us, submit yourselves, 00:08:52.139 --> 00:08:54.080 we need to understand something about God. 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:59.500 And I know we know this, so much of it will be reviewed, but it's going to help us to kind of get our bearings here. 00:09:00.259 --> 00:09:04.419 That the God of the Bible is the sovereign ruler of the universe. 00:09:04.980 --> 00:09:10.019 That he is absolute, he is the absolute authority over all things. 00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:12.679 There's nothing that catches him off guard. 00:09:12.679 --> 00:09:18.359 I mean, we turn the news on and it seems like this world's a mess and everybody's fighting for power and everybody's fighting for control. 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:19.519 He knows that. 00:09:20.219 --> 00:09:20.579 And guess what? 00:09:20.620 --> 00:09:21.399 He's still in control. 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:24.759 Everything else is a shadow under his light. 00:09:25.019 --> 00:09:29.799 And in his providence, God established three institutions on earth. 00:09:30.419 --> 00:09:33.779 He established the family, the government, and the church. 00:09:34.319 --> 00:09:37.419 You go all the way back to the book of Genesis, this is not something he said, oh man, I've got to come up with something. 00:09:37.599 --> 00:09:38.559 No, God had a plan. 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:44.579 And God has a design for each of those institutions and he's given instruction for all three. 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:49.479 And I just want to remind us that government is not man's idea. 00:09:50.019 --> 00:09:50.699 It's not. 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:52.479 It's God's institution. 00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:57.259 It's the way that God operates and he has it for a specific reason. 00:09:57.359 --> 00:10:00.259 It's really to keep things moving forward. 00:10:00.579 --> 00:10:02.759 Anarchy is not a good situation to live in. 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:04.500 I mean, go read the book of Judges. 00:10:04.599 --> 00:10:06.279 Everybody did right in their own eyes. 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:07.259 That wasn't good. 00:10:07.779 --> 00:10:13.120 I mean, the book of Judges, if it was rated by Hollywood, many of the people in this room couldn't watch it because it's graphic. 00:10:13.939 --> 00:10:18.679 And that's just a picture of what mankind does without any rule or any reign. 00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:22.220 So the question becomes, what's our responsibility? 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:25.659 If God ordained this authority, what's our responsibility towards it? 00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:26.959 You're going to love this. 00:10:27.019 --> 00:10:27.980 You're going to love this answer. 00:10:28.419 --> 00:10:28.839 Submit. 00:10:30.259 --> 00:10:30.699 Submit. 00:10:30.700 --> 00:10:32.520 That's exactly what Peter says. 00:10:32.840 --> 00:10:36.080 Submit yourselves to the things that you like. 00:10:37.280 --> 00:10:38.080 No. 00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:44.080 To every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake. 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:47.680 Now, let's just be honest before we move forward. 00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:52.680 That word doesn't set well in our culture. 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:58.620 That word sometimes doesn't set well inside the church. 00:11:00.099 --> 00:11:01.019 I mean, it really is. 00:11:01.219 --> 00:11:06.039 You know, when I sit down with marriage counseling and I'll say, here's what the Bible says about husbands and wives and submissive. 00:11:06.239 --> 00:11:08.219 Oh, I don't like that word. 00:11:09.299 --> 00:11:12.799 And we kind of, we're ruffled by it and we don't like it. 00:11:12.819 --> 00:11:15.819 But we live in a world that says, hey, do what you want. 00:11:16.620 --> 00:11:17.719 Live how you want. 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:20.399 You answer to no one. 00:11:20.919 --> 00:11:22.480 That's the mentality that we have. 00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:28.120 But what I want us to see before we really jump into this, submission is not a bad word. 00:11:28.980 --> 00:11:31.019 In fact, it's a biblical word. 00:11:31.779 --> 00:11:36.840 It's something that as believers, as children of God, we really shouldn't have a problem with. 00:11:37.439 --> 00:11:40.459 Because there's a giant scope of submission that we can see. 00:11:40.699 --> 00:11:42.799 I mean, when you look through scripture, you see it everywhere. 00:11:43.259 --> 00:11:47.220 We see Jesus, he submitted to his earthly parents. 00:11:47.220 --> 00:11:49.620 I mean, this is the creator of all things. 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:51.899 And yet he submitted to Mary and Joseph. 00:11:52.300 --> 00:11:54.800 Believers are called to submit to one another. 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:57.600 Wives are called to submit to their husbands. 00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:59.980 Christians are called to submit to the leadership. 00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:01.980 Believers are called to submit to God. 00:12:02.180 --> 00:12:04.060 The church as a whole submits to God. 00:12:04.779 --> 00:12:05.980 He calls us to do that. 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:11.379 Even the Son, even Christ on this earth during his earthly ministry submitted to the Father. 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:13.740 It's a pattern that we see. 00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:15.560 It's something that God calls us to. 00:12:15.899 --> 00:12:17.519 And submission is not weakness. 00:12:17.740 --> 00:12:20.200 It's actually part of God's design. 00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:27.960 In all of these situations, it's not so one person has the authority and is able to lord over that person in that sense. 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:29.100 That's not what it's about. 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:32.960 It's about the order that God designed it. 00:12:33.740 --> 00:12:34.940 So why do people struggle? 00:12:35.060 --> 00:12:37.399 Why do we struggle with submission? 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:38.299 I think there's a few reasons. 00:12:38.340 --> 00:12:38.940 There's a lot of reasons. 00:12:39.019 --> 00:12:40.600 But here's probably some main ones. 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:43.320 I think number one is because we live in a self-centered age. 00:12:44.279 --> 00:12:50.399 I mean, everything in our life, everything that's in our culture, it's all about you and you and you. 00:12:50.940 --> 00:12:52.840 As long as you get what you want. 00:12:52.980 --> 00:12:53.920 We want control. 00:12:54.220 --> 00:12:55.019 We want our way. 00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:59.340 So when somebody comes and says submit, I'm thinking, nobody tells me what to do. 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:01.159 I'm a grown man. 00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:03.840 But that's not what the Bible tells us. 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:08.540 I think another reason that we struggle with submission is because we don't understand it. 00:13:08.539 --> 00:13:13.439 Biblical submission does not mean inferiority. 00:13:14.679 --> 00:13:16.379 In no way does it mean that. 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:19.339 The Bible never teaches that. 00:13:20.199 --> 00:13:22.759 Jesus is submitted to the Father. 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:23.819 He submitted to his will. 00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:24.839 He submitted to other things. 00:13:25.179 --> 00:13:27.179 And he was not inferior to anyone. 00:13:28.299 --> 00:13:29.519 He's given everything. 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:31.860 He's in charge of all things. 00:13:31.939 --> 00:13:33.279 He's the almighty God. 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:34.439 And yet he submitted. 00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:36.379 He submitted himself unto death. 00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:39.840 He became obedient and put himself as a servant. 00:13:41.580 --> 00:13:44.519 Here's a really good reason that sometimes we struggle with it. 00:13:44.820 --> 00:13:46.960 Authority is sometimes abused. 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:54.200 Maybe we've all been in a situation like that, whether it's at work or even in a relationship. 00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:55.600 It could have been in a church. 00:13:55.700 --> 00:13:57.120 It could have been in any situation. 00:13:57.439 --> 00:13:59.980 And somebody abused their authority. 00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:01.659 And we say things like this. 00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:03.120 That's not going to happen to me again. 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:05.460 I'm not going to let that take place. 00:14:05.460 --> 00:14:06.900 And we do that. 00:14:07.060 --> 00:14:11.360 And when authority is abused, people reject the idea altogether. 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:14.759 And I think we see that even in our country, in our culture. 00:14:15.060 --> 00:14:18.940 They've seen kind of the misuse and how it's not really about us. 00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:22.740 Some of these politicians, they talk real fast out of both sides of their mouth. 00:14:23.160 --> 00:14:24.840 And they think, well, I'm not doing anything. 00:14:24.900 --> 00:14:25.940 I'm just going to do what I want to do. 00:14:25.940 --> 00:14:28.180 And we've got a mess on our hands right now. 00:14:29.020 --> 00:14:30.700 So what is biblical submission? 00:14:31.780 --> 00:14:33.560 Well, number one, it's not about losing your identity. 00:14:34.300 --> 00:14:36.500 It's not about being less of a person. 00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:39.600 It's not about being controlled. 00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:45.759 But what it is, it's learning to not have your own way, but have God's way. 00:14:46.800 --> 00:14:48.580 That's really what it boils down to. 00:14:49.300 --> 00:14:55.960 It is choosing to honor others, to prefer others amongst ourselves, to live with humility. 00:14:56.899 --> 00:14:59.240 Some of the very things that Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:00.759 Blessed are the meek. 00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:01.659 Blessed are the humble. 00:15:02.180 --> 00:15:03.980 Those are things that we have to choose. 00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:12.379 And at its core, submission is rooted in what Jesus said, if any man come after me, let him deny himself. 00:15:13.420 --> 00:15:17.600 We love following Christ, but he says there's a cost to it. 00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:18.920 And here's what it looks like. 00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:19.639 You have to submit. 00:15:20.580 --> 00:15:22.139 You have to be willing to do that. 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:24.920 Submission is not about losing your life. 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:28.420 No, in fact, it's about finding your life in Jesus. 00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:30.120 That's what he's teaching. 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:38.879 So when Peter comes here in verse 13, I mean, they would have been pretty much on board with this whole first chapter and a half. 00:15:39.100 --> 00:15:42.360 But then they come to verse 13 and says, submit yourselves. 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:47.240 He's not introducing something strange. 00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:56.539 No, what he's doing there and what he still does today through the Holy Spirit is he's calling us to live out something that is deeply biblical. 00:15:56.539 --> 00:16:03.379 Something that is Christ-centered and is essential to being on mission for Jesus Christ. 00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:05.219 That's what he's calling us to do. 00:16:06.039 --> 00:16:07.099 So we see the command. 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:12.000 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake. 00:16:13.199 --> 00:16:17.839 I think it's no coincidence that he chose the word ordinance. 00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:23.299 Really, the idea is that it refers to institutions of authority. 00:16:23.299 --> 00:16:28.319 You know, because it just kind of is like a giant umbrella and everything goes under that. 00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:31.379 Because if he would have said something very specific, you know what we would do? 00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:35.759 Well, I'll do it on that one thing, but I'm definitely not doing it on that and that and that and that. 00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:40.899 So he kind of puts it under the umbrella of any type of authority that we have. 00:16:41.719 --> 00:16:42.719 Now, notice what he said. 00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:44.099 What he didn't say, excuse me. 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:49.279 Peter did not say that we have to agree with every decision. 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:57.759 He didn't say when the authorities and when the government specifically, when they say things, we don't agree with every action, but the structure itself. 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:00.839 The institution of government is there. 00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:04.859 It is a biblical truth that God has established his authority. 00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:10.519 Paul told us in Romans 13.1, the powers that be are ordained of God. 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:12.700 Well, we know that to be true. 00:17:12.700 --> 00:17:25.180 And as we mentioned already about Peter, but Paul would have been writing at the same time as Peter, they were both living under corrupt leadership, ungodly rulers, anti-Christian authorities. 00:17:25.600 --> 00:17:33.880 And yet they both said in Romans, and Peter says right here, submit, be subject to, and honor the king. 00:17:33.880 --> 00:17:47.140 See, the idea that they're trying to get across and that we must, as believers, emulate in our own life is that we are called, the idea is to respect the office even when the person in office is flawed. 00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:49.180 And guess who that is? 00:17:49.280 --> 00:17:56.400 Every single person that's ever stepped in office, that's ever had any sort of leadership in any aspect. 00:17:56.400 --> 00:18:02.980 Now, before we move on, I want to make sure that we do understand there is an important biblical balance. 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:12.420 The Bible teaches that there are times when the people of God must say no to the government and say yes to God. 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:20.759 I mean, you see in the book of Acts, Acts chapter number five, and they bring Peter and John in there, and they beat them, and they say, hey, you can't do this anymore. 00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:22.600 You cannot preach the gospel. 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:25.780 And Peter says, we ought to obey God rather than man. 00:18:26.580 --> 00:18:30.240 There's an opportunity for that, and we see it all throughout Scripture, really. 00:18:30.320 --> 00:18:31.700 I mean, you go to the book of Daniel. 00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:34.060 I mean, you go to the book of Exodus. 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:40.560 And the Hebrew midwives, when Pharaoh said, here's what we're going to do, we're going to kill all the babies, they said, we're not doing that. 00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:46.980 And they defied Pharaoh's command because it went against the word of God. 00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:48.380 That was murder. 00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:51.140 We've seen the book of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:18:51.140 --> 00:18:51.259 Yeah. 00:18:52.020 --> 00:18:56.360 They're there, and they said, listen, when all the music instruments play, everybody bows. 00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:57.220 It doesn't matter. 00:18:57.280 --> 00:18:58.320 It doesn't matter who you are. 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:00.380 It doesn't matter if you're from Israel or you're from here. 00:19:00.800 --> 00:19:01.640 Everybody's doing that. 00:19:02.280 --> 00:19:04.259 Well, Shadrach, they said, we don't think so. 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:08.400 Our God whom we serve, he's able to deliver us. 00:19:08.840 --> 00:19:11.320 But if he doesn't, just be it known, he's still the king. 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:13.399 And we're going to serve him only. 00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:20.839 In that same book, Daniel's adversaries, they couldn't find anything wrong with Daniel. 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:26.019 And they were trying to get him out of the position because he basically, God had lifted him up to a place of leadership. 00:19:26.139 --> 00:19:30.339 They said, the only thing we can even see about Daniel is he loves his Lord. 00:19:30.879 --> 00:19:32.720 And we know one thing, he's not going to stop praying. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:37.539 So they kind of backdoored the king and said, hey, you're, oh, king, live forever. 00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:40.160 You're the only person that people should pray to. 00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.559 He said, that's a great idea. 00:19:42.100 --> 00:19:45.160 Makes the decree, knowing good and well, Daniel's not going to stop praying. 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:46.420 And he didn't. 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:52.559 So, yes, there are moments when obedience to God means disobedience to the government. 00:19:54.140 --> 00:19:56.279 I'm glad y'all didn't just start screaming amen right there. 00:19:56.279 --> 00:20:03.059 But that is the exception, not the rule. 00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:06.399 I think sometimes we live in a culture both ways. 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:08.539 Sometimes we want to say this side or this side. 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:12.039 I think we're kind of moving the direction where everybody's just kind of doing whatever they want to do. 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:14.339 And that's not what God calls us to do. 00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:20.059 See, simply put, the Bible's basic orientation is towards civil obedience. 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:24.819 Even under ungodly and unjust authority. 00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:28.559 Because even when, I mean, you study the Old Testament when they're in exile. 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:31.839 And they're under Babylonian captivity in all these different situations. 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:35.399 Jeremiah and these other prophets don't say, hey, here's what you need to do. 00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.839 You need to have a riot and overthrow everybody. 00:20:37.159 --> 00:20:38.279 No, they say things like this. 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:40.439 Hey, make it a better place because you're living there. 00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:41.899 Hey, be a light. 00:20:42.139 --> 00:20:43.099 Be a witness in Babylon. 00:20:43.439 --> 00:20:44.079 Plant gardens. 00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:44.980 Love people. 00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:46.500 Share the truth of the gospel. 00:20:47.939 --> 00:20:49.819 And I just want to remind you, I know that we do. 00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:57.339 Our submission, when we submit to these situations, it honors the sovereign providence of God. 00:20:58.619 --> 00:20:59.579 See, we'll say things. 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:00.099 We've already agreed. 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:01.539 Oh, God's in control of everything. 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:04.099 Well, God's still in control today. 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:07.639 He was in control when Nero was the emperor of Rome. 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.899 And he's in control right now. 00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:16.400 And when we submit and we obey, we are honoring and saying, listen, I believe that God's still in control. 00:21:17.180 --> 00:21:23.340 And ultimately, we're going to see here in a moment, when we submit, it strengthens our witness to a lost and dying world. 00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:26.759 That we still would do those type of things. 00:21:26.900 --> 00:21:28.040 Because God is in control. 00:21:28.200 --> 00:21:30.680 He controls the rise and the fall of nations. 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:34.240 God controls the authority which rulers possess. 00:21:34.820 --> 00:21:36.480 Remember when Jesus was talking with Pilate? 00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:39.319 He said, you wouldn't have any power unless it was given to you. 00:21:40.099 --> 00:21:42.279 That all power, all authority comes from him. 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:46.940 Now, man takes that power and twists it and uses it in a wrong way. 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:50.240 But God does give wisdom to those who seek him. 00:21:50.539 --> 00:21:52.539 God knows the course of history before it unfolds. 00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:54.120 In fact, he's writing history. 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:56.140 Nothing surprises him. 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:58.220 He already knows what's going to happen. 00:21:59.860 --> 00:22:02.200 God never loses control. 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:13.819 And since that's true, God calls us to joyfully and willingly yield on our will to his divinely ordained authorities in our life. 00:22:14.380 --> 00:22:18.440 And in the context of 1 Peter, in our text here tonight, it is the government. 00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:28.680 And what Peter has already admonished in verse number 12 that we already read, that we need to live honest, having our conversation honest amongst the Gentiles. 00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:28.940 Why? 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:30.380 So that we're a good witness. 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:38.000 So that we're pointing others to Christ and we're not saying, well, I know we preach that, but really you can do whatever you want to do. 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:42.200 You know, if you don't like what the government's doing, just completely disregard it. 00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:44.500 Because sometimes we can get that mindset. 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:50.079 And there's people that, under the guise of Christianity, they're anti-government everything. 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:52.059 Well, God's the one that designed it. 00:22:52.619 --> 00:22:54.480 He's the one that's instituted it. 00:22:55.440 --> 00:23:00.579 So now he begins to apply this teaching to real-life relationships. 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:06.519 And he starts with a government to a people that probably absolutely detested their government. 00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:09.019 And his command is straightforward. 00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:10.940 Submit to every authority. 00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:11.640 Why? 00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:14.259 Well, he gives the answer right there in verse 13. 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.200 Here's the reason why. 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:18.099 For the Lord's sake. 00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:20.299 See, sometimes we read over that. 00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:23.960 That's not a little tagline that they just threw around. 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:30.579 No, in this way, when we honor Jesus and his lordship over us, when we submit to those things. 00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:33.380 Because here's what we're saying. 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:38.599 Lord, I can't change and I can't fix and I can't do, but I'm just going to trust that you know what you're doing. 00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:41.059 That's what Peter is reminding us here. 00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:48.379 And as we submit to these authorities, we are submitting to the lordship of Jesus Christ for his name's sake. 00:23:49.659 --> 00:23:54.099 And in case the people were wondering what Peter meant, he specifies it. 00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:55.659 He says in verse number 13, 00:23:55.659 --> 00:24:07.879 For the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king as supreme or unto the governors as them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of them that do well. 00:24:07.880 --> 00:24:12.660 So really what he does, he kind of lines out, he says, this is what the government is supposed to do. 00:24:13.320 --> 00:24:18.760 This is the idea behind it, to punish those that do evil and to praise those who do good. 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:21.780 That's really the scope of their authority. 00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:29.340 These leaders, the king is supposed to be in charge and the governors, the people that he sets up underneath him are to preserve law and order. 00:24:29.820 --> 00:24:30.900 They're to prevent anarchy. 00:24:31.060 --> 00:24:33.100 They're to promote good conduct. 00:24:33.600 --> 00:24:34.500 That's why laws are there. 00:24:34.780 --> 00:24:35.740 I don't agree with some of them. 00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:36.960 I don't like the speed limit law. 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:39.400 But you know what? 00:24:39.579 --> 00:24:41.319 It's there for the good of all the people. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:46.840 And sometimes whether we agree with it or not, we still have to follow it because if we don't follow it, then we pay a fine. 00:24:47.579 --> 00:24:48.880 They're like, well, what's their problem? 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:49.600 Well, here's the problem. 00:24:49.860 --> 00:24:50.539 You were speeding. 00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:53.880 Those are there for the good of everybody. 00:24:55.340 --> 00:25:01.000 And so we honor Christ by submitting to and honoring this God-ordained authority. 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:06.360 And the only exception is if we're called to disobey God and to dishonor God. 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:08.579 Then we can step up. 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:10.120 And we should step up and speak. 00:25:10.340 --> 00:25:18.039 And I think the church has lost its voice for a long time because we didn't step up and we didn't speak up when the government was doing things that are not right. 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:27.940 And now we're fighting this uphill battle whether it comes to abortion or same-sex marriage because we were so quiet for so long and we thought to ourselves, well, it's not really going to affect us. 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:29.700 I mean, we live in the Bible Belt. 00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:31.259 Well, guess what? 00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:32.579 It's here now. 00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:35.379 And that's just the idea that we're saying. 00:25:35.639 --> 00:25:40.720 And it's then and only then when we can civilly disobey or voice our opinion. 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:47.679 But why is it so important that we submit ourselves to the government and to these situations? 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.220 Peter answers that. 00:25:49.919 --> 00:25:51.759 He answers that in verse number 15. 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:59.319 For so this is the will of God that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. 00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:02.279 Here's what Peter says. 00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:09.220 When you live a life like this, people are going to take notice and they're going to maybe begin to ask you questions. 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:11.160 Well, why would you do that? 00:26:11.640 --> 00:26:12.879 I mean, how can you do that? 00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:14.119 That doesn't make sense. 00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:18.240 And it gives us a chance to have a good witness for Jesus Christ. 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:24.480 And then by doing good, even in the face of evil, we may not agree with everything they're doing. 00:26:24.680 --> 00:26:26.079 But hey, we're going to be good citizens. 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:28.319 And it's a witness. 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.180 It's a testimony. 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:30.420 And it points to this. 00:26:30.579 --> 00:26:32.579 Listen, we're not doing it because we agree with this king. 00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:34.400 No, we're doing it because we love this king. 00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.880 And his name's Jesus. 00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:37.579 And he knows where I'm at. 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.559 And he knows what I need. 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:39.880 And he knows what I'm facing. 00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:45.200 And when we honor and we obey him, we become better citizens. 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:50.480 And never once in our life did we do something God asked us to do and we're worse off for it. 00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:56.319 You know how you're a better husband, a better wife, a better son, a better daughter, a better friend? 00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:56.920 You know how you do that? 00:26:57.100 --> 00:26:58.440 You submit to the word of God. 00:26:59.039 --> 00:27:00.799 The same is true when it comes to authority. 00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:03.980 That we submit and we trust that God is doing it. 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:05.700 I love what Warren Wearsby said this. 00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:12.680 God has willed that we silence the critics by doing good, not by opposing the authority. 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:15.200 There's a time and place. 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:15.660 We mentioned that. 00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:16.460 I hope we understand this. 00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:18.920 I'm not saying Christians should never speak up or never say anything. 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:20.759 We can do that. 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:23.840 And we should do it in a loving voice and in a loving way. 00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:26.340 But that's not what we're talking about. 00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:29.299 Sometimes we get in our mind that we have to speak out about everything. 00:27:30.220 --> 00:27:33.180 No, he's just saying just live your life. 00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:36.660 Live a life that's honoring to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:27:37.560 --> 00:27:45.420 And because we have a radical allegiance to Christ, it's going to prop some red flags up maybe around some people in your life. 00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:47.320 Well, why would you do that? 00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:49.160 You know, there's a way around that. 00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:50.480 You don't have to listen to what the government is. 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.140 You don't have to do this. 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:51.620 You don't have to do that. 00:27:51.840 --> 00:27:55.500 You say, listen, I'm doing that because that's what the Lord would have me to do. 00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:57.500 And people may begin to question. 00:27:57.779 --> 00:28:00.940 And Peter says, let your life prove otherwise. 00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:06.420 Let your life prove that you trust God and you trust his providence. 00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:12.980 I mean, simply what he's saying in verse 15, that when we do well, we may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. 00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:15.360 He's not saying be mean. 00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:18.500 He's not saying be a jerk to everybody else around you because you're better. 00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:19.320 No, here's what he's saying. 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:24.279 Just make your life, make your place, make your circle of influence better because you're there. 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:31.399 You know, we talk about it all the time because sometimes we look around and we think, what difference does it make if I vote or not? 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:32.579 I think a lot of people have that question. 00:28:33.399 --> 00:28:34.420 I mean, I'm just one vote. 00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:35.700 What's the big deal? 00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:38.139 I think, number one, we should be involved in that. 00:28:38.879 --> 00:28:41.940 But I think here's where you can make a difference right here. 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:44.019 You can make it at your school. 00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.440 You can make it at your workplace. 00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:47.039 You can make it in your home. 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:48.299 You can make it in your neighborhood. 00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:55.799 And when people see how you live your life and that you're a good, upstanding citizen, that you don't think that none of the rules apply to you. 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:57.539 No, you submit to them. 00:28:57.759 --> 00:29:00.379 They're ready to realize, man, they actually seem happy. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.980 And they're following the rules. 00:29:02.059 --> 00:29:04.680 Because our world says, hey, if you want to be happy, just break all the rules. 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:05.940 You have much more fun that way. 00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:08.599 But when that happens, you don't really have fun. 00:29:08.659 --> 00:29:10.039 You pay the consequences for them. 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:14.599 Peter's just saying that be a blessing where you live. 00:29:14.599 --> 00:29:18.219 Don't withdraw from the people around you. 00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:19.539 Engage them. 00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:21.339 That's what Peter's saying. 00:29:22.459 --> 00:29:30.699 Because these original readers, these original readers of this letter, they would have every right, like, let's just kind of hole up here. 00:29:30.919 --> 00:29:31.939 This persecution's coming. 00:29:32.199 --> 00:29:34.299 No, they were reminded what Jesus taught them. 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:37.839 We're not to be of the world, but we are to be in the world. 00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:42.339 We can't just back away and say, well, you know, I don't want to get anything with them. 00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:44.419 No, we have to meet people where they are. 00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:49.259 Because sometimes we look at it as left and right and Democrat and Republican and all these things. 00:29:49.439 --> 00:29:50.459 You know what we need to see? 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:53.099 They need Jesus Christ. 00:29:54.419 --> 00:30:00.859 And when politics start coming into the church, and they do, people say, well, churches should stay out of politics. 00:30:00.859 --> 00:30:09.099 But when we're talking about just murdering millions of babies, and we're going against the word of God, we're not getting into politics. 00:30:09.419 --> 00:30:10.599 Politics came into the Bible. 00:30:11.299 --> 00:30:13.199 And that we should be able to take a stand for that. 00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:15.279 And we do it in a loving way. 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:20.000 Maybe we could say it like this. 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:28.500 That we need to be known more for what we do and what we love rather than what we don't do and what we hate. 00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:32.099 I think that's a good way for us to live our life as Christians. 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:37.079 Because there's some people under the guise of Christianity that go around, and they're just spewing hate. 00:30:38.099 --> 00:30:39.579 I can't remember the exact name of that church. 00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:41.059 They've kind of died off a little bit. 00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:43.440 But it was up in Kansas, like Westboro Baptist Church. 00:30:43.679 --> 00:30:45.299 And they would picket everything. 00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:49.139 I'm pretty sure that's not how it was supposed to be done. 00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:56.079 You know, the people you work with, the kids you go to school with, they need to know what you're for and who you love. 00:30:56.599 --> 00:31:00.159 And why your life has got some joy and got some peace and got some passion in it. 00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:02.259 Because Jesus Christ is the king. 00:31:02.859 --> 00:31:04.200 That's who you're really living for. 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:07.099 We're not here to live for the government and make them, align their pockets. 00:31:07.179 --> 00:31:08.740 No, we're here just to follow Christ. 00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:10.899 And sometimes we've got to do things we may not like. 00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:13.940 But ultimately, it's for the mission of Christ. 00:31:14.899 --> 00:31:23.039 And when we follow the example of Jesus, and we put the gospel on display, and we submit to the authorities around us, it's going to reveal something. 00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:24.639 What's it going to reveal? 00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:26.079 Verse 16, the Bible tells us. 00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:33.659 As free, not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:38.220 It reveals this wonderful truth that we're free. 00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:45.660 And because we're free, we're called to live in a way that honors Christ before a watching world. 00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:49.140 This kind of harkens back to Romans chapter 6. 00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:52.279 Because before we knew Christ, here's what our master was. 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:52.819 Sin. 00:31:52.819 --> 00:31:55.099 And we lived to ourselves. 00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:57.480 We lived to what the world system says. 00:31:57.639 --> 00:31:59.079 And we do this and we do that. 00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:00.099 But here's the great news. 00:32:00.439 --> 00:32:03.039 Sin, if we know Christ, is no longer our master. 00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:04.460 He is. 00:32:04.919 --> 00:32:08.519 We've been set free from sin and Satan and this world. 00:32:08.819 --> 00:32:15.720 And all that's been given to us not to serve ourselves, but to serve God and to serve others. 00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:17.579 I think Jesus said it like this. 00:32:17.640 --> 00:32:19.160 Here's the two, here's the great commandment. 00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:22.360 Love God with all your heart and the second's like unto it, love people. 00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:28.579 And that's what we are, we've given freedom, not as liberty to do whatever we want to do. 00:32:29.160 --> 00:32:31.059 That's what that cloak of maliciousness is. 00:32:31.059 --> 00:32:33.079 And hey, well, nobody can tell me what to do. 00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:33.779 I'm free. 00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:36.779 I have all this ability, all this liberty in my life. 00:32:36.900 --> 00:32:37.360 You do. 00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:41.579 But we shouldn't use that as a cloak to do what we want to do. 00:32:42.119 --> 00:32:43.599 And to live how we want to live. 00:32:44.219 --> 00:32:49.419 I mean, freedom in Christ does not lead and should not lead to us indulging in sin. 00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:52.319 Paul hit that head on in Romans 6. 00:32:52.619 --> 00:32:55.719 He said, should we continue in sin that grace may abound? 00:32:56.159 --> 00:32:57.779 God forbid. 00:32:58.719 --> 00:33:00.439 We're not called to live that life. 00:33:00.740 --> 00:33:03.859 No, we're called to glorify God by doing good things. 00:33:04.119 --> 00:33:06.599 By serving others where others can see it. 00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:12.139 And praise God that we have the supernatural ability to do what we ought to do. 00:33:13.139 --> 00:33:15.839 See, because before you knew Christ, you couldn't do it on your own. 00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:20.519 Listen, even after we know Christ, we still struggle, don't we? 00:33:21.099 --> 00:33:22.099 Read Romans 7. 00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:24.740 Paul said, what I want to do, I don't do. 00:33:24.819 --> 00:33:26.559 And what I shouldn't do, that's what I find myself doing. 00:33:27.480 --> 00:33:32.439 But when we do have Christ in our life, we have the ability now to do the right thing. 00:33:33.400 --> 00:33:40.340 And really, as we grow in grace, Peter's going to tell us that in 2 Peter, our life, it begins to line up. 00:33:40.580 --> 00:33:43.100 What I ought to do is what I want to do. 00:33:44.140 --> 00:33:49.660 I mean, there was times maybe before you were saved and you thought, if I go to church, I'm going one time a year. 00:33:49.660 --> 00:33:54.340 I hope, I know who I'm preaching to, I hope you're excited to come to church. 00:33:55.220 --> 00:33:59.820 You know, you come and you learn about God and it encourages you. 00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:06.519 Maybe that wasn't who you used to be, but the more you know Christ and the more he's in your heart, it's just that desire to be there. 00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:19.420 And the thing is, is he's not calling us to be perfect, but this freedom he talks about in verse 16 that we have in Jesus, it should lead us to want to serve him. 00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:29.039 To live a life that points and puts him on display and shows the world around us that there is a redeeming love and amazing grace is not just a song. 00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:31.219 It's something that you can experience in your life. 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:34.940 And sometimes that comes about by how we respond to the authority around us. 00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:36.659 That's what Peter is saying. 00:34:38.940 --> 00:34:48.780 So Peter ends this section here by not only reminding us to obey the authorities in our life, but he says this in our last verse, verse 17. 00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:52.619 He says this, you should show Christ-like character to everyone. 00:34:53.639 --> 00:34:58.400 So let's not just leave it at the government and say, well, I'll do what I can, I won't be happy about it. 00:34:58.400 --> 00:35:01.800 But he's going to include a bunch of people in this short little verse right here. 00:35:01.800 --> 00:35:06.039 Verse 17, it's just four quick commands. 00:35:07.340 --> 00:35:09.200 Honor all men. 00:35:10.039 --> 00:35:11.660 Love the brotherhood. 00:35:12.320 --> 00:35:13.460 Fear God. 00:35:14.240 --> 00:35:15.740 Honor the king. 00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:19.740 You say, preacher, what does honor everyone mean? 00:35:20.440 --> 00:35:21.800 Exactly what you think it means. 00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:29.900 The idea is that we are commanded to show respect to everyone without exception. 00:35:30.620 --> 00:35:36.180 That we look at people, and here's how we should see people, as image bearers of God. 00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:45.200 Because the reality is whether we agree with them, whether what side of the aisle they lean, how they dress, what they look like, how many piercings, how many tattoos. 00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:49.000 It doesn't matter what it is, they are an image bearer of God. 00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:55.379 And then we respect them, not only that they are an image bearer, but Christ died for them. 00:35:56.599 --> 00:36:01.339 How can we win somebody if we just offend somebody all the time? 00:36:02.719 --> 00:36:06.439 Because sometimes we, listen, we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover. 00:36:06.739 --> 00:36:08.099 Anybody ever judge a book by its cover? 00:36:08.099 --> 00:36:10.440 We do all the time. 00:36:10.679 --> 00:36:14.119 If you've ever been to Walmart, you have judged so many books by their cover. 00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:17.539 It's what it is. 00:36:17.819 --> 00:36:21.400 I mean, we do it just, it's just so natural to us. 00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:28.339 But what Peter wants his readers to understand, I think what the Holy Spirit wants us to understand, is we need to step back. 00:36:29.079 --> 00:36:30.880 And realize that person, and we kind of, ugh. 00:36:31.639 --> 00:36:32.880 And we think, why would they dress like that? 00:36:32.900 --> 00:36:33.759 Why would they do that? 00:36:34.059 --> 00:36:35.519 What was behind that? 00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:37.259 No, man, they need the Lord. 00:36:38.099 --> 00:36:45.860 We need to see people and realize they have worth regardless of what external considerations that are in play. 00:36:47.579 --> 00:36:49.659 So Peter says, honor everyone. 00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:55.339 Letter B, he says this, love your Christian family. 00:36:55.739 --> 00:36:56.500 I love this thought. 00:36:57.219 --> 00:36:58.119 I love this thought. 00:36:59.279 --> 00:37:02.360 I'm sure we've all heard the phrase that blood is thicker than water. 00:37:03.400 --> 00:37:06.559 But I like how one pastor said it, he said, but the spirit is thicker than blood. 00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:10.519 I'm so thankful to have a church family. 00:37:11.400 --> 00:37:15.019 Yes, he's called us to honor all men, but there's a tender bond. 00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:18.599 There's this familial love amongst Christians. 00:37:19.179 --> 00:37:23.500 That we can gather from all different backgrounds and all different personalities and all different hobbies. 00:37:23.799 --> 00:37:25.639 And I mean, you name it, we're different in so many things. 00:37:25.799 --> 00:37:27.900 But we come here and there's sweet fellowship. 00:37:28.239 --> 00:37:30.840 And there's just that sense of belonging. 00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:33.220 And the encouragement that you find here. 00:37:33.500 --> 00:37:34.559 And here's what Peter says. 00:37:34.760 --> 00:37:37.220 He says, we need to love the brotherhood. 00:37:38.380 --> 00:37:41.559 I love that he commanded us to love. 00:37:41.980 --> 00:37:43.039 He said, honor everybody. 00:37:43.160 --> 00:37:43.760 Respect everybody. 00:37:44.019 --> 00:37:44.840 But here's what you should do. 00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:46.340 You need to love the brotherhood. 00:37:46.340 --> 00:37:51.780 I don't know the situation here that Peter's writing to, but I think it applies to all of us. 00:37:52.720 --> 00:37:58.680 Maybe there's a gentle reminder when he says love the brothers, love the brotherhood, love the family. 00:37:59.760 --> 00:38:02.740 That not everybody's going to be lovable. 00:38:02.739 --> 00:38:10.919 I mean, it doesn't matter where you go, whether it's in church, sometimes in your own home, at work. 00:38:11.119 --> 00:38:19.199 I mean, you love some people, but you're like, if that person talks to me one more time, is that not what it is? 00:38:21.779 --> 00:38:23.639 Listen, we still should strive. 00:38:24.019 --> 00:38:28.139 He doesn't say within a church family, everybody has to be your best friend. 00:38:28.919 --> 00:38:31.599 No, but we should strive to love everybody. 00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:33.159 Why? We're all family. 00:38:34.059 --> 00:38:38.319 If Christ is our Savior, if God is our Father, we are brothers and sisters. 00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:41.059 And sometimes families, we got disputes. 00:38:41.259 --> 00:38:46.500 Sometimes we want to just, sometimes you got to just knock somebody out and then say you love them and move on with your life. 00:38:47.279 --> 00:38:48.400 Please do it in the parking lot. 00:38:48.460 --> 00:38:48.980 Don't do it in here. 00:38:51.420 --> 00:38:56.079 But I mean, the reality is that, is we're called to love each other. 00:38:57.079 --> 00:39:01.139 Because sometimes we, sometimes your family may not understand it, but your family here does. 00:39:01.599 --> 00:39:03.539 Because we're all supposed to be on the same mission. 00:39:04.039 --> 00:39:05.679 We're all supposed to be moving the same direction. 00:39:06.440 --> 00:39:11.219 And you might be struggling with some of these things and you have family that comes alongside you and says, hey, listen, I've been there. 00:39:11.579 --> 00:39:14.639 I understand where you're going through and we can walk through it with each other. 00:39:14.639 --> 00:39:17.819 We see the next thing that he tells us. 00:39:17.980 --> 00:39:19.379 Fear God. 00:39:21.359 --> 00:39:23.859 Fear is reserved for God alone. 00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:27.940 This is not fear how we would commonly think of it. 00:39:28.199 --> 00:39:29.460 We're not to be scared of God. 00:39:29.460 --> 00:39:32.039 But there should be some awe. 00:39:32.920 --> 00:39:34.280 There should be some reverence. 00:39:34.760 --> 00:39:36.019 There should be some worship. 00:39:36.920 --> 00:39:44.460 I mean, it is a scary thing when we realize how good God is, how big he is, that he is the creator, that he is the sustainer. 00:39:44.679 --> 00:39:47.440 I mean, that he could do anything he wanted to and yet he still loves us. 00:39:47.480 --> 00:39:48.679 That should bring us to some awe. 00:39:49.320 --> 00:39:51.059 That should bring some reverence in our life. 00:39:51.159 --> 00:39:53.900 And we fear him and him alone. 00:39:54.900 --> 00:39:58.519 It's interesting that he told them that because you know who a lot of these people would have feared? 00:39:58.940 --> 00:39:59.220 Nero. 00:40:00.760 --> 00:40:04.720 Some of these people probably had family members that were murdered because of Nero. 00:40:05.619 --> 00:40:07.139 They were thrown into the Colosseum. 00:40:07.340 --> 00:40:08.840 They were used as human torches. 00:40:09.099 --> 00:40:10.920 They were part of the cruelty of Nero. 00:40:11.200 --> 00:40:12.340 That's what they were scared of. 00:40:12.680 --> 00:40:14.160 That's why some of them are fleeing. 00:40:14.460 --> 00:40:15.940 They are fleeing the persecution. 00:40:16.300 --> 00:40:20.440 And he says, no, he is an evil man, but here's who you really need to fear. 00:40:20.619 --> 00:40:21.160 Fear God. 00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:51.159 Fear God. 00:40:51.159 --> 00:40:54.879 Honoring the king that we're only giving praise to who deserves it. 00:40:56.039 --> 00:40:56.940 And I'll just say this. 00:40:56.980 --> 00:40:58.679 I don't know if I should say it, but I'm going to say it. 00:40:59.379 --> 00:41:01.440 And we'll just move on if it's not good. 00:41:03.059 --> 00:41:11.319 I think sometimes we can give praise and adulation to some people that is really not the right thing for Christians to do. 00:41:11.320 --> 00:41:15.360 We don't need to marry it. 00:41:15.360 --> 00:41:19.420 Listen, we don't need to marry ourselves to a political party. 00:41:20.640 --> 00:41:24.840 Now, I have opinions on certain things like that, and I think you know where I stand on that. 00:41:25.039 --> 00:41:29.940 I don't think you can be a part of some things where they say, hey, you can just murder anybody you want. 00:41:30.019 --> 00:41:31.360 I mean, you can have all these late-term abortions. 00:41:31.360 --> 00:41:35.980 I do not think that you should be able to support that and read the Bible. 00:41:36.480 --> 00:41:37.360 That's just what I think. 00:41:39.460 --> 00:41:46.440 But the danger of the church is when we align ourselves too closely with any government or political party, then we lose our voice. 00:41:46.440 --> 00:41:58.880 Because at every point, some political party, maybe you would promote and promote and promote, then they start saying things and you're thinking, I'm not sure I want to be tagged with that. 00:42:00.559 --> 00:42:05.360 I mean, we don't need to offer praise because he's really good at just giving it to himself on Twitter. 00:42:06.740 --> 00:42:07.820 I'm just going to say that. 00:42:09.780 --> 00:42:13.400 Listen, Donald Trump, we'll just say it because we all know what we're talking about. 00:42:13.800 --> 00:42:14.900 He's not the Savior. 00:42:16.440 --> 00:42:17.440 Jesus is. 00:42:18.380 --> 00:42:22.079 And Peter's not saying that we're looking for some Savior because this was a culture and society. 00:42:22.360 --> 00:42:26.300 They were always looking for political freedom and they thought the policies are going to free us. 00:42:26.820 --> 00:42:28.940 Nothing's going to free you except Jesus Christ. 00:42:29.480 --> 00:42:31.860 And we've got to make sure that we fear God and him alone. 00:42:32.159 --> 00:42:35.039 Yes, but he does end up and he does remind us and we kind of come full circle. 00:42:35.139 --> 00:42:36.960 He says, honor the king. 00:42:38.740 --> 00:42:44.179 See, we submit and honor the governing authority, not when it's easy, but always. 00:42:44.179 --> 00:42:44.259 Yes. 00:42:46.039 --> 00:42:50.299 And we have to do so respectfully and carefully and Christ-like. 00:42:51.399 --> 00:42:54.179 Now, yes, we may express disappointments and disagreements. 00:42:55.339 --> 00:42:56.500 I'm thankful we live in a country. 00:42:56.779 --> 00:42:57.659 We can do that. 00:42:57.659 --> 00:42:58.659 We have to do that. 00:42:58.659 --> 00:43:00.159 Really without fear of consequence. 00:43:00.779 --> 00:43:03.139 But I think we even see that going a certain direction. 00:43:04.719 --> 00:43:06.539 But we have to do it the right way. 00:43:07.659 --> 00:43:14.199 Listen, we have to avoid hatred and slander and misrepresentation and unkindness and harshness. 00:43:14.539 --> 00:43:16.139 Listen, that's not for either side of the aisle. 00:43:16.279 --> 00:43:17.119 That's for everybody. 00:43:18.259 --> 00:43:19.799 We've lost that in our world. 00:43:20.500 --> 00:43:21.799 We've lost that ability. 00:43:21.800 --> 00:43:26.260 Why is it so important that we honor the king, that we do it respectfully? 00:43:26.519 --> 00:43:29.680 Because we represent Jesus Christ. 00:43:30.620 --> 00:43:32.620 We represent that kingdom. 00:43:33.039 --> 00:43:34.800 We're not living for an earthly kingdom. 00:43:35.840 --> 00:43:42.080 Listen, his rule, Jesus' rule over your life should control your temper and your tongue. 00:43:42.320 --> 00:43:45.060 And it should be able to hold back your fingers on a keyboard. 00:43:45.059 --> 00:43:48.579 I mean, it really should. 00:43:49.400 --> 00:43:51.519 This is about as exciting as I thought it was going to be. 00:43:53.380 --> 00:43:54.659 But it's the reality. 00:43:56.139 --> 00:43:59.820 Listen, you should be thankful that God knew this. 00:44:00.659 --> 00:44:02.239 This isn't a first century problem. 00:44:03.340 --> 00:44:06.679 They probably thought, man, we live in the worst political system ever. 00:44:07.619 --> 00:44:09.619 I think everybody says that every generation. 00:44:10.360 --> 00:44:12.299 And we look and we say, look at all these problems. 00:44:12.300 --> 00:44:17.180 But as we close it up, I just want to remind us that we live in a broken world. 00:44:18.400 --> 00:44:21.580 We live under imperfect authority. 00:44:22.720 --> 00:44:25.519 But we serve a perfect king. 00:44:27.260 --> 00:44:38.019 And since we serve a perfect king, because that's true, we should submit not because the authority is always right, but because Jesus is always right. 00:44:38.539 --> 00:44:39.940 That's what he wants us to do. 00:44:39.940 --> 00:44:46.539 And when we do that, when we put this into practice in our life, you know what our lives declare? 00:44:47.400 --> 00:44:48.519 There's a better king. 00:44:49.240 --> 00:44:50.460 There's a better kingdom. 00:44:51.159 --> 00:44:52.200 And his name is Jesus. 00:44:52.820 --> 00:44:54.519 Because that's the goal of your life. 00:44:55.659 --> 00:44:59.940 We can keep voting and we should vote by what the word of God says. 00:45:00.079 --> 00:45:02.720 But what's going to change people's lives is right here. 00:45:02.719 --> 00:45:06.699 That's what God has called us to do. 00:45:07.779 --> 00:45:13.699 We may not agree with every authority, but we live under them for the sake of a greater authority. 00:45:15.139 --> 00:45:16.899 And I want to just take this home with us. 00:45:17.139 --> 00:45:18.299 We are free in Christ. 00:45:18.419 --> 00:45:19.159 Praise the Lord for that. 00:45:20.659 --> 00:45:27.679 But we live a submitted life for Christ and to Christ so others can see Christ. 00:45:27.679 --> 00:45:29.759 That's what Peter's telling them. 00:45:30.379 --> 00:45:36.299 Submit yourselves to every ordinance for the Lord's sake. 00:45:36.679 --> 00:45:39.139 Would you stand with your heads bowed and with your eyes closed? 00:45:39.139 --> 00:45:50.159 We'll have a moment of invitation. 00:45:51.839 --> 00:45:53.639 I think the message was pretty straightforward. 00:45:55.199 --> 00:45:58.480 But if you're here, you know the Lord is your Savior, just answer this question. 00:45:59.079 --> 00:46:02.519 Are you living in submission for the Lord's sake? 00:46:05.879 --> 00:46:07.559 Or are you reacting like the world? 00:46:09.139 --> 00:46:12.319 Because sometimes we can have a disagreement. 00:46:12.579 --> 00:46:14.319 We can have a differing view. 00:46:15.819 --> 00:46:17.359 But how do we express that? 00:46:18.500 --> 00:46:21.359 Do we express it in a way that honors the Lord Jesus Christ? 00:46:21.480 --> 00:46:24.719 That would allow us to speak life into somebody else? 00:46:25.239 --> 00:46:27.239 Somebody with a differing opinion that we could say, 00:46:27.799 --> 00:46:29.099 Well, why do you believe that? 00:46:29.799 --> 00:46:31.859 Instead of our goal is to win an argument, 00:46:31.980 --> 00:46:33.440 No, our goal is to win a soul. 00:46:34.920 --> 00:46:36.920 That should be the main focus of our life. 00:46:36.920 --> 00:46:39.800 Because that's what our King has called us to do. 00:46:41.280 --> 00:46:44.099 He's called us to go into all the world and preach the gospel. 00:46:45.180 --> 00:46:47.079 To the Jew and to the Gentile. 00:46:47.420 --> 00:46:49.079 To the Greek and to the barbarian. 00:46:50.539 --> 00:46:54.920 Listen, the gospel crosses all partisan lines. 00:46:56.260 --> 00:46:57.519 The gospel is for all people. 00:46:57.519 --> 00:47:02.579 Maybe you're here and you don't know the Lord as your Savior. 00:47:02.800 --> 00:47:07.679 You heard all about Him, but you just kind of want to add Him on to your life. 00:47:08.780 --> 00:47:10.759 But you don't really like some of the authority that He says. 00:47:10.800 --> 00:47:11.759 We have to submit to it. 00:47:12.380 --> 00:47:15.440 You have to come to a place in your life where you submit to God. 00:47:15.480 --> 00:47:16.599 Because one day you will. 00:47:17.280 --> 00:47:19.079 Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. 00:47:20.599 --> 00:47:22.000 Make sure that that's settled today. 00:47:22.380 --> 00:47:24.159 No matter what you need, here's what we all need to do. 00:47:24.280 --> 00:47:24.940 Come to Christ. 00:47:24.940 --> 00:47:27.940 Christ, He's the answer for a broken world. 00:47:28.679 --> 00:47:31.720 He's the hope for a culture that's falling apart. 00:47:32.720 --> 00:47:34.440 That's what you need to take to work tomorrow. 00:47:34.780 --> 00:47:35.460 To school tomorrow. 00:47:35.700 --> 00:47:36.539 To your neighborhood. 00:47:36.960 --> 00:47:37.639 To your home. 00:47:38.780 --> 00:47:41.360 Would we submit to Christ? 00:47:41.460 --> 00:47:41.960 Father, thank you.