1 Peter 2:11-12 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. NKJV d. THREE PRECEPTS: (2:11, 12) 1 ST : STOPPAGE: 11 ABSTAIN from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, Gal.5:19-21 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; NKJV The flesh is a constant problem for believers; before salvation the lusts of the flesh dictated their conduct. After salvation it still wants to dictate one s conduct. First, the MEANING of stoppage. Abstain. The believer must not yield to these evil lusts which come from the flesh. All yielding must be stopped. The lusts
of the flesh are not to dictate our conduct. Second, the MOTIVE for stoppage. They will war against the soul. To prevent effective opposition to your dedication and spiritual life you must abstain from these lusts. 1 The battle against the flesh, the world, and the Devil begins once we have accepted Christ as our Savior! The verb war in the Greek literally means continually waging war! 2 2 ND : SAGACITY [wisdom/knowledge] 12a having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles This speaks of our wise, intelligent, prudent BEHAVIOR before the world. Honest, honorable speaks of more than just a person s integrity. 1 PC STUDY BIBLE V. 5; Butler Analytical Bible Expositor: New Testament; 1 Peter 2:11. 2 PC STUDY BIBLE V. 5; Life Application Bible Commentary; 1 Peter 2:11.
The word [honorable] is translated from the Greek word kalos and means good and beautiful. Conduct / Conversation refers to more than the mouth but to the entire manner of life. Kalos... predominantly designates what is ethically good, noble, worth striving for. 3 kalos -- pertaining to having acceptable characteristics or functioning in an agreeable manner, often with the focus on outward form or appearance - 'good, fine.' 4 3 RD : SIGNIFICANCE 12b that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by YOUR GOOD WORKS which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. 3 PC STUDY BIBLE V. 5; Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament; kalos / good. 4 PC STUDY BIBLE V. 5; Louw and nida Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament; kalos.
Galatians 6:14 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. NKJV Our Behavior [good works; conduct] should be in alignment with our Beliefs and Boasts! Our Behavior [good works; conduct] should become both the Basis of our witness and the Evidence of our witness! The believer is to behave in such a way that it will cause others to glorify God, not reproach God. The day of visitation is a reminder that God will indeed visit and we will have to give an accounting of our behavior. 5 OUR OUTWARD BEHAVIOR & CONDUCT REFLECTS EITHER NEGATIVELY OR POSITIVELY ON OUR HEAVENLY FATHER! COMMENTARY: GOODY TWO- SHOES Peter's call to live virtuously may strike you as self-defeating, since nobody admires a goody-goody. Perfect people are no fun, and often they are so obsessed with not 5 PC STUDY BIBLE V. 5; Butler Analytical Bible Expositor: New Testament; 1 Peter 2:12.
trespassing some rule that their goodness becomes its own prison. But remember, the good that Peter urges includes humility, forgiveness (selfforgiveness too), and a dose of laughter and frolic. This life is no stiff-collared Puritanism; it is vibrant, loving, curious, engaging, active, prayerful, and devoted to others in God's service. 6 SCRIPTURES ON GOOD WORKS: Titus 3:8--This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should BE CAREFUL TO MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS. These things are good and profitable to men. NKJV Ephesians 2:10--For we are His workmanship, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. NKJV 6 PC STUDY BIBLE V. 5; Life Application Bible Commentary; 1 Peter 2:12.
1 Timothy 6:18--Let them do good, that they BE RICH IN GOOD WORKS, ready to give, willing to share, NKJV Titus 2:7-8: 7 in all things showing yourself to BE A PATTERN OF GOOD WORKS; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. NKJV Matthew 5:16--Let your light so shine before men, that they may SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. NKJV 2. THE MODELS OF SUBMISSION (2:13 3:7) 13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence
the ignorance of foolish men 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like
sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 3:1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. 7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. NKJV
a. INTRODUCTION: Submission is an essential quality in the life of every Christian and it is necessary for the church to fulfill its mission in the world. SUBMISSION to God is the necessary starting point in our submission to others. ILLUSTRATION: SUBMISSION The captain of the ship looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message" "Alter your course 10 degrees south." Promptly a return message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north." The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: "Alter your course 10 degrees south--i am the captain!" Soon another message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north--i am seaman third class Jones." Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would
evoke: "Alter your course 10 degrees south--i am a battleship." Then the reply came "Alter your course 10 degrees north-- I am a lighthouse." In the midst of our dark and foggy times, all sorts of voices are shouting orders into the night, telling us what to do, how to adjust our lives. Out of the darkness, one voice signals something quite opposite to the rest--something almost absurd. But the voice happens to be the Light of the World, and we ignore it at our our peril. 7 Paul Aiello, Jr. Submission is certainly a proof of our salvation. Once we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we are no longer our own. b. FIRST: SUBMISSION TO EVERY ORDINANCE (2:13-16) 13 Therefore SUBMIT yourselves to every ORDINANCE of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those 7 www.sermonillustrations; submission; Paul Aiello, Jr.
who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do GOOD. 15 For this is THE WILL OF GOD, that by doing GOOD you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 1.) FOUR PRINCIPLES: 8 1 st : DEFINING SUBMISSION Submit does not include submission which is contrary to God s ways. Other Versions: NIV = AUTHORITY LB = LAW AMP = HUMAN INSTITUTION a.) CHRISTIANS HAVE TO OBEY THE LAW: Christian believers are under obligation to obey human and governmental authorities... UNLESS THE LAWS ARE IN OPPOSITION TO GOD S LAW! 8 PC STUDY BIBLE V. 5; Butler Analytical Bible Expositor: New Testament; 1 Peter 2:13.
b.) Acts 5:27-29: 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!" 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. NKJV 2 nd : DIFFICULTY IN SUBMISSION (2:14) to every ordinance of man... whether it be to the king... or to governors As Christian citizens, we should submit to the authority vested in human government. The word translated "ordinance" in our Authorized Version simply means
"creation or institution." It does not refer to each individual law, but to the institutions that make and enforce the laws. It is possible to submit to the institutions and still disobey the laws. For example, when Daniel and his three friends refused to obey the king's dietary regulations, they disobeyed the law; but the way that they did it proved that they honored the king and respected the authorities (Daniel 1). They were not rebels; they were careful not to embarrass the official in charge or get him into trouble; and yet they stood their ground. They glorified God and, at the same time, honored the authority of the king. 9 TWO PURPOSES FOR AUTHORITIES: (2:14) 1.) PUNISHMENT OF EVIL DOERS 2.) PRAISE OF THOSE WHO DO GOOD 9 PC STUDY BIBLE V. 5; The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament.
3 rd : DEITY IN SUBMISSION for this is the will of God. (2:15) The motivation for obedience is not avoiding punishment but is for the Lord s sake-- for this is the will of God. 10 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. NKJV 4 th : DESIGN IN SUBMISSION that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men 2:15 2.) FREE IN CHRIST TO SUBMIT: (2:16, 17) 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants 10 PC STUDY BIBLE V. 5; Bible Knowledge Commentary; 1 Peter 2:13.
of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. SEVEN QUALITIES OF OUR SUBMISSION: 1] FREE TO SUBMIT INWARD, FROM THE HEART! ILLUSTRATION: Obedience vs Submission It s possible to obey without submitting. Obedience is an outward action, while submission is an inward attitude. God calls us not just to obey, but also to submit. A mother ordered her disobedient son to sit in a corner. After a couple of minutes of sitting, he told his mother, I m sitting down on the outside, but I m standing up on the inside! He obeyed, but he didn t submit. (Kent Crockett, Making
Today Count for Eternity, Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2001, p. 128) 11 2] FREE NOT TO SIN [not using liberty as a cloak for vice] 3] FREE TO SERVE GOD! [bondservants of God] We do not serve & submit to God because of some legalistic we have to but rather out of love for Him who first loved us! Submission: NO LIST REQUIRED A tyrannical husband demanded that his wife conform to rigid standards of his choosing. She was to do certain things for him as a wife, mother, and homemaker. In time she came to hate him and his list of rules 11 http://kentcrockett.com/cgi-bin/illustrations/index.cgi?topic=s
and regulations. Then, one day her husband died. Later, she fell in love with another man and married him. She and her new husband lived on a perpetual honeymoon. Joyfully, she devoted herself to his happiness and welfare. One day she ran across one of the sheets of dos and don ts of her first husband. To her amazement she found that she was doing for her second husband all the things her first husband had demanded of her, even though her new husband had never once suggested them. She did them as an expression of love for him and a desire to please him. (Illustrations Unlimited (Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1988), p. 501). 12 12 http://www.family-times.net/illustration/submission/202451/
4] FREE TO HONOR OTHERS! [Honor all people] 5] FREE TO LOVE OTHER CHRISTIANS! [Honor all people] 6] FREE TO FEAR GOD! [honor, respect] 7] FREE TO HONOR THE KING!