Practice Christian Submission - I Peter 2:13-25

What ever happened to family oriented music and movies? The hard news is loaded with terror, carnage, war, child molestation, and death and destruction from the many weather related catastrophes; and it seems that the new movies and song lyrics follow the same path. Surely there are some creative minds in the movie and music business that are not totally perverted. Prime time TV is loaded with garbage that brings out the worst in people…some of these that should have been banned are “Sex in the City”—“Desperate Housewives”—“The Nanny Program” and the “Reality TV Shows” that highlight cut-throat behavior and deception. Satisfaction and success are pictured as being available only through the use of power, influence and seduction; anything less than graceless, self-centered behavior will fail to bring success. The word ‘submission’ is not in their vocabulary.

According to the mentally deficient Hollywood crowd—Peter just did not know what he was talking about when he warned the new Christians of all ages that their success and happiness depends totally on their being able to PRACTICE CHRISTIAN SUBMISSION. The overall view of society has completely changed from what it was when Peter wrote this letter. Those people were accustomed to a society that demanded submission of wives to husbands; of families to governors; of governors to kings, yet Peter saw enough resentment in them that he deemed it necessary to address anew the subject, and reinforce the necessity for Christian submissiveness. It is my opinion that the need to warn society today is even more important than it was in that day.

When Peter wrote this letter to the new Christians, he realized that they were under much stress, and many of them had left their homes because of the persecution from the government and their own people…Orthodox Jews, and heathen gentiles. Nero [the absolute nut] was emperor of the Roman Empire at this time and was in the process of conquering the known world of the day. [Stop here and read 2: 13 to 18.]

Why should a Christian be submissive? Peter says that our submissive attitude is for the Lord’s sake. God always receives the glory from our good works because it helps to prevent ignorant talk by foolish men. Living a hypocritical life as a member of the church is far more destructive than the life of a sinner that has never joined a church. Foolish men in their ignorance will use examples of open sin in a church to prove that its message is null and void. It is sad when disobedience in a Christian’s life stands in the way of church progress.

When Peter told his readers to submit to the civil authorities, he was thinking of the Roman empire under the most notoriously cruel tyrant of all times…Nero. He was not suggesting that young Christians should compromise their Christian consciences. Peter, in [Acts 5:29] told us that when we were forced to make a choice, we should always obey God rather than man. Here is the bottom line of this teaching—and it is a hard concept for some to understand. It is far better for a Christian to be persecuted for obeying God than for breaking the moral or civil law. Just remember that it was at the time when Christ was completely obedient to his Father God, that he suffered most.

When we are doing well, serving at higher heights and deeper depths, faithfully engaged in His work—it is at that time that we are most likely to be rebuffed, scolded and even criticized. It takes a humble spirit that is fully submissive to live through these trying times. When you are being unfairly persecuted by your enemies—are you able to pray as Christ did?—“Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

The transfer from the old covenant to the new one is a perfect example of what Peter is saying. We know that we no longer should try to keep the Ten Commandments in order to be saved; but the Ten Commandments are the law…and we still are expected to submit ourselves to their teachings. Take it one step further—our law may force us to remove a copy of the Ten Commandments from the school. We do not want to remove them, but Peter says we are to obey the law of the land and remove the visible copy. We do not have to erase from memory what the commandments call for us to do, and we are still obligated to keep God’s law because it is higher than our civil laws. There is a better explanation of a Christian’s relationship to government in [Romans 13: 1…].

Many Christians were being held as slaves at that time, and civil law protected the slave holder or owner and not the slave. Some slaves were fortunate and treated well by their owners and released at an agreed time. Others were less fortunate, mistreated, overworked, with poor living conditions and little food to eat. Remember, slavery was legal and even though it took away one’s personal or private rights it did not prevent one from becoming a Christian. Peter explains that since slavery is lawful, the slave should be submissive to his slave master.

This principal has not changed. If you agree to work for a man or company that is inconsiderate or harsh and the pay and benefits are less than you believe they should be you have only two choices. One, you should continue to complete every task you are asked to do and accept the compensation agreed on mutually, and you should not complain to others and bad-mouth the company. The second choice is:
You should give a proper notice of your intention to leave the job. Only after your resignation are you permitted to openly discuss your grievances. A simple rule works here—just remember, as long as you are cashing your pay-check, you are eating out of the company’s hand and you “Should never bite the hand that is feeding you.”

Look carefully at v. 16—Peter tells us that we are free men—meaning that we are free from keeping the law as a way to earn salvation. However, we are to obey the Ten Commandments, out of our gratitude for or free salvation. The commandments are still of great importance because they are an expression of God’s free will for mankind.

See verses 18 to 21—Many Christians were held as household slaves and many enjoyed a higher rate of living than non-slaves. They were treated well, their families were clothed and fed well and their general living conditions were above where they would have been on their own. It was easy for these slaves to submit to their masters because of their mutual care for each other. But Peter said that it was necessary for those who were not treated well to remain loyal and in so doing they would win some to Christ. Paul agreed with this teaching and mentioned it in—Eph. 6:5; Col. 3: 22; and Jesus concurred in Matt. 5: 46; and Luke 6: 32.

Re-read vs. 19 to 23--why do Christians have to suffer? It is commendable because it makes you conscious of God. Some is not commendable but comes as a result of one’s sins. Sometimes it results from our mistakes that are more like bad judgments and not necessarily overt sin. Some suffering is a result of having to live in a sinful world—it is explained simply in statements such as: “It rains on the just and the unjust.” You might say then—suffering comes because we live in a fallen world. The one that bothers most of us is that—some of our suffering comes as a result of our doing good. Peter reminds us that Christ is our best example of this reason for suffering…and he gives us our reason for being willing to submit to his will in our life and have faith to believe it is for good. Our goal should be to truly believe that all things do work together for good to those who love God and are called by him. We must face suffering as Christ did…submissively, willingly, calmly, with patients with complete knowledge and belief that God is in control. Believe his promise—“I will never place more on you than you are able to stand.”
Read again 20 through chapter—as we study this lesson we must let our minds drift back to the last night in the garden. Peter was there, strong and determined that his Lord was not going to die for any reason. He knew about the prayers and the sweat that was as blood as Christ suffered while he prayed. Peter was fearless, took things in hand and attacked the guard and severed his ear from his head. He saw that bloody ear fall to the ground…and he watched as Jesus restored it…the last miracle performed before his disciples. Peter swore that he would never leave or forsake Christ—but he did. Ever intent of Peter’s heart was good. He was risking his life and doing what he thought best until Christ rebuked him. It wasn’t until the rooster crowed that Peter realized that his own suffering was coming because he had been trying to do what he thought was good and right.

Peter had been with Christ close and active in his work. Peter had learned about suffering from Christ the world’s best example—and he fully understood that the suffering that Jesus bore was a part of God’s plan of salvation for all men.

Look at Matthew 16: 21- From that time on Jesus began to say plainly to his disciples, “I must go to Jerusalem and suffer much from the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the Law. I will be put to death, and on the third day I will be raised to life.” Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him. “God forbid it, Lord!” he said. “This must never happen to you!” Jesus turned around and said to Peter, “Get the behind me Satan!” [Peter] “You are a stumbling block to me—an obstacle in my way, because these thoughts of yours are the thoughts of men and not God’s thoughts.

Peter had been so up-close with Christ, always willing to talk and even argues with him and was totally devoted to the cause. After the resurrection of Christ, Peter became one of the three most dominant disciples; he witnessed the coming of the Holy Spirit, and used His power on the day of Pentecost to preach one of the greatest messages listed in the bible, and 3000 souls were saved. Christians can do no less than follow the admonition that Peter gives us in this second chapter.