Submission and Suffering
1 Peter 2:13-25
Submission to Authority
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 3:8-17
Suffering for Righteousness' Sake
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
Here Peter tells us to submit ourselves to "every Human Institution". Why does he say this? What if the government is evil and does all kinds of wrong and evil things?
We should submit as Peter says, for the Lord's sake. God has given the governments their power, and they have no power unless God has granted it to them. Our highest authority is of course God, and we should obey His commands first and foremost! But we are also to honor the earthly governments as instituted by God and submit to their authority over us, unless it comes in conflict with God's Commands.
If we rebel and are punished, what gain is there in that? Nothing! But if you submit to the authorities and are punished for doing good, Peter says that we will receive a blessing!
He also goes on to say the the Lord opposes the evil. And that the Lords eyes are upon the righteous and His ears hear their prayers!
That is a really cool thought! God is opposed to the evil and He looks upon and hears the prayers of the righteous! Reminds me of Romans 8:31 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Peter also lays out for us how we should live our lives!
1. Submit to human authorities
2. Live as free people --- not using it as a cover for evil!!!
3. Honor everyone
4. Love the Brotherhood
5. Fear God
6. Honor the Emperor --- In the U.S. the President, In England the Prime Minister and so on.
7. Have Unity of Mind
8. Be sympathetic, Have Brotherly Love, have a tender Heart, and a humble mind
9. Don't repay evil with evil, rather bless and have no deceit on his lips
10. Turn from evil and do Good
11. Pursue Peace
12. Be Mindful of Christ --- especially in suffering, because Christ suffered for us!
13. Don't fear or be troubled by those who persecute you
14. Regard Christ as Holy and always be ready to defend your beliefs with gentleness
Now that seems like a lot, but God does a really awesome thing! Let these verses just speak to your heart.
Romans 8:1, 9, 31-39
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. What then shall we say to these things? You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died -- more than that, who was raised -- who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, 'For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
If we belong to Christ we cannot be separated from Him by anything in all of Creation! His Spirit is within us to guild us and help us to live our lives in a Christ like fashion. His Spirit is also working in us to change us into the likeness of Christ. These are some awesome promises! God has standards for our lives, but He also helps us by sending us His Spirit!
Thank you Jesus, Thank You!
In Christ,
Dave
Submission to Authority
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 3:8-17
Suffering for Righteousness' Sake
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
Here Peter tells us to submit ourselves to "every Human Institution". Why does he say this? What if the government is evil and does all kinds of wrong and evil things?
We should submit as Peter says, for the Lord's sake. God has given the governments their power, and they have no power unless God has granted it to them. Our highest authority is of course God, and we should obey His commands first and foremost! But we are also to honor the earthly governments as instituted by God and submit to their authority over us, unless it comes in conflict with God's Commands.
If we rebel and are punished, what gain is there in that? Nothing! But if you submit to the authorities and are punished for doing good, Peter says that we will receive a blessing!
He also goes on to say the the Lord opposes the evil. And that the Lords eyes are upon the righteous and His ears hear their prayers!
That is a really cool thought! God is opposed to the evil and He looks upon and hears the prayers of the righteous! Reminds me of Romans 8:31 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Peter also lays out for us how we should live our lives!
1. Submit to human authorities
2. Live as free people --- not using it as a cover for evil!!!
3. Honor everyone
4. Love the Brotherhood
5. Fear God
6. Honor the Emperor --- In the U.S. the President, In England the Prime Minister and so on.
7. Have Unity of Mind
8. Be sympathetic, Have Brotherly Love, have a tender Heart, and a humble mind
9. Don't repay evil with evil, rather bless and have no deceit on his lips
10. Turn from evil and do Good
11. Pursue Peace
12. Be Mindful of Christ --- especially in suffering, because Christ suffered for us!
13. Don't fear or be troubled by those who persecute you
14. Regard Christ as Holy and always be ready to defend your beliefs with gentleness
Now that seems like a lot, but God does a really awesome thing! Let these verses just speak to your heart.
Romans 8:1, 9, 31-39
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. What then shall we say to these things? You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died -- more than that, who was raised -- who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, 'For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
If we belong to Christ we cannot be separated from Him by anything in all of Creation! His Spirit is within us to guild us and help us to live our lives in a Christ like fashion. His Spirit is also working in us to change us into the likeness of Christ. These are some awesome promises! God has standards for our lives, but He also helps us by sending us His Spirit!
Thank you Jesus, Thank You!
In Christ,
Dave
posted by Mark 1:17 at 6:17 AM
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