Abide in Obedience

This morning we are going to be in 1 Peter chapter 2. Verses 13 through 25. First Peter chapter two, verses thirteen through twenty-five.

Now, if you're wondering why we're starting in the middle of 1 Peter, that's a great question. The answer is that we have been going through 1, and we're going through 1 and 2 Peter in our evening services.

So you're getting a little taste of the evening sermon series, and I would encourage you to consider coming in the evening to keep up with where we're at. We'll be looking at 1 Peter 3:1 through 7 next week, and I promise you, it's a. It's an interesting text, we'll just say that. Before we get started this morning, I also want to remind you that Today is Palm Sunday.

Next Sunday is Easter, in case you haven't marked it on your calendars. Out in the foyer over there, there are some tracks. One that says the meaning of Easter, and one says morning has come. I want to encourage you to take one of these with you when you go. In the event that the Lord puts somebody in your path this week, providentially.

That you can invite to the service, or even just to be able to share the good news of the gospel. Easter is one of those times when many people. are softened. There are many people who will come to church because it's something that they just need to do on Easter. And that is the time that the Holy Spirit gives us an opportunity.

To reach them with the gospel.

So, I want you to pray this week that the Lord would put someone in your path. That's difficult prayer number one. Uh and prayer number two. That you would be able to speak. The gospel truth to them.

Difficult prayer number two. And yet the Lord is sovereign and does amazing things. Before we read from God's holy and inerrant word, let's ask him to bless it this morning. Oh Lord, you are indeed God. You have the words of eternal life.

To whom shall we go? And yet you call us. to do the work of an evangelist. You call us to bring the good news not just to our families, but to those people out there who are in need of it. I pray that your truth would be buried deep in us, that we would find a true obedience to your word and to your calling.

And I pray that you would be with me, sinner, as I seek to proclaim these truths to your people. We pray all this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. 1 Peter chapter 2, verses 13 to 25. Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution.

whether it be to the Emperor as supreme, or two 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 It's 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.

This is the word of the Lord. Amen. Now, growing up, I had a chronic problem that many American teenagers are plagued with. I had problems with authority. I'm sure no high school student in this room ever struggled with problems of authority.

I was chuckling. I'm sure you never struggled with problems with authority in your life.

Now, while there were societal pressures and environmental factors, sure. These things could contribute to a high schooler having problems with authority. But first and foremost, it is because of my sinful desire to spurn God's commandments that I had a problem with authority. The fifth commandment specifically. We just read these, but I'm going to read them again.

64 and 65. What is required in the Fifth Commandment? The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor and performing the duties belonging to everyone in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.

Now you might be thinking to yourself I thought the fifth commandment was honor your father and your mother. This is why we have the Westminster Shorter Catechism to help us understand what is going on in these commandments. 65. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment? The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of or doing anything against the honor and duty.

which belongeth to every one in their several places and relations.

Now, when we read the fifth commandment, we can obviously see that it relates to fathers and mothers, sure, physical parents. But rather it truly affects all spheres of our life. This is what makes our lives so difficult. We have this innate desire to do what we want to do rather than what God wants us to do. That's right.

Ultimately Breaking the fifth commandment happens not only when we refuse to submit to our parents. And the authorities over us, but also when we refuse to submit. To go on.

Now here's the essential truth, friends. You will never be at the top of the authority structure. There's always a bigger fish. There's always someone who's going to be an authority over you.

Now, some authorities are good, yes.

Some authorities are not so good.

Some authorities are godly.

Some are worldly.

However, What the confessions is framing for us is that they are nonetheless God-ordained. Which is why Peter's letter is so pertinent for Christians in every age of the world.

Now the theme of our text this morning is that we are called to endure suffering.

So that we can be a better testimony. of God's grace.

So the theme of suffering is paramount in Peter's letter. Because as Christians We are in a land that is not our home. We have been put here to do the work of the Lord. We're not here to gain wealth or fame or status. We are here to point people to a holy God.

And we're going to see this theme played out in three areas of our text. We're going to see submit with purpose. Suffer with grace. and conform to Christ. Submit with purpose.

Suffer with grace, conform to Christ. See, Peter reminds us that our suffering is not done in vain, thus, we should do it. in an honorable way. conforming to the pattern of suffering that Christ Set forth.

Now as we move into our text, right, we begin that first section. It is clear we're dealing with some interesting themes. We need to keep our minds centered on the fact that our true citizenship. is in heaven. Not here.

When we read over those Westminster Confession of Faith questions and answers that we just had. There may have been part of you that prickled a little bit. It's okay. You see. We can't be from here.

If we are considered elect exiles, as Peter calls us. Exiles are people who are forced to live in another land that is not their home. You can't be an exile if this is your home.

So the question remains. Would you rather live here? or with your God. I hope your answer isn't that you'd rather live here. If the answer is that you would rather live with your God, then it's true this place is not your home.

Like travelers going to a foreign country need to know the laws, what's allowed, what's not allowed when you go there.

So too, we need to understand how to act in this life.

so that we may bring glory and honor to our God. Look at verses 13 and 14. 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.

Now, if you bristled at the confession questions and answers, that verse alone might make you bristle as well. And it's because we don't really like government. And that's okay. Peter is focusing on the duties of Christians to those outside our religious community because. We live in another community called the world, right?

We live here. We are in the world, not of the world. But we should understand, we blow out what Peter's saying here, he's not just talking about government. We can know this because if you look at your ESV, there's a footnote there. Peter means basically All humans.

Show respect and honour for all humans. Why? Why would we do that? Because all humans are image bearers. And we don't believe that only the Christian life is worth saving.

No, all lives are worth saving. Whether it's the emperor or king Or even the governors over us. Peter elaborates on verse 13 with verse 14. Those in authority over us have power over us. They have the ability to punish those who break the law.

and reward those who obey the law. But For us, in our context today, we know that there is no real reward for following the law. other than you are not punished for breaking it. Right, think back to all your years on this earth. You've never received a check from the local police station for keeping the speed limit.

And if you did, please tell me where you live, because I'd like to go live there. But then, how do we apply this? How do we apply what Peter is saying? Look at verse 15. For this is the will of God.

that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish People. By following the laws, by paying your taxes, as hard as that is, right? By being above reproach. There's no accusation the government can hang on you. Provided the government follows its own laws.

Right? provided the government follows its own laws. Peter is saying, That in your aim to serve God, do be careful to not needlessly offend the civil authorities near us. and over us. In doing good, the only thing others can do to you is slander you.

If you follow the laws honorably, then the civil authorities can only slander you.

Now while slandering is bad for you and bad for me, Peter tells us that it is a badge of honor. Peter is confident that our good works and obedience in the face of suffering will be a badge of honor. to the covenant community. But more importantly, it will be a badge of honor. given to us by our God.

You see, our submission is not passive. Our submission is intentional, and it is to be grounded in the transformational grace of Jesus Christ.

So live as people who are free. Not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil. but living as servants of God. Submission is not weakness. Your submission is an active choice.

However, What does Peter mean here by using your freedom as a cover-up For evil. See, there's a danger in assuming that one is truly free. In the context of what Peter is writing, he's saying this to his original readers: that even though you are not living as a pagan, like you once were. Or even though you are not living as a Roman like you may have been, Don't pretend that you can neglect your national duties. or even your household duties.

You see, verse 16 is really an allusion to what Peter will begin in the next section. Right? The first half of chapter three. For his original readers, he's alluding to the fact that we all have authorities over us. As regards the end of chapter 2, he's going to get into the servants who have masters over them.

Most likely non-Christians. As regards chapter 3, wives have husbands over them, most likely non-Christians. Let's not spoil the the fun of chapter three just yet. We'll get to that next week, our evening service. If you want to see what I'm going to say about that, you need to come.

But then, how do we apply what Peter is saying to his original readers to us today? It's clearly a very different life, right? No, it means the same thing. See, remember the text cannot mean something different to us that it didn't mean to the original readers. What is Peter saying?

Don't act like your freedom in Christ gives you liberty to live outside the laws of the place you live. Don't do things that will bring needless suffering. to the Christian community. Peter continues, Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood.

Fear God. Honor the Emperor. Notice the bookends there. Honor everyone. It doesn't say honor Christians.

What does it say? Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Yes, we like that one. We really like that one.

Fear God. Oh, we love that one. Honor the Emperor. Oh. We don't like that one as much, do we?

No, Peter is saying, and all you say and all you do, remember you suffer with a purpose. Your submission is done purposefully.

So that God would be honored by the way you honor. Everyone else.

Now don't hear. What Peter isn't saying. There is a time and a place when Christians do not follow the government. That is when the government tells you to stop worshiping your holy God. If our government were to forsake its own laws and decree that Christians cannot worship their God, then the suffering that follows, friends, would not be needless.

It would be suffering. But it would not be needless. There is a difference in bringing needless suffering on the church because of your foolish choices. Versus the needed suffering for Christ. Due to persecution.

For we bring glory to our God. when we are obedient to the authorities over us. But we bring even more glory to our God if we were to suffer for the gospel. Peter reminds us, friends, that suffering will come. There is no way to get around it.

But he tells us to avoid the suffering that we can. And for the suffering that can't be avoided. Because of your obligations to God. Then suffer with grace. Suffer as ones who remember how our Lord suffered.

When we endure suffering for the gospel, we can be a light and a witness to others. When we suffer with grace and honor. We bring glory. You are gone.

Now, as we begin this section, Peter is going to address house slaves.

However, As you might have guessed, his words are applicable to us too. Verse 18. Servants. Be subject to your masters with all respect. not only to the good and gentle, but also to the unjust.

I don't really like that. It's easy to honor those who are good. Those who do right. But we're supposed to honor those who do unjust things? Peter is saying, Don't just do good for those who are good, but do good even to the unjust.

This is Peter's version of Christ, love your enemies. Another way to translate with all respect in our text would be to say. with a deep reverence. And we don't use the word reverence as often as we should. It was in the song we just sang prior to the sermon, right?

A reverence for God. That's an important thing. But we don't treat things and others with reverence like we should. I'd rather it's so easy for us to approach things flippantly. I remember back to a time when I was given my first opportunity to preach a sermon to an actual church.

Prior to this, I had just been preaching to empty pews. It was toward the end of 2017. Covenant Hammond PCA. I remember the pastor, Jim Thompson. Uh he he asked me to come.

He was going on vacation to this very small Faithful church. And I told him it was my first time and how thankful I was to have for the opportunity.

Now Jim Thompson is a A wonderful pastor who is actually retired. He's actually moved down to North Carolina, so I'm excited to hopefully connect with him. But He taught me many things. And one of the chief things he taught me was about reverence. He always talked about how we need to be reverent when it comes to the things of our God, especially as regards the pulpit.

You see, one does not step into a pulpit flippantly. One should not take lightly the privilege it is to expound the Holy Word of God. He told me pastors must have a deep reverence for the word. A diligence to study it. and the courage to proclaim it.

See, Peter uses the same word, this reverence, to describe how we are to compose ourselves. In the same way one should approach the proclamation of the word. Deep Reverence. Servants, be subject to your masters as if you are serving the Lord your God. Servants, have a deep reverence for your masters and your work.

Why? 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 gone. If we submit and suffer because we aim to honor the Lord, then those aims are honorable.

Now, you may be thinking to yourself, but what does this all have to do with the Christian life? Who is Peter writing to? Peter is writing to elect exiles, Christians, in the midst of an unbelieving world. Oh right, that unbelieving world that also was persecuting them. for not offering a a pinch of spice to the emperor.

Peter's not saying offer sacrifices to the emperor. No, no, no, he's not saying that. He's saying that The government is telling you to pay a tax, you pay the tax. If the government is telling you that you have to do X, do X. If the government tells you that you must not worship your God, Don't follow them.

Worship your God above all else.

However, in everything else, Follow those authorities with honour. Because when you do so, you honor God.

Now RC Sproll Wrote a book about suffering. in which he tells his readers that suffering is actually our vocation as Christians. That puts the nail in the health and wealth gospel pretty quickly. Our vocation is our calling. Our calling in this life is to suffer.

For the king of glory. And to do so. in an honorable way. But see, it is true, right? Peter is writing to people living at time.

that they were the outcasts for not being pagans. They were the outcasts for not following the emperor cult.

So then we should understand, friends. It is such a blessing to live in a place that there are some laws that protect our speech. That we live under a government that generally sees the benefit religion brings. to the overall well-being of the country. We should see it as a great blessing that I can stand up here and say: if the government tells you not to worship, don't follow the government.

You say that in other countries. I'm not going to be here next week. We have it so good. And yet, we squander this precious gift of the gospel. We have the ability to proclaim the excellencies of our God.

And yet, it's so much easier to keep our mouths shut. When it comes to the things of the gospel. We'll gladly open our mouths when it comes to saying a lot of foolish things, but we won't. all too often close our mouths when it comes to proclaiming the excellencies of our God. outside of these walls.

while our suffering in this life especially in this country, may not actually be at the hands of other people. Like the the original heroes of Peter's letter. we do see suffering in our everyday life. Suffering is not just persecution. Small things, big things.

But how we suffer matters. Suffering in this life can indeed be painful. It can be debilitating. But if we were to go back to God's word and wonder, where do we see a good emblem of suffering? Look no further than Job.

How too often we forget this story of Job. If we were honest with ourselves, we would say that reading the story of Job makes us uncomfortable. Why? The man lost everything. Not because of his sin.

Not because of his foolish choices. Why did he lose everything? Because God ordained it. Oh boy. That's scary.

Right, when you do something wrong and you deserve to be punished, right, you have it coming. Job didn't have it coming. Other than God wanted to prove his glory. through his servant Job. You see, our suffering And this life has a purpose.

Job's life and his body were afflicted for the glory of God. Our suffering in this life. is meant to make us more like Christ. and less like this world. Our suffering is meant to refine us and and mold us.

It's meant to take away the impurities and polish us until we shine. Thus, we must figure out how to conform to Christ. How to be molded more like Christ. Because he is our example. As we move into our final section, look at verse 21.

For to this you have been called. Because Christ also suffered for you. Leaving you an example.

so that you might follow in his footsteps. Our calling, our vocation is to follow after Christ. Follow after his example. But you might say, okay, well, what does Christ actually say about this? It's Peter.

What does Christ say? Luke 9, verse 23. And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. I think Jesus means what he says. It's funny.

This is Luke 9. He's talking about taking up his cross and following daily. When we're going to go fast forward to chapter 23. Jesus is physically carrying his cross, his burden, his instrument of torture. And he is dragging it along the road under his body being crushed under its weight.

And yet, we have the audacity to think that it's possible there's a health and wealth gospel? There's no health and wealth gospel for Jesus as he was carrying the instrument that he'd be killed with. The week prior, marching into chants and cries of Hosanna. Fast forward seven days. And he's now marching and being dragged to the chance of crucify him.

I think Jesus means what he says. To bear the name Christian means suffering in one way or another.

Now, while this portion of the text seems a bit doom and gloom, Peter reminds us that this is the way it's supposed to be. Testing and trials is for our good. For this is what we've been called to. This is a good thing. Those who are loved by the Lord are refined by the Lord.

But friends, refining and purifying can only be done through heat trials. But here's the truth. Christ underwent crucifixion, which is not only a most horrible death, but he also suffered the hell on the cross. Christ suffered the eternal weight of God's wrath. And he did so willingly and honorably.

It's because Christ died for us that we can be reconciled back to our God. And we can know that Christ left us an example.

Now this benefits us in two ways. Right first. Our suffering Commit this to memory. Our suffering will never be as much as Christ's suffering. To God be the glory.

And second. Commit this to memory. Our suffering has an end date. Christ set forth the example that through suffering, God the Father is glorified. And when we suffer by doing battle with the enemy or enduring sickness or hardship.

Our God. is glorified. Verses 22 and 23. This is Jesus. 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 in trusting himself to him who judges justly. See, our theme this morning is that we are called to endure suffering so that we can be a better testimony of God's grace.

Typically don't want to spend a ton of time talking about how we need to serve the government. But that's what Peter tells us to do, and it's God's holy and inerrant word, so that's what I'm going to tell you to do. But the greater picture here is about suffering. The greater picture here is about how we suffer for God. We should understand this theme in the light of Christ's work on the cross.

For in his death throes. Christ begged forgiveness for the ones jeering at him and mocking. Hmm. Christ's suffering and death put forth a perfect testimony of God's grace. Not because Jesus was given grace on the cross, no, but because the wrath that was aimed for us was blocked by Christ.

He stood in the gap. He took the pain and the torment and the hell. For 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. He became sin, one who knew no sin. See, we find healing in the suffering of Christ, not body healing, but soul healing. In an odd way. Christ suffered.

so that we could suffer. Because of Christ's conformity to the Father's will, we too can be conformed to Christ. It's only because of Christ's work that we can be reconciled back to God. As Peter ends. this section of his text.

As lost sheep. We are now able to find the Father again. Returning to him as the shepherd. an overseer of our souls. You see, in this section of Peter's letter, Peter charges us to suffer well.

In all that you say and do, aim to glorify God. In all the pains and sorrows of this life, live like people who have hope. But we do have hope. We do not mourn or suffer like ones who have no hope. We mourn and suffer as ones.

who have eternal hope.

So suffer well. Aim to glorify God through your aches, your pains, your sickness. and even the derision of the world and the enemy. Friends. It is true at this time in our life We are not persecuted for the gospel.

We live in a place where the gospel can be proclaimed and we have some legal protections to do it. That kind of suffering will come at some point.

However, in this day, our suffering is usually more bodily. Pains. Sickness. Cancer. Afflictions.

But we need to glorify God through those things. We need to glorify God through our chronic illnesses. And we know from Christ's example that we will never. ever suffer. Like he did.

For his suffering secured our inheritance. and our ability to suffer. before our God. Friends, it is true our God, even in the midst of suffering, will hold us fast. He gives us the power to hold fast to the shield of faith.

Now, this will be brought fresh to our memory this coming Thursday as we approach the table. Not because of some magic in the bread or the cup. But because of the real presence of Christ in the meal. The Holy Supper is a regular reminder that we can hold fast to our shield of faith. and be nourished for the battles that lie ahead.

Suffering will come if it has not already. Jobs will be lost. Sickness will be made manifest. But our God stands in control over everything. He is over it all.

He is above it all.

So let's stand firm in the true faith. And abide in obedience to your God. and all the authorities he's put over us, for this is our calling. Friends, this is our calling. To glorify God now.

So that one day We will enjoy him. Forever. Amen? Amen. Let's pray.

Father, we thank you. that you call us to endure the suffering of this life. We know that our bodies ache. We know that we have pains. We know that there is sickness in our community.

But we also know that these things will pass. That joy will come with the morning that just as the Easter morning, that the tomb was rolled, the stone was rolled away from the tomb. And Jesus was not found there.

So too the gray ray curtain of this world will be rolled back and we will see a great green country. The world that you have created, the new heavens and the new earth. But that's not it. That's not the end. For a day will come when that new heavens and new earth will come down.

In the everlasting days of the king. We'll begin. And they will go on for all eternity. Like a book. in which each chapter is greater.

Than the last. Lord, we love you. We pray that you would help us to suffer well, that you would give us a courage to not only proclaim the gospel. But to trust you and obey you as you have called us to do. We pray all this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen. Okay.