Free in Hope

Last week we took a break and let the world settle a bit—and perhaps it has, as thoughts shift to summer. Peter’s words apply in every season, and it’s interesting to observe how the ideas in chapter 2 build on one another. We read about our role as priests, people who sacrifice to God with our praise, our lives, and showing His mercy to others. If this feels foreign to us, it’s because we live here on Earth as aliens, citizens of our heavenly home. We live here on Earth as strangers to bring people to God.

As we endeavor to walk with God, we ask His help “to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11). Only with God can we live a good life, on display as a “model” citizen here on earth. Peter then described one aspect of how this looks in practical terms.

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right” (1 Peter 2:13-14).

• Even though we are citizens of heaven, God has placed us under the authority of earthly government.
• This authority is created, or given by God, in the same way a city is founded by specific people.¹
• We do not submit solely by our own ability, but through the might and power our Lord God and master makes available to us.²
• We do not have to do this on our own, but we do have to be willing to obey God’s command.
• “Emperor” and “governors” apply to leaders and rulers in government, those who are superior in rank to others.
• They are God’s agents to punish wrong with an eye toward justice.³
• We do right when we carry out good and virtuous acts of well-doing.
• The words Peter used in verse 14 have broader meanings: wrong encompasses morality and “right” also applies to the character of a person.⁴
• Perhaps this offers a glimpse of our hope for the future—how those in leadership and those under their authority will live when our “citizenship in heaven” becomes reality.

*How can we live as citizens of heaven and obey earthly governmental authority at the same time?

*How can we have hope while living in our current society?

 “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people” (1 Peter 2:15).

• Making the world a better place begins with us.
• This verse is about action.
• As we do good to others, living out God’s mercy and benevolence, we literally muzzle those who are ignorant of the gospel.⁵
• They show their moral defects and willful ignorance and blindness in regard to the gospel by their speech.
• In response, godly actions speak the truth of the gospel message.

James said it this way,

“You see that his [Abraham’s] faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did…. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone” (James 2:22, 24).

*Why is it important to do good and live a life of mercy and benevolence?

*How and why do our good deeds silence “the ignorant talk of foolish people”?

 What is our reward and hope now?

God’s Word encourages us to live as free people.

“Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves” (1 Peter 2:16).

Jeremiah described the covenant God made with His people that makes this possible.

“I will put my law in their minds

and write it on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33).

• God’s spiritual law—written on our hearts—exempts us from “religious obligations” of this world.⁶
• We are free from the yoke of religious regulations and legal restrictions.⁷
• Peter cautioned us not to use our freedom to cover up moral evil or “wickedness of heart, life, and character.”⁸
• Rather, live as God’s slaves, allowing our will to be completely guided and encompassed by His.

*What is the law that God has written on our hearts?

*What does this new covenant mean for us in our daily lives?

*What does it mean to live as God’s slave?

Peter concluded with more than a summary.

“Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:17).

• Show respect and honor others.
• Find joy and delight in fellow believers.
• Practice sacrificial love as well as friendly, affectionate love for others.
• Stand in awe and show reverence to the one true God.
• Honor leaders and rulers in authority over you. –which will lead into Peter’s next section.

*How can following these guidelines give us hope in the here and now?

*Which of the above guidelines is God leading you to practice this week?

 

1. Spiros Zodhiates Th.D., The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament (Chattanooga, Tennessee: AMG Publishers, 1992), 897.
   2. Zodhiates, 900.
2. Zodhiates, 538, 1137.
3. Zodhiates, 62, 809.
4. Zodhiates 61, 74, 1448.
5. Zodhiates, 567.
6. Zodhiates, 565.
7. Zodhiates, 807.