Practical instructions for living out the Christian life

Sermon notes from Sunday 27 October 2019

1 Peter chapter 2 – Mr Callum Webster, Christian Institute

Here in 1 Peter 2 there are a number of practical instructions for living out the Christian life.  The rationale behind living in this way is to see growth in the Christian life.  Verses 4 to 9 show the high calling that Christian believers are moving towards and being prepared for.  Individual Christian believers are pictured as stones being built together into a spiritual house, into the temple of God.  The Lord is described as the cornerstone or capstone.  The cornerstone is the first stone set in place in the foundation of a building.  All the other stones are set in place in reference to the cornerstone.  With Christ as our cornerstone all Christian believers are built in relation to him, the church of Christ.  Christians are described as “a chosen generation” or people group who God has favoured through his mercy.  They are also described as “a royal priesthood”.  They have access to God because their sins are forgiven through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Christians are described as “a holy nation, a peculiar people”, in other words living for the honour of their heavenly king, set apart, chosen by God to bring honour to their Saviour.  When you think of those pictures this is indeed a royal calling.  That person has a really high status, indeed not seen as much in the eyes of the world but have a very high and royal calling.  That standing is true for believers in this life but will be more fully realised in the life to come in eternity, our ultimate home which is heaven.  Why do Christians have this glorious future ahead?  It is not because we have earned it or initiated it or deserved it – verses 9 and 10 – God has called us out of the darkness into his glorious light.  We have obtained mercy through the Lord our Saviour.  The difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is not that one is a sinner and the other is not.  The bible is clear – “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  The difference between a Christian and a non-believer is that one has obtained mercy and experienced forgiveness through Jesus but the non-believer is still a sinner and must still face the punishment of God.  This passage also presents an earthly calling.  Some Christians might easily assume if they are prepared for heaven they do not need to worry about the things of this world.  1 Peter shows we have a role to play.  Being a royal priesthood, a holy nation has significance for the here and now.  Peter goes on to explain to us in the rest of the chapter how we can relate to this world.

Verse 11 Christians are not to exit from this world at the time of conversion but are rather to go through life as “strangers, pilgrims.”  We are to engage in life and how to behave in front of Gentiles.  Verse 12 refers to all the citizens of this world who do not have a saving faith in Christ.  Do you know Christ as Saviour?  Have you had your sins forgiven?  Then you have obtained mercy.  The bible describes you as an unbeliever.  In the Old Testament the people of God were exiled into a pagan world, Babylon.  They were instructed to “seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives and pray unto the Lord for it; for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.” (Jeremiah 29 verse 7)  Christians are to abstain from sinful passions and lusts (verse 1).  Nowhere does it call on Christians to abstain from life in this world but rather asks us to live our lives in front of the unbelievers so that when they speak against us as evil doers they may glorify God by our good works (verse 12).  We are citizens of heaven, we are prepared for eternity but we are also citizens of an earthly kingdom we are living in at present.  1 Peter 2 explains some of the practicalities as citizens in this world. 

We are to interact with government authorities, neighbours and fellow citizens (verse 14 to 17).  Think of how we interact with government authorities.  There is a real ignorance of the word of God among those in government authority.  Christian believers must submit, be subject to and obey government authority in their own nations.  That submission applies at every government authority.  The role of the government authority is to punish evildoers (verse 14).  It is not our place to go on a particular vengeance against an offender in society but rather to be law abiding – why – “for the Lord’s sake” (verse 13).  In verse 15 we read “for so is the will of God”.  Honour is brought to the Lord when Christians are law aiding members of society.  1 Peter was written as a letter to Christians scattered abroad in the Roman empire.  They were being persecuted by the Roman authority yet they had to act in an appropriate manner.  In Romans 13 verse 1 we read “For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God.”  The civil ruler is described as ministers of God.  The Emperor Nero was set in place at God’s consent even though he didn`t acknowledge God and persecuted Christian believers.  Sometimes we think we should not engage with political representatives.  Cyrus of Persia was a pagan king who did not engage with the God of the bible but he was used by God to release the captives of Israel in Babylon back to their own land and helped in rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem once again.  God can turn the heart of a ruler, judge, politician.  That should encourage us as Christians, that God would turn the hearts of our politicians.  We must pray that God will move their hearts.  1 Peter 2 not only teaches obedience to governments but verse 17 tells us to honour the earthly king.  Christians should show respect to those holding office as monarchs.  Christians must pay their taxes as responsible citizens in society – “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mark 12 verse 17)  If as Christians we are to love our neighbours who deserve the best from our nation we cannot sit silent when laws are introduced that would be detrimental to us and those around us.  In the 17^th Century John Bunyan refused orders from the government of the day to stop preaching.  As a result he was imprisoned for many years.  He said “where I cannot obey my rulers actively then I am willing to lie down and suffer what they do to me.”  In verse 18 we are also encouraged to obey employers as part of our witness.  We are to display a diligent work ethic.  We are also to love our neighbours too (verse 17).  We are to show respect to everyone in society even our enemies.  Galatians 6 states “do good unto all men” (verse 10).  We have an obligation to be kind and respectful to everyone.  The Lord commands us to “love your enemies, bless them who curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matthew 5 verse 44)  As far as Christians can they must strive to live peacefully with everyone.

Finally we are given the example of Christ himself.  There are occasions when we submit to government authorities, to employers, and are honouring fellow citizens but it may be difficult.  In the course of obedience to these duties we might suffer injustice and unfair treatment but Peter does not gloss over it.  Concerns are put into perspective – verse 20 shows God’s approval when we suffer for doing good.  When a Christian suffers injustice he should follow the extreme example of the Lord himself.  Verse 21 states that this is our calling in following the Lord Jesus our heavenly master.  Sometimes people will face persecution and situations of injustice.  Verse 23 guides us to how to react in some situations.  As Christians we have a royal and heavenly calling but we have a temporary citizenship in this world.  This path of obedience must result in situations of injustice.  Verse 24 presents us with what the gospel is.  You and I because of our sinful natures and practices deserve to face the penalty of God for all our sin.  If you are a Christian there is no more punishment to face because he took it all on his own body on Calvary’s tree.  He suffered the just for the unjust.  If you are not a Christian God’s wrath is still on you.  You will still have to face punishment for your sins.  The difference between a Christian and an unbeliever is that Christ has borne the punishment of our sin.  “By his stripes we are healed.”  Dead to sin and living to righteousness.