I Peter 2:13-17

The soap opera "Another world" is where most of Christians want to live. But God wants us to live in the real world and be real people, thus he addresses how to be "Real People living in a real world." We are citizens of another world, but we live in this world. And this world is ungodly and evil.

We are so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly good. – some say – but that is totally foreign to the Word of God.

Peter begins by addressing how to live as citizens and how to react to the government.

Yet we are tempted today to check out or request mentally that the Pastor preach something more relevant to us. Why? I think of two reasons

What I mean by that is – we want to know if this Scripture will meet an immediate need I have? Answer a question I am asking? Do something to stir me today to live for God?

We place conditional requirements on what we want to hear God say.

We forget that the Scriptures are written in context and just because they may not be our context at the moment does not mean the Scripture are irrelevant. We live in our context and not the Biblical context.

On this day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, we need to be reminded that this passage of Scripture before us may have more relevance than those living in America.

And Peter immediately begins with saying, "Submit yourselves." What does Peter say about this submission? What does this passage say to us?

When you are determining whether you will obey a command, you immediately question the source of the command.

He is our Captain who can tell us where to go and when to come.

Settle it once and for all.

God is a God of all. He has placed the government, family and the church in our lives.

There are three motivating factors to be submissive:

Matthew 22: 16-21 "And they sent^* their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. ¹⁷"Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?" ¹⁸But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? ¹⁹"Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax." And they brought Him a denarius. ²⁰And He said^* to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" ²¹They said^* to Him, "Caesar’s." Then He said^* to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s."

Romans 13: 1-7 "Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. ²So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. ³For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who do wrong. So do what they say, and you will get along well. ⁴The authorities are sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for you will be punished. The authorities are established by God for that very purpose, to punish those who do wrong. ⁵So you must obey the government for two reasons: to keep from being punished and to keep a clear conscience. ⁶Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid so they can keep on doing the work God intended them to do. ⁷Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and import duties, and give respect and honor to all to whom it is due.

To muzzle those who are ignorant – those without knowledge. Titus 3: 1-5 "Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, ²to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. ³For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. ⁴But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, ⁵He saved us,

Use your freedom to go back and serve.

The same word "honor" is used for both. All men are worthy of respect. We are all equal.

Love through self sacrifice

But the governments that are wise will not cause Christians to make a choice because persons who are citizens of the kingdom of heaven make better citizens of this world.