Indeed… how SHOULD we then live? Peter calls us aliens… in other words we are not citizens of this world. We are citizens of the Kingdom of God. As such we should let the culture of the kingdom we are FROM dictate what we say and do, and not let the kingdom of the enemy of our soul dictate what we say and do.

Video link here:

1 Peter 2:9-24…How should we then live?

Audio links to the right – Spotify and Apple…

Transcript of today’s podcast here:

2:9-20 Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

Summary of v1-8:

Don’t participate in “… malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander… (v1)”, rather crave God’s Word and relationship with God. The world WILL disobey the Gospel message… (continue this thought with verse 9).

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, 

Chosen for what?

that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 

This is the “Why”

10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

This is the “How”

11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 

We are ambassadors, representing the culture of our home nation – i.e. God’s Kingdom. Peter is urging us to not immerse ourselves in this world’s culture, but to maintain our own identity and culture of our true nation and home. How? So glad you asked.

12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Living exceptionally good lives demonstrates WHOSE we are and the Kingdom we are from. This is how we represent our King and His Kingdom.

The meaning of “on the day he visits us” is problematic. Does Peter mean “on the return of the Lord” or “on God’s gracious visitation of salvation that may come to the non-Christian?” In favor of the latter is the word “see”, which suggests that the pagans will continuously observe the daily good works and perhaps God will grant them repentance unto life, as they cannot deny God’s works.

Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament Copyright 2004.

This what THAT looks like.

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

This is the litmus test to tell whether or not you truly believe in the sovereignty of God. If you believe in God’s sovereignty, then you HAVE to believe that those who rule are there by God’s fiat, however they govern. This doesn’t mean (especially here in the United States) that you don’t vote or even have an opinion on this candidate or that candidate. This DOES mean that you accept that God is sovereign, no matter WHO wins the election. And we, as believers, are called to live, remembering, that we are citizens of Heaven firstly, and as such are required to let our “host nation” rule themselves as they see fit. If you believe that anything can happen that is outside of God’s sovereignty, then God, by virtue of that can NOT be Sovereign… and in fact can NOT be God. As a result of this – submit to every human authority, because a sovereign God put them there.

WHY do we submit (v13)? WHY are we called to live good lives among the pagans (v12)?

15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 

ἀγνωσία agnōsia, n. [2] [√ 1.1 + 1182]. ignorance, with a focus on talk or action that opposes God:

κακία kakia, n. [11] [√ 2805]. evil, wickedness, depravity, malice;

I would re-phrase v15 as follows:

“…it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence those who are actively opposing God (and by extension you, as His ambassador), expressing their malice with their words and actions.”

In other words… do not stop loving God and loving your neighbor.

16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.

Paul said in his letter to the Corinthian Church:

1 Corinthians 10:23

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.

Summary

17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

Keeping with the current line of reasoning, Peter talks to slaves. But this could equally apply to ALL of us. 

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 

Do the right thing, and accept the consequences. A pastor I know once told me “It’s never right to do the wrong thing. And it’s never wrong to do the right thing – no matter the cost.”

It is difficult for twentieth-century Christians to understand the slavery of the ancient world. During the time of the NT writings, slavery was not as bad as that practiced in America before the Civil War. Ancient slaves had fairly normal marital lives. Often people sold themselves into slavery (for a period of time) as a way to get ahead in the world. Nevertheless the lot of a slave could be very hard if the master was unkind. Here “slaves” means “house-servants”—i.e., domestic slaves. Their Christian duty was submission and loyalty to their master, even if he was harsh.

Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament Copyright 2004.

2:21-25 The Example of Jesus

21 To this (doing good – see above comment) you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

22 “He committed no sin,
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[e]

23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 

“It’s never right to do the wrong thing. And it’s never wrong to do the right thing – no matter the cost.”

24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; 

“It’s never right to do the wrong thing. And it’s never wrong to do the right thing – no matter the cost.”

“by his wounds you have been healed.” 

We were wounded sheep, and now we are under the care of a loving Shepherd Who heals us. We are now made capable to do the right things, because He suffered for doing the right thing.

Paul said the same thing…. albeit with more detail… in Romans 6:16-23:

16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.

Before we were not capable of obeying God. Jesus said in John 8:

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 

Now we are. So Peter says in v24:

24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; 

Paul, Peter. and Jesus are fully in synch with each other.

We were straying sheep, and now we are returned into the care of a loving Shepherd Who heals us, and are now fully capable of living righteous lives, glorifying God by what we say and how we act.

In His Grip,