I Peter 2:11-20

Living the New Life – Your Conduct

 

Scripture reading –

 

Mat. 5:16      “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

Pray

 

Intro

 

√        A new life!

 

Now that we are born again by Grace to a new life in Christ…

 

…Peter calls the Christian to action in chapter 2.

 

Thus, he begins to lay out for us what we need to know about living this new life.

 

We need a new diet (vs. 1-3)

We need to recognize that we have a new identify & purpose in life (vs. 4-10)

We need a new attitude (vs. 11-25)

 

Good stuff because the new life to which we’ve been called is opposite everything we knew from the old life!

 

Ap.     Let me just say – this is a life long process!

 

That is, when a person is saved they don’t immediately have the mind of Christ and begin manifesting His attitude in all situations in life.

 

Rather, it’s a progressive work that the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives as we cooperate with Him to strip away our old “self” and transform us into the image of Christ!

 

So, don’t beat yourself up because you recognize that you aren’t yet there, nor dismiss Peter’s instructions believing you can’t acquire this new attitude.

 

√        Last week – pilgrims

 

We began our study regarding this new attitude in life by saying that we must first have a new perspective in life…

 

…that of a pilgrim!

 

Therefore, since we are strangers in this world Peter now gives us instructions as to how we are to live (behave) in this world that we might by example demonstrate the new life within us.

 

Honorable conduct (vs. 11-12)

 

1Pet. 2:11     Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

 

1Pet. 2:12     having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

 

√        Abstain from fleshly lusts

 

Note with me Peter’s first instruction in vs. 11…

 

“abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul”

 

Peter begins with a negative, that is, a “don’t do”…

 

…don’t give in to the lusts of the flesh!

 

Why?  Because Peter tells us they war against the flesh.     

 

We must realize that the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life, are all violently opposed to the work of God’s Spirit.

 

Lusts promote selfishness; Love promotes other-centered-ness.    

 

Self is the antithesis of the nature of Jesus.

 

The instruction then is that we must actively resist the message of the world – the old life – that screams out to make “me” first.

 

Ex.     Peter’s own experience

 

In the Gospels we find him in a constant struggle with James and John for leadership and authority.  Arguing about who would be the greatest in the KOG; who would be Jesus’ right-hand man when He took the throne.

 

Peter had to be broken of self before he could be useful to Jesus as a leader in the church.

 

The point, Peter’s not speaking from a theoretical point.  Rather, he knew first hand what it was like to have his own fleshly lust rise up and war against the work of the Spirit in his life.

 

√        Honorable conduct

 

Note what I believe to be the key to understanding Peter’s instructions to those living the new life in Christ.

 

 “having your conduct honorable” – vs.12

 

“Honorable conduct” – what does it mean to have honorable conduct?

 

 Honorable  =        kal-os';

 

“beautiful, good, valuable, virtuous, better, fair, goodly, worthy.”

 

In short, honorable conduct is that behavior which brings…

 

Beauty

Good

Value

Virtue

Worth

 

…to those with whom we come in contact and the world in which we live.

 

Ex.     Jesus exemplified honorable conduct.

 

Every person with whom He ever came into contact was better for that experience.  Whether they received that benefit was dependent upon the person, but the truth is that Jesus’ conduct was always meant to bring a benefit to others.

 

Ap.     Bring that home!  How does my behavior, my conduct, in this world impact the people around me?

 

Does my conduct, my behavior bring…

 

Beauty

Good

Value

Virtue

Worth

 

…to those with whom I come in contact and the world in which I live?

 

If I’m truthful with myself I find that sometimes my life does benefit others, while other times it doesn’t!

 

That reminds me that Jesus is still at work in my life.  He is constantly refining me by pointing out those areas of my life, which do not yet bear His image, then addressing those areas by the power of His Spirit.

 

Clearly then I (we) need to keep on reading Peter’s instructions so that we might discover what this honorable conduct is which God wants to address in my life!

 

√        Note the purpose of Peter’s instructions

 

1Pet. 2:12     having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

 

Or, J.B. Phillips

 

“Your conduct among the surrounding peoples in your different countries should always be good and right, so that although they may slander you as evildoers yet when troubles come, they may glorify God when they see how well you conduct yourselves.”

 

The purpose of Peter’s instruction here was to remove any possibility of accusation against Christians by non-believers in his day.

 

Rome permitted people to practice whatever religion they desired, so long as it had been approved by Roman law.

 

Christianity had not received formal recognition from Rome, but came under the radar of Roman authorities as it was seen as a sect of Judaism.

 

Therefore, the Roman government pretty much left the Christians alone to practice their faith.

 

However, with the rapid spread of the Christian faith throughout the Roman empire came an increasing level of persecution, both from the Jewish leaders who were envious of the growth, and also from merchants who made their living selling religious trinkets.

 

Ex.     Paul accused before Felix

 

Acts 24:5      “For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

 

The point, it was becoming more frequent for Christians to be falsely accused of wrong doing by those who were opposed to the Gospel message.

 

Peter’s instructions then are meant to remind us that Christians were to be extra careful to obey the laws of the land so that if, and when, they were accused of wrong doing it would be evident after investigation that they were falsely accused.

 

Ex.     Paul before Fetus and Agrippa

 

Acts 26:31    and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”

 

Acts 26:32    Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

 

Ap.     Christians today

 

How do Peter’s instructions apply to our life today?

 

In the same way they did in Peter’s day!

 

You and I are called by God to obey the laws of the land, unless, those laws fly in the face of God’s laws.

 

Our obedience to the law is part of our witness for Christ.

 

Ex.     Mission work - Russian

 

Very important to know and honor the laws of the country in which you are working.  Countless examples of Christians on short-term missions who flaunted the laws and made it harder for those Christians still living there.

 

Honor those in authority (vs. 13-16)

 

1Pet. 2:13     Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,

 

1Pet. 2:14     or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

 

1Pet. 2:15     For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--

 

1Pet. 2:16     as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

 

√        Government

 

Peter addresses the Christians’ duty to civil authorities and instructs them to submit themselves to the authority and laws established by civil rulers.

 

Once again, note that the purpose of the instruction is to…

 

“put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” – vs. 15

 

 …or, take away their thunder!

 

Ap.     Caviler attitude

 

Some Christians have a real arrogant attitude toward civil authorities wrongly believing that as Christians they are no longer under the jurisdiction of the world.

 

Yet, we find that even Jesus obeyed the laws of His day – even paying the local taxes (Matt. 17).

 

Ex.     Christian websties that say you don’t have to pay taxes.

 

It’s not true!  We must remember that as Christians we have a duel citizenship – our first duty is to the KOG, but that doesn’t mean we can break whatever laws we don’t happen to like!

 

So, Peter instructs Christians to honor civil authorities.

 

Honor all people (vs. 17)

 

1Pet. 2:17     Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

 

√        Honor all people

 

Here Peter calls Christians to honor…

 

“all people”

 

Please note that he doesn’t say that we’re just to honor…

 

“all Christians”

 

…but, that we’re to honor all people.  Made perfectly clear by the distinction to “love the brotherhood”.

 

This is one of the hallmarks of the Christian faith.  That is, Christians are to honor all people no matter their…

 

Station in life

Ethnic origin

Religion

Gender

Color of their skin

Life style

 

God is calling us to extend to every person the respect that is due simply because they are human beings who have been created in the image of God.

 

That doesn’t mean that we agree with every person, or their religious belief, or life style choice, etc.

 

In fact, we can be adamantly opposed to what a person does, or believes.

 

Yet, we can still respect them, love them, even serve them, that we might reach them for Christ!

 

Ex.     Hudson Taylor’s approach to the people of China

 

Honor your employer (vs. 18-20)

 

1Pet. 2:18     Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.

 

1Pet. 2:19     For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

 

1Pet. 2:20     For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

 

√        Servants

 

Cultural context – 1st Century

 

Historians estimate that over half of the people living in the Roman Empire during Peter’s life were slaves.

 

Ex.     Luke the physician – a slave of Theophilus

 

The point?  To readers of Peter’s epistle in the 21st century we recoil when we read “servants” (slaves).  Yet, understand that Peter isn’t condoning the practice of slavery, rather, he’s giving practical instructions to Christians who were slaves!

 

Cultural context – 21st Century

 

The application for us is the relationship we have with our employer.

 

The instruction:

 

Give your employer the respect they deserve and give them honest days’ labor for days’ wage.

 

The purpose:

 

A clear conscience before God!  A good testimony before Man.

 

Ex.     Christian employees

 

Ought to be the hardest working, most trustworthy, and have the best attitude over any other worker.

 

Yet, unfortunately that’s seldom the case anymore.

 

Ap.     Be the very best at what you do!

 

You guys who are in the trades – be the best in NW Arkansas!

You folks who work in the schools – be the best in your district!

You who work at McDonalds – be the best in your store.

 

So that the testimony of your life is a positive reflection on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Close

 

√        Our lives as Christians should be marked by…

 

Conduct which is honorable

Respect for those in civil authority

Respect for all people

Respect for our employers

 

That the Name of Christ might be magnified in our lives and if anyone would accuse us of wrongdoing they would be ashamed for having said anything negative about us or our faith.