Exiles – Week 5 (10-9-22)
Exiles
Principles of Relationship
October 9, 2022
1 Peter 2:11-12
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 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.
Jesus words in the Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5: 14-16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Problem: What do you do when you find yourself in relationships with people who are not following Jesus?
3 Spheres
- Authorities & Government
- Slaves/ Master
- Husband/ Wife
ONE: Submission
1 Peter 2:13-14
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.
1 Peter 2:18
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.
1 Peter 3:1-2
Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
ὑποτάσσω – hypotasso (to be subject to or subordinate to)
Submit – the action or fact of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person.
1 Peter 2:16
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
What Christian Submission is NOT:
- Turning off your mind
- Avoiding the effort to influence
- Prioritizing the will of the leader over the will of God
- Allowing the relationship to be the source of your identity
- Acting in fear
What is submission?
The divine calling of a Christian to honor and affirm those in the place of leadership
TWO: Transformation
1 Peter 2:15
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
1 Peter 3:1-2
Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
Example in how you respond is found in Christ…
THREE: Identity
1 Peter 2:21-25
To this 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.”
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. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.