A Life of Submission

Our privileged position as Christians

1 Peter 2:9-10 (NIV) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 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.
• Notice this is a statement about a group of people – the church
• We are privileged to be a royal family.

How we are to live in this world
This is every Christian’s responsibility and journey to figure out.

1 Peter 2: 11-12 (NIV) 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.
• Remember we are to be set apart, if we live set apart lives, we will be like foreigners to this world. .

Colossians 3:12 (NIV) Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
• We are to live such good lives in this world so that our grace filled actions are observed by unbelievers
• Becoming kind, compassionate and humble leads us to the forgery where we are heated up in the crucible to be refined. This doesn’t come easy to our flesh.

Mark 9:49 (ESV) For everyone will be salted with fire.
• These virtues only come as our pride and selfishness are burned up from within and scraped off as the dross of our lives.

Why a life of submission matters.

1 Peter 2:13-14 (NIV) 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.
• We are to live lives of submission
• The basis for submission is humility.
• Without humility, compassion and kindness – love is impossible.
• Peter tells us we are to submit to authority for the Lord’s sake – Because governments have rightful authority from God

Romans 13:1-2 (NLT) Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.

Peter 2:15 (NIV) For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
• Those that are ignorant don’t know the gospel but will be exposed to it through our humility, submission and living our lives set apart for Him.

• Submission brings freedom to our lives

1 Peter 2:16-17 (NIV) Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

There is great freedom and liberty when you learn humility and submission. Why?
• Because it curbs our striving for power and authority over others which never satisfies, instead it fuels us to pursue the good of others by loving them and putting them first.

There is tension in freedom and submission.
• We can get hung up on our “freedoms” when it comes to submitting. But remember, we are to use our freedom to serve others not to puff ourselves up or lay claim to our rights.
• Even when we can’t submit to authorities because of being asked to sin, our respect and honor doesn’t end.

Acts 4:18-20 (NIV) Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Let’s remember, submission started for us with Jesus submitting to the will of the father.

1 Peter 2:23-24 (NIV) 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.”

We are to follow Jesus’ example, out of reverence for him, we submit one to another.
• We are not to retaliate against those who insult us.
• We are to entrust ourselves to Jesus as He did to the Father.
• A genuine faith results in relationships marked by mutual submission.
• Remember God is just and works out His justice in His timing and His way.
• We live as foreigners, standing in the righteousness of Christ, not our own!
Remember we are being individually forged, but we are collectively being formed to be a holy people, collectively built to be a spiritual house.
The mortar that connects each of us (the living stones) together is God’s love that binds us together in unity, so that we are the royal priesthood we are intended to be.

APPLICATION:

• Live a life set apart.
• Walk in humility demonstrated by submitting to others.
• Live the gospel out by your actions.
• God will work out the details as we trust Him.

LIFE GROUP QUESTIONS

Passages 1 Peter 2:9-3:12
Ice Breaker: How much trouble did you get into in your school days? Explain.
Sermon Reflection – Share what challenged you in the sermon.
Questions to discuss:
1. Read 1 Peter 2:9-17. What stands out to you from this passage?
2. In what ways is: doing good to impact those around you, even those who do not follow Jesus, and submitting to various authorities, part of your thinking?
3. What does showing respect for others look like practically? Think about: In your home, in your neighborhood, in your workplace, in how you interact with businesses/ government & authorities/ social media?