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Living as Exiles in an Unjust World
1 Peter 2:12-25
Introduction: It is so easy to speak in generalities such as identifying as “sojourners and exiles.” But Peter does not leave it that way. Instead, he addresses specific ways Christians are to live within the social behaviors of the world around them. After all, the worst thing these Christians could do is try to withdraw themselves from their society, but also seem to be those who would unduly disrupt the social order. From here to 4:11 Peter will caution against participating in sinful practices while at the same time living within social norms so that God is honored.
- The Overriding Purpose of a Sojourner & Exile
- Everything we are going to read throughout this letter is to live to the honor and glory of God. That principle will supersede everything else. Yes, I know, you have heard that before and you are hearing it again, but now we are going to allow Peter to show us this principle in practice. So, here’s the warning, what we are about to learn will be challenging and shocking.
- Please notice the emphasis given honoring God throughout this section:
- 13: for the Lord’s sake
- 15: for this is the will of God…put to silence the ignorance of foolish people
- 16: living as servants of God
- 19: mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering
- 20: this is a gracious thing in the sight of God
- 23: entrusting himself to him who judges justly
- 3:1 they may be won without a word
- 3:4 which in God’s sight is very precious
- A Suffering Servant
- Peter is very specific about how you and I are to live to the glory of God. It has to do with accepting a role of being a servant and accepting injustices by being willing to suffer for his name’s sake. The operative words are “be subject…”
- You will notice that Peter uses Jesus as the ultimate example, making reference to Isaiah 53 and the Suffering Servant Song of Isaiah. We are commanded to “follow in his steps.” Listen to the words of Isaiah:
- 53:3 “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
- 53:7 “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth.”
- 53:8-9 “By oppression and judgment he was taken away…although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.”
- We look at the above and think, surely he doesn’t expect me to go that far! No, look at it: he kept himself from sin and did not sin with his mouth. He didn’t threaten when he was abused. What did he do? He entrusted himself to God who will judge justly. How do we deal with injustice? We let God deal with it! No one in this life is going to rectify injustice. Only God can do that. Let him do it.
- The ultimate point of Jesus’ suffering is that by responding the way he did, he saved people. That is our goal. We are subject so we can save people. We suffer unjustly so we can save people. That is why we suffer unjustly. That is how Peter introduced this whole section (2:12).
- Notice the words in verse 15, “…that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” Please notice who it is that is treating you unjustly: ignorant, foolish people. Yes, that is the description of every abuser, every person who treats people unfairly, and tries to dominate others. How do we silence them! By doing good and living as servants of God.
- What does that look like?
- Honor everyone
- Love the brotherhood
- Fear God
- Honor the emperor
- Be subject to your masters with all respect
- There are two of those commands that we can readily agree with, though still difficult: “love the brotherhood” and “fear God.” But how are you doing with “honor everyone, or honor the emperor, or subject to unjust masters who beat you? Not so easy, and the reason it is difficult is because among these are ignorant and foolish people. I can just hear myself say, “I’m not submitting to them; they’re nuts.” Well, do you think the people who unjustly murdered the most wonderful person who ever lived on the earth weren’t ignorant and foolish people?
- Suffering Unjustly
- What is the enabling power to suffering unjustly? What is the enabling key to being subject when what is happening is so abusive and so unfair and so disruptive that you feel like your world has been absolutely ruined?
- Peter calls us to submission. The key is that we are going to “choose our battles.” There is a time when we cannot submit if we are called upon to compromise the faith of and commands of Jesus. Whether by a spouse, a friend, a school, an organization, a workplace, or authorities in government, we “must obey God rather than man.” But that is our only hill to die on. As far as the rest of this world’s rules, which are often filled with foolishness, we are not going to bother with those battles. We have more important things to do than to get embroiled in those other battles.
- Instead, we look out for the welfare of those around us, especially their spiritual welfare – regardless of their political views. Am I more interested in their political view or their lost condition? Excel in the good values of society that fit within living for the Lord while rejecting those values that are against Christ. (These were codes that even non-Christians went by and codified in the first century.)
- If we rebel against government, government is not going to like that. And God nor us like it when the government is against us when we do not obey the law.
- Disobedience to government as a general rule does not give us an opportunity with the gospel, but instead brings dishonor to the name of Jesus.
- Let’s make something clear here: Paul and Peter, who were the primary writers concerning submission to government, were both unjustly killed by the Roman government.
- Paul, the greatest evangelist we have ever seen, was held unjustly in prison for four years! How is that for the right to a swift and fair trial? How many times was Paul beaten unjustly by governing authorities? The best he ever got was an apology in Philippi. Paul could have brought charges against the Romans and the Jews numerous times. Do you know why going to prison was okay for Paul? Do you know why is was okay for God? Because for four years Paul was given opportunities for the gospel with hundreds of people from fellow prisoners to rulers that never would have happened if he were not unjustly beaten and imprisoned.
- If Paul and Silas were not beaten, how would the jailer and his family heard the gospel?
- If Paul were not arrested in Jerusalem, how would the people of the city and the Sanhedrin heard his testimony about the resurrected Jesus? How would Herod heard the gospel message? How would Felix and Festus heard the gospel?
- If it were not for the injustices of those two governors, how would Paul have taught the people on the ship to Rome? How would he have had the opportunity to teach the gospel to Nero? And how would it have ever happened that even some in Nero’s household became Christians?
- In other words, what are injustices? They are opportunities for the gospel. This completely changes our perspective. No more anger. No more rebellious attitudes. This is exactly why Paul and Silas were singing and praying loud enough that the whole jailhouse could hear them. They are not bitter and angry. They are rejoicing in being slaves of Jesus Christ for the furtherance of the gospel.
- Anybody ever think that Stephen could have just toned it down a bit in his preaching? Stephen was given one opportunity with 70 men of the high court in Jerusalem. What were the chances of converting any of them? Slim to none! But it was the opportunity to glorify Jesus Christ that would not silence him. But Stephen, you lost your life! Get this, Stephen gave up his life for one chance to save just one person out of that council. And even if none of them were ever saved because of sermon, he valued his life worth the opportunity. But of course, there was one man who could never get out of his mind Stephen’s sermon and the way he died, Saul of Tarsus. Dying for one chance to share the gospel is worth it.
- How about Lystra? Was Lystra in the Roman Empire? Does a Roman citizen have rights in Lystra? And yet, when Paul was stoned and left for dead, what did he do? Got up, went back into the city, said farewell to the brethren, and went to Derbe to teach more people. Then came back to Lystra, appointed elders, and taught them saying, “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of heaven.”
- Wait a minute, Paul, where’s your pound of flesh? Why didn’t you bring these lawless people up on charges? The answer to that is, “I have battles to wage for the Lord Jesus Christ, and getting unjustly beat up is not worth, nor to be compared, to the glory of the kingdom of God and bringing another soul to Christ.”
- Is there nothing proactive that we can do against these unjust rulers? Yes! Prayer (1 Tim. 2:1-5). Jeremiah 29:7. “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find you welfare.” Where were these captives going? To the lands of the people who just killed their brothers, sisters, parents, and friends.
- Did Daniel try to change Babylon? Did Jesus come to conquer Rome? Did Jesus topple the Jewish rulers? Well, in a sense he did. But how did he do it? By turning one person at a time to the good news of the Kingdom of God.
- The whole purpose of God’s kingdom is to point people to a King and a kingdom that will rule in justice and righteousness. That is the kind of rule that every person who desires goodness will seek.
Conclusion: We have one battle to wage, and it is against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. We do that by resisting sin and ignoring all the small stuff that involves our personal hurts, injustices, and suffering in order that people “will see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”
Berry Kercheville