Lesson 8 – I Peter Chapter 2:11-14

So far in chapter 2, Peter has been giving us great godly advice. He’s instructed us not to have anything to do with the way we were before we gave our lives to Christ. It would be foolish to argue against this, because it makes perfect spiritual sense for us, that once we are born-again there needs to be an overall change that takes place within us… a change in everything we think, do, and say.

These changes also include getting into God’s Word. God’s Word is our life source, we read it so we can hear from God. God’s living Word is not something to read or listen to passively and then forget. If we let God’s message do its work deep inside us, it will change our character and behavior into Christlikeness.

We’ve also seen that Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. Peter has pointed out that because Jesus is the Living Stone, we are also “living stones” with Him. With this analogy, Christians are united with Jesus, and He uses them as building blocks for His church. Just as the builders chiseled the stone to build the temple, God shapes us as we grow in Christ. Unlike those who reject Jesus and His gift of salvation, who will find that Jesus has become a stumbling stone which ends in eternal condemnation.

Lastly, as believers, we have the honor and privilege of being declared holy priests… a royal priesthood before God.

Just as our salvation won’t be fully realized until we are with Jesus, our true priestly duties will be brought to fruition during the Millennial Kingdom. And now, God calls us His people.

I Peter 2:11
“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.”

The use of the term beloved is a declaration that represents our current position as believers, those who are loved by God.

I urge you… means to exhort, comfort, and encourage… also to strengthen. Another phrase for urge is, “I beseech you” or “I beg you” “I’m pleading with you!” By using these terms, Peter is speaking as a helper to us, we can say he’s being a counselor here.

Paul uses the very same phrase in Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice,”
Both Peter and Paul are speaking this way to get our attention by means of strengthening and encouraging us. They’re urging us to pay close attention to what the Spirit of God is saying.

As aliens and strangers…

Peter is saying that we are aliens and strangers on this earth. Other terms used are sojourners and pilgrims, temporary residents, foreigners, and exiles.

By addressing us in this way, it pretty much is indicating that we’re not home yet. We might not be home yet, but as the Beatles used to sing, “We’re on our way home” even though they didn’t have a clue as to where their real home was.

I kind of like the term sojourners. Sojourners are people who reside temporarily in a place. As we are sojourning here on planet earth, we are on “full display” for all the world to see. As the world is watching us, know that it looks for any excuse whatsoever to destroy what we believe in, namely Jesus Christ. This is why we must be careful in all our behaviors.

Keeping our behavior in mind, Peter says abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.

Previously, Peter told us to be holy, because God is holy, then he told us that we are God’s holy priests. So why is Peter speaking to us this way, using such passionate language, by using terms like “I urge you”?

I think Peter knew from experience how our flesh can war against us. Peter spent three years with Jesus, watching Jesus, and learning from Him. Peter was one of the main players when it came to being a disciple of Christ, he loved Jesus. Yet, when the chips were down and when Jesus could’ve used Peter by His side, Peter’s flesh got the best of him. I often wonder if Jesus was near Peter looking at him, when Peter denied Jesus three times.

Our flesh is ugly, it’s the part of us that still hangs around, even though we’re saved. Our flesh is what creates the battle within us… waging war against the soul, it says in our verse. Our real battle isn’t with people or the world around us, it’s our fleshly passions within us.

D.L. Moody said, “I have more trouble with D.L. Moody than with any man I know.”

And that is so true, we can hide in our homes, concealed away from the world, and yet still have trouble within ourselves.

Gal. 5:13
“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

The flesh Peter and Paul are referring to can also be called “indwelling sin.” Paul talks about it explicitly in Romans chapter 7. Verse 15 describes the struggle we’re all familiar with…

“For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.”

Paul is putting into words the frustration we all feel at times. The more we grow in Christ, the more we will hate it when we fall into sin. When we sin, it’s our flesh that’s waring against us. Peter says abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.

As believers, we are not to be a part of the world we are sojourning through, therefore we need to abstain from fleshly lusts. We can actually choose to abstain from it.

Rom. 8:12-13
“So then, brethren, we are under obligation, “not” to the flesh, to live according to the flesh… for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

It’s important to know that as God’s children indwelt by His Holy Spirit, we have no obligation to our flesh. Why? Because of the saving work of Jesus Christ… we are no longer slaves to sin like we were before we gave our life to Christ.

When Paul says “if you are living according to the flesh, you must die,” he’s talking about the person whose life is characterized by the things of the flesh, and is not a true Christian. It’s sad, but there are people who call themselves a Christian, but their hearts are never in it.

So how do we abstain from the flesh?

The believers of the Early Church were constantly confronted by the very low standards of the world. Surrounded by sin, they had to constantly resist the enticement of sin and not permit themselves to be pulled back into their old lifestyles. I think today, we are surrounded by the same low standards, perhaps even worse.

Listen, your flesh is never content until it has completely taken over you and consumed you. So, please don’t think you can participate in only a little taste of sin and then just walk free of it… it will pull you in.

The word “abstain” in the Greek means to deliberately withdraw from; to stay away from; to put distance between oneself and something else; or to intentionally withhold.

Peter is urging his readers not to open the door and invite this warfare in, to begin by deliberately participating in sinful pleasures. Instead, he tells them to abstain from fleshly lusts, thus keeping their mind, will, and emotions free of unnecessary battles.

When it comes to the war within us, we need a plan to be able to fight tactically, strategically, and aggressively. The way to do this means having a good talk with yourself! And what I mean by that is, to be completely honest with yourself, identify the sins that get the best of you, then plan how to avoid putting yourself in those circumstances. That’s being tactical, strategic, and aggressive, instead of being passive.

When Peter says “abstain,” we need to take it seriously and not half-heartedly.

I Peter 2:12
“Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

“Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when He judges the world.” (NLT)

If we are to be an effective witness for God, what goes on inside our transformed hearts needs to be visible to the outside world.

Eph. 5:7-8
“Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.”

I remember when I was a little kid, whenever we went out as a family to a restaurant or even to my grandparents’ house, I was told to be on my best behavior. It was expected of me, so that I wouldn’t do anything to embarrass my parents. The last thing you wanted to hear from your parents is, “I’m ashamed of you.”

To have excellent behavior is to consistently keep it at a high level, knowing that as an alien in this world, people are watching you. If you were to live in a foreign country, you know that the citizens of that country would be watching you, and they would be very prone to criticize the moment you did something wrong.

The word excellent (ka-las’) means rich and varied in significance, usually meaning “beautiful of outward form.” The point being made is that we are to have a visible goodness about us.

We are to do this among the Gentiles. Practically speaking, this is who we are, even when nobody is looking. Right?

The word Gentiles has nothing to do with race, but rather, Peter is speaking of “unsaved people.” The world is watching us, and is looking for any excuse for them to reject the gospel. It would be so sad if someone rejected Christ because of something we said or did. It’s important that we protect our ability to be a witness for God.

The way we live can’t be just a show, it needs to be real, we truly need to “walk the talk” as they say. Again, having excellent behavior… to coin a phrase used back in the 60’s, we must be “beautiful people” in the best sense of the word… not in the way Hollywood sees people, but how God sees us.

In the thing in which they slander you as evildoers…

It’s imperative, that we as believers, live the opposite way then that of the world, thus proving the world wrong in its own behavior.

They may because of your good deeds… (they will see your honorable behavior)

Matt. 5:16
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Titus 3:8
“This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.”

We really have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes when it comes to our personal behavior and the things we do, the very smallest deed on our part could play a role in someone being saved.

As they observe them, (they will see your honorable behavior) glorify God in the day of visitation… all the good we’ve done will all be revealed to us once we’re in heaven.

The day of visitation is a concept seen in the Old Testamen. When this happened it meant a blessing or a judgment would be coming.

Isaiah 10:3 (Judgment)
“And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? To whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?” (KJV)

Jermiah 29:10-11 (Blessing)
“For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

In the New Testament, visitation usually indicates blessing and redemption… Peter’s intention here is redemption.

Bible commentary; “The apostle used the expression to show that because of observation of Christian virtue and good works in the lives of believers, some would be privileged to glorify God when He also visited them with salvation.”

In other words, when the Holy Spirit comes alongside a person with conviction, He comes with His salvation.

A stirring twentieth-century example of how godly living can influence the salvation of unbelievers comes from the events in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in the Philippines during WWII. American missionaries Herb and Ruth Clingen and their young son were prisoners of the Japanese for three years. In Herb’s diary, it told how his family’s captors tortured, murdered, and starved to death many of the camp’s other prisoners. The prisoners particularly hated and feared the camp commandant, Konishi. Herb described one especially diabolical plan Konishi forced on the Clingens and their fellow inmates near the end of the war: Konishi found an inventive way to abuse us even more” Herb wrote. “He increased the food ration but gave us “palay” …unhusked rice. Eating rice with its razor-sharp outer shell would cause intestinal bleeding that would kill us in hours. We had no tools to remove the husks, and doing the job manually, by pounding the grain or rolling it with a heavy stick, it consumed more calories than the rice would supply. It was a death sentence for all prisoners.”

But divine providence spared the Clingens and the others in February 1945, when Allied forces liberated the prison camp. That prevented the commandant from carrying out his plan of shooting and killing all the surviving prisoners. Years later the Clingens learned that Konishi had been found working as a grounds keeper at a Manila golf course. He was put on trial for his war crimes and hanged. Before his execution he professed conversion to Christianity, saying he had been deeply affected by the testimony of the Christian missionaries he had persecuted.

Being an effective witness flows from the power of a righteous life! In the story we’re not told of anything specific the missionaries did, but the way they conducted themselves during their imprisonment had an impact on a godless evil man. Our actions mean everything to a dying world.

Sometimes when people see and hear us, we’re the only gospel they will ever be exposed to. How we live life around others matters whether we realize it or not.

Another example from history…

In the summer of 1805, a number of Indian chiefs and warriors met in council at Buffalo Creek, New York to hear a presentation of the Christian message by a Mr. Cram from Boston Missionary Society. After the sermon, a response was given by Red Jacket, one of the leading chiefs, and he said: “Brother, you say that there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agree, as you can all read the book?”

Then he went on, “Brother, we are told that you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These people are our neighbors. We are acquainted with them. We will wait a little while and see what effect your preaching has upon them. If we find it does them good, makes them honest and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will then consider again of what you have said.”

Red Jacket was being very realistic. To him, this gospel message that was given, if was true and potent as presented, then there should indeed be some evidence of that truth. I wonder if Red Jacket had been reading the book of James?

To Red Jacket’s observation, if the gospel is in a person’s heart, it would become evident in all their actions… everything they said, did, or thought would be a reflection of a saved heart.

Chief Red Jacket would then say, “Yes, this is real, I want that for myself.”

Before we switch gears with Peter, I want to reiterate on what verse 12 has for us. Our lives have purpose, God has put each of us on this earth according to His own purposes. In this, He has saved us, and now we are sojourning through this life knowing that the best is yet to come. It’s the job of each believer to leave their mark in this world. Everyone has different gifts and different abilities, and it’s up to each one of us to use them for God’s glory. We will all be held accountable before the Lord, so it’s important that we live our life with God’s purpose in mind. This means that whatever we’re doing, wherever we are, whether we’re with family and friends or out in public… we are on full display. So be a Spirit-filled believer.

Now Peter changes it up for us:

I Peter 2:13-14
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.”

Peter is changing things a bit, but what he’s saying here still involves our actions as believers in Christ.

Submit yourselves… (hoo-po-tas’-so) is a military term meaning “to arrange in formation under the commander,” to obey, or be subject to someone.

This does relate to what we’ve learned in verse 12, that as Christians living in society, we are representatives of Jesus Christ. Again, how we act in public matters, and here it’s all about us submitting to authority.

Rom. 13:1
“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.“

To be in subjection is the same as submitting to authority.

Do you bristle or stiffen a little bit when you are told to submit to the government? I think for most believers, they’re fine when it comes to obeying the authorities. It’s just that when we’re told we have to do it, our rebelling flesh wants to push against it. Kind of like the sign that says, “Don’t touch, wet paint,” makes us want to touch the paint.

Paul says, “For there is no authority except from God.” This means, every nation, rulers, leaders, senators, congressmen, judges, police, every army, every authority, every civil authority is from God. They are agents of God, but it doesn’t mean they are godly. God has given this authority over us, just as He has given us a conscience and parental discipline.

Why? It serves a moral purpose, as a way to prevent evil.

Titus 3:1
“Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to revile no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.”

We have three different verses telling us to submit to authority… and needless to say, we need to obey God, He’s the ultimate authority.

God wants us to obey the authorities because He’s the One who established them. The Bible is very clear about the relationship between the believer and the government. We are to obey governmental authorities, and the government is to treat us justly and fairly. We are to obey, even when the government does not live up to its role, we are still to live up to ours.

For the Lord’s sake…

We obey because we honor God with our lives.

Psalm 119:15-16
“I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.”

I Cor. 10:31
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

We must remember that God created the authorities ruling over us just as He created us. So, we are to observe man-made laws carefully just as long as those laws don’t conflict with the Scriptures.

As an example, we have the familiar story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego:

Dan 3:12
“There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. These men, O king, have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up.”

King Nebuchadnezzar was demanding that all people were to worship his golden image which he set up. Scripture says to us, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” “You shall not make for yourself an idol.” Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were justified in their disobedience to this authority because it went against God’s Word.

The anarchist point of view says that a person can choose to disobey the government whenever he likes and whenever he feels he is personally justified in doing so. The Bible doesn’t support that.

The extremist patriot says that a person should always follow and obey his country, no matter what the command. An example of this is,
attorneys for the Nazi war criminals attempted to use the defense that their clients were only following the direct orders of the government and therefore could not be held responsible for their actions. To obey the Nazi government was wrong! We are not to blindly follow any government.

Today, we’ve just seen what the governing body in Gaza endorsed it’s people to do against the Jews. To obey Hamas is wrong, it’s pure evil.

When should we go against the prevailing authorities? The guidelines for a Christian’s civil disobedience can be summed as follows:

• Christians should resist a government that commands or compels evil and should work non-violently within the laws of the land to change a government that permits evil.

• Civil disobedience is permitted when the government’s laws or commands are in direct violation of God’s laws and commands.

• If a Christian disobeys an evil government, unless he can flee from the government, he should accept that government’s punishment for his actions.

• Christians are certainly permitted to work to change new government leaders within the laws that have been established.

Today we live in a country that is very far removed from what our forefathers had envisioned for America. This country was founded on Judeo-Christian values and has slowly drifted away from them. This country is bent on the murder of unborn babies, and in some cases right after birth. This country now stands in favor of a homosexual society, along with its numerous perversions.

Now keep in mind when I say this country, this represents just a fraction of the population, not the majority. So what can we do to combat this?

I Tim. 2:1-3
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,”

John MacArthur, “Our prayers are all too often narrowly confined to personal needs and wants and rarely extend beyond those of our immediate circle of friends and family. In sharp contrast, however, Paul calls for evangelistic prayer on behalf of all men. There is no place for selfishness or exclusiveness. We are not to try to limit either the gospel call or our evangelistic prayers to the elect only.”

We can have complete disdain for those who are running our government today, but everyone in authority needs our prayers, that they might be willing to submit themselves to the authority of Jesus Christ. I know there’s a remnant of believers that do this (I for one need to do it more). But now, we have a strong Christian as Speaker of the House… nothing is impossible with the Lord.

But remember, the governing authorities cannot save this country, only God can do that.

We’ll close with this…
Esther 4:14
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”

This verse was spoken to Esther because she found herself in a position to rescue her people, the Jews, from death. But, if she followed through with her plans to intervene, she put her own life at risk because of the laws at that time. Esther was reluctant, but she trusted that God sovereignly put her in that position at that time to do what needed to be done. This tested her faith, and God was working all things for good in her situation. God has a plan for your life. There are times when God will ask you to do things that are difficult. Can God accomplish His plans without you? Yes. But He asks you to participate in His plans because it strengthens your faith.

Remember, everything we do on this side of eternity counts.