1 PETER LESSON 4
We will begin this lesson in I Peter 2:13 "Submit yourselves to
every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king,
as supreme;"
"The ordinance of man", here, is speaking of laws passed by the
local, regional, or national government. "Submit yourselves", in this
instance, means to keep the laws of the land. We have discussed
before, the only time it is correct not to keep the law of the land,
is when it is in opposition to the higher laws of God. We keep the
laws of the land because God told us to. It is, also, so God will not
be ridiculed for the actions of His people. God is the one who makes
someone ruler or king. When we go against those in authority, we are
actually questioning the judgement of God.
I Peter 2:14 "Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by
him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that
do well."
There is no law against doing good. God orders all things in
heaven and in earth. In that sense, God put the governor in office.
These ruling authorities have within their power to punish those who
do evil. The only thing that could come from doing well is praise.
I Peter 2:15 "For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye
may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:"
Christians are instructed of God to not take vengeance on their
enemies. In fact, they are to do good to those who persecute them. We
see in the following Scripture, in Jesus' own words, just what we are
to do. Matthew 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you;" The argument will stop, if
the Christian refuses to speak evil or take vengeance. Romans 12:20
"Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him
drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head."
Foolish men have no way to continue, when you refuse to answer back.
I Peter 2:16 "As free, and not using [your] liberty for a cloke
of maliciousness, but as the servants of God."
"Maliciousness" means badness, depravity, malignity, or trouble.
The "liberty", spoken of above is, is the fact that the sin of the
Christian died on the cross. We should not use that to mistreat
others. If we are servants of God, we will do the will of God and not
our own will.
I Peter 2:17 "Honour all [men]. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.
Honour the king."
Christians must not be elevated up because of the knowledge that
the Holy Spirit of God has given them. Honour all men, just means that
because someone is not a Christian, you should not be disrespectful to
him. Notice, the difference in the brotherhood. Brothers in Christ are
all part of the family of God. They are to love each other as members
of a family. The message changes even more speaking of God. We are not
only to love God as the Father, but to have reverent fear of Him, as
well. Honour is to be shown for the office of the king. All who are in
office are not to our liking, but we are commanded of God to honour
the office.
I Peter 2:18 "Servants, [be] subject to [your] masters with all
fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward."
Servants, in the verse above, actually means household servants
and is not speaking of slaves that the master owns. The master, in
this case, would be the employer. It seems from this, even if the
boss is not a good boss, you still must do what he asks, without
grumbling, if you continue to work for him. Your option would be to
get another job, if you could not live with the requirements. There
would never be a time when it would be right to be disloyal to the
boss. Every job we do, even a lowly one, must be done the best we can
as unto the Lord, if we are Christians.
I Peter 2:19 "For this [is] thankworthy, if a man for conscience
toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully."
To endure hardship of any kind, in the name of the Lord, is to be
praised. Romans 8:17 "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and
jointheirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we
may be also glorified together."
I Peter 2:20 "For what glory [is it], if, when ye be buffeted for
your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and
suffer [for it], ye take it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God."
"Buffet", here, means to rap with the fist. Whatever the
punishment was, if it is for something the servant has done wrong,
he should not be glorified for facing the punishment. He deserved
whatever it was for his own bad behavior. On the other hand, it is
glory to the person receiving the punishment and to God, if the
punishment is not for a misdeed, but for the name of the Lord. Jesus
suffered the pain and the humiliation of the cross. He was not guilty
of any sin, but took the punishment for our sin. He said, it brought
glory to the Father and to Himself. We know that many of the early
apostles suffered greatly for the name of the Lord. Both men and women
were martyred in the name of the Lord. Their reward in heaven will be
great.
I Peter 2:21 "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ
also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his
steps:"
The following is what Jesus said about this very thing. Luke 9:23
"And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:24
"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will
lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." Not many of us
can follow in the steps of Jesus. The road is too difficult.
II Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution."
I Peter 2:22 "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his
mouth:"
The perfect Lamb of God {Jesus Christ} was totally free from sin.
Not only did he not sin by commission, but He did not sin by speaking,
as well. He took our sin upon His body on the cross, and clothed us in
His righteousness. His Words were Truth. He spoke no evil Words. He is
the Word of God.
I Peter 2:23 "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when
he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that
judgeth righteously:"
Jesus did not look forward to the pain and humiliation of the
cross, but submitted to the will of the Father. Look with me at the
following Scriptures, where He submits to the will of the Father.
Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the
spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak." Matthew 26:42
"He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father,
if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be
done." Jesus did not speak in His own defense. He could have
destroyed all of them, with one Word from Him, but He didn't. He
submitted to the cruelty of the cross to save His people.
I Peter 2:24 "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on
the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:
by whose stripes ye were healed."
We have been seeing, in the verses above, that we are to walk in
the footsteps of Jesus. We are to patiently endure hardships and
sufferings that come from following Him. This is where the similarity
ends. No Christian, regardless of how good he is, can suffer for the
sin of the people. Their blood is not pure, and will not do away with
sin. Jesus had no sin of His own. He was pure in every way. He was the
unleavened Bread. He was free from sin, yet He took our sin upon His
body on the cross, so that our sin would die. Sin, for the Christians,
died on the cross. We are no longer servant to sin. Jesus defeated sin
on the cross. We are no longer under the curse of the law. In return,
Jesus gave us His righteousness. We are clothed in the white linen
garment, washed in the blood of the Lamb. We are righteous in the
sight of the Father, because we have taken on the righteousness of
Christ. These stripes, were much more than just a whipping. The whip
used, literally tore the flesh from His body. His suffering was for
our healing. Isaiah 53:5 "But he [was] wounded for our transgressions,
[he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace
[was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
I Peter 2:25 "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now
returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."
The great Shepherd {Jesus Christ} lay down his life for His
sheep. He would have done it, if only one had been lost. We remember
the parable about the 99 sheep who were still in the fold, and the one
lost sheep. The Shepherd left the 99 and went and found the one lost.
Three times Jesus had asked Peter, "Lovest thou me?" Three times,
Peter had told Him he did love Him. Three times, He told Peter, "Feed
my sheep". Jesus is the chief Shepherd. All other shepherds are
subordinate to Him. He is the great Bishop {overseer} of our soul. He
is our Advocate with the Father. Like any good Shepherd, His first
concern is for His sheep. He is the guardian of our soul.
1 Peter 4 Questions
1. Submit yourselves to every _____________.
2. What is meant by "ordinance of man"?
3. What does, "submit yourselves", mean?
4. When is the only time it is alright to go against government
authority?
5. When we go against government officials, it is as if we are
saying what?
6. Who instructed the Christians not to take vengeance on their
enemies?
7. Quote Matthew chapter 5 verse 44.
8. Quote Romans chapter 12 verse 20.
9. What does "maliciousness" mean?
10. What is the "liberty" of the Christian speaking of?
11. Honour all _____.
12. Love the _____________.
13. Fear ____.
14. _________ the king.
15. Why is the brotherhood treated differently than all men?
16. We may not have respect for the officeholder, but we must respect
the ________.
17. Which of the masters are the servants to be subject to?
18. Every job we do, even a lowly one, is to be done as unto the
_______
19. Quote Romans chapter 8 verse 17.
20. What does "buffet" mean?
21. Jesus was not _________ of any sin, yet He endured the cross.
22. Who were martyred for Christ?
23. Quote Luke chapter 9 verse 23.
24. All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall _________
____________.
25. Who was the Lamb of God?
26. Jesus submitted to the will of the _________ for the suffering on
the cross.
27. Why did He submit to the cruelty of the cross?
28. Quote 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 24.
29. Why can not a good Christian die for your sin?
30. What are the Christians clothed in?
31. Why are we righteous in the sight of the Father?
32. Quote Isaiah chapter 53 verse 5.
33. What 2 names is Jesus called by in verse 25?
34. What question had Jesus asked Peter 3 times?
35. When Peter said yes, what did Jesus tell him to do?
36. What is the concern of the good Shepherd?
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