Hope When Life Is Hard
Sunday, October 30, 2022

1 Peter 2:13-25
Introduction

Submission to Authority brings Honor and Glory to God

I. Submission to Authority (v.13-20)
“Be subject…”
Peter commands believers to submit. As citizens in the world and under civil law and
authority, God’s people are to live in a humble and submissive way.

Submission involves not seeking one's own interests but rather assuming a voluntary
commitment of service to others.

“…for the Lord’s sake..”
Though "our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the
Lord Jesus Christ" we still must live as an obedient citizen in this world so that God will
be honored and glorified.
“to every human institution.”
Human governments are "created" by God. Rulers are God’s servants. Even if the
rulers are not believers, they are still God’s men officially. 
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority
except from God, and those which exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for
every good work.” Titus 3:1

v.15-17 - “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the
ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a
cover up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood.
Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

v.18 - “Servants, be subject to your master with all respect…”
Servant – oiketes - means one who lives in the same house as another and then
household slaves or domestic servants not as strongly servile as duolos.

Many of these household or domestic slaves were well educated and held responsible
positions in the households. Many of them were doctors, teachers, musicians, actors
and stewards over great estates.
Estimate: 60 million slaves during the time of Peter and Roman Empire.

“be subject to your master with all respect” - Same as above with human institutions;
employer/employee relationship

“…not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.”
Unjust - conveys the figurative use of severe, hard to deal with, overbearing, unjust,
bad-humored, cruel, ill-tempered, unfair, dishonest, cross or harsh.

II. Brings Honor and Glory to God (v.21-25)
v.21-23 – Jesus Christ our Example
v
.24 – “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and
live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

v.25 – “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and
Overseer of your souls.”
III. Conclusion