So Peter has given us a way to live to live up to the sacrifice of Jesus in . He is now going to move on to discuss the challenges that will have in living out that Christian life in the world.
As foreigners and exiles, we are people who now have a heavenly home. We are in this world as foreigners. And the world will push and pressure us to fit into its sinful mold. A spiritual war will be waged against our soul. It is easy to get caught up in the worldly desires. Satan is described as a prowling lion. A lion does not go after the strongest animal, but will look for the weakest. In the same way, he isn’t going after where we are strong, but he will wait to see our weakness or compromises and thats where he will attack.
The world “abstain” is a unique word. It literally means to keep our distance. The distance here is not a physical distance away from lost or sinful people (though that might be the case sometimes,) but to keep our distance away from the temptations and desires that could lead to compromise. These are most likely situational, where the desire itself is good, but directed toward the wrong situation could lead to demise.
The world pagans here should not be seen as a negative connotations, but it just means un-believers. But what Peter is telling us is that we cannot avoid living in the world. We cannot run away or live as a hermit under a rock, but we must live in this world. And while the world may accuse you of some wrong, we are to live out each day with good deeds and to glorify God.
In Peter’s time, he lived in an area that really saw the combination of many different cultures. Under the Roman government many different rumors were started regarding Christians to try to undermine their growing numbers. That they were violent, arsonists, and cannibals (referencing the communion service.) Even today we see society doing the same thing. They throw out these rumors and accusations just to see if something “sticks”.
But just as in Peter’s time, we must live life as glorifying God. Work hard, help people, keep laws, and submit to those around him. Submission means that we are aware of the worldly authority over us, and as we live out our lives we understand that the consequences are there. If our Godly action means that we might get arrested, that is a type of submission to authority over us. But if we were not to perform the Godly action because of some fear of punishment, that is surrender. We are to submit, but not surrender.
In closing, when we live our lives, we desire for consistency. That no matter who we asked the same answer would be found. But consistency itself is not enough. We could be consistently bad! But we need to take it further and desire to live out a conviction. A conviction is not only a consistent living, but it lives towards a higher standard. That there is a Godly motivation in our lives.
Are you living towards a Godly conviction? Where are your weaknesses? Where are your strengths?
As God to go before you to protect you against your weaknesses, and living for Him.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 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.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. (ESV)
2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
8 and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (ESV)
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. (ESV)
12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (ESV)
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, (ESV)