STUDY THEME: PETER’S PRINCIPLES FOR SUCCESSFUL LIVING.” 8-22-04
“BE HUMBLE.” 1 PETER 2: 13-14, 17-19, 20-21; 3: 1-4, 7, 8-9: 5: 5-7.
PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO 1 PETER 2.
With Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we have confidence in His Word and with the aid of His Holy Spirit we can live as the Holy Guide Book directs us. Today we look at an area of our Christian walk that is not always easy.
We Americans pride ourselves on having the right to do what we want, when we want, and how we want. The idea of submitting ourselves to the will or choices of anyone else is abhorrent to us. This fierce, independent spirit has enabled Americans to build the most vibrant economy, the most imaginative technology, and the most affluent lifestyle ever known by any society on earth.
At the same time, this adamant refusal to submit to anyone else has created for us innumerable problems. Youth and even children rebel against parental authority. Citizens resent having to obey the legal authorities. Churches splinter as members and factions strive for control. Marriages dissolve as spouses refuse to subordinate their desires to the welfare of their mates or families. Some believers even refuse to obey the clear directives of God’s revelation. Consequently, our culture suffers from severe stresses that strain the fabric of society. What is lacking is a sense of humility to balance our freedom.
In today’s lesson Peter addressed a congregation struggling to reconcile its newly found freedom in Christ with the persecution it had to endure. His epistle to this first-century congregation in northern Asia Minor has much to teach us living in the 21st century America about the humility to which Christ calls us.
The central thought of the word humility is freedom from pride, lowliness, meekness, modesty, and mildness. Paul pointed out in Col. 2: 18-23 a false humility or self-abasement. Deut. 8:2 says, “God humbles men to bring them to obedience.” 2 Chron. 7: 14 says to humble ourselves is a condition of God’s favor. Micah 6: 8 ads “And this is His supreme requirement.” Isa. 57: 15 says, “God dwells with the humble.” To the Greeks humility was weak and despicable, but Jesus in a number of passages made it the cornerstone of character.
God said of Moses in Numb. 12:3 “Now Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” Yet you and I know this man had great emotions. We would have described Moses as gentle, kind, not easily provoked, and ready to yield rather than cause trouble; that is meekness. Moses was a humble man with whom God could work.
Our first Scripture reading introduces the theme of voluntary submission and obedience to those in authority.
PLESE READ 1 PETER 2: 13-14.
One of the great universal principles is that of authority and recognition of that authority. Relationships in every sphere of life depend on acknowledging proper authority. This is true in government, education, business, families and churches. Believers, like everyone else, must understand and follow this principle.
According to Peter, an illustration demonstrating humility is humble submission to government authority. Peter had heard from Jesus’ lips earlier in Mark 12: 17, “Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God thing that are Gods.”
The Christians Peter addressed probably had questions about how---or even whether---to submit to secular Roman authorities. He assured them that this was the right thing to do, but he gave good reasons for his instructions.
The Greek word for submit, is strong, meaning, “yield, be subject to, be under authority.” When people submit, it does not mean that they are inherently inferior: rather it has to do with accepting a role for the sake of order. As we will see, Peter was fond of using this particular verb in his letter.
Peter was thinking of submission to every human institution. In the context, he was referring to governmental authorities, as the references to the Emperor and governors show. Peter’s foundation for this command was simple but profound: because of the Lord. God has set in place the mechanisms by which governments---as sinful or as inefficient as they may be---exist. Believers are to recognize this and submit to them, even when the supreme authority is not noted for justice. In fact the Emperor at this time was the infamous Nero.
The submission that Peter commanded does not include actions contrary to God’s will. Whenever human authorities conflict with God’s commands, believers are to submit to God. Many years earlier, Peter had said in Acts 5: 29, “We must obey God rather than men.”
Peter gave a second reason for submission. The Lord has designated government authorities to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. Around the world and throughout human history, restraining evildoers and bringing them to justice has been recognized as one of the primary purposes of government. Because of this function, believers are certainly allowed to be involved in government or to seek to persuade those in authority to become more effective in doing what is right.
All human government manifests imperfection, but without its restraints society would be shipwrecked, and anarchy would prevail. In principle, all constituted authority is intended to prevent crime and encourage honesty and good living.
Biblical submission does not prohibit believers from speaking out against immoral policies promoted by those in authority. Peter would have agreed that believers have a responsibility respectfully to urge those in authority to promote policies that are consistent with God’s values as revealed in Scripture.
PLEASE READ 1 PETER 2: 17-19.
There are four admonitions in vs. 17. The third really covers all the rest. He who fears---that is, stands in awe---of God will not dishonor any man, and will love his brethren, and give due recognitions to constituted authority. “Honor all men.” No man is to be despised. All are among those for whom Christ died.
“Love the brotherhood.” This refers, not to the world in general, but to those who have been saved out of the world. Scripture emphasizes many times the importance of mutual love among Christians; those born again into the family of God.
“Fear God.” Reverence Him whom we now know, not only as Creator, but also as Redeemer. The honor due to God by Christians is to fear Him. Believers are not to cringe in terror before God; rather they are to repent and revere Him, for this is the foundation for holy living.
“Honor the King.” Show due respect to the head of the government as one set by God, in that very place, who is therefore accountable to God for the right exercise of the authority committed to him.
In vs. 18 servants are exhorted to obedience to their own master, and that “not only to the good and gentle, but also to the forward.” It is easy to obey a master who is kindly disposed and considerate. But the grace of God is seen in yielding obedience to those who are harsh and needlessly severe.
This verse has added force when we remember that in Peter’s day servants were generally slaves. Wealthy homes had household slaves. Some had become believers. Peter now applied the principles of submission to them. They were to submit to their master just as all believers were to submit to authorities. They owed all respect to their masters because of the master’s authority role and because they too were made in God’s image. This was true whether masters were good and gentle or whether they were cruel. Thankfully, slaves no longer exist in our society, but the principle applies to the employee-employer relationship. Whether bosses are respectable or not, Christians owe them respect.
The consistent behavior of Christians in bondage was used of God to lead many of their masters to Christ. Self-vindication is ever to be avoided on the part of the follower of Christ. He is called to imitate his master, who in Isaiah 50: 5-8 endured uncomplainingly the false accusation of sinners and lived His pure and holy life as under the eye of the Father, content to leave it with Him to justify Him in due time.
The believer is to be subject to the laws of the land wherein he dwells, and to be a loyal citizen and an obedient servant in his particular calling. Thus by his behavior he will show the falsity of the charges of malicious men, who would seek to make him out a menace to the state and an enemy of man kind. The early Christians were often so charged, but their consistent lives silenced their accusers.
The real theme of Peter’s first letter, according to 1 Peter 5: 12 is the grace of God as manifested to and in the saints. The word rendered “thankworthy” in vs. 19 is really “grace.” It is grace active in the life, enabling one to bear up under false accusations and to suffer in silence when conscious of one’s own integrity.
Vs. 19 gives another reason for submission in the workplace. Here is Peter’s argument. First, Christians with a conscience toward God submit even to unrespectable bosses because they accept the God-given principle of submission. Second, sometimes these Christians endure grief, even suffering unjustly in the workplace. Third, such unjust suffering brings favor or grace from God----and Christians then have the joy of experiencing the grace of God afresh.
PLEASE READ 1 PETER 2: 20-21.
In the original text, Peter was still thinking of Christian slaves who might be mistreated or even physically beaten by cruel masters. The principle, however, is much broader and applies to all believers who have faced an unfair situation---from family, in school, at work, in the neighborhood, or elsewhere.
On the one hand, there are situations (of sin) in which punishment (being beaten) is deserved. No spiritual credit is given for a Christian to endure this, although sad to say this does happen. On the other hand, there are circumstances (doing good) in which punishment (being made to suffer) is undeserved. God sees and cares. He desires that His children endure this. In fact, it is a sign of favor with God to face unjust suffering!
We tend to think suffering for our mistakes is acceptable, but unjust suffering is entirely intolerable. This kind of thinking does not reflect the mind of Christ. Peter showed his readers how they could adopt a distinctively Christians approach, even to persecution.
At first, this line of reasoning sounds backward. It is hard to be blamed for something you didn’t do. Yet Peter pressed the point by noting that this is one of the ways God has of making us more like Jesus. He affirmed that believers have been called to this unjust suffering. This is no accident or failure on God’s part: rather God desires for His redeemed children to share in some of the same experiences that His Son endured. First, however, Peter made it clear that in some ways the suffering of Christians was unlike the suffering of Jesus. When He suffered and died, He was the substitute for sinners---something only He could do. Here, Peter appears to have begun to quote an early Christian hymn. Believers are called, he wrote, to follow Jesus’ example in suffering for us. Christ’s sufferings were certainly undeserved, yet He willingly
accepted them on our behalf. Shall we not follow our Lord and suffer for Him even if those sufferings are undeserved.
But Jesus’ suffering was also the greatest example in history of enduring evil in return for doing good. He was a prototype for His follower to have as an example. It is hard to be blamed for what you did not do! Thus, when believers follow in His steps, it is a great privilege they receive of being so much like Jesus in His sufferings.
The testimony of multiplied thousands of persecuted believers throughout church history is that they have counted this as an honor. Peter himself was involved in one of the first beatings, and in Acts 5: 41 “they went out…rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the name.”
Following Him has never been without risks; but identifying with Jesus and His sufferings should also be considered a privilege by those who know Him. We are to reproduce Christ in our lives. Patiently enduring unjust punishment is only one-way of living by the way of the cross and the resurrection. Anytime we put the will of God and the needs of others before our own needs and do so at some cost, we are following the Lord in the way of the cross. The cross is not only the door to the Christian life but also the way of the Christian life. This way is the way of humble self-giving love.
PLEASE READ 1 PETER 3: 1-4, 7.
In the ancient world, a wife was expected to adopt her husband’s religion. When a pagan woman accepted Christ as Lord and her husband did not, a great strain entered her marriage. She could be suspected of disloyalty to her husband in adopting a new faith.
In vs. 1, Peter addressed all wives in the congregations. The context shows, though, that he wrote primarily to women married to non-Christian husbands. “In the same way,” translates a word meaning “similarly.” This word signals that Peter is continuing the theme of submission from 2: 13 and 2: 18.
In Greek, “submit,” indicates a voluntary submission. A wife is to voluntarily honor her husband’s leadership. “So that” introduces the reason for this voluntary submission. Christian acceptance of another’s leadership flows from a far higher motivation than mere subjection to legal authority.
“Even if some disobey the Christian message” refers to non-Christian husbands. Christian wives may win their husbands to Christ without a message by the way they live.
In vs. 2 unsaved husbands might come to Christ when they observe their wives’ pure, reverent lives. Pure translates a word related to the word holy. It means “reverent, venerable, chaste, modest.” Reverent” translates two words meaning “in fear.” These women were to win their husbands to faith in Christ by holy, chaste lives.
In vs. 3 first century Greek and Roman women were given to extravagant jewelry, makeup, hair-styling, and attractive clothing. Excess was what concerned Peter. Scripture does not forbid a measure of adornment of the person, but rather that the wife should not depend on this to make her pleasing and attractive.
In vs. 4 instead of outward extravagance, Christian women should strive to build within themselves an inner beauty. A gentle and quiet spirit lasts forever as opposed to the transient beauty of the self-obsessed on which their contemporaries focused. Such inner beauty is very valuable in God’s eyes. Again, we see the motivation cited in what pleases God.
In Vs. 7 Peter finally addressed husbands. He used the Greek word for “similarly” translated here in the same way to signal he was continuing the same subject. This connecting expression shows that Peter’s instructions, clearly to Christian husbands, are still within the context of submission.
Believing husbands are to live with their wives with an understanding of proper relationships within the family given them from God. In general, wives are physically weaker than their husbands, so men have a responsibility to protect their wives and not abuse them. Morally and spiritually, women are often much stronger than their husbands.
Christian husbands should honor their wives as those who stand beside them as their equal in the new life in Christ. If a husband does not honor his wife this way, his own spirituality and relationship with God is damaged.
Peter did not deal with many issues faced in contemporary marriages, so he didn’t answer every problem women today face. Still, these principles are valid in contemporary marriages.
PLEASE READ 1 PETER 3: 8-9.
The section of Peter’s letter from 2: 13 through 3: 7 focuses on the topic of humble submission to authorities in three dimensions of life: government, the workplace and marriage. In these verses the apostle provided a wrap-up to the general topic, as indicated by the word finally. Finally does not mean the end of the letter, but refers to the concluding words of one section.
It suggests that what follows is not to be divorced from what has gone before, but is the natural result of it.
Peter was writing to all of you, whether a government authority or a citizen, whether a master or a slave, whether a husband or a wife. All believers are to demonstrate the following positive characteristics in whatever arena of life they are facing.
Being like-minded, refers to the thinking together or harmoniously with others, or at least as much as possible. Sympathetic means having mutual feelings with others, especially sharing sorrow. Love believers, refers to having family-like affections for others in the body of Christ.
Compassionate refers to feeling others’ needs and then acting to meet those needs. Rom. 12:15 says, “Christians should rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with those that weep.”
Humble refers to lowliness of mind or attitude that keeps a person from being puffed up or consumed with concerns and desires about self. In spite of 20 centuries of Christians influence, people still give mostly lip service to a humble spirit. The way of most people is putting self first, but Christ calls us to put God and others before ourselves. Rom. 12: 3 reminds each of us “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think.” In fact, Paul went a step further when he wrote in Phil. 2: 3, “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than your-selves.”
Jesus set the example for humility when He, in John 13: 1-15, washed the disciples feet. The cross, of course, is the ultimate expression of selfless humility. (Phil 2: 5-8.)
In contrast to the attitudes of sympathy, compassion, and humility are those attitudes that me-first people exhibit. The natural tendency is to get even with others for their deeds (paying back evil for evil), or for their words (insult for insult). Perhaps Peter was recalling Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, where in Matt 5:39 he said, “I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”
Instead of retaliating, Peter said that Christians were to give a blessing. Blessing is the opposite of cursing or wishing ill on someone. Jesus had explained this also in the Sermon on the Mount when he said in Matt 5:44-45, “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” The best way to deal with enemies is to pray for them and perhaps to lead them to Christ.
In place of returning evil for evil and reviling for reviling we are to bless even our worst opponents, for in so doing we ourselves will be doubly blessed.
God has called His people into certain situations so that they can be giving a blessing to others in this lifetime. Those who do so, especially by forgiving the unforgiving or blessing those who curse them, are giving evidence that they have received God’s forgiveness and will one day inherit a blessing—eternity with God. PLEASE TURN TO CH. 5.
PLEASE READ 1 PETER 5: 5-7.
In 1 Peter 4, one of the main themes is suffering as a Christian. This is next Sunday’s lesson.
It is as we walk in subjection to Him who is meek and lowly in heart that we can appreciate the preciousness of that grace which He gives to the humble. In vs. 5 Peter quoted Prov. 3:34, which says, “Surely, He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble.” Pride is a barrier to all spiritual progress. In the Christians company it should have no place. In the O.T. the proud were arrogant toward God and man. Pride is the opposite of humility. Pride includes an attitude that puts self before others, even before God.
Pride is the opposite of humility. Being humble involves placing our-selves under God’s sovereign control and seeing others as people of worth in God’s eyes. God opposes and finally brings down arrogant people. Because the humble are open to God, He can pour out His grace on them. Jesus’ parable in Luke 18:9-14 of the tax collector and the Pharisee illustrates how a proud man excluded himself and a humble man received divine grace.
The words “one to another” in vs. 5 may go with either be subject or with be clothes with humility. If it is the former, as in the King James Version, Peter was teaching the same as what Paul wrote in Eph. 5:21 which says, “Submitting to one another in the fear of God.” Most translations, however, put these words with be clothed with humility: “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.” Since voluntary submission is an expression of humility, we can conclude that all of us are to be related to one another with humility.
In vs. 6 we are to take the lowly place of unquestioning submission to the will of God now, knowing on the authority of His Word that in the day of manifestation He will take note of all we have endured for His name’s sake, and He will then give abundant award.
Keep in mind that Peter wrote to Christians who were being persecuted by proud, arrogant people. At such times even people of strong faith sometimes wonder why God allows this and how long will it continue. Peter’s answer was that they should yield themselves to God. His mighty hand will rectify the situation in His own time and way.
It is of all importance to realize that God’s heart is ever toward His own. In vs. 7 “He cares for you” and is not an indifferent spectator of our suffering. He feels for us in all our afflictions and bids us cast every care upon Him, assured that He is concerned about all we have to endure. In times of trouble our worries and fears multiply. The antidote for worldly anxiety is humble submission to Almighty God and trust in His goodness. The only way to walk in His steps is to keep our eyes focused on eternity. The Weymouth translation has rendered the last part of this verse 7, “It matters to God about you.” How precious to realize this!
The climax and conclusion of this study is found in 1 Peter 5: 6-7. Every believer has relationships in this life in which the principle of authority and submission is ongoing: government, workplace, marriage, and church. Yet there is another overarching relationship where the same principle is at work—the relationship with God Himself. When believers have first humbled themselves under the mighty hand of God, they will have no difficulty being humble within various human relationships in this life. Why? Because God has promised to exalt such humble brethren in due time. Perhaps this will happen in this lifetime, but probably not. Luke 14: 11 says that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles him-self will be exalted.” If not on earth, then certainly in heaven.
In this Study Theme, we are looking at “Peter’s Principles for Successful Living.” Humility was one of his key principles. In modern books and workshops about successful living, humility is probably not even mentioned. If it is mentioned, it is listed as the opposite to an aggressive drive for recognitions and advancement. Humility is equated with a lack of self-confidence and ambition.
1 Peter 5: 8 says, “Your adversary, the devil…walketh about.” Satan is a real being, a malignant personality, the bitter enemy of God and man. But when we refuse to give place to the Devil, standing firmly at the cross, he flees from us, and his power is broken.
NEXT SUNDAY WE CONCLUDE OUR STUDY OF “PETER’S PRINCIPLES FOR SUCCESSFUL LIVING,”BY ASKING, “HOW CAN I SHOW FAITHFULNESS AND COURAGE WHEN MY ALLEGIANCE TO CHRIST IS RIDICULED?”
THE LESSONS IN SEPTEMBER DEAL WITH “KNOWING GOD BETTER.”
A.V. DAUGHERTY altav@swbell.net http://www.theweeks.org/av/