1 Peter 2:16-17

1 Peter 2:16-17 “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. (17) Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”

We are free in Christ. Free from the bondage of sin. However, this does not give us a license to sin, rather, it gives us the freedom and the ability to honor God. To serve Him! This freedom we have been given through the blood of Christ is not to be misused. I like what Chuck Smith says:

“You’re not really free to live after the flesh or the lust of your flesh; you’re free not to live after the lust of your flesh. That’s a freedom the world doesn’t have; they’re bound by their flesh. They’re slaves to their flesh. But freedom that we have in Christ is that we don’t have to live after our flesh anymore. Thank God. What a glorious freedom. So don’t use that freedom just as a cover. Well, I’m free in Jesus. I’m not under law, under grace I’m free. Don’t use that as a cloak for maliciousness.”

Smith, Chuck. “1 Peter 1-2,” C2000 Series. The Word for Today. Blue Letter Bible.

As a result of this awesome freedom we have in Christ we should live to serve God willingly and joyfully. Also, showing everyone respect, loving fellow believers, fearing God, and honoring earthly authorities. We have already seen these principles in previous passages:

• Love the brotherhood – 1 Peter 1:22 “…you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.”
  
• Fear God - 1 Peter 1:17 “…live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.”
• Honor the king - 1 Peter 2:13-15 “Submit yourselves…to every authority instituted among men…”

How many times do we live as free men?  Or do we just act like we have been defeated by sin?  As Christians we are free!  Free to live for Christ!  Wow, what an incredible truth we need to apply to our lives.

 Application:

•  Realize that we are free from the bondage of sin through Christ.
•  Thank God for our freedom through Christ!
•  Be Aware of areas in our lives that we might misuse the freedom we have and STOP.
•  Live as servants of God.
•  Show respect for everyone, Love fellow believers,  Fear God,  Honor authority.

1 Peter 2:13-15

1 Peter 2:13-15 “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, (14) or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. (15) For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.”

This passage looks pretty straight forward to me. We are to submit ourselves to all earthly authority for Christ’s sake. Sounds easy enough right? Well, when you look a bit deeper there is more to be found. First the word submit. According to BlueLetterBible:

This word was a Greek military term meaning “to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader”. In non-military use, it was “a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden“.

What caught my attention about this was the “voluntary attitude of giving in” part. How many times do we submit, yet unwillingly. Begrudgingly we agree to obey, but inside we are revolting. We are to voluntarily submit! That is what pleases Christ.

Next, the phrase “every authority.” The KJV says, “…every ordinance of man…” According to BlueLetterBible the word used for”authorit” and “ordinance” literally means “building or creation.” Out of all the times it is used, it is only used as “ordinance” once in this passage. Pretty interesting. So authority here is implying more then just the laws placed over us by government. It is implying EVERY creation of man that we are under. One of the commentaries I have been consulting regularly has the following to say about this very passage:

13. every ordinance of man–”every human institution” [ALFORD], literally, “every human creation.” For though of divine appointment, yet in the mode of nomination and in the exercise of their authority, earthly governors are but human institutions, being of men, and in relation to men. The apostle speaks as one raised above all human things. But lest they should think themselves so ennobled by faith as to be raised above subordination to human authorities, he tells them to submit themselves for the sake of Christ, who desires you to be subject, and who once was subject to earthly rulers Himself, though having all things subject to Him, and whose honor is at stake in you as His earthly representatives. Compare Rom 13:5 , “Be subject for conscience’ sake.”

Jamieson, Robert; A.R. Fausset; and David Brown. “The First Epistle General of Peter.” Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Blue Letter Bible.

So though Peter has spoken about being strangers in this world, raised above human things, etc… In this passage he is clearly showing us that we are to submit to those placed in authority over us. These human institutions are ordained by God and our submission to them pleases him.

We are also to submit to these authorities voluntarily because it causes those opposed to us to be silenced. Our critics are silenced by our willful obedience. How can they have anything to criticize if we truly live as Christ commands? How much more could those opposed to us criticize us (and rightly so) if we were constantly disobeying or bickering about obeying God ordained authorities?  However, obviously we are not to obey these authorities if what they compel us to do violates what our King of Kings commands.  We must obey God above all else.

Application:

•  Realize  that government and all other forms of human authority are ordained by God.
•  Realize that we should submit willingly to authority because it pleases Christ and silences critics.
•  Willingly submit to authority without grumbling, for Christ’s glory.

1 Peter 2:4-5

1 Peter 2:4-5 “As you come to him, the Living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a Holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

This is illustrating one of the purposes of our salvation, mentioned in the first part of 1 Peter. All of the preceding is required to be made into “spiritual houses.” Without being chosen by God, sanctified by the Spirit, and purified by the blood of Christ, we cannot be made into “spiritual houses” that offer sacrifices pleasing to the Lord. Also, it is only by Christ and through Christ, that we’re even able to make pleasing sacrifices to God. Again the fact that he was chosen and precious to God in the face of this was planned. Christ’s sacrifice was not a knee jerk reaction to our sin.

Chuck Smith references the story of Moses hitting the rock and says this concerning Jesus as the Stone:

Even so, we perishing in the wilderness of sin, ready to die, Jesus smitten for us, the water of life flows forth and we drink and we are saved. We have life. That’s why the second time when they cried to Moses for water and he went in to God and God said, “Speak to the rock and it will bring forth water”. But Moses in his anger went out and he said, “Must I smite this rock again to give you water?” And he smote it the second time, and God said, Moses, that was a mistake that you’re going to have to pay for.

You see, the rock once smitten never needs to be smitten again. Jesus doesn’t have to die again. He doesn’t have to be crucified again. Once smitten, all you have to do to receive the water of life is to speak to the Rock. Just call upon Jesus Christ.

I think it is interesting how he ties the Stone in 1 Peter that is obviously Christ with Christ as the rock in the Old Testament. All you have to do to receive the Living Water is speak to the Stone…

He elaborates on what exactly our spiritual sacrifices to God through Christ should be:

But in Psalm 51, “Sacrifice and offering you take no delight in but the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. And a broken spirit and a contrite heart thou would not despise”. So he speaks of a spiritual sacrifice, a broken spirit before the Lord.

Then in the book of Hebrews chapter thirteen, “Let us then offer unto God the sacrifice of praise, even the fruit of our lips unto him” (Hebrews 13:15). So the spiritual sacrifices that we offer to God are our praises unto Him. Coming before Him with a broken heart, offering our praises to God.”

Smith, Chuck. “1 Peter 1-2” C2000 Series. The Word for Today. Blue Letter Bible. 7 Aug 2005. 3 Mar 2008.

Application:

• We are to continually draw near to God.
• Realize that Christ was chosen by God to save us. He is precious to God.
• Offer sacrifices of praise and a broken/contrite heart to God through Christ.
• Realize that the giving up of ourself is the first sacrifice that must be made to God

“Among spiritual sacrifices the first place belongs to the general oblation of ourselves. For never can we offer anything to God until we have offered ourselves ( 2Cr 8:5 ) in sacrifice to Him. There follow afterwards prayers, giving of thanks, alms deeds, and all exercises of piety” [CALVIN]

Jamieson, Robert; A.R. Fausset; and David Brown. “The First Epistle General of Peter.” Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Blue Letter Bible. 19 Feb 2000. 3 Mar 2008.

1 Peter 1:22

1 Peter 1:22 ” Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth [through the Spirit - KJV] for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly [deeply - NIV] from a pure heart,” ESV

First some observations about a few words:

Obedience – This is the same word used in verses 2 & 14

Truth – Used 110x in the New Testament!

Through – Some of the definitions that caught my eye: 1c) by means of ;
2a) the ground or reason by which something is or is not done

Sincere – “unfeigned” in KJV - without hypocrisy

Brotherly Love – Philadelphia

Love one another – Agapao; used in v. 8 of our love for God

Earnestly – “fervently” – KJV - Comes from a root word that means “stretch out the hand” – to be stretched out – earnest, resolute, tense

After purifying ourselves by obedience (that is obedience to Christ), which is mentioned in verses 2 and 14, we should have a sincere love for our brothers (in Christ). So it seems that the result, or rather one result, of our obedience to Christ (truth) is the development of a sincere love. Not just superficial “I love you” type love, but an unfeigned or non hypocritical love, a love that can only come from the Spirit. This love his only the first step. Apparently there is a progression of love pictured here, a progression from sincere brotherly love, to an earnest, deep, love that comes from a pure heart. It seems that all has come before is a prerequisite for this love. You first must be chosen by God, sanctified by the Spirit, and obey Christ. Then a sincere brotherly love will grow, and eventually a Godly or Agape love will come from a pure heart. The fact that we are commanded to love seems to indicate that we have a choice in the matter. So this love is a choice, not merely a feeling.

Application

• Purify ourselves by obeying Christ, who is THE TRUTH.
• Choose to love one another sincerely through the Spirit, not quenching the spirit in our lives.
• Choose love earnestly and deeply realizing that it is only by God’s grace and power that we are able to do so.
• Rely on God: ask for His help and His love.

1 Peter 1:20-21

v. 20 “He was chosen [foreknown] before the creation of the world, but was revealed [made manifest] in these last times for your sake.”

I started out my time looking up a few of the words that caught my eye. Not neccessarily because I don’t know what they mean, but because I want to understand more their meaning in context with the rest of the chapter. Also, because words we use so often become less meaningful or come to mean something completely different over time. Many times I find that I know what a word means, but cannot easily put the meaning into words. Sometimes simply looking at other places where the word is used can help us understand.

Chosen – “Elect”- [or as the KJV uses foreknown] – This word is also used in Romans 8:29; 11:2 in reference to God’s elect

Creation- [foundation in the KJV] – Used the same way in the in 10 other verses “…creation [foundation of the world]…”

Last – Same word used in 1 Peter 1:5

Times – Same word used in 1 Peter 1:17

v. 21 “Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”

Hope – This is the same word used in 1 Peter 1:3 when Peter refers to our “Living Hope”

Jesus Christ was chosen before time began, before even the world was made to take our place. To redeem us by His precious blood. To be our “Living Hope.” Even though God knew full well our rebellious and evil nature. Also, for whatever reason God chose to wait until “these last times” to reveal Christ. This shows that the coming of Jesus was of His timing, which we have to trust is the best timing.
Verse 21 goes on to emphasize the fact that it is through Christ that we have access to God. We are only able to come to Him through Christ. Through Him we have belief and faith in God. Our fellowship with God is restored. God is ultimately the person we believe in and seek, but ONLY through Christ. He raised Christ from the dead and glorified Him. So we place our faith and hope in God. He is our “Living Hope.” However, we can only have all of this through Christ and His blood, His precious blood that purchased our Salvation.

Other Opinions

When using the Inductive method of Bible study I like to read the opinions of others after I pray, read, and think about a scripture. Here are some insights I thought interesting from two sources I read today:

v. 20

“God’s eternal foreordination of Christ’s redeeming sacrifice, and completion of it in these last times for us, are an additional obligation on us to our maintaining a holy walk, considering how great things have been thus done for us….Redemption was no afterthought, or remedy of an unforeseen evil, devised at the time of its arising.”

It is incredible for me to know that God did not just throw this plan together at the last minute. Every detail was planned out and ordained by Him. Our Salvation through Christ was not a knee jerk reaction to the fall that took hundreds of years to plan and execute…wow.

v. 21

“The raising of Jesus by God is the special ground of our “believing”: (1) because by it God declared openly His acceptance of Him as our righteous substitute; (2) because by it and His glorification He received power, namely, the Holy Spirit, to impart to His elect “faith”: the same power enabling us to believe as raised Him from the dead. Our faith must not only be IN Christ, but BY and THROUGH Christ. “

Jamieson, Robert; A.R. Fausset; and David Brown. “The First Epistle General of Peter.” Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Blue Letter Bible. 19 Feb 2000. 28 Feb 2008.

Also, in a message on 1 Peter I read a section of Chuck Smith ties the mention of Christ’s sacrifice in with Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Application

• All of this gives us more reason to seek a Holy Life, to please God, and to Love Him.
• Realize that He was chosen for our sake before the world began. This is the ultimate expression of love. (Romans 5:8)
• Realize Christ was revealed at the appropriate time. His sacrifice was not a knee jerk reaction to our sin.
• Realize our faith is not only IN Christ but BY and THROUGH Him. Also, our Living Hope is in God, through Christ.
• Believe in God through Christ.