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1 Peter 2:11-17
1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you
as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which
war against the soul;
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the
Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to
the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
1Pe 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles:
that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may
by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in
the day of visitation.
Not every Gentile was given the knowledge of God, so now
Peter speaks of these strangers as brothers and sisters in
Christ who need to be aware of their own behavior among the
Gentiles with whom they live and deal. A great change of
personal behavior, the fruit of the spirit and the light of
Christ should shine forth from these people: Mat 5:16 Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Peter
was present when this great discourse was taught. He passes
along this wisdom, that if the Gentiles, strangers, show
forth the spiritual light, that others in their midst, with
whom God has dealt might be moved to serve and glorify God.
1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every
ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the
king, as supreme;
Peter is not
suggesting we obey any law or regulation that conflicts with
what we’ve been instructed by the scriptures. We read of
his personal rebellions in the book of Acts. What he means
by submission, is that if the law doesn’t overly burden you,
or put you in great conflict, you should submit, that your
quiet disposition be well spoken of by those who observe you
as followers of Christ. Paul is similar in his exhortation
to live peaceably with all men (Rom 12:18) and Tit
3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and
powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
Both men offer good advice which keeps trouble out of our
lives, but Peter is not suggesting submission without
limits.
1Pe 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. 1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that
with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of
foolish men:
That is, by your clean living, obedience to God, you will
advance your life as a light for others to observe. The
ignorance of foolish men, being those who have been born
again but remain entangled in the world, who would use your
liberty as a cloke of maliciousness. You’ve heard these
people who attack the doctrines of grace in a mocking manner
saying “If I believed like you do, I’d go out and sin until
I got my fill.” Such people are ignorant of God’s covenant
and authority and of temporal salvation, to say nothing of
the effects of continuing sin on one’s life.
1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of
maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Paul spoke a great deal throughout his writings of
boasting. Peter acknowledges such can be misconstrued
easily by those who observe our lives. We should not use
our liberty in Christ to elevate ourselves above those with
whom Christ has not dealt, but rather, we should
1Pe 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.
Honour the king.
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