1 Peter 2:11–17

Explore the Bible
Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, University of Mobile

LIVING AS STRANGERS

1 Peter 2:11–17

Remember What You Are: Abstain (11)
As Christians we must constantly remind ourselves of what we are. We are God’s beloved. Our love relationship to Jesus Christ ought to be motivation enough for us to live godly lives in this godless world.  

Not only are we loved by God, we are also sojourners and exiles living in a Genesis 3 world. We are resident aliens who have our citizenship in another country — heaven. We are also soldiers involved in a spiritual battle. There are desires of the flesh that war against us and want to enslave us. Our real battle is not with people around us but with sinful desires within us. These passions of the flesh are the natural desires human beings have apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. Although the fight is ferocious, we must say no to the passions of the flesh through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Remember Who You Are: Excel (12)

Christians say no to the passions of the flesh so they can keep their conduct honorable among unsaved people they live and work with each day. If we are going to witness to unsaved people around us, we have to live differently than non-Christians. We need to stand out like a diamond in a coal mine.

Too many professing Christians sow wild oats all week long and show up at church on Sunday to pray for crop failure. Too many who say they are believers quote the Bible by the yard but live it by the inch. They are long on lip and very short on life. It becomes very confusing to a lost world when people who claim to follow Christ do not obey the commands of Christ.  

The watching world should be able to see clearly your good deeds. Christians are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone. Peter exhorted believers to live noble lives because in doing so unbelievers will see their good deeds, and some of them will repent and believe and therefore glorify God on the day of visitation. Some unbelievers will be saved when they observe the godliness of believers.

Remember Where You Are: Submit (13–14)

How should Christians respond to the social structures of the day? Since Jesus is their Lord, should they ignore human and governmental institutions? Peter wrote to instruct believers to submit to the emperor and those governing authorities appointed by him. They were to submit to governing authorities because of their new relationship to God, for in obeying the government they carry out God’s will. Further, by doing good in the public square they would contradict those who claimed that Christians practice evil.  

Submit to the governing authorities. Line up under their authority. Obey their laws and commands. Peter’s teaching here is consistent with Paul’s teaching in Romans 13. 

But Christians must keep in mind that the authority of rulers is not absolute. They do not infringe upon God’s lordship, and hence they should be disobeyed if they command Christians to disobey God’s will.    

Christians ought to be good citizens by obeying the laws of their government “for the Lord’s sake.” God is glorified as believers obey duly enacted laws that do not contradict clear commands of Scripture. We are to submit not only to the highest authority (the emperor) but to all those who are in authority.  

Remember Whose You Are: Honor (15–17)

By doing good and submitting to the government, Christians demonstrate that they are good citizens, not anarchists. They extinguish the criticisms of those who are ignorant and revile them. Freed by God’s grace, Christians are free to do what is right, not free to sin.

This section ends with four commands. Christians should treat everyone with dignity and respect. There is a special bond between Christians that is best described in terms of family. We are to love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Believers fear God. Our ultimate loyalty is to God.