Peter Writes to Pilgrims \u2014 1 Peter 2:18\u201320 \u2013 Facing Unjust Treatment \u00ab My translation of 1 Peter is to convey the flavour of the Greek rather than to achieve English fluency and literacy. \u00bb \u00ab Leader information shown in this fashion \u00bb<\/p>\n
A. Review
\n 1. Outline, thus far:
\n a. 1:1\u20132 \u2014 Peter\u2019s greeting
\n b. 1:3-5 \u2013 Praise and thanksgiving to God for salvation
\n c. 1:6-9 \u2013 The Testing of Faith
\n d. 1:10-12 \u2013 the Prophecy of Salvation
\n e. 1:13\u201316 \u2013 A Transformed Mind
\n f. 1:17-21 \u2013 The ransom price paid for us
\n g. 1:22-25 \u2013 Three subjects on truth
\n h. 2:1\u20133 \u2013 Feeding on the Word
\n i. 2:4\u20138 \u2013 Founded upon the Rock
\n j. 2:9-12 \u2013 Living as Heavenly Citizens,<\/p>\n
2. Last week, 2:13\u201317 \u2013 Living as Earthly Citizens
\n a. Subjection to Human Authority, 2:13\u201314 \u2013 13 Be obedient to every institution pertaining to humankind for the Lord\u2019s sake; whether to the king as supreme, 14 or unto governors as being sent for his {ie., the king\u2019s} sake in order for the maintenance of justice {or, judgement} of doers of evil and commendation of the doers of good.
\n i. What limits apply to these verses? \u00ab \u2013 obedience is first due to God; the king supreme only in a human sense \u00bb
\n ii. How is this \u2018for the Lord\u2019s sake\u2019? \u00ab \u2013 it gives honour to Jesus Christ and testifies to Him \u00bb<\/p>\n
b. God\u2019s Will in This matter, 2:15 \u2013 15 because this is God\u2019s will: by your doing good to muzzle the ignorance of unthinking persons,
\n i. What is God\u2019s will in your life from this and other passages? \u00ab \u2013 doing good, in this verse; full-hearted, honest work, Ephesians 6:6; our sanctification, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, being thankful, 1 Thessalonians 5:18. \u00bb<\/p>\n
c. Christian Liberty and Servanthood, 2:16\u201317 \u2013 16 as free-born, yet not having this \u2018free-bornness\u2019 as a cloak of evil, but as bond-slaves of God: 17 be respectful of all persons; love the brotherhood; fearfully reverence God; honour the king.
\n i. What is the greatest liberty we have? \u00ab \u2013 Luther, \u2018made free from the wrath of God forever\u2019; Augustine, \u2018to serve God is the highest liberty.\u2019 \u00bb<\/p>\n
B. Unjust Treatment, the Command 1 Peter 2:18
\n 1. Domestic servants, be submissive to your masters {\u2019despots\u2019} in all respectful fear; not just to the good and considerate, but also to the perverse {\u2019twisted\u2019};<\/p>\n
2. Those addressed were usually slaves in those times; does this verse still have application today (cf Philippians 2:15, \u2018that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,\u2019 (NAS))? \u00ab \u2013 yes, we still face similar rebuffs in the perverse world in which we live \u00bb<\/p>\n
3. \u2018Be submissive\u2019 or \u2018subject yourselves\u2019
\n a. Did these people, or we, usually have much control over who should be human masters? \u00ab \u2013 No: slaves were bought, employment may be scarce, a new boss may come \u00bb
\n b. What was under their or our control? \u00ab \u2013 how we respond \u00bb<\/p>\n
4. Ephesians 6:5-8: \u2018Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.\u2019 (NAS) and Colossians 3:22-25 are similar.
\n a. What attitudes are called for by servants? \u00ab \u2013 obedience respect, fear, sincerity, full-heartedness \u00bb
\n b. What promise is given? \u00ab \u2013 reward and recompense from the Lord; this is an encouragement, rather than a motive \u00bb
\n c. What is the overriding consideration? \u00ab \u2013 it is being done to please God, for the sake of Jesus Christ \u00bb<\/p>\n
5. What kind of \u2018respectful fear\u2019 may be involved here?
\n a. 1 Peter 2:16 \u00ab \u2013 to God as His bond-slave \u00bb
\n b. of the master because
\n i. he can \u2026 \u00ab punish \u00bb
\n ii. It may cause him \u2026 \u00ab to think well or respond positively to our testimony. Was this the reason for Nehemiah\u2019s fear before Artaxerxes in Nehemiah 2:2\u20133? \u00bb<\/p>\n
C. Unjust Treatment, the Benefit 1 Peter 2:19
\n 1. for this is to someone\u2019s credit {lit., \u2018grace\u2019}, if for the sake of consciousness {AV \u2018conscience\u2019} of God, he bears up under wrongs, suffering unjustly;<\/p>\n
2. Where does the real credit belong? \u00ab \u2013 to God, the Holy Spirit, for the fruit He produces in the believer\u2019s life (Galatians 5:22-23). But there is, nevertheless, an acknowledgement or an acceptance by God of this kind of behaviour on the part of the believer. \u00bb<\/p>\n
3. What is the general result of consciousness of God in \u2026
\n a. \u2026 Isaiah 6:5 \u2018Then I said, \u201cWoe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.\u201d\u2019 (NAS)? \u00ab \u2013 our sinful state before God \u00bb
\n b. \u2026 John 16:8 \u2018And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment\u2019 (NAS)? \u00ab \u2013 our sin and what God requires of us, our duty \u00bb
\n c. \u2026 Romans 8:16 \u2018The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God\u2019 (NAS)? \u00ab \u2013 for a believer, his filial relationship to God \u00bb<\/p>\n
4. Discuss whether it is wrong to do things primarily from a sense of duty rather than love (consider Jeremiah 20:9 \u2018But if I say, \u201cI will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name,\u201d Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it.\u2019 (NAS)). \u00ab \u2013 God would prefer our doing it from love but sometimes uses other means \u00bb<\/p>\n
5. \u2018Suffering unjustly\u2019 \u2013 the slave-servant was considered a piece of property, so what did not exist in this situation? \u00ab \u2013 an ability to complain to authority, etc., about one\u2019s treatment \u00bb<\/p>\n
6. What is the converse to this verse as found in Ephesians 6:9 \u2018And, masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.\u2019 (NAS)? \u2026
\n a. \u2026 how we treat \u2026 \u00ab our employees, subordinates \u00bb
\n b. \u2026 what if we don\u2019t have these? \u00ab \u2013 how we deal with those obligated by their responsibilities to serve us (waitress, &c) \u00bb<\/p>\n
D. Unjust Treatment, the Definition 1 Peter 2:20
\n 1. for what kind of fame is it, if sinning and being punched {\u2019fisted, struck with the fist\u2019} for it, you should endure it? But, if doing good and suffering for it you should endure it, this is creditable {lit., grace} before {ie., in the presence of} God.<\/p>\n
2. What is the contrast between in this verse? \u00ab \u2013 between merited suffering and martyr suffering. \u00bb<\/p>\n
3. What is the principle behind this statement that is also found in Luke 32-34 \u2018And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, in order to receive back the same amount.\u2019 (NAS)? \u00ab \u2013 the good deeds of the Christian should be of markedly different character and motivation from those of the world if they are to bear the adequate testimony to our Saviour that He deserves. \u00bb<\/p>\n
4. Is suffering a blessing in itself?
\n a. What makes it so, Acts 4:20 \u2018for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.\u2019 (NAS)? \u00ab \u2013 that it\u2019s for the Jesus\u2019 sake \u00bb
\n b. What qualifications does Jesus make, Matthew 5:10\u201312 \u2018Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.\u2019 (NAS)? \u00ab \u2013 it be for the sake of righteousness, it be false accusations, it be for Jesus\u2019 sake \u00bb<\/p>\n
5. Some discussion questions
\n a. Does this instruction apply beyond the employee\/employer relationship? \u2026 how?
\n b. Does this mean the Christian should be a \u2018door-mat\u2019?
\n c. Should the Christian take legal recourse against criminal abuse? \u2026 why or why not?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Peter Writes to Pilgrims \u2014 1 Peter 2:18\u201320 \u2013 Facing Unjust Treatment \u00ab My translation of 1 Peter is to convey the flavour of the Greek rather than to achieve English fluency and literacy. \u00bb \u00ab Leader information shown in this fashion \u00bb A. Review 1. Outline, thus far: a. 1:1\u20132 \u2014 Peter\u2019s greeting b. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4540,4542,4541,268,4543,482],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5139"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5139"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5139\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.churchedge.com\/illustrations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}