Pastor David B. Curtis
Pastor David B. Curtis
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Good morning, Bereans. We are continuing our study of 1 Peter this morning and will be looking at verse 13 of chapter 2. In this part of Peter's letter (2:13 through 4:11), he gives advice concerning Christian behavior in the world.
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:12 ESV
Peter says that your behavior is to be honorable among the ethnos (the nations). He means the unsaved world. Why? Unbelievers are watching! How believers live and react to the common struggles of life are loud witnesses to all who know them. A Christians need to maintain a reputation so that there is absolutely no reason for people to criticize and condemn them. People may criticize and condemn them anyway, but it will be unjustified.
I need to begin this morning by saying something that I say frequently, but it is something you must particularly hear in our study of Peter 2:13. You, all of you, every one of you, are called to be Bereans.
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:10-11 ESV
Like the Bereans, we must not believe anything that we hear but must examine the Scriptures for ourselves. Therefore, please question what I say, think it through, study it out and see if what I'm saying lines up with scripture. If it does, believe it; if it doesn't, discard it, and then confront me with what you see as my error.
We're going to talk today about submission. Some think that Christians, belonging to the Kingdom of God, should have nothing to do with the rulers and authorities of this world. Others declare that loyalty to nation and government is a prime responsibility of the Christian. What is to be our attitude and response to the government of our country? This vitally important question has been asked throughout the history of the Church. Christians always have been faced with a struggle in this matter because the Church has found itself under all kinds of governments and rulers with different perspectives of leadership.
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 1 Peter 2:13 ESV
“Be subject”—is from the Greek word hupotasso, which comes from two Greek words: the word hupo ("under”) and tasso ("to set in place”). In other words, the word means to set something in place under something else. It's a military term meaning "to line up, to take your orders." In the context, it is talking about submitting to the authority of someone over you. So, Peter is saying, "Be willing to place yourself in a position under your authority. Be in that position of being submissive."
Hupotasso is in the present tense, indicating this is to be a lifestyle. The mood is imperative and is, therefore, a command. It is also in the middle voice, signifying that the believer initiates the act of submitting and participates in the effects or results of that submission. It conveys the idea of the believer putting themself under the authority, not by compulsion, but willingly. The middle voice also conveys a reflexive sense and can be translated as "subject yourselves." In any case, the idea of submission is that of a voluntary attitude and action based upon one's recognition of Yahweh's ordained order.
Subjection is a common theme of Peter. He uses the word six times in the five chapters of First Peter. He uses it in our text and in 2:18 he says: “Servants, be subject to your masters.” In 3:1 he declares, “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands.” In 3:5 he instructs them that they do this, “by submitting to their own husbands.” In 3:22 he writes, “and powers having been subjected to him.” And in 5:5 he states, “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.” Hupotasso is used 43 times in the New Testament.
To whom are believers to submit? Peter says, to "every human institution"—"every” here is the Greek word pas which, according to Strong's, means, “all, any, every, the whole.” He could have said "most human institutions, or the honorable and just human institutions" but he said, “every human institution."
The word “human” is the Greek word anthrōpinos which according to Strong's means, “human, common to man, man[-kind], [man-]kind, men's, after the manner of men.”
The word “institution” comes from the Greek word ktisis. It occurs 20 times in the New Testament and is translated as either "creation" or "creature," 19 of those times. Only here is it translated as “institution.” At times it is used for the physical creation, but it is also used for mankind.
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:15 ESV
Here "creation" is ktisis, and it is obvious it doesn't mean physical creation. They were to preach to people.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Here believers are made a new creation—the Church, the body of Christ. We are no longer in the body of Adam but are new in Christ.
For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. Galatians 6:15 ESV
Creation here is ktisis. Believers are a creation of God.
So, ktisis occurs 20 times in the New Testament and without exception, they all refer to God's act. Never in the New Testament does ktisis refer to something man has made or man does. In its biblical usage. this term always refers to something that God has done. So, it doesn't seem likely that ktisis would refer to something that humans create in 1 Peter 2:13. Rather, the term very likely means human creation. We could put it this way: “Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human creation, whether it be to the emperor as supreme or to governors as sent by him.”
Is verse 13 to be understood as calling for submission to all people, all human beings? No, because the immediate application that Peter puts on it is this: “whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him.” Peter is applying subjection to governors and emperors. Peter goes on in the letter in 2:18 to say, “Servants, be subject to your masters.” In 3:1 he says, “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands.” I believe that Peter is instructing them to, “Be subject to the governors, emperors and authorities whom God has created.” We are to be subject because God has put these leadplace.
Believers, we could say that civil government is the work of God. Remember that in this context Nero is on the throne and Christians are being thrown to the lions and burned at the stake. It seems like an ideal time to fight back, but that is not what Peter teaches the Christians to do. He tells them to submit to the unjust authorities in leadership.
The sovereign Lord who decrees every event in time has put in place all authority.
Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; Daniel 2:20-21 ESV
Yahweh sets up and removes kings. Is that just kings or would it include presidents?
You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, Daniel 2:37 ESV
Who gave Nebuchadnezzar his kingdom? The God of heaven.
The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.' Daniel 4:17 ESV
The Most High, Yahweh, rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he wills.
that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. Daniel 4:25 ESV
Yahweh judged Nebuchadnezzar until he recognized that he rules the kingdom of men.
all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” Daniel 4:35 ESV
Yahweh's will is never frustrated, He does as He pleases. He sets up godly and ungodly men to serve His purpose.
“It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me. Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him. All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson, until the time of his own land comes. Then many nations and great kings shall make him their slave. But if any nation or kingdom will not serve this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, declares the LORD, until I have consumed it by his hand. Jeremiah 27:5-8 ESV
All authorities, good and bad, are put in place by the sovereign Yahweh and we are called to submit to them:
Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: “I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. Isaiah 45:1-4 ESV
So, we see that "there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God."
Now that we understand that, let's talk about Authority and Submission:
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 1 Peter 2:13 ESV
Just because someone is in authority over us doesn't mean that they're better than us, or smarter than us, or more qualified than us. Subordination involves no degradation. In other words, a person is not dishonored by being subject to someone else.
But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV
The word "head" is from the Greek word kephale, which means "government or authority." Authority and subordination have nothing to do with essence but, rather, with function. In essence and nature, Christ and Yahweh are equal. But by Yahweh's design, the function of the Son demanded that He submit to the Father in a beautiful act of humiliation.
In marriage, for the sake of function, the woman is to take the place of submission. The man doesn't have to be smarter or have better sense to be in authority. We all know that he usually isn't. He is the authority in the home because God made him the authority. There is no dishonor for the woman to be in subjection to the man.
In government, why do we have to submit to those in authority? Because they're better than everyone else? No! Because there has to be authority and submission, or there will be anarchy, and no society can survive anarchy.
In the church, God has called the pastors/elders to lead and the people to submit. This is not because the elders are better or more spiritual than the people. We are all equal in Christ. There is no clergy/laity division in the church. The pastors are leaders among equals. The pastors are in authority simply because God has called them to lead. It is simply a matter of function.
What is the Importance of submission? Most Christians don't think rebellion is any big deal; we resist authority and don't give it a second thought. How about you, is your life characterized by submission or rebellion? How would you respond if you found out that a Christian friend of yours was involved in witchcraft or idolatry? Would it concern you? Would you talk to them about it?
For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:23 ESV
Why is submission so hard for us? Pride! What was the first sin? In the Garden of Eden, the first sin was pride. The temptation of the serpent came with these words: "You will be like God." The temptation to be like God is greater than we think. We all face it. We resist being subject to law. We squirm when we are placed under too much authority. We love to be free—free of restraints, free of accountability.
Our quest to be like God is a quest to be above law. It is the quest for autonomy. Autonomy means literally "self-law." A person who seeks to be utterly autonomous is a person who seeks to be a law unto himself. He is answerable to no one.
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5 ESV
By nature, we are all rebels. Our pride causes us to rebel against authority. We don't want anyone telling us what to do, especially someone who is not as smart as we are. What I want you to see is that submission is the mark of a Spirit-controlled believer.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:18-21 ESV
The word "filled" here is pleroo, which means "to be controlled by." Submission is the mark of a Spirit-controlled believer. So, in order to overcome our pride, which causes rebellion, we must be controlled by the Spirit.
How are we controlled by the Spirit? I believe the answer is clear if we look at a parallel passage in Colossians 3.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Colossians 3:16-18 ESV
The results are the same in both passages, and so I think it's safe to say that to be controlled by the Spirit, we must have Christ's Word dwelling in us. As we study God's Word and submit to its teaching, the Spirit will empower and control our lives.
Rebellion is a serious sin against God because all power is ordained by God and we are to submit to it. Now, what about those leaders who are not qualified to lead? Surely, we don't have to submit to them, do we? Yes! The Spirit-filled believer is to be submissive no matter who the leadership is.
When I think of submission to church leaders, I think of Bob. I'll never forget Bob and his attitude of submission. He is truly a Spirit-controlled man. The first time he visited the church he spoke to all the pastors. The next week he invited Cathy and me over for dinner and asked me to bring a doctrinal statement and a financial statement. We spent the evening being questioned and going over those statements with a fine-tooth comb. Several weeks later, when they put in an application to join the church, he told me that he was so thorough because when they joined a church, they knew that they were putting themselves under the authority of its leaders.
Bob was a student at Regent University and before signing up for a Wednesday evening class, he came to the pastors to see if we had any objections to it because he would have to miss our Wednesday evening church meeting. Bob understood the principles of authority and submission, and he was greatly used of God in ministry.
King David was aware that all authority came from God, and therefore, he was submissive to it: Paul says believers must submit because there is no authority except that which comes from God and to rebel against the authority is to rebel against God. We see this very clearly in the scenario with David and Saul. David had been anointed as future king, and yet King Saul wanted to kill him. He threw a spear at David, had soldiers come to his house to take him, and chased him through the mountains. Yet David always said this: “I will not touch God's anointed. Who can touch God's anointed and be guiltless?” Look at what he says in 1 Samuel 24.
When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks. And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. And afterward David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD's anointed.” So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way. Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, 'Behold, David seeks your harm'? Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, 'I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed.' See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. 1 Samuel 24:1-12 ESV
David had already been anointed King, but he still viewed Saul as in authority. Saul was a sinful man, but David continued to see him as the Lord's anointed. May the Spirit of God instruct us from the examples in His Word, and may we have the heart of David as displayed in his spirit of submission to authority. This raises the question:
To whom are we to be subject? “To every human institution.” When I am in a store and I see a door with a sign that reads, "Employees only," I shouldn't enter. Not because entering would break some law. I should not enter because the governing authority of that store has said that I am not to enter. And I am called to obey and not resist the authority of the store owner, just as I am called to obey the rules of my neighbor when I am on his property or in his house. We are to obey those who govern our various situations, for example, my neighbor on his property, the security guard at the mall, and the shopkeeper in his store. Christians make the best citizens because they strive to live in submission to authority.
The grandfather of Communism, Georg Hegel, argues that government is divinely sanctioned to do anything it pleases, and that God requires people to submit regardless of natural standards of justice. This argument has been used by virtually every tyrant since the first century, including Adolf Hitler. And so, we have to ask:
Are there limits to submission? Sure, there are. We are never to violate Scripture to submit to anyone.
saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:28-29 ESV
As Christians, no earthly law can supersede the Word of God. When the two clash, God always wins. And when the governing authority extends its reach beyond its defined role, I believe it has become an enemy of God. This is true whether the ruler is the king or a group of neighbors acting as the local faction that is democracy. And it is even true when the ruler is the owner of a store or your neighbor in his backyard.
So, there are limits to authority. A father has authority in his home, but does this give him power to abuse his wife and children? Of course not. An employer has authority on the job, but does this give him power to control the private lives of his employees? No. A pastor has overseer authority in the church, but does this give him power to tell employ his church how to run their businesses? Of course not. All human authority is limited. No man has unlimited authority over the lives of other men.
What happened when Nebuchadnezzar put up the image of himself and commanded everyone to bow to it? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn't bow and so Neb had them thrown into a furnace. But Yahweh preserved them.
We in the United States of America do not live under a monarchy. We have no king or any other single governing official. "The Constitution of the United States" is the supreme law of the Land. "The Constitution" was adopted on September 17, 1787 by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was ratified by conventions in eleven states. It went into effect on March 4, 1789.
The first ten constitutional amendments ratified by three-fourths of the states in 1791 are known as the "Bill of Rights." "The Constitution" has been amended seventeen additional times (for a total of 27 amendments). "The Constitution" guides American society in law and political culture.
Under our laws, every governing official publicly promises to submit to "The Constitution of the United States." Under our laws and form of government, it is the duty of every elected official to obey the U.S. Constitution (and his or her state constitution).
The problem in America today is that our political leaders have violated their oaths of office by ignoring and blatantly disobeying the "supreme Law of the Land.” Our government is loading us up with unlawful laws. I don't believe that we have to submit to these laws because they are unconstitutional.
Amendment IV—"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
"The Patriot Act" violates the Fourth Amendment in every point. This should be the concern of every person because "it violated the Constitution by giving federal authorities unchecked power to obtain the private information" (Swartz, 2004)
"The Patriot Act” allows the federal government to take away the property of a supposed terrorist without notice or the agreement of the judge, even though the person can be innocent. The FBI can search private records within financial institutions. These are our personal documents and by law should be protected and not searched. Officials can also look into personal records such as medical, phone, internet, student or library.
For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, Romans 13:3 ESV
Is this true of our government? If we do what is good will our government praise us? How many of you have ever heard of Dr. Burzynski? Stanislaw Burzynski is a biochemist and a physician. He is founder, president, and chairman of the Burzynski Research Institute Inc., based in Houston and Stafford, Texas. Since December 1976, Burzynski has administered peptides and their metabolites, which he calls antineoplastons, as treatments with anti-cancer activity. He has healed many cancer patients with his treatment. He has had his clinic shut down and been dragged into court over and over again by our government. Why? For helping sick people.
The Gerson clinic operates in Mexico because our government won't allow people to heal with vegetable juice and nutrition. The Gerson's have healed thousands of people, but their brand of medicine is not allowed in the U.S.
If you grow the wrong kind of plant, the government will arrest you and put you in jail. So, our government says that what God created is evil and cannot be used. And yet our government pushes drugs that cause all kinds of adverse effects. Why? Drug companies control government, and they can't make any money if you grow your own marijuana. And why is hemp illegal? Why were January 6th patriots being put in prison for 18 years for peacefully protesting?
It seems to me that our government brings wrath on anyone who disagrees with its practices. Let me ask you a question: Are actions which are sinful for individuals, such as theft, murder, and kidnapping, also sinful even for those who call themselves government? Is it wrong for the government to take from some persons what belongs to them and give it to other persons to whom it does not belong? Is it wrong for the government to benefit one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime?
Take the parable of the Good Samaritan. He sees someone in need and reaches into his own pocket. He may not have been rich. He may have helped the needy at great sacrifice. He did not rob the next passerby to support the victim of the first robbery. When a government-dependent person sees a needy person, he does not take personal responsibility and act at great sacrifice. He looks to the government who robs the next passerby (taxation), pockets half the money, and then hires someone to give the rest to the needy. One act of violence is compounded by another.
The State engages in more theft, murder, and kidnapping than any other group of people, including the criminals from which the State promises to protect us. The State is, without close competition, the greatest thief and mass murderer in the world.
I don't think that I would get much resistance when I say that our government is a mess murderer. The State has way over stepped its bounds, and we are being put in bondage to all the rules and regulations that are imposed upon us. But if we are not happy with the state of our government, maybe we should blame the Church. What if the state of our nation is dependent upon the state of the Church?
The writer of Proverbs put it this way:
When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7 ESV
When the Church is faithful, God changes men. We cannot reform the "State" as an action separate from reforming the Church. If the Church is faithful, God will bless her and there will be good rulers.
James B. Jordan writes, “When Joseph was faithful, Pharaoh converted. When Daniel was faithful, Nebuchadnezzar converted. It was because Judah was wicked that Nebuchadnezzar conquered her. The picture of the world throughout the Old Testament is that Jerusalem is the center of the world and that the faithfulness or faithlessness of God's priestly nation determines the fate of the whole world. The New Testament presents the same picture making the world's fate rest in the hands of the Church.” (www.biblicalhorizons.com/biblical-horizons/no-20-who-rules-the-land-the-meaning-of-the-noahic-covenant-part-2/)
Notice what Yahweh says to Judah through Nehemiah.
Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress. Nehemiah 9:35-37 ESV
Could this be said to America today. Are the rulers that we have a result of the sin of Yahweh's people. A weak Church is not the victim of an evil society. An evil society is the victim of a weak Church. We won't fix this country through an election, but, rather, through the Church's honoring Yahweh through righteousness. If a man like Donald Trump gets in office, it will be because Yahweh put him there as a blessing to His Christ- honoring Church. We need to work to reform the Church, not the government.
So how does Judah fix the situation that they are in?
“Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests. Nehemiah 9:38 ESV
What was the agreement that they put in writing?
join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord and his rules and his statutes. Nehemiah 10:29 ESV
This is how you fix the government; you walk righteously with Yahweh.
So, why is everyone to submit to those in authority. Why?
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 1 Peter 2:13 ESV
"For the Lord's sake." All human authority is delegated and ministerial. This includes the authority of parents, employers, policemen, teachers, church leaders, or any other authority. Anyone who is in a place of authority has had it delegated to him by God. And we are to be submissive people for the Lord's sake.
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