Lesson 10

An Attitude Of Submission To Authority

I Peter 2:13-17

I encourage you to open your Bible to I Peter 2 where today we will be considering what God's Word speaks to us in verses 13-17.

Verse 13 begins a rather long section on the subject of submission. This is the second command in the section of I Peter.

The first command, found in vs. 11-12 (last week's message), was summed up in one word - "abstain." Our flesh would much rather indulge than abstain. But we must "walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

The second command, in today's text, can also be summed up in one word. Verse 13 - "Submit!" Let's read what Peter writes in 2:13-17. When it comes to submission and our struggle, it is not so much that we are wrestling with our flesh at it is that we wrestling with our will.

We'd rather indulge than abstain and we'd rather fight than submit. Submission means that we are surrendering to someone else's will rather than having our own will done.

Each of us comes equipped from the factory with a will. (Some have stronger one than others but we all have one.) My will = this is what I want to happen. This is the when I want it to happen. This is the way I want it to happen. This is my will.

And there are various ways of getting "my will" accomplished. One, is to use the strong arm tactic. Two toddlers are playing. One has a toy. The other one wants it. He is bigger. So he simply takes it away from the other child. With maturity we probably grow out of the habit of physically forcing our will to be done but we have strong arm tactics. Some have various ways of intimidating others to yield to their will. They are physically intimidating and they use that to their advantage. Or maybe they are economically more powerful and they use their economic power to force their will. Or perhaps they are mentally superior and want to argue their will into being. Or even stubbornness can be a strong arm tactic. Some people are so stubborn that they just wear you down until you give in to their will.

If the strong arm approach doesn't work then there are various forms of manipulation tactics used to get one's will done. It may be that they cloud up and rain, they cry and squall and bawl and it's really just a form of manipulation. They may try to make you feel guilty. If these things don't work then they just quit to let you know that aren't to their suiting. They may undercut you and try to turn others to their way of thinking and against you. They may cut off communication. It's all manipulation. It's all wanting their will to be done.

Sometimes we see something that we want to change to suit our way of thinking and we go through the proper channels to produce the change and it still doesn't happen. When we respond wrongly, it is probably a sub-mission problem.

We are very good at justifying our lack of submission. We convince ourselves and try to convince others that it is someone else's fault and I am doing what is righteous when really, we have an attitude problem. We have a submission problem. This problem can make us proud and arrogant, angry and hostile and can keep us, at times, from being "teachable".

To submit, literally, means to place yourself beneath another. Submission, then, is when we consciously put ourselves and our will beneath someone else's. It's pretty tough to do. If given a choice, we'd rather not.

But Peter says, "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake." This is the command. This command is for every Christian. Submission isn't just for wives and children, it is for every Christian. Before telling wives to submit to husband and children to submit to parents, Paul said that we all should be (Ephesians 5:21) "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." The kind of "missionary" that every Christian needs to be is a "sub-missionary"!

The Bible indicates that God has established a chain of command for all of life. In the home, there must be authority and submission, in the church also, as well as, on the job and in the society at large - everywhere there a chain of command and it is God who has ordained this. Romans 13:1 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."

Now, in our text, Peter is writing to people who were suffering under their authorities. Some of these Christians were slaves and their masters were unsaved and abusive. Some of these Christians were women and their husbands were unsaved and belligerent and despotic. These Christians were citizens of a pagan society which hated and harassed and hurt Christians. Surely Christians weren't suppose to be submissive under such wicked authorities! Peter, who himself, earlier in his life had had a problem with this (remember the sword and ear incident) writes "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake."

And then from 2:13 - 3:12, he applies this principle of submission to civil authority (2:13-17), to the workplace (2:18-20), to Christ (2:21-25), to wives and husbands (3:1-7) and in our relationship with other Christians (3:8-12).

Specifically, our text for today tells us to be submissive to civil authority. Peter says that we are to "submit to every ordinance of man." The word for ordinance doesn't mean every law of man. If obeying the law means that you sin, then you must disobey the law and suffer the consequences (Daniel in the lions den; First church preaching the gospel). This word for ordinance is found 19 times in the New Testament and this is the only place where it is translated "ordinance". One place is translated building but mostly it is translated "creation" or "creature" (II Corinthians 5:17). It has to do with the institution of authority rather than with the individual laws or rulings. In every institution of man, a Christian should be submissive - every form of government be it a democracy or a dictatorship, be it local, regional or national, every ordinance of man is to have the submission of Christians. We do not get to pick and choose whom we will submit to.

Someone reading Peter's letter might get the idea that since we are "strangers and pilgrims upon the earth", since our "citizenship is in heaven" we don't have to pay any attention to the institutions of man. But, Peter goes on to explain otherwise.

In fact, Peter gives us a list of those to whom we must submit our will if we are to be obedient to Christ with regard to civil authority.

He says, "whether it be to the king, as supreme; 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." Who was King when Peter wrote these words? The Emperor of Rome at this point in history was Nero. Nero became emperor of Rome at age 17. He was a maniac, a murderer and a homosexual. At age 31, he committed suicide. But during his 14 year reign, he martyred Paul and Peter. And Peter said, "Submit yourself ... to the king." Proverbs 24:21 "My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change." (See Jeremiah 29:4-7).

Peter just keeps saying it over and over. Submit to governors whose are suppose to punish evildoers and praise doers of good deeds. (But evil leaders often get that backwards). Still we are to submit. And look at verse 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Peter tells us to submit ourselves, and he also tells us why. In fact, there are several reasons given for having a submissive attitude. Submission is more than a act. It is mostly an attitude. You can obey without really being submissive. Peter is focusing on the right attitude.

Reason #1 - To Obey The Lord

We are to be submissive to those who are authority in our lives. We are to do it "for the Lord's sake" meaning that it is a matter of obedience. If you do not have a submissive attitude, then you are in disobedience and sin. You cannot justify your sin by pointing at the sin of another who is over you. Just because your authority is disobedient, doesn't give you permission or justification for disobedience.

Reason #2 - To Silence Your Critics

Look at verse 15. The reason why this (submission) is the will of God, is that by honoring authority we give our critics less ammunition to use in criticizing us. They may be foolish and ignorant but they still talk about us and criticize us. But a real attitude of submission can serve to silence them.

Reason #3 - Because We Are The Servants Of God.

Notice verse 16. There is a great emphasis these days on our liberty in Christ. "I have liberty in Christ ... I don't have to live by the rules of men." When it comes to civil government, I have heard things like, "I don't have to pay taxes because I am a citizen of heaven" or 'because I have declared myself to a sovereign nation." I don't have to obey trespass laws at an abortion clinic protest because everything belongs to my Father and all that's His is mine." That kind of reasoning is wrong.

Verse 16 warns us about using our liberty to cover evil, "as a cloak of maliciousness." In fact, nearly every mention of Christian liberty comes with a warning label against misusing your liberty. 1 Corinthians 8:9 "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak." Galatians 5:13 "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."

We must remember that, no matter how free we are in Christ, we are "the servants (bondslaves) of God." Submission to the ordinances of man with the right attitude is actually being a servant of God.

Reason #4 - To Imitate Christ

Verse 21 is not a part of our text for this message. In days to come, the Lord willing, we will examine this section more closely and thoroughly. But I want to mention it in this message simply because it is another reason for having a submissive attitude.

When you are submissive, you are not only obeying the Lord, you are also imitating the example that Christ purposely left us.

Although Christ lived under the pagan Roman government, He did not attack its rulers. He did not speak inappropriately - no guile, no reviling, no threats. He submitted to government edicts even to the point of death.

Beloved, the most important thing is not getting your will done, accomplishing your agenda. The more important thing is that you demonstrate a submissive attitude to every one (home, school, church, work, government) who God has placed as an authority in your life.