Anthony Gammage ~ 1 Peter 2:11-17
Sermon Quotes
1 Peter 2:11-17 (ESV)
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 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. Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
1 Peter 2:11a
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles…
Philippians 3:20–21
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
“Rather than understanding “strangers” as describing the believer’s transitory life on the earth as a journey toward their heavenly home, it should be understood primarily as defining the relationship between the Christian and the unbelieving society.
-Tim Chester and Steve Timmis – Everyday Church
| Jerusalem | Exile |
| 1. Dominant Culture | 1. Minority Culture |
| 2. Building a kingdom within a kingdom | 2. Seeking the prosperity of an alien kingdom |
| 3. Expectations of comfort & security | 3. Expectations of discomfort & insecurity |
| 4. Identity taken for granted | 4. Identity challenged |
| 5. Inward orientation | 5. Outward orientation |
| 6. Triumphalist attitude toward surrounding cultures | 6. Servant attitude toward surrounding cultures |
1 Peter 1:11b-12
…to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 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
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Jeremiah 29:7
But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare
1 Peter 1:13-15, 17
Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people… Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Romans 13:1
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Mark 12:17
“Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
1 Peter 2:16
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
Hebrews 13:12–16
So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.