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  • Suffering Like the Savior (1 Peter 2:18-25)

    Whether intentional or not, much of our evangelism and sharing the gospel has neglected the reality of suffering in the Christian life. Truly, the gospel is the Good News! Yet, the fear of failing to share the truth of suffering for the faith paints a rosy-colored portrait of Christianity that is simply false. Your best life is not now but is the life to come. Certainly, there is great joy to be found in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, but the means of growing in that relationship is not through self-comfort but through Son-conformity (Romans 8:28-29). This usually occurs by the means of suffering. Suffering does not only grow us to be more like Christ but it can also be a tool to point others to Christ. This is what Peter is getting at after his exhortation on living honorably by submitting to governmental authority. Christians glorify God by honoring those who are in authority over them. He now adds for servants to be subject to their masters. The same principle applies: we must submit to those in authority. Of course, the objection still is quickly raised, “But what if those in authority are unjust?” Peter’s answer is consistent: submit. To be clear, this is not a call to be passive and to take abuse without seeking help. Rather, the call is to suffer even when one may not deserve it. In other words, it is an exhortation to endure unjust suffering because it highlights the grace of God in seeking to glorify God. How does it do that? By reminding us of the person and work of Christ and calling us to follow His example. Christ is the one who faced the ultimate unjust suffering, dying a death on the cross He did not deserve and absorbing the wrath of God we deserved for our rebelling against Him. The sinless Savior suffered for us so that we could be saved, and only then can we follow His example (2:21). Therefore, even in our suffering we follow Christ. To suffer like the Savior means we do not respond in sin and deceit (2:22) and we do not repay in condemnation or threats (2:23a), but we entrust ourselves to God. When we personally face unjust suffering, we leave it in the hands of the Just Judge (2:23). In all honesty, to not seek revenge can be difficult, if not impossible. Without the power of God by the Holy Spirit, that is true. For Christians, though, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us to empower and enable us to do what we cannot do in our own power. We know we can trust God, the Just Judge, by looking to the cross (Romans 3:26). Christ died for us and rose again so that “we might die to sin and live to righteousness” (2:24). The righteous way of life is trusting in Christ and we do that by suffering for Him and point others to Him in our suffering. It is by His sacrifice we are healed and it is by His shepherding we are reconciled to the Father (2:25). Because of His suffering and glory, we can receive salvation and suffer like the Savior.

    Reflection Questions:
    How does the reality of suffering in the Christian life affect the way you respond to hardships and the way you share the gospel with others?
    How can the church be a better witness of responding to suffering in the Christian life?

  • Honrando a la Autoridad (1 Pedro 2:13-17)

    La semana pasada vimos la identidad y la misión que los cristianos deben tener en su relación con Dios y con el mundo. Un mandato particular que el apóstol Pedro dio a estos cristianos que sufrían fue que mantuvieran su conducta honorable entre los incrédulos para que éstos llegaran a conocer y glorificar a Dios (2:12). Sin embargo, Pedro no deja ese pensamiento allí. Él va más allá de las generalidades y se pone específico sobre cómo estos cristianos pueden vivir vidas tan honorables. El primer lugar donde comienza es con la autoridad. Pedro dice: “Someteos, por causa del Señor, a toda institución humana, ya sea al rey, como superior, o a los gobernadores, como enviados por él para castigar a los malhechores y alabar a los que hacen el bien” (2:13). En otras palabras, Pedro está diciendo a estos seguidores de Cristo que se sometan a la autoridad del gobierno.

    Al observar los desafíos morales de nuestra cultura, sería fácil objetar el mandato de Pedro. Sin embargo, Pedro está hablando en una época en que Nerón era el emperador. Aunque la persecución física probablemente aún no había comenzado, no cabe duda de que los cristianos eran marginados y criticados por su fe. Y, aun así, Pedro llama a los cristianos a ser obedientes a la autoridad. Pero, ¿qué pasa si el gobierno no cumple su deber de castigar al malvado y alabar al que hace el bien? La pauta general aquí es que debemos obedecer la autoridad que Dios ha dado a nuestros líderes, pero cuando estos líderes contradicen claramente las Escrituras y nos exigen seguirles, debemos decir con Pedro y los demás apóstoles: “Es necesario obedecer a Dios antes que a los hombres” (Hechos 5:29). Nuestra autoridad suprema es Dios, pero debemos entender que Él también ha puesto a personas en autoridad. El gobierno es una de esas esferas.

    Notemos, entonces, que esta obediencia a la autoridad gubernamental no carece de propósito. Pedro continúa: “Porque esta es la voluntad de Dios: que haciendo el bien hagáis callar la ignorancia de los hombres insensatos. Como libres, pero no como los que tienen la libertad como pretexto para hacer lo malo, sino como siervos de Dios” (2:15-16). En el contexto del sufrimiento y la burla, obedecemos la autoridad para que nuestras vidas honorables sean un testimonio al mundo acerca de Cristo. Nuestra libertad no nos da licencia para pecar, sino la oportunidad de hacer el bien y vivir como siervos de Dios.

    ¿Cómo vivimos como siervos cristianos buenos y honorables en medio de una cultura hostil? Primero, honramos a todos. No debemos olvidar que todo hombre y toda mujer han sido creados a imagen de Dios. Segundo, amamos a la hermandad. El mundo sabrá que somos discípulos de Cristo por el amor que tenemos los unos por los otros (Juan 13:34-35). En tercer lugar, vivimos vidas buenas y honorables temiendo a nuestra autoridad suprema mientras honramos la autoridad humana que Él ha puesto sobre nosotros. Solo Dios es digno de nuestra admiración. Solo Dios es digno de nuestra adoración. Le adoramos a través de nuestra obediencia a Él, lo cual incluye honrar la autoridad humana que Él coloca sobre nosotros. Cuando vivimos vidas tan honorables ante los demás, los señalamos hacia Aquel que es el Señor y quien, por Su gracia, los salva cuando responden con arrepentimiento de sus pecados y ponen su fe en Él.

    Preguntas para Reflexión:

    • ¿Con qué frecuencia consideras cómo puedes honrar y orar por los líderes del gobierno en lugar de quejarte de ellos?
    • ¿Cómo puedes, por el poder del Espíritu Santo, poner en práctica 1 Pedro 2:17 en tu propia vida?

  • Honoring Authority (1 Peter 2:13-17)

    Last week we looked at the identity and mission Christians should have in their relationship with God to the world. One particular command the Apostle Peter gave was for these suffering Christians to keep their conduct among unbelievers honorable so that they will come to know and glorify God (2:12). Peter does not leave this thought there, however. Peter goes beyond generalities and gets specific on how these Christians can live out such honorable lives. The first place he starts is with authority. Peter says, “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” (2:13). In other words, Peter is telling these followers of Christ to submit to governmental authority. As we look out and see the moral challenges of our culture, it would be easy to object to Peter’s command. However, Peter is speaking in a time when Nero was Emperor. While physical persecution had probably not begun, there was no doubt Christians were being ostracized and criticized for their faith. And, yet, Peter calls for Christians to be obedient to authority. But what if government is not doing its duty to punish the evil and to praise the good? The general guideline to give here is that we must obey the authority God has given to our leaders but when these leaders clearly contradict Scripture and demand we follow, we must say with Peter as did the other apostles, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Our ultimate authority is God but we must understand He has put people in authority too. Government is one arena of that. Notice, then, this obedience to government authority is not without purpose. Peter continues, “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” (2:15-16). In the context of suffering and ridicule, we obey authority so that our honorable lives may be a witness to the world about Christ. Our freedom does not give us a license to sin but gives us the opportunity to do good and to live as servants of God. How do we live as good and honorable Christian servants before a hostile culture? First, we honor everyone. We must not forget every man and woman has been made in the image of God. Secondly, we love the brotherhood. The world will know we are Christ’s disciples by our love for brothers and sisters in Christ (John 13:34-35). Thirdly, we live good and honorable lives by fearing our ultimate authority while honoring the human authority He places over us. Only God is worthy of our awe. Only God is worthy of our worship. We worship Him through our obedience to Him and that includes honoring the human authority he places over us. When we live such honorable lives before others, we point them to the One who is Lord and who, by His grace, saves them as they respond in repentance of sins and placing their faith in Him.

    Reflection Questions:
    How often do you consider how you can honor and pray for governmental leaders as opposed to complaining about them?
    How can you, by the power of the Holy Spirit, work out 1 Peter 2:17 in your own life?