Sharper Iron — The Imperishable Inheritance: Exiles Under Earthly Authority

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Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Peter 2:11-17.

Christians live in this world as sojourners and exiles. The passions of our flesh war against us in an attempt to convince us that our home is this world; Christians fight against this temptation by focusing on our home in the resurrection of the dead. The Christian life among the Gentiles is to be honorable, even when they speak against us, so that ultimately glory will be given to God. St. Peter teaches Christians how this is put into practice in a table of duties; he begins with Christans living under the earthly authority of human government. Christians are subject to such authority for the Lord’s sake. The freedom we have in Christ is used not for our own desires but for the sake of service to others. Where earthly authority commands disobedience to God, Christians faithfully bear any suffering for the sake of staying faithful to the Lord and His Word.

“The Imperishable Inheritance” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistles of 1 and 2 Peter and Jude. The life of the Christian Church right now is life in exile. We endure attacks from various trials and from false teachers. Such suffering makes us long for the eternal home that will be ours at the resurrection of the dead. In Jesus, we have this promise of eternal life that can never be snatched away. These three epistles strengthen us to hold fast to Christ in the midst of suffering and to give witness to the hope that is ours in Him.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

1 Peter 2:11-17

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 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.

Submission to Authority

13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution,[a] whether it be to the emperor[b] as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[c] of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

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Footnotes

1 Peter 2:13 Or every institution ordained for people

1 Peter 2:13 Or king; also verse 17

1 Peter 2:16 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface