Emperor Nero – • Reigned 54-68 AD.• Generally thought

of as rather cruel and selfish, though not without supporters among Roman historians of the day.

• Tertullian: “Examine your records. There you will find that Nero was the first that persecuted this doctrine.”

In his book The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Suetonius describes Nero as “about the average height, his body marked with spots and malodorous, his hair light blond, his features regular rather than attractive, his eyes blue and somewhat weak, his neck over thick, his belly prominent, and his legs very slender.”

Fun facts to know & tell:• Nero had

numerous wives and affairs.

• He poisoned his younger half-brother who was being promoted as a far better Emperor.

• After the one wife he seemed to really love died, he found a young man who looked like her, had him castrated, and married him.

Question: Is it true that Nero fiddled while Rome burned?Answer: Nope, just a myth. The problem is not whether or not he could play the fiddle. The problem is this: the violin was not invented until the 10th century.

Great guy, huh?

So, define this word: Freedom

Noun1. The state of being free or at liberty rather than in

confinement or under physical restraint: He won his freedom after a retrial.

2. Exemption from external control, interference, regulation.3. The power to determine action without restraint.4. Political or national independence.5. Personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery: a slave

who bought his freedom.6. Exemption from the presence of anything specified (usually

followed by from): freedom from fear.7. The absence of or release from ties, obligations, etc.

Here’s how the dictionary puts it:

So, define this word: FreedomA few passages of Scripture to ponder; hopefully they will give us a little more clarity –• Exodus 20:2 (and following). Where did

freedom from slavery end?• Leviticus 25:42. Why can’t God’s

servants be sold as slaves?• John 8:31-36. How is “free indeed”

characterized here?• Romans 6:15-23. Freedom here seems

to be defined as that to which I am in submission.

• Galatians 5:1, 13-23. Once again, how does Paul characterize freedom here?

1:1-2 – Introduction1:3-2:10 – Live as exiles in this world, trusting in future grace

1:3-9 – The truth of future grace enables present endurance1:10-21 – The truth of future grace enables present holiness1:22-2:10 – The truth of future grace enables present growth

2:11-3:12 – Live as exiles in this world, adorning the gospel

2:11-17 – Adorn the gospel among unbelievers2:18-3:7 – Adorn the gospel in your relationships3:8-12 – Adorn the gospel by daily obedience

3:13-5:11 – Live as exiles in this world, suffering for righteousness’ sake

3:13-17 – Honoring Christ in suffering3:18-22 – The example of Christ in suffering4:1-11 – Following Christ in suffering4:12-19 – Trusting Christ in suffering5:1-14 – Shepherding the church in suffering

Remember the outline of Peter’s letter…

Peter writes to people who live in Nero’s empire, who are seeing and experiencing oppression & persecution coming out of Rome.• He writes to encourage them to stand

firm in the grace of God to the end (5:12).

• Peter launches into the 2nd major section of his letter in 2:11. From here through 3:12 he will give various instructions to his readers, encouraging them to adorn (decorate, add beauty to, make attractive) the gospel through their lifestyle.

• In 2:13-17, believers are told to adorn the gospel by their subjection to authority…not always the most popular method of evangelism!

Here’s my shot at trying to capture the central thought of the passage in one sentence:As sojourners and exiles, adorn the gospel by restricting your freedom so that you can live in subjection to human authority and serve others.Notice the two sections of 1 Pet. 2:13-17, defined by the major imperatives in the paragraph:1. First, the primary imperative: “Be subject

for the Lord’s sake to every human institution…”

2. And then in v. 16 the 2nd major imperative, where Peter describes what this subjection will look like: “Live as people who are free…”

The paradox of freedom for the Christian –The paradox is clear in those two commands:• “Be subject…”• “Live as people who are free…”We could put it like this: Be subject, be free. Be subject and free, both, at the same time. In fact, biblically speaking, you can’t have the second (the freedom) without the first (the subjection).How is that? How can subjection be freedom?• We just need to make sure that we define

our terms biblically, not culturally.• Biblically, freedom is primarily concerned

with sin (notice Peter’s directions to servants in v. 18-25).

1 Pet. 2:13-17 – Submission to God & governmentPeter’s 1st century audience in the Roman Empire and 21st century believers in America have this in common: life in an increasingly secular society.This is an important question for us to ponder: given that we will likely see more restriction of liberty (i.e., consequences for failure to provide or support gay marriage, etc.), how are we to respond?• Freedom has been such a hallmark of

American thought; if it is restricted for a segment of the population, what are we to think?

• Do we mourn its loss? Fight to regain it? What is a biblical response?

1 Pet. 2:13-17 – Submission to God & governmentAnd a couple more bothersome questions:• If we see our government acting in a

manner that we perceive to be in opposition to our traditional understanding of freedom, was our understanding of freedom accurate?

• Freedom from government oppression is certainly desirable, but it is not the same thing as freedom from sin. Which freedom do we want?

• What does it mean to be a God-centered Christian in a pagan culture?

Well, let’s see what Peter has to say on the subject…

1 Pet. 2:13-17 – Submission to God & governmentOne more thought here: Peter’s readers lived in a pre-Christian society—largely pagan, with a government and a population that did not understand them and made life difficult for them.We live in what is called a post-Christian society—largely pagan, with a government and a population that does not understand us, and can be expected to make life increasingly difficult for us. How do you learn to live in a post-Christian society? You go back to the Bible and see what it says to those who lived in pre-Christian cultures—very similar in many ways. That is the value, and relevance, of 1 Peter.

1 Pet. 2:13-17 – Submission to God & government – or – adorning the gospel in a

secular society.Notice what Peter does here:• In v. 13 he gives the motivation for

subjection to human authority: “…for the Lord’s sake…”

• In v. 15 he gives the explanation for subjection to human authority: “…this is the will of God…”

In no uncertain terms, he makes everything in the social and political realm God-centered; everything in relation to God—our response to human authority is to mirror our response to God: obedience, submission, honor. That is the most important thing about these verses. Each verse speaks of God.

1 Pet. 2:13-17 – Submission to God & governmentv. 13 holds the key to this entire passage:

“…for the Lord’s sake…” Meaning…what?• We submit to human authority to honor

God’s sovereign authority – Ps. 22:28, 47:8, 113:4.

• We submit to human authority because God commands and wills it – Rom. 13:1; Titus 3:1.

• We submit to human authority in order to follow our Lord’s example – 1 Pet. 2:23; John 19:8-11. MacArthur: “Instead of being preoccupied with political and social reform, Christ always focused on matters pertaining to His kingdom.”

1 Pet. 2:13-17 – Submission to God & governmentNotice what Peter says about believers in

2:9, 11. Does that mean we withdraw from society and have no allegiance to any human institution?No. God is the ruler over both worlds in which we live—our physical country, and the greater country that we long for. He owns them both.• Every human authority reigns under His

sovereign authority for a limited season – Daniel 2:21, 4:17, 5:20. Therefore, we honor them.

In v. 14 Peter describes God’s design, or plan, for the function of government. But what do we do if that is not the government’s plan?

1 Pet. 2:13-17 – Submission to God & governmentIt wasn’t exactly Nero’s plan to do good

(except to himself). Then do this: Pray “for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way,” for the sake of the gospel. – 1 Tim. 2:1-4John Piper: “The proper aim of government is to dam up the river of evil that flows from the heart of man so that it does not flood the world with anarchy. Governments do not save; they are to maintain external order in a world seething with evil so the saving message of the gospel can run and triumph on its own power.”

1 Pet. 2:13-17 – Submission to God & governmentAnd here’s the 2nd big imperative here in v.

16: while we’re being subject, be free. Here’s how Martin Luther described this paradox: “A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.”v. 16 tells us this: A Christian’s freedom is not from bondage to autonomy, but from bondage to bondage – freed from evil to become servants of God.• It was impossible prior to salvation to be

a willing servant of God. See Rom. 6:20-22.

• So this freedom is not freedom to sin, but freedom from sin to serve a better Master.

1 Pet. 2:13-17 – Submission to God & governmentSo I am not free to please myself; I am

free, however, to please God (Gal. 5:13). “The only true liberty, of which a dependent being like man is capable, is the free use of his faculties in the service of God.” – John BrownQuestion: what does Matt. 5:39-41 suggest?• “The governing idea is that, when you

have been compelled to submit, you should openly show that you are still free to choose by engaging in more of the same service willingly and on your own initiative.” – A.M. Stibbs

1 Pet. 2:13-17 – Submission to God & governmentWhich brings us to v. 17—the obligation of

freedom, the application of the submission commanded to both human institutions and to God. Here is what servants of God do:• Servants of God honor everyone• Servants of God love other believers• Servants of God fear Him• Servants of God honor the head of

governmentWe are perfectly free to do those things—we are free to severely restrict our freedom in order to serve God by honoring others.

1 Pet. 2:13-17 – Submission to God & governmentHonor everyone – they are created in God’s

image; even those who, in the 1st century were slaves and thus considered non-persons having no rights.Love the brotherhood – love the most what Jesus loves the best: His precious, blood-bought church.Fear God – This fear results in a total reliance on His wisdom, and a willing submission to earthly authorities because He commands it.

Honor the emperor – The head of government is God’s agent for carrying out His purposes, and thus is worthy of respect. “Even Roman order (Nero, in this case) was better than anarchy.” – Peter Davids

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 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.” - Matt. 5:14-16

“It is not our job to save America from anarchy. Our job is to live to God in all of life—including the social and political parts of life—so that others may turn to Him and be saved and give Him glory. – John Piper