347 - Peter’s First Letter to Persecuted Believers (Part 2)
- Gwen Diaz
- Dec 13, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 8
December 13 - Nº 347 1 Peter 2:13–21; 3:1-14; 4:1 – 5:14
The believers in the northern Roman provinces of Asia Minor were facing extreme persecution (see #346 - December 12). So, Peter wrote a letter encouraging them not to abandon their faith. In it, he urged them to follow Jesus' example. Peter knew first-hand that no one else suffered more than Jesus did when he was on earth. Yet, through all the hard times he faced, Jesus never sinned. Peter pointed out to his readers that Jesus had endured these hardships for their sakes!
In this letter of encouragement, Peter also included some standards that these fellow believers needed to live up to. He explained that a believer’s life needed to be marked by submission. Even during difficult times, they needed to be willing to surrender to someone else’s leadership.
He gave several examples:
Believers needed to submit to civil authorities. Although God was their ultimate authority, believers still needed to respect the laws of society. Peter gave two reasons for this: First, God always has a reason for allowing those in authority to be there. And second, if believers refuse to obey, unbelievers can accuse them of being belligerent and lawless citizens. [Note: Peter chose to disobey authority at least once, but only when obeying a civil law would have forced him to contradict one of God’s laws—see Acts 4:18-19; 5:29.]
Slaves needed to submit to their masters for the same reasons that all believers needed submit to legal authorities. Although he didn't condone slavery, Peter reminded them of all the injustices that Jesus had endured for them.
Wives needed to submit to their husbands, and husbands needed to submit to their wives.
And finally, younger church members needed to submit to their elders.
Peter explained that the goal of submission was always to provide an opportunity to share the Gospel! And the key to submission was humility. He promised believers that if they were willing to humbly submit to those in authority, God would honor them at the proper time. And He would give them peace in the process.
In addition to being willing to submit, Peter wrote that believers were to be known for their compassion and love for each other. They were not to retaliate when other Christians mistreated them. Instead, they were to look for ways to bless the offender. And they were to be hospitable--serving one another and taking care of each other’s needs.
He encouraged the church leaders to be kind shepherds who gently cared for the flock under their care. They were to guide their sheep through these trials as loving leaders—not as pompous lords. And they were to do it willingly, without expecting compensation. Peter promised that on the day that the Chief Shepherd appeared, godly shepherds would receive a crown of glory that would never fade away.
Peter knew that more hard times were coming, so he warned his readers to get ready. He also cautioned them to be certain their suffering was always for the sake of the Gospel--not as a result of their own sinfulness. He warned the believers that Satan is like a hungry lion looking for something to eat. His goal is to devour weak believers. So while they were suffering, Satan would pounce on them and tempt them to sin. They needed to be alert and in control--ready to resist Satan by standing firm in their faith.
Peter encouraged them to find strength in knowing that they were not the only ones going through such trials, and soon their trials would come to an end. One day God would rescue and restore them!
Are you obeying God by submitting to authority?
Is there a particular area of your life where you need to swallow your pride and willingly submit?
Submission does not imply weakness. As a matter of fact,
it usually requires greater strength!
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