God's Ambassadors in the Devil's Domain

Scripture: I Peter 1:22-25

C.I.: The Privileges & Responsibilities of Christ's Ambassadors

I Peter was written for Xns facing trials from the world. – Last week we saw… - This week = “The Privileges & Responsibilities…”

•  Three Heavenly Privileges, (I Peter 2:1-10)

A. We are Children in God's Family, (vs. 1-3)

1. Peter concluded the previous chapter by telling how we have been born into God's family, ( 1:23 ).
a. Following this “new birth” – we are now members of a heavenly family!

1) ( v. 2 ), “…like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect….” 2) The “newborn babes” does NOT only refer to new believers – but must be true for all of us!!

b. God's children must have a holy hunger for everything that comes from the hand of God…
1) ( Matt. 5:6 ), “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they shall be satisfied.”
2) Notice: we can only “grow in respect to your salvation” – if we feed upon the word of God! 3) God's word helps us to grow in at least two areas…
a) It provides our only spiritual food, ( Matt. 4:4 ), “Man does not live on bread alone….”
b) ( Jn. 4:34 ), “My food is to do the will of the Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work.”
c) It is God's holy standard, ( Jn. 12:48 ), “…the word I spoke is what will judge….”

c. The phrase, “A chip off the old block” should also be true of us!
1) ( I Pt. 2:1 ), “…put aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.”
2) As God's children - we have the responsibility to live our lives for Jesus (i.e., His way! )!
3) ( Lk. 6:40 ), “ …everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. ”

B. We are Priests in God's Temple, (vs. 4-8)
1. ( v. 4 ), “And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God.”
a. Contrary to what some say, Peter never claimed the be the stone/rock upon which the Lord would build
His church, ( quote Matt. 16:15-18 ), “ ‘Who do you say…?' – Simon Peter answered and said….”
b. But notice that Peter in this verse calls Jesus the living, choice, precious stone!!!

2. Now we have this wonderful privilege to be His priests – and to offer “spiritual sacrifices” to God.
a. ( v. 5 ), “…you also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
b. Only the priests were allowed to come before God in the Old Testament, ( Num. 3:10 ), “Appoint Aaron &
his sons that they may keep the priesthood , but the layman who comes near shall be put to death.”
c. Today we are the Lord's priesthood ( Rev. 1:6 ), “He has made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father.”
d. Our “spiritual sacrifices” ( v. 5 ), are seen by how we live our lives, ( quote Rom. 12:1 ).

C. We are Citizens in a new nation, (vs. 9-10)
1. Christ's ambassadors, wherever we are, we are part of the nation of God's people.
a. ( vs. 9-10 ), “For you are a chosen race… for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God;
you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
b. What better person to be an ambassador – than one who can proclaim God's excellencies & His mercy!
c. Therefore, as Christ's ambassadors – we are His children, His temple & priests, and His nation!!!

II. Two Earthly Responsibilities, (I Peter 2:11-25)

A. We Must Submit to Laws , (vs. 11-17)

1. Submit to God's laws, ( vs. 11-12 ), “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage
war against the soul. / Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as
evil-doers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
a. Satan likes nothing better – than for God's people to act in such a way as to embarrass God.
b. Read Pliny's (governor of Pontus/Bithynia) letter to Trajan.
c. Thus, while there may be severe consequences to obeying God's laws – we must never cease doing so.

2. Submitting to man's laws, ( vs. 13-15 ), “Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a
king as one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil doers & the praise of those who do right.”
a. God's people should be the best people/citizens. – God often speaks of this…
b. Pay taxes – ( Matt. 21:17-21 ), “‘Is it lawful to pay taxes…?' – ‘Render unto Caesar that….'”
c. So Christ's ambassadors – must submit themselves to the laws of man!
d. However, as Christ's ambassadors – we must continue to obey all of God's laws, ( Acts 4:19-20 )!

B. We Must Submit to Leaders , (vs. 18-25)
1. All of us have someone over us. – 1 st Century there were slaves, today employers, bosses, others!
a. ( v. 18 ), Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle,
but also to those who are unreasonable.”
1) It is not unusual for an unsaved employer – to make life difficult for a Christian believer!
2) But notice, we are not called to “demand our rights!” – But to submit to them.
b. ( v. 19 ), “For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience towards God a man bears up under sorrows when
suffering unjustly.”
1) As we saw last week – God's people are called to live “uncommon, extraordinary lives”!!!
2) This is the “hard part” of Christianity. – This is where all of those verses we don't like to do…
a) “Do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him
the other also. – If anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your
coat also. – Whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.” ( Mt. 5:39f ).
b) “Do unto others….” – means whether they reciprocate in kind or not!

2. The best example of this kind of response is of our Lord! – ( vs. 21-23 ), “For you have been called for this purpose,
since Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example to follow in His steps….”
a. Peter was a witness of how terribly Jesus was treated (indeed, he was part of it!!).
b. Remember the purpose for I Peter, i.e., encouragement in the face of trials.
1) Thus, we are called to follow Jesus by doing what is right (i.e., to not sin by word/action).
2) No matter how things seem, we are to trust God to bring about the right outcome!

3. Therefore, as Christ's ambassadors – we have the responsibility to obey the laws of God & man – and to obey
the leaders God has placed over us!
CONCLUSIONS:

Numerous pictures in this chapter – to show us how wonderful the Christian truly is (in spite of life's trials).

Family: If you need to return to your Shepherd… - Guests: If you are ready to enjoy the privileges & accept the
responsibilities of being a Christian… - ( I Peter 3:21 )!!!