Christ followers are to be absolutely honorable.
(1 Peter 2:11-17) Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do evil, they may, by observing your good works, glorify God in a day of visitation. Submit to every human institution because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the supreme authority, or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For it is God’s will that you, by doing good, silence the ignorance of foolish people. As God’s slaves, live as free people, but don’t use your freedom as a way to conceal evil. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the Emperor.
1. Honor in Our BEHAVIOR
A. In front of non-followers, behave honorably.
(2:11-17) Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles…
(2:12b) So that in a case where they speak against you as those who do evil, they may, by observing your good works, glorify God in a day of visitation.
B. In the face of criticism, behave honorably.
C. For the sake of our witness, behave honorably.
(12c) They may, by observing your good works, glorify God…
2. Honor in Our SUBMISSION
A. Submission is a form of showing honor.
(13-14) Submit to every human institution because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the supreme authority, or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
B. Christian submission is offered because of who WE are, not because of who THEY are.
C. Christian submission is offered because of the Lord’s will, not because of their will.
3. Honor is Our CHARACTER
(17) Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the Emperor.
A. Honoring everyone requires a “deep change” in character.
• Honor is “doing” the right thing simply because it’s the right thing.
• Honor is “saying” the right thing simply because it’s the right thing.
• Honor is sacrificing personal pride.
B. Honoring everyone requires a “God change” in character.
• Culture’s definition of honor revolves around sinfulness.
• God’s definition of honor revolves around Godliness.
When we experience persecution for following Jesus, it is the badge of belonging to Christ.
1 Peter 4:12-19
As Christians we should be ready for Christ's return in the future by being faithful to Christ today
1 Peter 4:7-11
There are drastic changes in the lives of all followers of Christ
1 Peter 4:1-6
We want to understand more about the spiritual realm.
1 Peter 2:18-22
Suffering, for a Christ follower, takes on a whole different look from everybody else.
1 Peter 3:12-17
Those of us who follow the Lord have a completely different kind of maturity.
1 Peter 3:8-12
