Series: 1 Peter
Title: Free Servants
Text: 1 Peter 2: 11-17
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
Date: April , 2011
The title of this message is: Free Servants. Verse 16 reads, “As free”—now look at the end of the verse—“as the servants of God”. Believers are altogether God’s freemen and altogether servants of God.
Romans 6: 18: Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness….22: But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Dearly Beloved Strangers and Pilgrims
1 Peter 2: 11: Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Believer what makes you a stranger in this world? What makes you to be in this world but not of this world? What makes us to be merely passing through like pilgrims—sojourners—in this world? Let’s review a little of what we saw last week:
1 Peter 2: 9. ‘Ye are a chosen generation.’
Hebrew means “people from beyond”. Chosen of the Father in Christ before time--blessed them all spiritual blessings in Christ in heavenly places. He predestinated each one to the adoption of children in time. Therefore, the Holy Spirit “re-generates” each one. Believers are not of this world because God our Father is not of this world. When this world—and time—ceases to exist his chosen generation will remain—a world without end (Ephesians 1:3-5; 2 Thessalonians 2:13.)
1 Peter 2: 9: ‘A royal priesthood’ (Rev. 5:9-10).
Christ is our King and High Priest and we are a kingdom of priests separated and consecrated with his blood and anointed by the Holy Spirit. We have liberty to approach his throne in the holiest of holies not made with hands. We offer up spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2: 9: ‘A holy nation.’ ‘A pecular people’
The true spiritual holy Israel of God—under the governing of Christ our King, led of the Spirit. God’s own treasure—the Lord’s portion—his special, protected, provided for people.
1 Peter 2: 9: ‘That you should show the praises of him who called you.’
We are saved to the praise of the glory of his grace (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14; Eph. 2:4-7). So we show forth in our lives the praises of God to whom we belong (Psalm 150:6.)
1 Peter 2: 10: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
From eternity past, we have always been the people of God, given to Christ, represented by Christ as our Surety, and in his covenant of grace. But before Christ he called us in mercy—we were children of wrath—hating God and hating one another—even as others (Eph. 2:1-4). We knew nothing of his mercy, but now we have been given great mercy at his hand!
Do you see why you are called “dearly beloved, strangers and pilgrims”?
1 Peter 2: 11: Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Fleshly Lusts Only War Against Our Spiritual Peace (James 3: 14-18; 4: 1.)
That which is of us is called in scripture “the works of the flesh”; the other, the fruits of the Spirit. Trace the effects to their cause. If you be of the Spirit then camp out at the feet of the Cause!
The flesh is mortified through the Spirit one way--by looking to Christ with the eye of faith.
Colossians 3: 1: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Romans 13: 14: But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
1 Peter 2: 12: Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Illustration: Look at a spot on the ceiling
We all have unbelieving family, friends, co-workers, neighbors—live your lives looking to Christ, in honesty and peaceful among men—by God’s grace they might just look to where you are looking. That goes for us individually and together as the body of Christ
Philippians 1: 27: Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
The glory of God is what we desire most.
1 Peter 4:11…that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Illustration: Remember Abraham’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen—Abraham said all the land is before you—choose what you want—if you go to the left, I’ll take the right, if you take the right, I’ll take the left. Dust is not worth fighting over.
So then not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, conduct ourselves in simplicity—in singleness for Christ, for the glory of God, for setting forth of this glorious Savior.
Give Honor Where Honor is Due
1 Peter 2: 13: Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14: Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
Obey the laws of the land—civil government and rulers are ordained of God for our good and for our peace (Rom. 13:1-8).
1 Peter 2: 15: For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Every believer born of the Spirit of God is free.
· Free from the curse of God’s law
· Free from the condemnation
· Free from the dominion of sin--now ruled by the Spirit of grace—sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under the law but under grace
· When Christ comes we will be free from the presence of sin
So we wear our robe of liberty as the servants of God, not as disguise for malice
Illustration: Tax time is here—I’m of God’ holy nation—I’m not of this world—I serve under Christ my Banner—so then give Uncle Sam, Uncle Sam’s due.
Remember when the scribes and Pharisees sent spies to ask the Lord questions about whether it was lawful or not to pay taxes to Caesar.
· Christ was and is the King.
· He put Caesar where he was.
· He gave the skill to the coin-smith who puts caesar’s image and superscription on the penny
· He was truly the free and willing bond-servant of God his Father.
· What did the Lord do?
Luke 20: 25: And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s. 26: And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
1 Peter 2: 15: For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
God’s holy nation are a peaceful people. We serve under the King of Salem—the King of Peace.
John 18:36: Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence…
John 19: 10…Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above:
Paul asked this:
2 Corinthians 10: 7: Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?
2 Corinthians 10: 3: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5: Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
One of the most unbecoming things is protesting against the powers and laws of the land in the name of God. All of this clamor and protest and debate we behold in government and politics is a tool of distraction to us brethren. Remember Moses was second in line to the throne in Egypt. Instead of putting him on the throne to bring out Egypt by political strength, the LORD put Moses on the backside of the desert, turned Egypt and even Israel against him and had him lead them out of bondage with a lamb and a staff.
Let the potsherds of the earth strive. Your will and fighting couldn’t make you righteous before God, you couldn’t produce peace in your heart with God and it won’t take the injustice out of any man’s heart and will disrupt your peace. What pulls down the middle wall between races, between classes, between the sexes?
Galatians 3:28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 6: 11: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Brethen, we are God’s free men! So then serve God. God is no respecter of persons and neither his people. But giving honor where honor is due, is giving honor to God whom we serve, for the powers that be are of God!
1 Peter 2: 17: Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Ephesians 6:6: Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Holiness is a matter of the heart, of motive, of character, of a new man, of the Spirit, whose praise is of God and not of us.
Colossians 3:24: Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Amen!