The greatest apologetics for the Christian faith is a changed life. God changes lives
1 Peter 2: 11-12 (ESV) "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."
Christians were called "evildoers" by the pagans. Peter tells them to keep their conduct pure, good, honorable so that the world who is watching can see their changed lives.
Verses 12 and 15 are the theme verses.
1 Peter 2:15 (ESV) "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people."
Accusations against Christians
-Forming a revolution because they served a different king.
-Slave revolts, because of their freedom in Christ. They were equal in the fellowship.
-Atheists, because they didn't worship Caesar or the Roman gods.
-Accused of incest because they called each other brother and sister.
-All kinds of awful things were said about Christians because of ignorance and hatred.
-Accused of being cannibals because they said they ate "the body and blood of Christ"
-Blamed for burning Rome.
Christians lived in a hostile society and Peter encourages them to live a life above reproach/criticism.
Romans 12:18 (ESV) "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."
1 Peter 2: 13-16 (ESV) "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God."
These are hard verses to take sometimes. When Thomas Jefferson did not like something in the scriptures he would cut it out.
There are times when a Christian must disobey government or leaders. To save innocent lives (Moses' mom and the midwives who saved Hebrew boys). When prayer was forbidden (Daniel). Hiding Hebrew spies (Rahab). When ordered to worship idols (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego). When they were told to stop evangelizing (Peter and John Acts 4, Peter and Paul and others). When it comes down to honoring God or obeying the government you have to pick God and be willing to face the consequences. But you have to make sure that you are honoring God.
However, most often we need to be obedient
I. Obey and honor the governing authorities
Generally speaking we ought to be the most obedient citizens.
II. God wants obedience
See vs 15
III. Government is a minister of God
See vs 13 and 14
Romans 13:4-7 (ESV) "for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer."
Even bad governments can do good. China is an example of that. Even though they don't allow evangelism and allow child labor and many other things they do punish those who commit murder, rape, theft, fraud.
IV. Good Citizens silence foolish talk
See vs 15
Let us strive to be like Daniel. Daniel 6:1-4 (ESV) "It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him."
Through his conduct and character he won over the king. Daniel was a prisoner of war, an exile in Babylon where they tried to strip him of his Hebrew identity. But Daniel was true to God, but was also respectable and good to the king. The Babylonians were jealous of him and made laws that would show how he favored God over the king.
1 Peter 2:18-25 (ESV) "Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrow while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you and example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."
Some say that the bible endorses slavery, but in Exodus 21:16 & Deuteronomy 24:7 the bible outlaws kidnapping for slavery. The New Testament lays the ground work for ridding the world of slavery. Christians and Christian nations were the first to abolish slavery.
What did Jesus say? In a sermon he said many could work to earn freedom. Even if they had harsh masters. Again, Character Counts. We are to work hard in our situation because in the long run we are obeying God and serving the Lord.
V. Work hard because ultimately it's the Lord you are pleasing
Follow the example Christ has given us.
Colossians 3:22-24 (ESV) "Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eyeservice, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
VI. Be good even to the unjust
See vs 18
Worker integrity, effort, quality of work, be the best accountant, logger, teacher, doctor, student. Why? to point others to Jesus.
Your character lays the groundwork for the gospel (see vs 12). A Holy life is the best platform to share the truth from.
Philippians 2:12-18 (ESV) "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me."
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