The conduct of the believers in times of persecution: (2:11 – 3:22)
The conduct of the Believers: (2:11-3:7)
- As witnesses: (2:11-12): Peter warmly addressed the believers as dear friends and at the same time strangers or aliens in the world. That is, those who live in a place that is not their home, whose real home is in heaven. Abstain from sinful desires, just as Christian values and beliefs are rejected by the world, so we are to live apart from the immorality and sinful desires that surround us. We are also soldiers involved in a spiritual battle. There are sinful desires that war against us and want to defeat us (see Gal 5:16-26). Our real battle is not with people around us, but with passions within us. D.L. Moody said, “
In this real spiritual battle a demonic strategy is to attack believers at their weakest points. Christian lifestyle should convict the world of its sin. Peter exhorts us to lead a good life which is composed of good deeds (Matt.5:16; Jam. 2:18). Before the critical eyes of slanderous people and their false accusations, the good deeds of believers can glorify God and win others to Christ.
- As Citizenship: (13-17): It is important that we respect the office even though we cannot respect the man or woman in the office. As much as possible, we should seek to cooperate with the government and obey the law; but we must never allow the law to make us violate our conscience or disobey God’s Word.
Ex: Daniel and his three friends refused to obey the king’s food. They disobeyed the law, but the way that they did it proved that they honoured the king and respected the authorities (Dan 1). They were not rebels; they were careful not to embarrass the official in charge or get him into trouble; and yet they stood their ground. They glorified God and, at the same time, honoured the authority of the king.
Peter and the other Apostles faced a similar challenge shortly after Pentecost (Acts 4-5). The Jewish council commanded them to stop preaching in the name of Jesus, but Peter and his associates refused to obey (Acts 4:19; 5:29). They did not cause a rebellion or in any way question or deny the authority of the council. They submitted to the institution but they refused to stop preaching. They showed respect to their leaders even though these men were opposed to the Gospel.
- As servants or slaves: (2:18-25): Servants in those days generally were slaves, and had heathen masters, who often used them cruelly; yet the apostle directs them to be subject to the masters placed over them by Providence, with a fear to dishonour or offend God. Paul touched this problem in (1 cor. 7:20-24) on it in his letter to his friend Philemon. The Gospel eventually overthrew the Roman Empire and the terrible institution of slavery, even though the early church did not preach against either one. Today there are no slaves. But the believers working under the gentile employers must learn to be patient even when they were put into hardships without their mistakes. The believers must submit to the authorities and rulers. By doing, we may win them to Christ. We may suffer in many reasons. Some suffering is due to their own sin, some happens because of our foolishness and some is the result of living righteously. Our goal should be to face such suffering with patience, calmness and confidence that God is in control of the future.
Our Lord Jesus Christ gave 3-insights through His suffering:
- He suffered although He was sinless
- He suffered although He was greatly loved by God the Father. He submitted the entire matter to God the Father.
- He suffered although He was Lord and could have called the armies of Heaven to fight for Him.
The above three insights would greatly help us to face the trials and suffer for the sake being a Christian.
- As wives: (3:1-6): When a man became a Christian, he usually would bring his whole family into the Church with him (ex. Philippian jailer Acts. 16:29-33). But a woman who became a Christian usually came to the Church alone. This would endanger her marital life. Peter reassured Christian women who were married to unbelievers that they did not need to preach to their husbands. The best approach would be to please their husbands and show love and co-operate with them. By doing so, the husbands would allow their wives to continue to practice of being a believer and after some time they too would follow Christ. Further Peter tells the believing wives to display their inner beauty, but not with braided hair or jewellery.
Glamour belongs to under 40 years and beauty is above 40 years. The beauty of a woman through her heart and her character. By being submissive to their husbands, a woman would display her beauty and eventually draws him to Christ.