Redefining Submission: Serving Others in Christ's Love

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I think Brent is basically right here in drawing our attention to the way Peter unfolds the act of subjection in First Peter 2 13 in the acts of doing good in verse 15 the act of serving in verse 16 the act of honoring in verse 17. I think that's a really sharp contextual observation to draw those four things together subjection doing good serving honoring. [00:01:13]

The ESV like most English versions translates first Peter 2 13 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 praise those who do good now that term Human Institution Brent is saying is literally human creation, and that's right it is and that's the most literal translation of it. [00:02:02]

I think it would be highly unlikely that the term human Creation in First Peter 2 13 would refer to something that humans create rather the term very likely means human Creation in the sense of humans that God creates human beings are God's human creation. [00:03:59]

There is a sense in which we are to be subject to all people not in the sense of obeying but in the sense of serving that is be subject in the sense of humbling yourself and going down low subject sub and getting under another person and doing all you can to lift them up into truth and righteousness and everlasting Joy. [00:07:27]

Peter seems to go in this direction in verse 15 when he grounds the submission to every human creature or Institution by saying because this is the will of God that by doing good you put to silence the ignorance of foolish people and and this idea of doing good turns up again and again and again in First Peter. [00:07:59]

Honor everyone and in a sense it's just as radical to say honor every human creature as it is to say be subject to every human creature because certainly there are dishonorable humans just as there are humans we should not obey so if there is a way to honor dishonorable humans then there may be a way to be subject to humans that should not be obeyed. [00:08:38]

Paul says we are to do good to all people Galatians 6 10 and that we are to be subject to each other Ephesians 5 21 and that we should count others more significant than ourselves in the sense of becoming their servants Philippians 2 3 in all those pointers I think in First Peter and Paul. [00:10:36]

There is a sense in which Christians following the example of the humble sacrificial suffering Christ should be subject for the Lord's sake to all people in the sense not of obeying but in the sense of Desiring earnestly to go low and to do what we can to lift them up into the truth and into faith and into righteousness and into Everlasting Joyce. [00:11:16]

I think we should give Brent the benefit of the doubt here and say that's pretty sharp and we ought to really consider that possibility yeah that's a sharp question and suggestion thank you Brent and thank you professor John and thank you all for joining us today you can ask a question of your own search our growing archive or subscribe to the podcast all at desiringgod.org forward slash Ask Pastor John. [00:11:59]

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