Distinct people of God, declare praises of God.

Last week, introduced this topic of submission, starting with verse 13:

Submit to every human authority because of the Lord

1 Peter 2:13

That’s the overarching principle, and He’s going to apply it to a few different institutions/relationships: government, masters/slaves, husbands/wives.

Household slaves, submit to your masters with all reverence not only to the good and gentle ones but also to the cruel. For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

1 Peter 2:18–20

Does the Bible support slavery?

We need to deal with the elephant in the room.

Couple reasons to chase this rabbit: 1. because we want to understand the text 2. because I want to equip you to answer this question: “Doesn’t the Bible support slavery?

So let’s talk about it for a few minutes, few good arguments.

1. Talking about how to live a righteous life in a sinful world doesn’t mean you agree with the sin itself.

That seems like common sense when you say it, but it often gets missed.

If I were to teach (like we have) on how to be faithful followers of Christ in a world that accepts gay marriage and abortion, that does not mean that I agree with those things.

Same thing is true of the Bible. Slavery was an assumed part of life. If it didn’t address it, people would’ve been left to figure it out on their own.

The Bible also has instructions about what to do if someone steals from you; doesn’t mean it condones stealing!

2. Understand the cultural context.

Roman slavery was not the same as American slavery in a multitude of important ways.

• It was not based on race. Conquered nations, born to slaves, most severe punishment besides death. People could even sell themselves into slavery for a set period of time to pay off debts.

• Because it wasn’t race based, there was no easy way to tell if a slave was a slave or not. So if they ran away, chances of getting them back were not very high. Therefore, they tended to be relatively well treated, so that they wouldn’t run away.

• Especially these slaves in our text—notice that it says “household slaves”, different than the normal doulos—often had high societal roles, like doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, teachers, as well as the household tasks like cooking and cleaning.

• Slaves could own property—ironically, even other slaves.

• They could often work their way out of slavery, purchase their freedom. In which case, they were Roman citizens, right to vote, etc.

  • Remember Felix from Acts 22? He was a freed slave.

• In A.D. 20, so when Jesus was still a teenager working in Joseph’s shop, the Roman Senate declared slaves were to be tried same way as free men.

So when people say, “The Bible supports slavery!”

• First, explain how to live faithfully in a sinful world is not condoning the sin in the world.

• Second, first century Roman slavery was vastly different, more humane, non-racist version than the atrocity of white-supremacy-based chattel slavery in America.

While the NT doesn’t engage in a frontal attack on slavery, it undermines the whole foundation of it.

Were you called while a slave? Don’t let it concern you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity. For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of people. Brothers and sisters, each person is to remain with God in the situation in which he was called.

1 Corinthians 7:21–24

Do you see how subversive that is to the whole notion of slavery? “Slaves, you’re free. Masters, you better remember that you’re Christ’s slave.”

Christianity was the great equalizer. Could also go to Galatians 3:

There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28

Or, the whole book of Philemon.

For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave — as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

Philemon 1:15–16

If you follow the teaching of the NT, slavery must end. And it did as Christianity exploded onto the scene. Even secular scholars say that part of the reason slavery was abolished in the Roman Empire is that as slave owners converted, saw the people they owned as image bearers of God, would treat them as family, and set them free.

So, don’t let people get away with “I don’t believe the Bible because it supports slavery.” That’s a hollow argument on a whole lot of levels.

No, wicked people support slavery, they misuse the Bible to excuse it, just like you’re misusing what it says to not believe it yourself.

So with that out of the way, let’s see what we can see in 1 Peter.

Submission to masters, good and bad.

We’re back to submission to every human institution.

Remember how last week, it said “Submit because of the Lord”? Here it’s the same thing. “submit to your masters with all reverence”. Who do we have reverence for, men? No, God alone.

So same thing, we’re supposed to submit because of the Lord, not because of the person we’re submitting to, out of reverence for Him, not reverence of them.

Remember the distinct people of God, here to declare the glory of God. That’s why we do it. Chapter 3 verse 15, reason for the hope. This is why they would ask.

Consciousness of God

Submitting because of the Lord, as free people… only works if you’re conscious of it in the heat of the moment, right?

Something that is developed over a lifetime.

Jonathan Edwards, percentage of his day in journal

He does not ask much of us, merely a thought of Him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, at other times to thank Him for the graces, past and present, He has bestowed on you, in the midst of your troubles to take solace in Him as often as you can. Lift up your heart to Him during your meals and in company; the least little remembrance will always be the most pleasing to Him. One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think.

Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God

Pray without ceasing.

I get into the biggest problems not usuallly in active rebellion, but in passiveness in the Christian life.

Brings favor with God, is a gracious thing.

Suffering for good, just like Jesus

Why are these household slaves suffering if they’re being submissive?“Master, I just converted to the religion of incest and cannabalism!”

Not willing to disobey, cook the books, etc. Doing good for those that the master wants to do evil to?

Whatever it is, they’re willing to suffer for do good, just like them. Are we?

Application

“Every human authority”, closest to this for us is employment, especailly in the Roman sense, not the American one.

We’ve all had good bosses and bad bosses. Some of them are like slave drivers. They have the power to make your life miserable… or do they?

If you’re submitting because of the Lord, as a free person, it brings with it a glad-hearted rebellion against they miserableness.

==Take this job and love it.==