Obligations to Others as the Royal Priest(1 Peter 2:11-25)                                   2009.05.24     Pastor Bernie Chung

After being born again, we are charged to build up a spiritual house, the body of Christ.  The Apostle Peter uses many familiar terms and concepts to the early New Testament believers to convey the privileges of those who become followers of Christ.  Peter specifically told us that we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession.  In addition, we are expected to proclaim the greatness and mercy of the Lord in thanksgiving.

Since we have been set apart from others by God, Peter reminds us that we have obligations to fulfill.  We, as the royal priesthood, have to act differently than unbelievers.  However, we do not need to act just for the sake of acting.   If we act like someone who we are not, we are then hypocrites.  On the other hand, if we are a royal priesthood, we must be genuine and act like one in our daily life. 

The second half of this chapter tells us the attributes of a royal priesthood.  When we are clueless about what to do, we have lost our spiritual identity of a royal priesthood.  It is no secret that the world thinks that Christians are nothing more than hypocrites if we do not act like a royal priesthood in the first place.  When we adapt and hold the same world values, which are contrary to the revealed truth of God, in various social issues, society does not feel that there is any difference between believers and unbelievers.  By this, we can understand why the Bible is no longer respected by the society and our voice is no longer valued by people around us.  Christians are being marginalized more each day as we are drifting away from the responsibility of a royal priesthood.   

Peter warns us against getting involved with fleshly lusts.  What Peter is referring to here is not necessarily just about drugs and sex.  In reality it is anything that causes us to overindulge at the expense of our relationship with God.  In other words, if we take our royal priesthood too lightly, or not knowing our obligation of a holy nation, we desperately need to take time off to reflect and assess our relationship with God.   

Since God is the one who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, we should willingly proclaim His grace and mercy in our praises.  We can praise Him in the act of worship as we meet regularly together on Sundays, or in small group fellowship, or whenever we meet.  Our goal is to thank our Savior, Jesus Christ, for the awesome sacrifice that He made on our behalf, on the cross of Calvary.  We can also proclaim His salvation to our families, relatives, neighbors and friends. 

As a royal priesthood, we need to submit to the government and to the Master.  Here Peter is telling us that we all have a task that is set before us.  The first thing is that we must heed the laws and commands of those appointed over us.  Submission to others is very difficult for us to understand indeed.  This only becomes possible when we recognize that all authority rests with God, so that everything and everyone is ultimately under His sovereign control, even the one who is above us.  On the other hand, the principle here is that we should not submit to any authority blindly.  It has happened in the past that we were required to do something that is clearly contrary to the Word of God.   It may happen again in the future, and that is the time we will have to choose to obey God and follow His teachings faithfully.  If that is the case, we must be ready to submit to the consequences of fulfilling the obligation as a royal priesthood.

Furthermore, Peter gives us a general command to submit ourselves to our master.  Undoubtedly, submission can be seen as a weakness.  Yet, submission is required by anyone who is not the boss; therefore, we ought to deal honorably with our employers.  When we honor and respect others we ascribe value to them, trusting that they have been placed there by God for His purposes.  And Peter says we ought to fear God far above anyone else.  Fearing God means that we obey Him while knowing that He will guide us and protect us in His perfect will.  Then submission to others makes sense since all authorities remain ultimately submissive to God whether they are believers or not. 

We have been given the honorable duty before us.  Let us not overlook our basic and utmost responsibility which is to fulfill the obligation of the royal priesthood through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.