Read 1 Peter 2:11-12 – Honorable Conduct
1. Verse 11 is full of meaning and begins a large section that encourages the reader about living the Christian life in a way that honors God. Notice that Paul first calls them his “Beloved,” and then pleads with them regarding their conduct. What does Peter beg them to abstain from and what would be examples of these things?
2. Note the word “war” in verse 11. Life is not a game or a contest. It is a war. But the battle for your soul has already been won, you simply need to surrender your flesh to the One to whom the battle belongs. Describe how fleshly lusts war against the soul?
3. When our conduct honors God, He is pleased and glorified, but our honorable conduct is also a witness to unbelievers (Gentiles). “Observe” in verse 12 implies a conscious, ongoing investigation. How will our honorable conduct be used by God in the life of unbelievers?
4. The “day of visitation” probably refers to when every person, believing and unbelieving, will fall on their knees and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord. (see Phil. 2:9-11) What does this say about the influence of our conduct in the unbelieving world?
Read 1 Peter 2:13-17 – Submitting to Governing Authorities
1. As Christians we should be good citizens, submitting to the government. This was very different from those zealous Jews in Peter’s day who recognized no king but God and paid taxes to no one except God. Peter wrote this in the days of the Roman Empire, which was not a democracy and no special friend to Christians. Yet he still recognized the legitimate authority of the Roman Government. – Guzik What do we learn from Rom. 13:1?
2. According to 1 Pet. 2:13, for whose sake do we submit to this command? What does this mean?
3. We find in Acts 4:19 the only exception to this command. What are we told?
4. Consider this quote from the NKJV Study Bible: Peter forcibly commands Christians to submit voluntarily to governing authorities. He does not make submission a matter of personal conviction or choice. He decrees that it is an obligation for all Christians. Why do you think this can be a difficult and somewhat complicated command for us to navigate and follow?
5. (vs 14) What purposes do we find in this verse for governing authorities?
- WIth this in mind, we could say that to fail to punish evildoers, and to reward evil through corruption might be the greatest failure of human government. We need wisdom and truth! Where will we find these things?
6. Describe “the will of God” for you from verses 15 and 16.
7. Verse 17 could be the will of God in a nutshell! What do you see?
Read 1 Peter 2:18-20 – Submitting to Masters/Employers
1. Here we have the command to be good workers. Twice in these verses we are told that this is commendable. Summarize the thought behind this commendable behavior.
2. Is there a difference in the commanded response to those who treat us gently versus harshly?
Read 1 Peter 2:21-25 – The Example We Have In Jesus
1. In Jesus, we have the greatest example of how to live: how to honor the Father, how to treat people, and how to respond to unkindness, etc. In His suffering, Jesus left us an example, and verse 21 tells us it is an example that Christians should follow. Before explaining this example to us, what does Peter remind us of in verse 22?
2. What are the examples of Jesus found in verse 23?
3. In verse 24 we have another reminder of why we should follow the example of Jesus. What does it mean to “live for righteousness”?
4. (vs 24) The Greek word for “stripes” is singular, not plural. It was not the many sufferings of Jesus through which we have been healed, but the one act of death on the cross. With this great example
of sacrifice and submission, we are told to follow Jesus in our response to people. Make this your
prayer.
5. (vs25) How are we described when we were yet without salvation?
a. Describe the vulnerability of sheep who have no shepherd.
b. Define “astray”. What might “going astray” look like in a person’s life? How does Isaiah 53:6 add to this?
6. What titles is Jesus given in verse 25? How would you describe these two titles?
7. See the heart of Jesus in Mark 6:34, and the work of the Shepherd in Hebrews 13:20-21. Praise the Lord, we are no longer sheep without a Shepherd!