Shine as Stars in the Universe

1 Peter 2:11-12
P. G. Mathew | Sunday, April 23, 2017
Copyright © 2017, P. G. Mathew
Language [Japanese]

Introduction

First Peter 2:11–12 speaks about the importance of the witness of true believers in the world, both through proclaiming the gospel and through living according to the gospel. True believers in Christ are God’s elect. They are born of God through the sanctifying work of the Spirit that they may obey Jesus. Those who do not obey Christ, who are autonomous, are not Christians. God commands such people to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.

By nature, we were all children of disobedience (Eph. 2:2). But now we who are true believers are children of obedience, children of God by virtue of new birth and adoption (1 Pet. 1:14). Peter says we are a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, a chosen race. We are kings and priests, a holy nation, and a holy people of God’s possession. Now we declare the praises of God who called us out of death and moral darkness to declare God’s glory among those dead in their transgressions and sins (1 Pet. 2:9). We declare his glory by proclaiming the gospel and living out the gospel in this evil world, the world that is under the control of the devil.

Jesus is the light of the world, and in him, we also are the light of the world. So we refuse to conform to the world. We are in the world but not of the world. Peter exhorts, “As obedient children do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.” Every unbeliever lives in moral ignorance. “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’” (1 Pet. 1:14–16). Paul writes, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” This is not a little change; it is total change. “Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord” (Eph. 5:8–10). We are to find out what pleases the Lord and do it.

Paul also says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life” (Phil. 2:14–16). We are to shine as stars to give light to a dark world, so that elect sinners may be saved to glorify our God with us.

The gospel must change us. Paul writes, “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need” (Eph. 4:28). Similarly, one who was a drunkard will become sober and responsible. An unfaithful husband will become faithful to his wife. A lazy person will become hardworking. A self-centered person will become Christ-centered and other-centered. The purpose of God calling us to himself is that we might change and then shine as stars in the universe.

Let us, then, examine seven points from 1 Peter 2:11–12.

Beloved

Peter begins this section, “Dear friends” (v. 11). In the Greek, it is agapêtoi, “beloved.” We are loved by the triune God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—from all eternity. We are loved in his beloved Son in whom he is well-pleased. We are loved with an eternal, undying love. We are loved in life and in death. We are loved from eternity to eternity. We experience unending, divine love, which surpasses all human understanding.

Our heavenly Father loves us in Christ even as he loves his only begotten Son. And not only are we loved by the triune God, but we are also loved by the apostles and by all true believers, members of God’s family. Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34–35).

We are to love one another even as Christ loved us and died for us. Paul asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? . . . Neither death nor life . . . nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:35, 38–39). Therefore, saints of God, fear not, whether in life or in death.

Aliens and Sojourners

Peter says we are “aliens and strangers in the world” (v. 11). We are aliens and sojourners, not citizens, of this world. We are temporary residents who do not live by the standards of the world but by the standards of heaven as revealed in the holy Scriptures. Paul says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16). Both our doctrine and life must be correct. You may memorize the scripture, “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25). But do you love your wife in this way?

We are pilgrims, passing through this fallen world. Filled with the Holy Spirit, we are to walk in the straight and narrow way, the highway of holiness, under the lordship of Christ. And we walk together with all of God’s holy church. Our citizenship is not in this world; our citizenship is in heaven. Paul says about unbelievers, “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.” Then he says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:19–20).

If we are true Christians, we must live holy lives. Right theology must lead to holy living. Paul says, “[God] has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time” (2 Tim. 1:9). He also calls himself “a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth [theology] that leads to godliness” (Titus 1:1–2). Doctrine and life should not be separated.

Yes, our life on earth is temporary. Soon we will be with God and his elect angels, and God’s holy church, in a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. As Psalm 90 says, we live on this earth temporarily for seventy years (25,550 days), or by reason of strength, eighty years (29,200 days). Then we will go to live with God forever and ever. So we read, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside [which stands for hell] are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Rev. 22:14–15).

Abstain from Sinful Lusts

Then Peter says, “I urge you to abstain from sinful desires . . . which war against your soul” (v. 11). The apostle is counseling us to abstain from, to avoid, the sinful lusts of the flesh.

Sin will be in us until we die (Rom. 7:17). But God’s people have been born of God and, thus, they have been given new natures, divine natures. They have new hearts, new minds, new wills, and new feelings. And by these we now can think God’s thoughts, will God’s will, and rejoice even in tribulations, knowing that all things work together for our eternal good. God ordains the steps of a righteous person.

Additionally, we now enjoy new power, the power of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, to teach us and empower us to live holy lives. So we do not conform to the world; rather, we conform to the word of God. We follow Jesus, our standard, especially in suffering. Peter writes, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps . . . . He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Pet. 2:21, 24).

Peter is counseling us to abstain from the lusts of the flesh, which continually wage war against the life of God in the soul of man. This war began when we were born again, and it will end only when we die in faith. The Holy Spirit is in us. He gives us power to do the holy will of God and to resist the devil, so that he may flee from us. We resist the devil by obeying God.

Filled with the Spirit and Scripture, we must put on the whole armor of God so that we may wrestle against all evil in the name of Jesus, who by his death destroyed all our enemies and made us more than conquerors over our enemies. We were slaves of the devil and sin, but in Christ, we are slaves of righteousness. We have been set free! Paul writes, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God,” that is, slaves to righteousness, “the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life” (Rom. 6:22).

We are free at last and free forever—free to serve God as his bondslaves. By the Holy Spirit we are able to put sin to death, as we read in the following scriptures:

Romans 8:13–14: “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are being led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
Colossians 3:5–10: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
Titus 2:11–14: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, [zealous] to do what is good.”
James 4:7: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through him who continually gives me strength.”
Colossians 1:29: “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”
1 Peter 4:1–2: “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”

This war is ongoing. Consider how Samson and David fell into sin, and be alert. Be in the Spirit and be governed by the Scripture, which is the power of God. It is the word of the Spirit that kills sin. So Jesus said, “It is written.” Be like Joseph who put sin to death by saying, “How can I do this wicked thing and sin against God?”

In Christ, every believer is able to live a victorious super-conquering, sin-killing Christian life. Before, we were only able to sin (non posse non peccare). (PGM) Now, we are able not to sin (posse non peccare). In heaven, we will be not able to sin at all (non posse peccare).

Live Holy Lives in Holy Conduct

Then Peter says, “Live such good lives among the pagans” (v. 12). The fourth point is that we are to live holy lives in holy conduct. The word “conduct” appears in several verses. How are you living in the world? Are you trying to be like the world, or to shine as stars in the universe? Anyone can disobey his parents, but only a Christian can obey his parents. Consider the following:

1 Peter 1:15: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Pet. 1:15). In the Greek text, it is “Be holy in your conduct.”
1 Peter 1:18: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers.” In the Greek, the “empty way of life” means “bad conduct.”
1 Peter 2:12: ““Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” “Good lives” means “good conduct.”
1 Peter 2:15: “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant.”
1 Peter 3:16: “[We are to keep] a good conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” “Good behavior” means “good conduct.”
James 3:13: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”

Good conduct means good works. It means obedience to Jesus Christ our Lord. Paul writes, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has foreordained that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10), that we should do them. Paul also says, “[Christ] gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own [holy people], eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14). Jesus himself said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt. 7:24). We are to hear and do what the covenant Lord says to us.

God’s way is the way of holiness. In Isaiah 35 we read,

And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (Isa. 35:8–10)

How can we live holy lives? Paul writes, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8).

We are to be separate from the world. By the Spirit, the wicked prophet Balaam said about Israel, “I see a people who live apart. They are different, separate, and not consider themselves one of the nations.” We are aliens and sojourners in this world; we are pilgrims progressing to heaven. And if you have not trusted in Christ, I pray that you will repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and join us as we travel on the straight and narrow highway to heaven.

A Proof of Our Salvation

What is one proof of our salvation? It is persecution and slander. Unbelievers always speak evil of true believers. They persecute them and sometimes even kill them. Be careful: If the world praises you, it may mean that you are like them—an unbeliever living in sin.

A friend of God is an enemy of the world, and a friend of the world is an enemy of God. James says, “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

True Christians will be persecuted. Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:11–12). Paul writes, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12), persecuted especially by the ungodly church, the synagogues of Satan.

Early Christians endured much persecution. They were called atheists because they refused to worship idols. They were accused of cannibalism by those who misunderstood the Lord’s Supper because it spoke about eating flesh and drinking blood. They were accused of incest by those who misunderstood their agape feasts. They were accused of splitting families although, in truth, Jesus does split families. He said, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law” (Luke 12:51-53). Jesus Christ brings division. God himself said, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” (Rom. 9:13).

They accused Christians of disloyalty to Caesar because they refused to say concerning him, “Dominus et Deus noster [Our Lord and our God],” and refused to offer a pinch of incense in worship of Caesar. They accused Christians of damaging their trade and causing them to lose profits, especially those who made and sold idols (Acts 19:26–27). And, finally, they were accused of being haters of the human race because they did not practice pagan immorality and lifestyle. Peter writes, “They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you” (1 Pet. 4:4). But they are not alone. Jesus was called a criminal, a glutton, a drunkard, a Samaritan, and a demon-possessed man. And today abuse is heaped on us also—not only by unbelievers, but also by so-called believers who are, in fact, children of the devil. They do so because we preach the true gospel and live holy lives. We shine as stars in this dark fallen world as we hold forth the word of life.

Seeing Your Good Deeds

Peter says we are to “live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds” (v. 12). Elect sinners may join with others in mocking us. But then they will stop and look at us very closely, like the thief on the cross looked at Jesus. There were two thieves crucified along with Jesus, but only one was elect; he was born of God. So we read, “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at [Jesus]: ‘Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other criminal rebuked him. ‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise’” (Luke 23:39–43).

The purpose of our shining as stars in the world is so that elect sinners may come to confess Christ and be saved. Although they may accuse us of doing wrong, after they observe our good conduct for a period of time, they will stop speaking against us. They will realize what they have been saying about us was false and that, in truth, we are living excellent lives.

The people of God ought to be billboards for Jesus, advertising Jesus to those around us. So these elect sinners realize that the Christian husband is not a drunk, nor is he sexually immoral, a thief, or a lazy person. Instead, he works hard and provides for his family. He loves his Christian wife, and his wife submits to him gladly. His Christian children respect and obey him. His word can be trusted. What he promises, he will do, even though it may hurt him (Ps. 15:4). He generously helps the poor and the suffering, and he faithfully worships Jesus Christ. He is a man of one book, the Bible. The Bible knowledge has changed his life.

Jesus spoke about the importance of why we should shine as stars in the universe: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). As these elect sinners observe us, they become Christians and join God’s holy church.

We must shine as stars in the universe. Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34–35). Paul writes, “Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Tim. 4:11–12).

The Elect Sinner Becomes a Christian

What happens when the elect sinners hear our gospel proclamation and see our good deeds? “They may . . . glorify God on the day he visits us” (v. 12). The elect sinners listen to the gospel as they come to church, or as they hear us speak to them. They believe the gospel, call upon the Lord, are saved and start praising God. How did this happen? God visited them through those who were sent by Christ to speak the gospel to them. God saved them, and now they also glorify God by their lives and words.

God visited Cornelius and his family and friends through the apostle Peter, who preached the gospel to them. Do you know what happened? “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God” (Acts 10:44–46).

God visits his elect sinners through his servants whom he sends. Paul writes, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Rom. 10:14–15). He also says, “I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done” (Rom. 15:18). We must listen to those who are sent by Christ.

Application Questions

Do you shine as stars in your Christian life and Christian proclamation? Think about it. Are you conforming to the world, or do you belong to the people who live apart from the world?
Do people speak evil of you and persecute you for your faith? If so, you are a true follower of Jesus, who told us, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matt. 16:24–25).
Has anyone confessed Jesus Christ through your godly influence and witnessing? Ask yourself: “What have I wrought all these years?” Has anyone confessed Christ because of your testimony, as they looked closely at your life?
If not, perhaps you need to examine yourself. Have you repented of your sins and trusted in Jesus Christ alone, who was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification? If not, I urge you to do so today and be saved.