Steadfast
“Live Free”
1 Peter 2:11-25

“To those chosen, living in exile...” –1 Peter 1:1

“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles…” –1 Peter 2:11

Culture
Set of moral values broadly shared by some subset of the human population

Jesus or culture?

Christ and Culture Revisited 
D. A. Carson, quoting Prof. H. Richard Niebuhr

1. Christ against culture: “We are at war with the culture; Fight!”
2. The Christ of culture: “Affirms everything in the culture”
3. Christ above culture: “Isolate from the culture; we are superior”
4. Christ and culture in paradox: “Dual citizenship; live like the one you are with”
5. Christ the Transformer of culture: “Jesus steps in the world; He calls us to the world”

1 Peter 2:11-25

Freedom might be in jeopardy because of …
Pressure from culture 
Government or any authority over us  
Difficult workplace
Lack of love from other believers

“Live as people who are free … Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” –1 Peter 2:16

How do we live free?
Fight the inner battles – 1 Peter 2:11; Romans 7:15-8:17; John 15:18-25; Luke 6:22-23
Do good – 1 Peter 2:12, 15	
Love other believers – 1 Peter 2:17
Submit to those in authority – 1 Peter 2:13, 18; Romans 12:17-21; Proverbs 3:5-6

Subject 
Subject = Submit 
Subject = Submit ≠ Obey
Subject = Submit = Serve
Subject = Submit = Serve = Love
	
Serve – Acts 4:18-20, 5:27-29; Exodus 1:15-20; Daniel 1:8-17,3:16-18; 1 Corinthians 7:17-21
Do all we can to lift them up into truth and righteousness
We can disagree, but not dishonor
When asked, do what is legal and moral
When asked, do what is unreasonable or unfair
When asked, do not do what is illegal or immoral

Spiritual freedom comes from doing what God asks. – 1 Peter 2:15

Live free.