Christian Conduct in the Marketplace (1 Peter 2:18-24)
This sermon explores the profound connection between our faith and our daily work life, focusing on the biblical call for employees to demonstrate Christ-like conduct. It invites listeners to consider how their actions in the workplace can powerfully reflect the truth of the gospel.
This sermon explains why believers are called to submit to employers, even when mistreated, as a powerful witness to the gospel. Our conduct in the workplace should reflect Christ and adorn God's doctrine.
Overview
The sermon begins by addressing God's specific guidance for relationships in the marketplace, particularly between employers and employees. It notes that while these principles were initially given in a society with widespread slavery, they translate directly to modern employment relationships, emphasizing the instruction for employees to be submissive.
The preacher outlines biblical admonitions from Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Timothy, and Titus, which call for obedience and respect towards employers in all things. A critical limitation is introduced from Acts 5:29: believers must obey God rather than men, meaning submission does not extend to violating scriptural principles or engaging in dishonest acts.
The sermon then tackles the challenging call to submit to unreasonable employers, drawing from 1 Peter 2. It highlights that bearing up under unjust suffering for the sake of conscience toward God "finds favor with God." This response is not about personal ease but about the witness of one's faith.
Ultimately, the conduct of employees is shown to be a defense and adornment of the gospel. By responding with submission and love, even in mistreatment, believers follow Christ's example and demonstrate the truth of God's word, making their workplace a powerful platform for the living gospel.
Key points
- God's word provides clear guidance for relationships between employers and employees in the marketplace.
- Employees are admonished to be submissive and obedient to their employers in all things, as taught in various New Testament letters.
- The historical context of Paul's letters to a slave-holding society reveals that these principles of submission apply directly to modern employer-employee dynamics.
- A key limitation to submission is that believers must obey God rather than men when an employer commands anything dishonest or violating scripture.
- Submission is required even toward unreasonable or harsh employers, and bearing unjust suffering for God's sake finds favor with Him.
- Proper conduct in the workplace defends and adorns the doctrine of God and the gospel of Christ.
- When mistreated, believers are called to follow Christ's example of suffering unjustly, responding in love and entrusting themselves to God who judges righteously.
In Charles Stanley's words
“When you and I obey those in authority over us, God says we will find favor in his eyes.”
“Where the Christian life needs to be lived out is where you're working.”
“You are where you work the living gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Outline
- I. God's Word on Marketplace Relationships
- II. Admonitions to Employees: Submission
- A. The Command to be Submissive
- 1. Historical Context: Slaves in the Roman Empire
- a. Slaves as human tools, without rights
- b. Slaves and masters worshiping together in early church
- c. Principles for slaves apply to employees today
- 2. Scriptural Support for Employee Submission
- a. Ephesians 6:5 (Obedience to bosses according to the flesh)
- b. Colossians 3:22 (Obey masters with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord)
- c. 1 Timothy 6:1 (Regard masters as worthy of all honor)
- d. Titus 2:9 (Be subject in everything, well pleasing, not argumentative)
- e. 1 Peter 2:18 (Submissive to masters with all respect, even to unreasonable ones)
- B. The Limitation on Submission: Obey God Rather Than Men (Acts 5:29)
- 1. Refuse to obey anything dishonest or violating scripture
- C. The Spirit of Submission: Even to Unreasonable Employers
- 1. Why submit to unreasonable demands?
- 2. For this finds favor with God (1 Peter 2:19-20)
- a. Enduring suffering unjustly for conscience toward God
- b. No credit if suffering for sin, but favor for suffering justly with patience
- III. The Importance of Employee Conduct: Adorning the Gospel
- A. Adorning the Doctrine of God (Titus 2:9-10)
- B. So the Name of God and His Doctrine Are Not Spoken Against (1 Timothy 6:1)
- C. The Workplace as the Place to Live Out Faith
- IV. The Purpose of Suffering Unjustly in the Workplace
- A. Called for This Purpose (1 Peter 2:21)
- B. Christ's Example of Suffering Unjustly (1 Peter 2:21-23)
- 1. Christ committed no sin, no deceit, did not revile or threaten
- 2. He entrusted himself to Him who judges righteously
- C. Demonstrating the Gospel and Testimony (1 Peter 2:24)
- 1. Bearing our sins on the cross
- 2. Responding in love establishes truth of gospel
- 3. God may place you in difficult situations to demonstrate His gospel through you
Scripture references
- Ephesians 6
- Colossians 3
- 1 Timothy 6
- Titus 2
- 1 Peter 2
- Acts 5:29
- Titus 2:9-10
- 1 Timothy 6:1
- 1 Peter 2:18
- 1 Peter 2:19
- 1 Peter 2:20
- 1 Peter 2:21
- 1 Peter 2:22
- 1 Peter 2:23
- 1 Peter 2:24
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.
1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Insights
Faith is lived out most powerfully in the daily grind of the workplace.
God's favor rests on bearing unjust suffering with a clear conscience.
Our conduct in the workplace can either defend or discredit the gospel.
Questions & answers
What is the sermon's main message about work?
The sermon teaches that Christian employees should demonstrate their faith by submitting to their employers, even when mistreated, because this conduct defends and adorns the gospel of God.
What does the sermon say about employees being submissive?
Employees are called to be obedient and respectful to their employers in all things, serving with sincerity of heart. This principle, derived from passages concerning slaves, applies to all who work for others.
Is there a limit to obeying an employer, according to this sermon?
Yes, the sermon states that the limit is when an employer asks an employee to do anything dishonest, violate a scriptural principle, or break God's word. In such cases, one must obey God rather than men.
Why should a Christian employee submit to an unreasonable employer?
The sermon explains that when a believer endures unjust suffering or harsh requirements for the sake of conscience toward God, it "finds favor with God." This is an opportunity to witness to one's faith, not merely to seek personal comfort.
How does an employee's conduct reflect on the gospel?
According to the sermon, a Christian employee's right conduct and proper response of submission and respect defend the truth of the gospel. It ensures that the name of God and His doctrine are not spoken against, and ultimately adorns the gospel.
What example does Christ set for employees facing mistreatment?
Christ, who suffered unjustly and committed no sin, did not retaliate or threaten but entrusted himself to God who judges righteously. Believers are called to follow His steps, responding in love even when mistreated on the job.
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