As Peter is calling his readers to live like aliens and strangers in a hostile world, keeping their conduct before unbelievers as honorable, so that when unbelievers speak against them as evildoers, unbelievers may see their good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation, when our coming salvation is revealed (1:5). In unfolding what this looks like, Peter addresses three areas where believers are to submit. The first, (covered in the previous message) is to submit to human institutions, specifically governing authorities. In this message, we see household slaves were to submit to their masters. This includes submission to cruel and immoral masters. Christians should be known as a submissive people, as they are ultimately submissive to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. This allegiance to Christ, at times, may put us in opposition to those human authorities that are over us, causing us, at times, to suffer while doing what is good. In such cases, when we suffer for doing what is good we are to follow the example of Jesus Christ, who never sinned and yet suffered as a criminal; hung on a Roman cross. As we submit, and when we endure unjust suffering, we do so in the hopes that God may use our lives to draw unbelievers to Himself for salvation.
