1 Peter 2

After this (chap: 2:11), the Apostle begins his exhortations. Whatever may be the privileges of the Christian, in this position, he is always viewed as a pilgrim on the earth; and, as we have seen, the constant government of God is the object that presents itself to the mind of the Apostle. But he warns them first, with regard to that which is inward, against those sources from which the corruptions spring, that (in the scene of this government), would dishonor the name of God, and even bring in judgment.
Their conversation was to be honest among the Gentiles. Christians bore the name of God. The mind of men, hostile to His name, sought to bring disgrace upon it, by attributing to Christians the evil conduct which they themselves followed without remorse, while, at the same time, complaining (4:4) that they would not go with them into the same excesses and disorder. The Christian had only to follow the path of faithfulness to God. In the day when God would visit men, these calumniators, with their will broken and their pride subdued by the visitation of God, should be brought to confess-by means of the good works which, in spite of their calumnies, had always reached their conscience-that God had acted in these Christians, that He had been present among them.
After this general exhortation, brief, but important to believers, the Apostle takes up the relative walk of Christians in a world where, on the one hand, God watches over all, yet where He permits His own to suffer, whether for righteousness’ sake, or for the name of Christ; but where they ought never to suffer for having done wrong. The path, then, of the Christian is marked out. He is subject, for the Lord’s sake, to human ordinances or institutions. He gives honor to all Men, and to each in his place, so that no one shall have any reproach to bring against him. He is submissive to his masters, even if they are had men, and yields to their ill-treatment. Were he subject only to the good and gentle, a worldly slave would do as much; but if, having done well, he suffers, and bears it patiently, this is acceptable to God. This is grace. It was thus that Christ acted, and to this we are called. Christ suffered in this way, and never replied by reproaches or threats to those who molested him, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously. To Him we belong. He has suffered for our sins, in order that; having been delivered from them, we should live to God. These Christians from among the Jews had been as sheep going astray; they were now brought back to the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls.