Submit yourselves
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
“For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”
1 Peter 2:13-17
Here’s something to think about. It’s a very simple admonition that the apostle Peter is saying here.
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors,...
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”
We are to submit to government authorities and show proper respect to everyone.
Paul writing to Titus and the Romans backs up what Peter is saying. Paul states,
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,”
Titus 3:1
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
Romans 13:1.
They don’t say that the authorities will always pass laws that Christians like. In fact in the case of Peter and Paul they lived under the emperor Nero who executed Christians. Yet they could still say submit to the governing authorities.
Sadly those claiming to be Christians today do speak out against laws the secular governments pass.
Here in North America governments have passed same sex marriage laws, have allowed abortions and other things Christians dislike. And what do Christians do? They demonstrate. And what do non-Christians see? They see Christians trying to restrict their rights. People who are intolerant.
Thus they turn away from anything Christian.
This can have eternal consequences for non-believers, caused by those claiming to be Christians.
We as Christians need to be submitted to the governing authorities. “Show proper respect to everyone...”
If the secular government that both Peter and Paul say is permitted to govern by God allows things Christians dislike then we should not be protesting them.
God will one day judge the world with righteousness we do not need to do so.
Christians have two clear jobs in this world. To point people to Jesus Christ.
The first and most important one is to point people to the saving grace of Jesus Christ and an eternity with God.
The second to teach and build up believers in Christ.
We cannot do that if we are speaking out against the government or perceived as intolerant lacking in respect and love.
Please think about it.
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
“For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”
1 Peter 2:13-17
Here’s something to think about. It’s a very simple admonition that the apostle Peter is saying here.
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors,...
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”
We are to submit to government authorities and show proper respect to everyone.
Paul writing to Titus and the Romans backs up what Peter is saying. Paul states,
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,”
Titus 3:1
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
Romans 13:1.
They don’t say that the authorities will always pass laws that Christians like. In fact in the case of Peter and Paul they lived under the emperor Nero who executed Christians. Yet they could still say submit to the governing authorities.
Sadly those claiming to be Christians today do speak out against laws the secular governments pass.
Here in North America governments have passed same sex marriage laws, have allowed abortions and other things Christians dislike. And what do Christians do? They demonstrate. And what do non-Christians see? They see Christians trying to restrict their rights. People who are intolerant.
Thus they turn away from anything Christian.
This can have eternal consequences for non-believers, caused by those claiming to be Christians.
We as Christians need to be submitted to the governing authorities. “Show proper respect to everyone...”
If the secular government that both Peter and Paul say is permitted to govern by God allows things Christians dislike then we should not be protesting them.
God will one day judge the world with righteousness we do not need to do so.
Christians have two clear jobs in this world. To point people to Jesus Christ.
The first and most important one is to point people to the saving grace of Jesus Christ and an eternity with God.
The second to teach and build up believers in Christ.
We cannot do that if we are speaking out against the government or perceived as intolerant lacking in respect and love.
Please think about it.
