13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Devotional
Therefore as Peter says in verse sixteen we are free, free from our sins, by the power of Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection (Rom 1:16-17). As well we are free and or freed from every form of religious servitude that mankind loves to heap up on themselves and others in trying to earn God's favor (consider Col 2:20-23). And so we are free to love and grow and experience life in all its fullness, by being led by the Spirit of God and not the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:16-24). For our liberty purchased for us by Jesus is not to be a cloak for vice. But rather we as former captives to sin and Satan, but now set free, are to live and love like freed people who truly know Him, and thus who serve God and their fellow man abundantly and joyfully in all the fullness of His Son's life and His Holy Spirit's gifts and power. Thus we are to honor all people, that is give do regard to all, showing neither partiality to one or to the other because of race, gender, age or nationality. But rather treat all people as being created in the image of God. Love the brotherhood, that is all brethren, regardless of how they came into the faith. For we who believe are all brethren, i.e. family and thus we are all beloved by God the Father and Jesus Christ the Lord, and so we are to love each other as He loves us. Fear God because this is the beginning of all wisdom (Prov. 1:7; 9:10) from which comes all peace, prosperity and safety (consider Prov 10:27; 14:26; 19:23; 22:4; Ecc 7:16-18; 1 Samuel 12:14-15, 24-25; Isaiah 45:7; 48:18 etc.).
Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982
The Apostle Peter having exhorted us to have our conduct honorable amongst the Gentiles, i.e. everyone who is outside of the house of faith, now tells us how to practically do that. Previously Peters exhortation was to abstain from fleshly lusts; here it is to submit to all God given authority on earth; that is every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, for as the Bible teaches, when one does so they show themselves submissive to the Lord (consider Rom 13:1-7). And thus we are to submit to every ordinance of man whether to the king as supreme, i.e. a nations ruler, or to the governor, i.e. a regional representative of his, as those who are sent by him for the punishment (lit. vengeance upon) evildoers, that is those who defy his ordinances, while being sent for the praise of those who do good. Thus the parallel between submitting to God's Authority and mans is rather obvious as both carry the same results, for the praise to one who does good, and punishment to the other who does evil. Therefore people who claim to follow Jesus Christ yet live in open rebellion and or hostility to clear and obvious decrees given by ruling authorities; that are for the benefit of us all; are not only hindrances to peace in the societies in which they dwell. But if professing believers, they are very poor representatives of the true King and what He requires of us all. For if Satan has one clear trademark it is that of a rebel. If you want to see him at work in mankind then watch and see those who neither receive instruction nor regard correction, but are consciously and continually defiant towards every sound decree and just ordinance, whether originating from God or man. Like the untamable sea, they only to stir up trouble and strife wherever they are (consider Isaiah 57:20-21).
Again there are ordinances of man given by lawful authority for us all to obey. And that is what Jesus wants of us all, because it honors God and is irrefutable by man. Whether traffic signals and cross walk signs, (given for the protection of both driver and pedestrian) or handicap parking zones that are specifically set aside for those who are handicapped or disabled. For these help ease the burden of the disabled and elderly and thus are honoring to God (consider Lev 19:32; Prov 29:7; Isaiah 11:4). But they are not given for yours nor my shopping or waiting convenience!
And so there are numerous other lawful ordinances of man that are good and sound and are to be obeyed by us all who believe. "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."
Again there are ordinances of man given by lawful authority for us all to obey. And that is what Jesus wants of us all, because it honors God and is irrefutable by man. Whether traffic signals and cross walk signs, (given for the protection of both driver and pedestrian) or handicap parking zones that are specifically set aside for those who are handicapped or disabled. For these help ease the burden of the disabled and elderly and thus are honoring to God (consider Lev 19:32; Prov 29:7; Isaiah 11:4). But they are not given for yours nor my shopping or waiting convenience!
And so there are numerous other lawful ordinances of man that are good and sound and are to be obeyed by us all who believe. "For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."
Therefore as Peter says in verse sixteen we are free, free from our sins, by the power of Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection (Rom 1:16-17). As well we are free and or freed from every form of religious servitude that mankind loves to heap up on themselves and others in trying to earn God's favor (consider Col 2:20-23). And so we are free to love and grow and experience life in all its fullness, by being led by the Spirit of God and not the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:16-24). For our liberty purchased for us by Jesus is not to be a cloak for vice. But rather we as former captives to sin and Satan, but now set free, are to live and love like freed people who truly know Him, and thus who serve God and their fellow man abundantly and joyfully in all the fullness of His Son's life and His Holy Spirit's gifts and power. Thus we are to honor all people, that is give do regard to all, showing neither partiality to one or to the other because of race, gender, age or nationality. But rather treat all people as being created in the image of God. Love the brotherhood, that is all brethren, regardless of how they came into the faith. For we who believe are all brethren, i.e. family and thus we are all beloved by God the Father and Jesus Christ the Lord, and so we are to love each other as He loves us. Fear God because this is the beginning of all wisdom (Prov. 1:7; 9:10) from which comes all peace, prosperity and safety (consider Prov 10:27; 14:26; 19:23; 22:4; Ecc 7:16-18; 1 Samuel 12:14-15, 24-25; Isaiah 45:7; 48:18 etc.).
Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982
No comments:
Post a Comment