Not Using Freedom as a Covering for Evil
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Bible Verses~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1Pet 2:13 Be subject to every human institution for the
Lord's sake, whether to a king as being supreme, 14 Or to
governors as being sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and
praise of those who do good. 15 For so is the will of God,
that by doing good you would muzzle the ignorance of foolish
men; 16 As free, and yet not having freedom as a covering
for evil, but as slaves of God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Words of Ministry~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In verse 13 "institution" means the making of regulations or
ordinances much like the enacting of laws by the legislature.
According to the context, "every human institution" includes
"a king as supreme" and also "governors as sent by him." Here
Peter is telling the believers that for the Lord's sake, that
is, for the expression and glorification of the Lord (v. 12),
we should be subject to all human institutions. In verse 15
Peter goes on to say, "Because so is the will of God, by
doing good to silence the ignorance of foolish men." The
foolish men in verse 15 are the evil speakers mentioned in
verse 12.
In verse 16 Peter says, "As free, and not having freedom as a
cloak for evil, but as slaves of God." We should never use
freedom as an excuse to do evil. We should not say, "Are we
not free? We are not under the bondage of the law; we are
under grace. This means that we are free." Yes, we are free,
but we should not use our freedom as an excuse to behave in a
careless manner. On the contrary, we should use our freedom
as slaves of God. Peter's word here is similar to that of
Paul in his Epistles. Although we are freed from the law of
Moses, we are still under the law of Christ. As those under
the law of Christ, we should be slaves of God. On the one
hand, we are free; on the other hand, we are slaves of God
under His control.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(c) 2007 Living Stream Ministry. Bible verses are taken from
the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry, from
Witness Lee, Life-study of First Peter, pp. 171. Both are
published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA.
Please visit us at www.emanna.com
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