Thursday, December 1, 2016

Liberty Used as Servants of God 1 Peter 2:16


Peter the apostle told the “scattered” Christians “the will of God” for them was to “submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake” whether it be to “kings, as supreme” or as unto “governors” because they are sent to “punish evildoers” and “praise” those “who do well”. In chapter two and verse sixteen of his letter, Peter told the Christians they are “free” and they are to use their “liberty” as “servants of God” where we read:

As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

The verse begins, “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness,...” Peter began with the words, “As free” which means “liberated, exempt, unrestrained and not bound by an obligation”, “and not using” or “never having, owning or possessing” “your liberty” which means “license to do as one pleases” “for a cloak” or “covering, pretext or veil” “of maliciousness” which means “malignity, ill-will, desire to injure, wickedness, depravity, evil and trouble”. Christians are never to use their “freedom in Christ” as a covering for evil deeds.

The verse continues, “but as the servants of God.” Peter continued with the word, “but” which means “moreover, nevertheless,” and is a disassociation conjunction which means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “as the servants” which refers to “slaves, bondmen, men of servile condition and one who gives himself up to another's will and devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests” “of God” or “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit. Peter desired “Christians” to live as “bondmen and slaves” “of God” rather than as authorities and over-rulers who exploit their freedom in Christ. Peter's idea was for Christians to be “servants of God”, and by their manner of living, others would know they are believers in Jesus Christ.

When we think through these words of Peter, we are encouraged to know we are “free” in our relationship with Jesus Christ, and because we are we should live “as servants of God”. “Bond-slaves” were servants who voluntarily became so, and they are examples for Christians. “The will of God” is for us to submit to the “ordinances of man” because our example serves to demonstrate Christ living within us. May we live as “bond-servants” of Jesus Christ so others will know our “freedom” is used to “serve” Him.

Next time Peter shares about “honor”, “love” and “fear”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites,
http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.




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