First Peter Two Verse Thirteen-Sixteen
Words Of Truth

Words Of Truth


"That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth..." (Proverbs 22:21).

First Peter 2:13-16
While There Is Freedom In Christ, Submit To Government To Silence Foolish Men

I. Introduction:

A. Unjust individuals despise government (II Peter 2:9-10 and Jude 1:7-8).

  1. It is not that human governments are just (I Kings 21:1-16, Matthew 2:16, and Acts 16:16-24).
  2. Yet without civil authority, there is no standard among men (Judges 17:6; 21:25).
  3. We don’t obey civl law because man’s law is just or because we would walk after our own ways. We will talk about why in this lesson.
B. As with all things, God is the supreme authority that we adhere to above all others (Acts 5:27-29).

  1. Consider the authority of Christ (Ephesians 1:19-23).
  2. Know that in the overall, we cannot please both God and man (Galatians 1:10).

II. Body: I Peter 2:13-16

A. Submit to every ordinance [created; established institution] of man; king; governor; those in place for the punishment of evildoers (Titus 3:1).

  1. Not taking matters into your own hands (Romans 12:17-13:4).
  2. Along with all men, we should be thankful for and pray for the longsuffering of God towards government officials for them to be saved and for our own peace of mind (I Timothy 2:1-8).
  3. Even with taxation (Matthew 22:15-22).
B. For the praise of them that do well (Proverbs 14:34-35).

  1. We know how to be wise (Ecclesiastes 10:4).
  2. That wisdom can pacify the wrath of rulers (Proverbs 16:14-15; cf. Proverbs 20:2).
C. It is the will of God to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men (Matthew 17:25-27).

  1. Don’t give men a charge to make against us, as we discussed last week (I Peter 2:11-12).
  2. They will try nonetheless (Luke 23:1-4).
D. As free, not using your liberty for a cloke [covering] of maliciousness [evil] (Galatians 5:13).

  1. There were those who would turn the grace of God into a means to sin (Jude 1:4; cf. Romans 6:1-2; 6:15-16).
  2. In Christ, we are free from sin but not free from responsibility (Romans 6:18 and I Corinthians 7:22).
  3. Our subjection is, in part, for conscience sake (Romans 13:5-7; cf. Acts 24:16 and I Peter 2:19; 3:16).
  4. This study keeps the anarchists from using Scriptures such as Romans 12:1-2, Colossians 2:20-23, etc. as excuses to live contrary to civil authority.
  5. As Christians, we are not supposed to be part of civil unrest (Matthew 5:9 and Hebrews 12:14).
E. Most of all, saints are the servants of God (Hebrews 12:28-29).

  1. This simply reinforces the fact that man cannot override God as we are foremost His servants (I Corinthians 7:23).
  2. If put in the position to choose man’s will vs. the Lord’s, God’s people do not please even the highest of human authorities (Daniel 3:1-30).

III. Conclusion: Our Next Study will be: I Peter 2:17