1 Peter 2:13-14 - "Submit yourselves for the Lord’s
sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or
to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of
those who do right."
We're told here in First Peter that we need to submit ourselves to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors, etc. I find this intriguing, because the king, or the emperor at the time that Peter wrote this letter was a man by the name of Caesar Nero. This was a man who was unusually cruel to Christians. At his feasts he would hang Christians up in cages and light them on fire in order to give light to his dinner party, he would use them as human torches. But Peter said that we are to submit to our rulers for Gods sake. And it should be a lot easier for us then it was for the Christians in Peters day. Or for that matter, Christians in various other parts of the world where national leaders are opposed to the gospel and our brothers and sisters are facing intense persecution. Comparatively speaking we have it extremely easy.
Paul writes in Romans 13:1-4 - "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil." Here we learn that all authority comes from God. No one in authority would have any authority unless God had given it to them. You'll remember that when the Lord Jesus was on trial before Pontius Pilate he said to Him, "Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?" And Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above." And later on, after His resurrection Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me." The only time we ever have occasion to disobey our governing authorities are when they command us to do something that is contrary to what God has told us. A couple good examples of this are found in the book of Daniel. When Nebuchadnezzar told the people to bow down to the golden image he had created, the three Hebrew boys refused knowing that God had said "You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only." and "You shall not make for yourselves any idol." And also in chapter 6 when the king issued a decree that no one was to pray to any god but to him alone, and Daniel continued to pray to the one true God knowing that He commanded that we pray to no one but to Him alone. Another example is found in the book of Acts and chapter five when the governing authorities commanded Peter and the other disciples not to preach anymore in the name of Jesus, but Peter answered them and said, "We must obey God rather than men." And that's always true, but that's also the only permissible reason we have for not obeying the authorities that God has set over us.
And finally in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Paul exhorts us - "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." We are to be praying for those in authority. God desires all men to be saved. We may not like the people who are ruling over us right now but we need to pray for them. If they're lost we need to be praying for their salvation. That God would reveal Himself to them and bring people into their lives who will be able to influence them for Christ. And if they're saved we need to be praying that God would give them wisdom in how to lead according to His will.
Submit to our governing authorities and pray for them, and as much as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
We're told here in First Peter that we need to submit ourselves to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors, etc. I find this intriguing, because the king, or the emperor at the time that Peter wrote this letter was a man by the name of Caesar Nero. This was a man who was unusually cruel to Christians. At his feasts he would hang Christians up in cages and light them on fire in order to give light to his dinner party, he would use them as human torches. But Peter said that we are to submit to our rulers for Gods sake. And it should be a lot easier for us then it was for the Christians in Peters day. Or for that matter, Christians in various other parts of the world where national leaders are opposed to the gospel and our brothers and sisters are facing intense persecution. Comparatively speaking we have it extremely easy.
Paul writes in Romans 13:1-4 - "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil." Here we learn that all authority comes from God. No one in authority would have any authority unless God had given it to them. You'll remember that when the Lord Jesus was on trial before Pontius Pilate he said to Him, "Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?" And Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above." And later on, after His resurrection Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me." The only time we ever have occasion to disobey our governing authorities are when they command us to do something that is contrary to what God has told us. A couple good examples of this are found in the book of Daniel. When Nebuchadnezzar told the people to bow down to the golden image he had created, the three Hebrew boys refused knowing that God had said "You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only." and "You shall not make for yourselves any idol." And also in chapter 6 when the king issued a decree that no one was to pray to any god but to him alone, and Daniel continued to pray to the one true God knowing that He commanded that we pray to no one but to Him alone. Another example is found in the book of Acts and chapter five when the governing authorities commanded Peter and the other disciples not to preach anymore in the name of Jesus, but Peter answered them and said, "We must obey God rather than men." And that's always true, but that's also the only permissible reason we have for not obeying the authorities that God has set over us.
And finally in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Paul exhorts us - "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." We are to be praying for those in authority. God desires all men to be saved. We may not like the people who are ruling over us right now but we need to pray for them. If they're lost we need to be praying for their salvation. That God would reveal Himself to them and bring people into their lives who will be able to influence them for Christ. And if they're saved we need to be praying that God would give them wisdom in how to lead according to His will.
Submit to our governing authorities and pray for them, and as much as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
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