13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
15For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
Respect authority. An amazing statement from the Apostle to a people who had been scattered and exiled by the very authorities whom they are now called to honor. And why should they do so? Because it is by the will of God that by their conduct, those who seek to blaspheme God will be silenced. How often do we need reminding of this divine command, that while we remain on this Earth as ambassadors for Christ, should we not then live so as not to bring disrepute to the One whom we represent. How much mockery of Christ would cease should we live honest and peaceable lives.
16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
"We are now under grace, not under law" is so often the rallying call of those who seek to use the grace of God as a license for sin. "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6: 1-2)
Our freedom was bought at a terrible price and our freedom is a freedom from slavery to sin. However, there is a sense that one goes not so much from slavery to freedom, but slavery to slavery. We who were once slaves to Sin are now slaves to God and of Righteousness (Rom 6: 17-18). What glorious freedom there is in this! "The freest man in the world is the one who is a slave to a perfect master" (Paul Washer). As slaves of our new master, we desire all the more to please Him.
And how does one please Him? By obeying His commands as He has revealed to us through His Word. Esteem others higher than yourself (Phil. 2:3), love one's fellow siblings in Christ (John 13:35), revere God the Almighty, submit to all authority appointed by Him.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.
19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
Will Christian's suffer and unjustly at that? Are there not those in the Middle East, India, China and North Korea who this day who are persecuted and pressed down on the mere notion that they identify themselves with the name of Christ? Are there not those in "open" societies like ours or America who are ostracized and despised because they desire to glorify and honor God above all things? Such are the gracious sufferings of the saints, of whom God will not be ashamed to be called their God. (Heb. 11:16)
However, one must be careful to ensure that one is indeed suffering for doing good in the name of Christ. There are some who are mocked not for the Gospel's sake, but because of their actions which contravene the law. Rather than being scandalized solely by the Gospel, many are made to stumble by the lifestyles and actions of its would-be propagators. Let us examine ourselves carefully, that we would remove every stumbling block before men except the scandal of the Gospel.
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
Why do we choose to suffer for doing good? Why would we rather be cheated and struck down by others? Because we have One who has gone before us who too was cursed by men without a cause. In His suffering He did not retaliate, but instead trusted that the Judge of all the Earth will do right. We look forward to the Day when all wrongs will be made right and justice will not only be done, but will also be seen to be done. So that all of Creation will know that He who sits in the heavens is a Just God who will not let the sins of wicked men go unpunished. (Prov. 11:21)
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
But we who are redeemed are redeemed by His death. He who took all our sins that we might stand acceptable and beautiful before a Holy God. Having been thus redeemed, how much more should we then live to and for God? For He has not only delivered us from the penalty of Sin, but He will only continually deliver us from the power of Sin as long as we remain in this mortal realm.
Because it pleased the LORD to crush Him, we now have peace with God. The severed relationship that began the moment Adam fell has now been restored and healed completely. We who were once lost, Christ our Great Shepard has found.
Praise Him you heavens and all thats above;
Praise Him you angels and heavenly hosts;
Let the whole earth praise Him.
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