1 Peter 2:9-17

9: But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10: for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

11; Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 
12: Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

13: Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
14: or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. 15: For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
16: Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
17: Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

*** 

Contrasting his readers from those who stumble over the Word, Peter quoted from Exodus 19:6 to proclaim who his readers are as believers in Christ—a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. They are a people for God’s own possession. This is a spiritual calling brought about by a spiritual birth. He also quoted from Hosea 1:9-10, 2:23 to say those who were not His people, now are His people; and those who had not received mercy, now do. As His people, we will proclaim the excellencies of this One who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.

Peter urged them to abstain from those lusts which “war against the soul.” To keep excellent behavior so if anyone tried to accuse them of doing evil, they would see their good deeds, and be among those who glorify God when He comes.

Since the believers in Gentile regions could not abide by the ungodly customs of the unbelievers, they were accused of disobedience to all legal authority.1 So Peter advised them to submit to their authorities as unto the Lord—to those with the authority to punish evil doers and praise those who do right. Peter said by doing right, you silence the ignorance of foolish men. As free people of God, we're not to use our freedom to cover evil, but to serve God.

Peter said to honor the king and all people. To love their brothers and sisters, and fear God. Of course, the fear of God and obedience to Him and His Word is above all. That takes precedence over an order of authority which contradicts the Word of God (Acts 5:29). However, we, as believers, want to have a reputation of honoring those in authority who properly discern evil behavior from righteous, and act accordingly.

1 https://biblehub.com/commentaries/jfb/1_peter/2.htm; retrieved September 22, 2021


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