FREEDOM

“Live as people who are FREE, not using your FREEDOM as a cover-up for evil, BUT living as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God,”-( 1 Peter 2:16-17).

Jesus said, “So if the Son sets you FREE, you will be free indeed.”- ( John 8:36). Free from the penalty and power of sin. Free from the control of satan. Free from the wrath of God. Freed by the power of the cross of Christ as testified through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Freed and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a new life. And in the midst of great suffering, fiery trials Peter tells them that as intense as the situations are in they can overcome and have the ability to live not in bondage to their circumstances but as free people in their circumstances. What does it look like? Peter gives us five manifestations and note it has to  do with attitudes and relationships

LIVE FREE, BECAUSE YOU ARE FREE. “Live as people who are FREE,” The word “Free,” speaks of slaves set free,”emancipated.” No where in the New Testament does it refer to political freedom or the Stoic’s false belief of freedom of the flesh from emotion and desire. Paul wrote, “But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you.”-{Rom 6:22}. This freedom has already taken place. It is a done deal! “Freed,” emancipated people free to move about from under the power of sin and  the authority of satan’s control. This freedom comes exclusively trough a Person, His Work and means we have been “freed from our sins.” How wonderful! “…To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood,”-{Rev 1:5}. We now have the God given ability to live as we ought, with a new desire and power. Freedom is not free to sin, but free to submit to Him. True freedom to know Him, love Him through gladly submitting to Him. A new power.” By His Divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence.”- {2 Peter 1:3 NLT}. You are free, live  out your freedom. Be who God has made you in the spiritual realm..as free.

DON’T MISUSE FREEDOM.  “…not using your FREEDOM as a cover-up for evil, ” Not using Christian liberty as “a cloak,” the word means “veil” for doing wrong. A Covering for evil, or to try and justify wrong doing. It is possible to misuse Scripture as a cloak for bitterness in trying to put someone down. Using the liberty you have in Christ and treating others with contempt who may be offended rather than laying your preference aside to prefer them so not to cause them to stumble, as Paul illustrated regarding the eating of foods. To one person they had liberty, to the other it was offensive. The loving thing to do? Lay aside your liberty out of love for the other person!

LIVE TO SERVE GOD. Daily life is to be lived to serve God! ” BUT living as servants of God. ” Each day we know what He wants irrespective of the pressure, suffering they were going through, peter tells them and they have the power to do so! The word “servants” or some translations say “bond-servants” {doulos from deo- to bind.}. It was used of a slave that was bound, obligated and desiring to do the will of their master. Their will is swallowed up in the will of another, devoted to serve them, disregarding their own interest. Their primary purpose and interest is in the will of their master. The “Doulos” has no  life of their own, no will of their own, no plan of their own, totally taken up with the life, will , plan of another, their masters. While slaves had no say in the matter and could have served but not from a heart of love or appreciation the Christian has a new heart , new appreciation for the LORD Jesus and what it cost Him to set them free, and this  role now as a servant, a “doulos” is a great privilege gladly embraced because of the great love God has demonstrated towards them!

The highest honor is to be “servants of God!”

 

4 COMMANDS;  In Submission To Him…

1.BE RESPECTFUL.- “HONOR” 

-{timeo from time} “honor, value, prize” all people.  It means to give something or someone value. It is the first of four commands in this verse and is in the “aorist imperative” tense meaning this calls for urgent action! This is not just an action but coming from the internal, the heart, and can be done by the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us as we submit to do  His will, the revealed will of God…from the heart. When Peter wrote this some estimate there were sixty million slaves in the Roman empire. often they were treated as things to be used. Peter calls fro a different attitude, they are people to be respected, valued, honored for God has made them in the image of God.  How could that relate today? From asking children to go get you something to eat while you sit on front of the TV and are too lazy or do not want to be inconvenienced to get it yourself. Or as an employer who  shouts at your employees, doesn’t pay them a fair wage. But tends to see them  as “things” that exist to prosper, serve you and speak down to them. It can be in school where someone is different than you and you make fun of them, Pride is an ugly sin! It is not to see people as people and see them as things to be used for our own benefit, our own selfish gain, comforts. Remember Peter is writing to believers. Though saved they like me and you need to renew our thinking so as to align our thoughts with His so we may know His revealed will and empowered by His SPIRIT submit and do His Will.

The saddest thing and often most revealing truth to us to know if we are treating people as things to be used is to look at those closest to us, how we are treating them?

This command is to be obeyed, don’t pass by it quickly. Treat people with respect. This is how love behaves, Love is never disrespectful, dishonoring to others. Submission as His servant is manifested in honoring others. This does not mean you honor their actions if their is an offense but it does mean you show respect to them in their condition as an act of obedience and honor to Him who calls you, commands you and me to do so! Honor them because t

hey are made by God and in the image of God. This will mean a continuous adjustment to attitudes and renewing our mind to see things as God says they are in order to follow Him as His servants. James spoke against those who gave the rich person the best seat and the poor person  was relegated, and the whole reason was because of their bank account as it were. Do you do that, do I? Show favoritism based on economy? That is to discriminate and dishonor.

2. BE LOVING. –

The next command is to be loving to God’s people, His family of believers.

Peter wrote, “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart ( 1 Peter 1:22)

Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. ” (John 13:35).

The word “LOVE” as uses here is “agapao” which speaks of unconditional love, the love GOD demonstrated towards us. It is a sacrificial love not based on emotions but one of choice seeking the other person’s highest good.  It is not based on affection but an act of the will, a choice for another’s highest good and in doing so this glorifies God and is an expression of Love to God.”He who has My comandments and obeys them He it is who loves Me.”- {John 14:21}. John speaks of this love, ” This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”-(1 John 3:16-18).  Love is as simple as meeting needs!Not to do so John questions one’s salvation! true love lives and gives sacrificially for Jesus sake -{2 Cor 4:5}.

The command is present imperative which is to be the way you continually live. This is the new habit of your life. You are to always live lovingly, sacrificially, continually, consistently, unconditionally loving other believers. This reflects a new heart from a new Master, a New relationship, a New power and is  testimony that we are His and living in obedience to Him.

3. WORSHIP GOD. –  

“Fear God.” “fear”-{Phobeo} speaks of “reverence” it is also a present imperative. A Command that is to continually mark our lives. A New way of living that characterizes all believers. Fearing God, is not like the animal that has been abused and cowers in the corner but the word “fear” speaks of reverence for God. Not a fear of what He will do to us, but a healthy fear that we have that we do not want to sin against Him and His love for us. It is a reverence and honor towards Him.. It is not a dread of punishment but of not doing wrong against Him. Having a high respect, reverence for Him that motivates us.

4. HONOR AUTHORITY –

Of the four commands this is the most eye opening one. “Honor The king.” Why? Because the evil king was Nero!  Submission is a favorite word of Peter and he uses it in in 2:13, 18; 3:1, 5, 22; 5:5; the concept is implied in 4:12-19.  It is a military term and means to put oneself under the authority of another in rank. Submission is an attitude of respect that is manifest in obedience to those in authority and good works.{Read 1 Peter 2:15}

This is also a command and is “present imperative” which means  this is to be the habit of  your life, at all times, keep showing honor to those in authority. While many reading this do not have a king or emperor, the principle is to those in government leadership.  The Followers of  Christ are to “submit” which basic meaning is “obey,” the laws of the land unless they go against God’s Word.{Read Acts 4:19-20; 5:9}.

 The best citizens should be Christ’s servants!

Submission first and foremost is an attitude of the heart and is manifested in good actions. {1 Pet 2;15}.And living as free people in Christ will be manifested in a life style of  living submissively to God,…

FREE in…

  1. Respecting All others
  2. Loving others sacrificially
  3. Worshiping God
  4. Honoring Government Authority

NOTE; God is mentioned four times in five verses. It is all about Him, not me or  you. He is the center and exalted One our privilege is to submit to Him and follow in obedience. In submission to God there is safety, security, not necessarily physical but spiritual! Our submission is about God. It is all about Him. Serving Him in the home, when we are at school, work, whatever the situation. Are there others there? Respect them. Are there believers around you? Love them. Worship God. What about authorities? Honor them, unless they ask you to sin, honor them. While many fight for “rights” for comfort sake we are to show what is right and honor those in authority for Jesus sake!

Living under His Word, His Authority, provides His direction for us!

True Freedom comes and is experienced from Submitting to Him and is evidenced in our relationships of whom we are living for. Self or the Savior!

Freedom … Not to live independent but in dependence upon God and the ability to Obey His Word and Courage to Live It Out. The truly free are those who live in submission to God and live out His Word and society benefits!