The Higher Liberty
Order the book The Higher Liberty
The Higher Liberty
by Gregory HHC, d
Minister of His Holy Church
Go to the Table of Contents
1
Peter 2:13
Should we submit to God or men?
Should we ever go under authority or sell ourselves into bondage in
exchange for benefits paid for by others in subjection? Do those applications for benefits always
lead to tyranny and abuse? Do they snare us in a system of servitude?
Israel was forced to do so in
Egypt because they had sold their own brother into bondage, but we
were told to never return to that type of bondage again. The will of God for man is that he should be free to make choices and
not be under the authority of men like Cain, Nimrod, Pharaoh, Saul,
or Caesar, yet, we also see Peter say that you should:
“Submit yourselves to every
ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the
king, as supreme;” 1 Peter 2:13
If we look at this verse word by
word and put it into the context of the whole scripture we may see it
in a new light. First, the Greek word Oun is not translated in the King James version. The meaning of oun is consequently or therefore.
Peter’s verse 13 is an instruction in relation to prior
statements.
“Having your conversation honest
among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as
evildoers, they may by [your] good works, which they shall behold,
glorify God in the day of visitation.” 1 Peter 2:12
1 Peter 2:12 talks about our
conduct among the Gentiles. The word Gentiles is from ethnos meaning other nations. The
Kingdom was a nation under God, at hand, but it did not exercise
authority over the people like
other nations. Other people called them evil doers because they did not participate in
the social welfare systems of kings and rulers. They freely
contributed to their government, who rightly divided it from house to
house, in pure religion,
caring for the needy of their society, unspotted by the world,
which was the world of
Rome.
Peter
does say “Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him
for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do
well.” 1 Peter 2:14.
Paul knew that everyone seeking
the Kingdom could not be free. But they should desire it, “Art
thou called [being] a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be
made free, use [it] rather.” 1Co 7:21
The
accusation was often that these men of Christ did not make the
offerings on the civil altars of Caesar’s government which
supplied welfare for the needy of their society. Christians did not
participate. They had their own system and men needed to contribute
to it out of love so that they did not neglect the needy.
“For so is the will of God, that
with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but
as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear
God. Honour the king.” 1 Peter 2:15-17
If
you have signed up with or said yes to Caesar then you owe Caesar. If
you have an agreement with him to eat at his table then you may owe
him, but that again is because you have failed to listen to the
prophets. You have failed to set the table of the Lord.
“Let their table become a snare
before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let
it become a trap.” Psalms 69:22
Because this precept of God is
so fundamental Paul repeats it.
“And David saith, Let their table
be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence
unto them:” Romans 11:9
Is the social security system of
the world religious? It is how the world takes care of its widows and
orphans and needy, but it is not unspotted by the world. It
is conformed to the world and very much entangled with it. It
depends entirely on compelled offerings.
We should all be reminded that
we were endowed by God in the beginning with rights and the exercise
of those rights we call “liberty,” the “power to
choose”, the “freedom of choice”. Governments are
not endowed by God, but by us. If we give up our God given rights for
the benefits of men who take from our neighbor, then we are rejecting
God.
“Then Peter and the [other]
apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Acts 5:29
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Return to the Table of Contents, Alphabetical Index or purchase the book The Higher Liberty
Related Articles and Audio:
Romans 13 part 1
http://www.hisholychurch.org/media/audio/rm/Romans131.ram
ROMANS 13 verse 1 the higher liberty
Does God want us to be subject or to be free?
http://www.hisholychurch.org/sermon/romans13.php
Romans 13 and I Peter 2,13-14
Is the Bible consistent about setting men free or does it contradict itself?
http://www.hisholychurch.org/sermon/romanspeter.php
Romans 13, NN Video Series:7-10 4:32
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SEMYx6affo
Footnotes:
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