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"Submit yourselves"

Text: 1 Peter 2:13

THE PRACTICE OF SUBMISSION

The first century saw Rome ruling the western part of the world. Europe, Britain and Asia Minor were part of the Roman Empire. Roman law was seen as “an iron fist”. How should believers respond?

“Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake,
whether to the king as supreme, or to governors,
as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers
and for the praise of those who do good.”

1 Peter 2:13-14

1. “Therefore submit yourselves”

a) The Apostle Peter taught the principle of “submission”.

b) The Apostle Paul would be in full agreement (Romans 13:1-7).

i) There must be “obedience”.

ii) There must not be rebellion.

2. “To every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake”

a) The ordinance of man would be a general reference to the laws of Rome.

b) “For the Lord’s sake”

i) The name of the Lord was at stake.

ii) Some laws may be hard and harsh but they need to be understood and
obeyed.

iii) Believers must not be associated with rebels and wrongdoers.

iv) They are to bear the Lord in mind when living under the law of the land.

3. The authorities

a) Rome appointed some as kings.

i) King Herod

ii) Herod Antipas

iii) Their authority was “supreme”.

b) Rome sometimes appointed governors.

i) Pontius Pilate    John 18:29

ii) Felix        Acts 23:26

c) “As to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for
the praise of those who do good”

i) On the one hand, they punished evildoers.

ii) On the other hand, they praised those who did good things.