seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Well it's Thursday again. Time for Bible Study at my friend's house.
This is from the easy English commentary.
I have to confess. I'm dealing with a problem that some might label hypocrisy this morning. In another thread I made a comment about the blue law and how I thought we'd be better off if we went back to the time before everyone worked on Sunday. It was in the context of how God made the Sabbath for man so he would take a break once a week. Even God needed to take a day.... so people should too. It even garnered a reply..... but today I'm in the same boat.
I just started back to my temp job at H&R Block. I'm supposed to work Monday - Friday. My Bible Study is on Thursday. If I don't take Thursdays off to go to Bible Study, am I being a hypocrite?
1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
This is from the easy English commentary.
Christians should live good lives wherever they go. ‘See your good behaviour’ describes how people watch Christians. People think about how Christians behave. They do this for a long time, perhaps for many months or years. Sometimes people may wrongly accuse Christians of doing bad things. Or they may say bad things about them. Christians must always behave well, so that God will receive honour.
Romans 13:1-2 says that all authority comes from God. So, if Christians do not obey their leaders, they are not obeying God. When Peter and Paul were writing their letters, there was a bad emperor (ruler). His name was Nero. He ruled over many countries. He was an evil and severe man. Later he killed many Christians. Usually Christians should respect and obey even bad leaders, because that is what God wants. However, people should not obey a ruler who tells them to do something evil (Acts 4:19; 5:27-29). You must also obey your leaders. A ruler appoints leaders to punish criminals and to praise good citizens. God wants you to do what is right. Foolish people do not understand what God wants. Your good behaviour will make foolish people become silent. In 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Paul says that Christians should pray for kings and all leaders.
Jesus has set Christians free from the power of sin. But this does not mean that that they can now do anything they like. They must obey God and do what is right. But it does mean that sin is no longer their boss. Sin can still tempt them to do what is wrong. But they can refuse to sin and choose to do what is right. Christians are servants who belong to God. Paul explains this in more detail in Romans 6.
When God created the world, he made people to be like him (Genesis 1:26). In John 3:16 Jesus says that God loves everyone in the world. This is why Christians must respect all people. The emperor Nero wanted all people to worship him. Many people were afraid of him. Peter told his readers to respect rulers, but not to worship them like God. Worship is for God alone.
Jesus has set Christians free from the power of sin. But this does not mean that that they can now do anything they like. They must obey God and do what is right. But it does mean that sin is no longer their boss. Sin can still tempt them to do what is wrong. But they can refuse to sin and choose to do what is right. Christians are servants who belong to God. Paul explains this in more detail in Romans 6.
When God created the world, he made people to be like him (Genesis 1:26). In John 3:16 Jesus says that God loves everyone in the world. This is why Christians must respect all people. The emperor Nero wanted all people to worship him. Many people were afraid of him. Peter told his readers to respect rulers, but not to worship them like God. Worship is for God alone.
I have to confess. I'm dealing with a problem that some might label hypocrisy this morning. In another thread I made a comment about the blue law and how I thought we'd be better off if we went back to the time before everyone worked on Sunday. It was in the context of how God made the Sabbath for man so he would take a break once a week. Even God needed to take a day.... so people should too. It even garnered a reply..... but today I'm in the same boat.
I just started back to my temp job at H&R Block. I'm supposed to work Monday - Friday. My Bible Study is on Thursday. If I don't take Thursdays off to go to Bible Study, am I being a hypocrite?