1 Peter 2:16-17

1 Peter 2:16-17 “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. (17) Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”

We are free in Christ. Free from the bondage of sin. However, this does not give us a license to sin, rather, it gives us the freedom and the ability to honor God. To serve Him! This freedom we have been given through the blood of Christ is not to be misused. I like what Chuck Smith says:

“You’re not really free to live after the flesh or the lust of your flesh; you’re free not to live after the lust of your flesh. That’s a freedom the world doesn’t have; they’re bound by their flesh. They’re slaves to their flesh. But freedom that we have in Christ is that we don’t have to live after our flesh anymore. Thank God. What a glorious freedom. So don’t use that freedom just as a cover. Well, I’m free in Jesus. I’m not under law, under grace I’m free. Don’t use that as a cloak for maliciousness.”

Smith, Chuck. “1 Peter 1-2,” C2000 Series. The Word for Today. Blue Letter Bible.

As a result of this awesome freedom we have in Christ we should live to serve God willingly and joyfully. Also, showing everyone respect, loving fellow believers, fearing God, and honoring earthly authorities. We have already seen these principles in previous passages:

• Love the brotherhood – 1 Peter 1:22 “…you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.”
  
• Fear God - 1 Peter 1:17 “…live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.”
• Honor the king - 1 Peter 2:13-15 “Submit yourselves…to every authority instituted among men…”

How many times do we live as free men?  Or do we just act like we have been defeated by sin?  As Christians we are free!  Free to live for Christ!  Wow, what an incredible truth we need to apply to our lives.

 Application:

•  Realize that we are free from the bondage of sin through Christ.
•  Thank God for our freedom through Christ!
•  Be Aware of areas in our lives that we might misuse the freedom we have and STOP.
•  Live as servants of God.
•  Show respect for everyone, Love fellow believers,  Fear God,  Honor authority.