Bible Study

Bible study is the 2nd and 3rd Sundays of each month instead of a regular service.

This is when we delve deeper in the scriptures, like the Bereans, to better understand what we are reading. Some people think we should not question God, but there are times when those hard questions nag at you like “why did God let the satan attack Job” or when a hard saying of Jesus like “if you call someone a fool you are liable to the fire of gehenna” just gets in the way of your faith. All over the Bible the Psalmists and prophets were constantly asking God some tough questions when they don’t understand what’s happening to them. And so, we, like them should not shy away from asking too. We might not get all the answers we are looking for, but we come away with a better understanding of the passages we are studying and knowing that our God is a big and does not feel threatened by our questioning.

Week 7 – Being Subject to Your Government
November 1, 2015
Study

The First Letter of Peter: Holy Living in the Midst of Fiery Trials.

Peter says we have spiritual freedom as servants of God and with such freedom we have dominion over the evil one and over our sin nature: we are no longer slaves to sin. As Believers we are to be law-abiding citizens, showing respect to the authorities. Does that mean that we agree with everything the “emperor” says and does? Not at all. If such laws will cause us to violate one of God’s laws then we are to obey God’s laws rather than man’s laws. Yet we are not to use our freedom in Christ as a cover to do wrong. Scripture says we are not of this world, yet we are to be law-abiding citizens. For example we are to obey state laws which are put in place for our safety, pay our taxes, obey rules of the workplace, etc., not trying to subvert the laws and being disruptive. 


Questions
  1. How does Peter identify the Believer in these passages?
  2. What are we cautioned against doing?
  3. What does Peter instruct the Believer to do?
  4. Since we are told to be subject to human authority, do you think Believers should violate the commandments of God if they conflict with the laws of their government?
  5. What does Peter say will silence our critics?

Answers

  1. Free men who are servants of God
  2. We are cautioned against using our freedom in Christ to do evil. We cannot continue doing wrong with the notion that “God will forgive me.”
  3. We are to show respect to our human government, for the Lord’s sake.
  4. Believers are subject to the commandments of God first and foremost. Should there be a conflict between the laws of man and the laws of God, we should always obey God’s laws.
  5. Peter says God’s people should do good deeds and behave well in order to silence their critics.
Selected Scripture Verses
I Peter 2:13-17

(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.

Open Hands Church