GOD’S SPECIAL POSSESSION

9 You are a Chosen People,

A Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation,

GOD’S SPECIAL POSSESSION,

That you may Declare the Praises of Him

Who Called you out of Darkness

Into His Wonderful Light.

10 Once you were not a People,

But now you are the People of God;

Once you had not Received Mercy,

But now you have Received Mercy.

11 Dear Friends,

I Urge you, as Foreigners and Exiles,

To Abstain form 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 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.

(1 Peter 2:9-17, NIV)

In submitting Ourselves to Human Authority,

We must not submit

To that which is Against the Word of God.