Obedience to The Lord

Let's look at: 1 Peter 2:13-17 as we look at Walking in Submission in the life of a believer as a citizen of Heaven to Government / Authority. 1 Peter 2:13-17 "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. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men-- as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."


As Christians Peter is telling us that we are to submit to every law, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors. Now remember the church and its believers were being severely persecuted by the government and the society of that day, so this would be a hard pill to swallow. But notice the word "submit" it is in the imperative mode; which means it is a command. Peter is giving us a strong command that we are to submit, and notice he doesn't say some ordinances but he says every ordinance.
But the verse doesn’t stop there; Peter goes on to show us why we are to be obedient: It is not to avoid punishment but is "for the Lord's sake". Everything we do, we do for the glory of God.
When we think of submitting to the Government or Authority it is important to remember that we are to respect the office even though we don’t necessarily respect the person in the office.
Keep in mind that the infamous Nero was ruling as the emperor when God led Peter to give these instructions. Nero was a cruel tyrant who ruled from A.D. 54- 68 over all Roman provinces, including the areas Peter was writing to. Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake.