Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
It is a reminder to be subject to civil rulers and powers, to obey those in authority, and to stand ready for every good work. That readiness marks the true Christian, alert and prepared and zealous for good, joined with speaking evil of no one, avoiding quarreling, and showing gentleness and meekness to all. Even when the law of God is made void, obedience remains without any defiant spirit, while loyalty becomes warmer, stronger, more decided and earnest, and testimony more positive and steadfast. Such obedience and goodness do not save, for salvation rests on Christ's merits and God's mercy alone, who saves not by works of righteousness done but by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, so that being justified by grace His people become heirs of eternal life. Remembering that mercy leaves no room for partiality, harshness, or neglect of the erring, but calls for humbled hearts, forgiveness toward brethren, and daily cooperation with God in maintaining good works fit for His kingdom.
Submission to Civil Authority
The verse is a reminder to keep believers in mind to live in submission to rulers and authorities, to obey those in authority, and to stand ready for every good work. That readiness belongs with speaking evil of no one, refusing quarrels, and showing gentleness and meekness to all. It describes the real Christian as one zealous of good works. For those who claim to believe and teach the truth it means truly learning Christ as truth is in Jesus, putting off the old man corrupt according to deceitful lusts, being renewed in the spirit of the mind, and putting on the new man created after God in righteousness and true holiness, rather than coming to the banquet of truth without partaking of the Son of God and working unrighteousness.
This submission belongs to daily duty and to the lessons for reaching Christian maturity through obedience to God's Word. Grace in the heart produces faithful obedience and good works as its fruit, while salvation itself rests on Christ's merits and not on works of righteousness done by man. For leaders connected with God's work in every line the charge calls for conversion of heart so the Spirit of Christ may come in and no selfishness, envy, or jealousy may be seen.
Even when the law of God is made void and set aside, believers are still to remain subject and obedient without any defiant spirit. Hearts fully surrendered to God keep opposition from becoming rebellion against civil authority, so they do nothing in defiance while remaining ready to every good work. In that time loyalty does not grow silent or neutral but requires zeal to rise with the emergency and become warmer, stronger, more decided and earnest. Testimony then becomes more positive, unflinching and steadfast, and more earnest, while obedience to magistrates continues.
Readiness Rooted in Grace
Readiness for every good work marks the real Christian, who is zealous of good works, alert and prepared to serve and to give a reason for hope rather than inattentive or neutral. That readiness belongs together with speaking evil of no one, being no brawlers, avoiding quarrels, and showing gentleness and meekness to all men. It forbids partiality that favors some to the neglect of others and harsh dealing with those thought to have made mistakes while more guilty ones are sustained as special friends.
For those who claim to believe and teach the truth, the reminder means truly learning Christ as the truth is in Jesus, putting off the old man corrupt according to deceitful lusts, being renewed in the spirit of the mind, and putting on the new man created after God in righteousness and true holiness, rather than coming to the banquet of truth without partaking of the flesh and blood of the Son of God and working unrighteousness. For leaders connected with God's work in every line, the charge calls for conversion of heart so the Spirit of Christ may come in and no selfishness, envy, or jealousy may be seen. Believers themselves were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
After the kindness and love of God toward man appeared, He saved them not by works of righteousness which they had done but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit shed abundantly through Jesus Christ, so that being justified by grace they are made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Remembering that mercy and favor toward sinners is the example for treating the erring, requiring humbled hearts, obedience to His Word, and forgiveness of brethren who err. The verse is a call to life and liberty, freedom and happiness, in which all have work to do in cooperating with God by maintaining good works and building characters fit to unite with the royal family in the kingdom of God.
Faithful Service in Practice
Faithfulness to duty in good works means overcoming intellectual laziness and spiritual lethargy and willingly taking up responsibilities in God's work, for readiness to serve is the mark of being ready to every good work. A physician who lives with Christ is to be ready to serve others, with a holy life and conduct that instructs by example and makes him a missionary. That holy example is to reach both patients and fellow workers, so that living in Christ turns medical service into missionary work.
The Christian physician's work gives special opportunities to influence patients and guide their lives by holding heavenly principles before them. Young people likewise are to be ready for every good work, and this readiness makes them agents for God and messengers of mercy, serving others and helping those who are perishing. In the closing scenes of this world's history believers must not be inattentive or neutral, but alert and prepared to serve and to give a reason for their hope.
It is a reminder to be subject to civil rulers and powers, to obey those in authority, and to stand ready for every good work. That readiness marks the true Christian, alert and prepared and zealous for good, joined with speaking evil of no one, avoiding quarreling, and showing gentleness and meekness to all. Even when the law of God is made void, obedience remains without any defiant spirit, while loyalty becomes warmer, stronger, more decided and earnest, and testimony more positive and steadfast. Such obedience and goodness do not save, for salvation rests on Christ's merits and God's mercy alone, who saves not by works of righteousness done but by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, so that being justified by grace His people become heirs of eternal life. Remembering that mercy leaves no room for partiality, harshness, or neglect of the erring, but calls for humbled hearts, forgiveness toward brethren, and daily cooperation with God in maintaining good works fit for His kingdom.
Submission to Civil Authority
The verse is a reminder to keep believers in mind to live in submission to rulers and authorities, to obey those in authority, and to stand ready for every good work. That readiness belongs with speaking evil of no one, refusing quarrels, and showing gentleness and meekness to all. It describes the real Christian as one zealous of good works. For those who claim to believe and teach the truth it means truly learning Christ as truth is in Jesus, putting off the old man corrupt according to deceitful lusts, being renewed in the spirit of the mind, and putting on the new man created after God in righteousness and true holiness, rather than coming to the banquet of truth without partaking of the Son of God and working unrighteousness.
This submission belongs to daily duty and to the lessons for reaching Christian maturity through obedience to God's Word. Grace in the heart produces faithful obedience and good works as its fruit, while salvation itself rests on Christ's merits and not on works of righteousness done by man. For leaders connected with God's work in every line the charge calls for conversion of heart so the Spirit of Christ may come in and no selfishness, envy, or jealousy may be seen.
Even when the law of God is made void and set aside, believers are still to remain subject and obedient without any defiant spirit. Hearts fully surrendered to God keep opposition from becoming rebellion against civil authority, so they do nothing in defiance while remaining ready to every good work. In that time loyalty does not grow silent or neutral but requires zeal to rise with the emergency and become warmer, stronger, more decided and earnest. Testimony then becomes more positive, unflinching and steadfast, and more earnest, while obedience to magistrates continues.
Readiness Rooted in Grace
Readiness for every good work marks the real Christian, who is zealous of good works, alert and prepared to serve and to give a reason for hope rather than inattentive or neutral. That readiness belongs together with speaking evil of no one, being no brawlers, avoiding quarrels, and showing gentleness and meekness to all men. It forbids partiality that favors some to the neglect of others and harsh dealing with those thought to have made mistakes while more guilty ones are sustained as special friends.
For those who claim to believe and teach the truth, the reminder means truly learning Christ as the truth is in Jesus, putting off the old man corrupt according to deceitful lusts, being renewed in the spirit of the mind, and putting on the new man created after God in righteousness and true holiness, rather than coming to the banquet of truth without partaking of the flesh and blood of the Son of God and working unrighteousness. For leaders connected with God's work in every line, the charge calls for conversion of heart so the Spirit of Christ may come in and no selfishness, envy, or jealousy may be seen. Believers themselves were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.
After the kindness and love of God toward man appeared, He saved them not by works of righteousness which they had done but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit shed abundantly through Jesus Christ, so that being justified by grace they are made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Remembering that mercy and favor toward sinners is the example for treating the erring, requiring humbled hearts, obedience to His Word, and forgiveness of brethren who err. The verse is a call to life and liberty, freedom and happiness, in which all have work to do in cooperating with God by maintaining good works and building characters fit to unite with the royal family in the kingdom of God.
Faithful Service in Practice
Faithfulness to duty in good works means overcoming intellectual laziness and spiritual lethargy and willingly taking up responsibilities in God's work, for readiness to serve is the mark of being ready to every good work. A physician who lives with Christ is to be ready to serve others, with a holy life and conduct that instructs by example and makes him a missionary. That holy example is to reach both patients and fellow workers, so that living in Christ turns medical service into missionary work.
The Christian physician's work gives special opportunities to influence patients and guide their lives by holding heavenly principles before them. Young people likewise are to be ready for every good work, and this readiness makes them agents for God and messengers of mercy, serving others and helping those who are perishing. In the closing scenes of this world's history believers must not be inattentive or neutral, but alert and prepared to serve and to give a reason for their hope.