1 Peter 2:16: Live As People Who Are Free, Not Using Your Freedom As A Cover-up For Evil, But Living As Servants Of God.

1 Peter 2:16

[16] Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. (ESV)

As believers in Jesus Christ it is understandable that we should celebrate our freedom. We are no longer bound to the Old Testament Law. Because of God's grace we are declared righteous before God even though we are still in a struggle against our sinful nature. Peter reminds the believers that, although they are free, that freedom is not a license to sin.

One of the accusations that was brought against the first century Christians was that they were engaging in all kinds of sin because they knew that their sins were forgiven in Christ. This accusation was addressed by the Apostle Paul in Romans 6:1-2. He says, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? (ESV)"

We live as free people, however, Peter reminds us that we are servants of God. Think about that for a moment. We are free. We are servants. Is this a contradiction? No. We find that as servants of God we are finally free! We are free from the penalty of sin. We are free to walk in righteousness. We are free to love God. We serve him because we love him.

For the Christian, freedom is not the same as for the world. The world views freedom as a license to sin. The servant of God views freedom as being able to escape the bondage of doing what pleases the enemy of our souls, Satan himself. Ironically, while our unsaved friends claim to be living the free life, they are in total bondage to what Satan has for them. Their "freedom" leads to eternal death and imprisonment.

Celebrate your freedom today! You are free to live for Christ. You are free to love him. You are free from the chains of slavery that once bound you to Satan.