Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

- 1 Peter 2:13-17 (ESV)

Legal Outlaws:

Legal Outlaws: 1) Obey the Law and Respect Their Leaders

Legal Outlaws: 1) Obey the Law and Respect Their

Leaders2) Go Beyond What the Law Requires

“And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

- Matthew 5:41 (ESV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

- Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

“Atheism has been specially advanced through the loving service rendered to strangers, and through their care for the burial of the dead. It is a scandal that there is not a single Jew who is a beggar, and that the godless Galileans care not only for their own poor but for ours as well;

“while those who belong to us look in vain for the help that we should render them.”

- Julian, taken from Don’t Waste Your Life, John Piper

In Palestine under Muslim rule, according to the monumental history by Moshe Gil, ”the Christians had immense influence and positions of power, chiefly because of the gifted administrators among them who occupied government posts despite the ban in Muslim law against employing Christians [in such positions] or who were part of the intelligentsia of the period owing to the fact

“that they were outstanding scientists, mathematicians, physicians and so on.” The prominence of Christian officials was also acknowledged by Abd al-Jabbr, who wrote in about 995 that “kings in Egypt, al-Shm, Iraq, Jazra, Fris, and in all their surroundings, rely on Christians in matters of officialdom, the central administration and the handling of funds.”

- God’s Batallions, Rodney Stark

Legal Outlaws: 1) Obey the Law and Respect Their

Leaders2) Go Beyond What the Law Requires3) Can Expect to Be Treated Unjustly

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

- vv. 18-20

Legal Outlaws: 1) Obey the Law and Respect Their

Leaders2) Go Beyond What the Law Requires3) Can Expect to Be Treated Unjustly4) Follow the Footsteps of Jesus

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

- vv. 21-23

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

- vv. 24-25