As Servants of God

- It is God's will for us to do good to others (which includes submitting to authority)...to do what is right in His eyes. We are to live according to God's Word and obey the human laws so far as they are consistent with and not contrary to the commands/laws of God. Christians should certainly be law-abiding citizens.

- It is God's will that we should live so honorably and above reproach that the unbelievers will have no basis/reason for accusation. Live in such a way that those who don't know God (foolish people) shall have nothing to say against you. Ignorance is to be silenced by good deeds. Let our actions speak louder than our words and their words! "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." (1 Peter 2:12) "The world will not care about my testimony with the lip--unless there is also a testimony in my daily life for God, for truth, for holiness, for everything that is honest, lovely, pure and of good report." (Charles Spurgeon)

"There is no argument like a holy life!" (Robert Murray M'Cheyne)

"Men may refuse to see the truth of our arguments--but they cannot evade the evidence of a holy life. Live a holy life, brethren!" (J.C. Ryle)

"One of the best ways of meeting the accusations of our enemies is to lead a life of strict integrity. It is not easy for the wicked to reply to this argument." (Barnes)

- We are free because Christ paid the price for you and me with His precious blood. He frees us from sin, its power & punishment and from the curse & condemnation of the law. This liberty is not a license to sin or to do whatever we want. Do not use your freedom as a cover-up or an excuse for evil/a cloak of maliciousness. Do not abuse grace and freedom. We have been set free to live as God's slaves/bondservants. True freedom is found in freely submitting to God and living by His Word. We only want to do our Master's will. Living under God's authority gives us the greatest freedom of all. It gives us protection, direction, and security. "But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness...Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness and the result is eternal life." (Romans 6:17-18, 22) "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." (Galatians 5:13) "A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.  The key to that paradox is God. Freed by God from slavery to all human institutions; and sent by God freely and submissively into those institutions -- for His sake!" (Martin Luther)

- Show everyone the proper respect that is due to them according to their worth as those made in the image of God. Honor others above selves.

- Love (with agape love) all brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. We are one Body, belonging to the same family/household of faith.

- Fear (Revere) God. Make sure that God is the Center of our lives and is honored above all else. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7) "Fear the Lord and shun evil." (Proverbs 3:7b) "To fear the Lord is to hate evil." (Proverbs 8:13a) "Through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided." (Proverbs 16:6b)

- Honor the emperor/king/ruler. Most likely, the emperor at that time was Nero who was evil, cruel, and hostile to Christians. Yet, Christians were to honor him. By doing so, they ultimately honored God.