1 Peter 2:11-16

11My friends, remember that you are really strangers in this world. You do not belong here. So I am telling you not to do the bad things that your bodies may want to do. Those bad things fight against what is good for your soul.

12You are living among people who do not know God. So be very careful that you always live in a good way. Sometimes these people may wrongly say that you do bad things. But if you continue to live in a good way, they will see that you really do good things. As a result, on the day when God comes as judge, they will give honour to him.

13Obey all people who have authority in this world. Obey them, because you are servants of the Lord Jesus. First of all, obey the king, who rules everyone.

14Also obey the officers that serve the king. He has sent them to punish people who do bad things. And they praise people who do good things.

15God wants you to do only what is good. Then silly people will not be able to say bad things against you. Those people do not really know what is true.

16You are free people. But you are servants of God. So do not think, ‘Because I am free, I can do any bad thing that I want to do.’