Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the King James Version ( KJV ). 1 Peter 2:21 reads as follows:
"21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps."
The phrase "leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps," in verse twenty-one ( above ), has a cross-reference to 1 John 2:6: verses one through six read as follows:
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
The apostle Peter ( see 1:1 ) wrote ( see 5:1, 12, for example ) to Christians ( see 1:1-3, 23; John 3:1-5 ( especially verses 3 and 5, for example ); Acts 2:38; and Galatians 3:26, 27, for example ) to follow the steps of Christ ( see also Matthew 1:16, for example ): the apostle John ( see 1:1-3; 4:14; and John 1:1, 4, and 14, for example ) teaches the same concept in verses one through six ( above ). It is in this context that we, as Christians, have no rights. The words "liberty," "license," and "privilege," for example, are synonymous with the word "right." Thus, we have no liberty, for example, to follow anyone's steps other than those of Christ.
However, while following His steps, we do have rights: we have the right to suffer for His sake ( see Philippians 1:29, for example ), and we have the right, through Him, to "come to the Father in one Spirit" ( see Ephesians 2:18; NCV, for example ), for example. See also John 10:9, for example. Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151; John 17:1, 3, and 17; and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>.
NOTE: The synonyms for the noun form of the word "right" were taken from the NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS ( PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10016, dictionary portion: pages 1-1150, Copyright 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, p. TH-71 ( THESAURUS )). The first two passages, associated with the phrase "apostle John" ( above ), were taken from the Holy Bible: Containing The Old and New Testaments ( The New King James Version: RED LETTER EDITION, THE NEW OPEN BIBLE STUDY EDITION, THOMAS NELSON PUBLISHERS, Nashville, Copyright 1990, 1985, 1983 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., p. 1491 ).
