For Heavens sake - Pt I

So, maybe you are wondering what does this have to do with the passage, chapter we are looking at today (Rom14)? What does this have to do with government, or our government?

This passage is not literal but it is figurative. This passage couples with (1Tim1:2-4; Tit3:1 and 1Pt2:13-17)

I think for us to get a better understanding and footing our our passage maybe we better look up these passages. They are not on the screen. - - - turn to each passage.

Paul uses no lack of words regarding the Christian and government. Remember this is scripture and we cannot, should not take it lightly. We do need to remember who, when it was written so that is why it is not literal to us, but figurative to us.

Maybe we will get though this today, maybe not, we will see.

Our Passage

Long passage, open YOUR bible or bible app and let’s look together and glean from the passage directly

Romans 13:1 NASB95

1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

Romans 13:2 NASB95

2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

Romans 13:3 NASB95

3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;

Romans 13:4 NASB95

4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

Romans 13:5–6 NASB95

5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

Romans 13:7–8 NASB95

7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. 8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:9 NASB95

9 For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Romans 13:10 NASB95

10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Romans 13:11 NASB95

11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.

Romans 13:12 NASB95

12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Romans 13:13 NASB95

13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.

Romans 13:14 NASB95

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

What do you see as the “do” in this passage?

What do you see as the “do not” in this passage with an exception?

Keeping in mind the recipients, who is this applicable to?

Beyond those questions, anything stick out to you?

Now that we have some general questions out of the way. May we now focus on the scripture directly and pull from the passage.

Where does authority come from (v.1); and to whom?

How can someone not have fear of authority (v.3)?

Think about this one, what is a minister of God to you (v.4) and why (v.5)?

What are the instructions given (vv.7-8)?

What is the fulfillment of the law (v.10)?

What is nearer than when first believed (v.11)?

Because of (v.11) what is the Christian called to do (vv.12-14)?

BE!

Be, every person is to “be” in subjection.

Romans 13:1 HCSB

1 Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God.

Chapter 12, Paul “urges” chapter 13 Paul “commands.”

The command is given in the form of being in subjection, submission to the governing authorities. To God’s established government. For there is no authority except from God.

Biblical examples of God established, given authority (Dan2:21, 2:36-38, 39-44)

Daniel 2:21 NASB95

21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.

Then there is

Daniel 2:36–37 NASB95

36 “This was the dream; now we will tell its interpretation before the king. 37 “You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory;

Daniel 2:38 NASB95

38 and wherever the sons of men dwell, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all. You are the head of gold.

Then there will be other (Dan2:39-43) until the eternal one

Daniel 2:44 NKJV

44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

God establishes; God God takes down both kings and kingdoms to accomplish His will. His good and perfect will.

Protest (insert picture here)

(Transition) Paul refutes rebelling against the established government that God established. Maybe you remember back to the times of “fight the machine.” when people protested our government and our involvement in Vietnam, or other times in the religious wars.

What?

Basically we have looked at the who, “every person” now we will look at the what.

We have read the text, so not going to read it again, at least not now.

Why? this is for wraths sake, so we have no fear of wrath. (consider Act17:24-28)

Summarize it

Act17:24-26 “24 “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,” act17:27-28

REBELLING AGAINST GOD POWERPOINT INSERTED HERE ALREADY

God created, but does not control, other examples. God created and gave dominion in the garden, gave them dominion and authority, but they did not do right and suffered the consequences of it. Nebuchadnezzar rebelled and lived as an animal for 7-years.

To rebel against God given government, God given authority is to rebel against God, to resist God.

God gave the government a sword (v.4) for those who do evil.

Keep in mind that this was written in a time of Roman rule and Roman government and they could execute those who rebelled against Rome.

To those who do capital crimes today, could face capital punishment today, in some places.

The government is the avenger to those who do evil.

God given government, with God given authority may not always act in God pleasing ways.

Now sometimes it is hard to respect the man, but we must respect the office.

Why

Who, what, now we look at why. Actually there will be a few why, this is the first. Why? for conscience sake.

Romans 13:5–6 NKJV

5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.

Romans 13:7 NKJV

7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Maybe it is a general question, but what does conscience mean?

(N): an inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one's behavior.

Paul talked about having a clear conscience (2Tim1:3)

To the Christian in Roman and to the Christian today figuratively we too have a conscience and and need to adhere to a good conscience in submission to the government.

Christians are to serve, be in submission to the Government with a good conscience except when it is contrary to God’s word of course.

What would be an example of something contrary to God’s word that the Christian could not submit to the Government in good conscience?

Biblical example (Act5:27-32)

Acts 5:27 NASB95

27 When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them,

Acts 5:28 NASB95

28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

Acts 5:29–30 NASB95

29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.

Acts 5:31 NASB95

31 “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 5:32 NASB95

32 “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Why would the apostles in good conscience not obey the government here?

One more scripture and we will need to stop today, we will pick up here next week.

Speaking of conscience it is at our baptism we appeal for a good, a clear conscience (1Pt3:21)

1 Peter 3:21 NASB95

21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,