God and the Government - Romans 13
What God is Doing with Government. • Sermon • Submitted
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· 9 viewsHow should Christians view and respond to Government.
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Handout
What is God Doing?
What is God Doing?
In Government - Romans 13
In His World - Romans 11
In Us - Romans 8
In You - Romans 8
In the Government?
In the Government?
Matthew 22:15-22
Jesus - Unites his followers and his enemies
Disciples of Pharisees & Herodians sent to Jesus… Matthew 22:17 - Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?
Jesus Response - In a single sentence, established the validity of Government and set its limits
Human Government is the plan of God
The Stamp of Caesar’s image - The Stamp of God’s Image
Friction happens where the two meet - Word of God
God’s Word has much to Say about Government and Subjects
God’s Word has much to Say about Government and Subjects
· Beginnings and Government – Genesis 9:6
· Jesus Christ and Government – Matthew 22:15-22
· NT Believers and Government – Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:12-17; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:4; Titus 3:1-2; Acts 5:27-41
Romans 13:1-7 - Subject to governing authorities
1 Peter 2:17 - Honor the emperor
1 Timothy 2:1-2 - Pray for kings and all in high positions
Titus 3:1 - submissive to rulers and authorities
2 Timothy 2:4 - dont get entangled in civilian affairs
Acts 5:29 - When government and god conflict, we obey god rather than men
I. Government is a Gift from God
I. Government is a Gift from God
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
Seek the Plain truth of Scripture
Government is part of God’s Common Grace: Sun, Rain, Parents, Children, Food, Water, Shelter, Parents, Children, Relationships… and even Government
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
4 Gifts God has given man to restrain Sin:
4 Gifts God has given man to restrain Sin:
Conscience - Personal Restraint
Family - Parental Restraint,
Government - Societal Restraint,
Church using the Word of God - New Life Restraint
Romans 13:1-2 - Governing Authorities
Romans 13:1-2 - Governing Authorities
instituted by God
Resist authorities, you are are resisting God
incur judgment
Humans that God has providentially placed in leadership over humanity
Placed into position by God, from God
Vs. 4 - the authority is called God’s Deacon
Government is the deacon of God… humbly serve… humbly serve God
No governing authority has taken position of power apart from the providence of God.
Emperor Claudius - Called God’s Servant by Paul
Empereor Nero - Told to honor by Peter
King Cyrus - Persian King, called God’s Annointed
King Nebuchadnezzar - Called God’s Servant by Jeremiah 27:6
Government is God’s deacon… either wittingly or unwittingly, Government is serving the plan of God.
The Governing Authority is a Human
“He”
No form of government is established by God… democracy, republic, monarchy
America is not God’s Nation. Israel was a theocracy… God was their King… Jesus will establish righteous theocracy.
Romans 13:1-2 - Be Subject
Romans 13:1-2 - Be Subject
hupotasso - be subject to OR be subordinate to;
Military term - place or arrange under
implies an obedience and recognition of greater authority
Disciples rejoiced that the demons were subject to them (Luke 10:17),
Creation is submitted to futility by God (Romans 8:20);
Spiritual gift is subject to the gifted person.
The Reason for the Gift… God has given mankind government to institute a form of outside control for sinful mankind.
Restrain Sin
Apart from government, we would destroy God’s creation, we would have God ordained freedoms stolen away, and the gospel would have additional obstacles to overcome.
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
a. Accomplish His Sovereign Will
a. Accomplish His Sovereign Will
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
God’s plan for government is the accomplishment of His Sovereign Will
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
America has enjoyed an unprecedented peaceful and quiet life for Christians
freedom of religion, of belief, and of expressing that belief.
Missionary Efforts
What if God we gave a wicked Government? Can God still be in control???
Pharoah of Egypt, Unnamed King of Nineveh, Sennacherib of Assyria, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Cyrus of Persian, Caesar Augustus of Rome, Emperor Nero, the AntiChrist of Revelation 13:5
Habakkuk 1:5–11: Habakkuk 3:16-19
Rest Assured… God has a bigger plan than you realize.
Abuses of Government does not negate the plan of God for mankind
China, Korea, Russia, Iran… have experienced times of the greatest evangelistic growth when God allowed restrictive evil governments to rule.
Role of Government - Accomplish God’s Will on Earth
Role of Government - Accomplish God’s Will on Earth
Important Clarification #1 - Violate God’s Law
Important Clarification #1 - Violate God’s Law
The Bar is High.
rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft - 1 Sam 15:23
dishonoring God’s authority is serious matter - 1 Samuel 24:6
The consequences are not eliminated.
The consequences are not eliminated.
Acts 5:29, 40
We dishonor the commands, but we honor the commander.
We dishonor the commands, but we honor the commander.
1 Peter 2:17 - honor the emperor
b. Protect mankind from mankind
b. Protect mankind from mankind
For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
Man’s Sin Needs Restrained
Man’s Sin Needs Restrained
Underestimate the sinfulness of man; the reality of God’s curse; the natural tendency of man
Our own sinfulness… natural bent we have towards selfishness, dishonestly, perversion, violence, and even murder… most damaging our ability to see these sins in ourselves is often compromised.
Without God, Man is a dangerous beast
God inputs fear into the equation (vs. 3-4)
God inputs fear into the equation (vs. 3-4)
“Fear Not” is a cheap slogan; and it is not of God.
Phobia is used 3 times in verse 3-4. The Spirit of God is trying to make a point. Fear has a purpose.
Bad Conduct brings fear
Good conduct eliminates fear… not a terror to good conduct
Far greater fear is no government!
God uses government to avenge (vs. 4)
God uses government to avenge (vs. 4)
Second role of Government… restrain man’s rebellion to God’s defintion sense of right and wrong
Servant of God - the Deacon of God - the avenger, the hand of God’s wrath… bears the sword.. punish the wrongdoer, usher in accountability to mankind.
Explicitly forbidden to individuals 8 verses earlier in Romans 12:17 and Romans 12:19
1. To accomplish his will on earth.
1. To accomplish his will on earth.
God superintends the affairs of men, determining alloted periods andd the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God (Acts 17:26-27)
2. To restrain Man’s Sinfulness
2. To restrain Man’s Sinfulness
While the door of Grace is open and God’s wrath is held back while men and women can turn from evil to God, God limits the experssion of man’s evil nature through the governing power of humans upon humans (Acts 17:30-31)
Second Clarification - The Limit of Government
Second Clarification - The Limit of Government
Government is not the solution… not the family, the church, the savior.
Government is used by God to punish wrong behavior and approve right behavior, but it cannot produce either.
It is only called to identify and respond to their existence. These are born in the heart of man.
Government is given to serve mankind, not fix him.
Only Christ can do that.
“As Christians we may deplore the politics of a particular person in office. We may be repelled by his scandalous conduct. But that does not disallow us from respecting the office. The person is just a human, but the office exists at the discretion of God. Even in our dissent we must always be Christian gentlemen and gentlewomen.”
II. We Render what is ordained by God
II. We Render what is ordained by God
Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Be subject, as to the Lord
Pay Your Taxes
Respect and Honor the Authorities
Romans—Righteousness From Heaven The Dynamics of Obedience (vv. 5-7)
When it became clear that the Nazis were pursuing their terrible racist policies, Pastor Martin Niemoller continued to preach the truth and as a result was thrown into prison. The prison chaplain upon visiting Niemoller asked somewhat foolishly, “What brings you here? Why are you in prison?” To which Niemoller replied angrily, “And, brother, why are you not in prison?”
Our Response
· Dishonoring a command may be righteous, Dishonoring authorities is sin.
(See 1 Peter 2:17 - Honor the emperor.)
Pray for authority compatibility with God’s plan for government...
Peace & quiet opens Gospel Doors
(See 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Pray for those in authority… peaceful and quiet life.)
Generally, what we do in moderation, our followers do in excess.
(See 1 Corinthians 8:12 Don’t cause your brother to stumble.)
What is God Doing?