Skip to content Christians and Civil Authority: Romans 13-14 Oct 24 · 15 min ...more
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Christian Duty to Government, Neighbor, and God 0:10 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Today, Romans chapters 13 and 14, verse 3 of chapter 13. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority?0:22 Do what is good, and you will have praise from the saint. Chapter 13 continues Paul's discussion of our relationship as Christians to society. First, he covers our duty to government,0:34 then our duty to our neighbor, and then in verses 10 through 12, our duty to God. Then in chapter 14, Paul returns to the topic that he dealt with in talking to the0:45 Corinth or writing to the Corinthians about having a proper attitude toward other believers in debatable areas of conduct, food, drink, that sort of thing. Now chapter 13 is mostly0:57 identified with our relationship with government as we look at that expect that aspect. Now keep it this in mind. Okay? Paul was writing this letter to the Christians in Rome1:09 when Nero was emperor. Okay? He was emperor from 54 to 68 AD. Now Romans was written before Nero's1:21 crackdown on Christians, which began in AD 64. Now his tyrannical rule began around 59 AD after this letter was written. This is when he had1:33 his own mother murdered and sources implicate him in the deaths of both of his wives. Now he heavily taxed the productive elements of society, the people who work to provide entertainment1:45 for the masses to bolster his popularity. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Alright. Paul teaches Christians to respect the state's god given1:56 role in maintaining order. But Paul does not hold it up as an absolute authority. To do so would be in conflict with what we read over in acts chapter 4 when the authorities2:08 remember that when they told the disciples to stop preaching in the name of Jesus? Let me read it for you. Verse 18 of chapter 4. So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.2:20 But Peter and John answered and said to them, whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.2:34 Romans chapter 13, does bind our conscience to do good, to pay what is owed, and to live peaceably, but it does not bind our2:46 conscience to that which is counter to god. When rulers act as god's servants, Christians cooperate. When they demand what god forbids, Christians2:57 resist faithfully. And what does that mean? Well, with truth, patience, and readiness to suffer rather than bow under the pressure of government. Now when the3:09 principles of scripture are followed, okay, a government that promotes what is good and punishes what is evil begins to emerge. Now this type of government is most3:21 often, if not solely limited to nations influenced by Christianity. But it is essential to understand that Christianity okay. Here here this, okay, hear this very, very carefully.3:33 Christianity is not a political or cultural movement. Okay? Good government and god honoring culture are the byproducts3:45 of an obedient church. It's not its aim. Our aim is to glorify god and to obey him. The result is, as we share the gospel, as we live out our faith, the3:57 byproduct of that is good government and a god honoring culture. Right? As we are witnessing, the further Christians cease to4:08 genuinely follow god and his word, our government has become larger, corrupt, consuming more of our freedoms and our funds. In government, we've been giving4:20 given a unique opportunity to shape our own government. So I I would have to say Christians in America, I believe, are going to be held to a higher standard of accountability before god4:32 based upon what our government does. So we must continually work to restrain it by the way we pray, the way we vote, and the way we stand. We need to continually work to4:44 restrain it or reform it according to god's word. Alright. Let's go. Verse 1. Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from god, and the authorities that exist are4:56 appointed by god. Therefore, whoever resists the authorities, resist the ordinance of god, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. Alright. God5:07 has ordained government. Okay? There are actually 4 institutions of government that god has ordained that are detailed in the bible, self government, family government, civil government, and church government.5:19 Here we have civil government being discussed, and it is from god, and it is for our good. By the way, if you would like more, of an in-depth study on the5:31 institutions of government, you can actually find that on our Stan Fur map and our god in government course where I go into great detail, teaching about this. Alright. Verse 3. For rulers are not a terror to good works,5:42 but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is god's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword5:53 in vain, for he is god's minister and avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore, you must be subject not only because of wrath but also for conscience6:05 sake. So our subjection to being subjected to lawful authority should not be just because of the fear of the sword, but also our reverence for the spirit of god. Verse6:16 6. For because of this, you also pay taxes, for they are god's ministers attending continuing to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due taxes to whom taxes or due customs to whom customs, fear6:28 to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Yes. We should pay our taxes and show respect to the various offices and to those who occupy those offices. Now6:40 that does not mean that we have to agree with them and in our form of government. Guess what? We're blessed with the ability to replace them. But we have to be registered, we have to be6:52 informed, and we have to be voting. And I tell you what, the church could have a much bigger influence if they actually voted. Christians voted in each election. Now7:05 just a note here, speaking of politics, speaking of government, you know, I am for and I believe scripture supports limited and decentralized government. We see this back in Genesis. But there is a move7:17 within the ranks of the so called conservative movement. It's it's kind of a there there's a strain of libertarianism. And libertarianism in its7:28 purest form is a rejection of government, which is a path to anarchy, which leads to totalitarianism and tyranny. So god7:40 ordained government. Now it's not always good government, but you and I have the ability to shape that government, expose it, but we have to be involved to do that. Verse 8, we7:52 transition to our duty to our neighbor. Owe no 1 anything except love for 1 another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. So we're we're to live debt free. We're not to8:04 be, you know, owing other people things. You need to borrow somebody's lawnmower and take it back. Be fiscally responsible. You know, we shouldn't be consuming. And I and I think this is we just8:15 reached this week 38000000000000 dollars in debt as a nation. That's irresponsible. That is not being fiscally responsible. As Proverbs 22 7 says, the borrower's8:27 servant to the lender. What is happening with our debt is immoral. It goes on in verse 9 that we're to be a giver, not a taker. For the commandment, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall8:39 not steal, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not covet. And and if there are any other commandments, all are summed up in this saying, namely, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does8:51 no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. We should be seeking the welfare of others. We should be giving, not9:03 taking. We should defraud no 1 of life, liberty, or possession. Verse 11, we transition to our duty to god and do this, knowing the time that now it is high9:14 time to awake out of sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. Right? Says wake up. Wake up. We know our salvation is drawing nigh, meaning Christ is about to return. The9:26 night is far spent. The day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Wake up. Realize the time what time it is in the work9:38 of the kingdom that needs to be done. Verse 13. Let us walk properly as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy, but9:50 put on the lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lust. In other words, walk right. Walk according to the word of God and the ways of God. Put off the10:02 works of darkness. In first John 2 16, for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the father, but is of the world. You got that? The lust of the10:14 flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life. That's what we should be putting off in walking in Jesus Christ, put on Christ. If we put on Christ and walk in the light, guess what? Everything is10:26 covered. Alright. The government of ours that we have here in America only works if we as individuals, and and it starts with with those of us who are followers of10:37 Christ, govern ourselves according to the moral law of God, the word of God. John Adams, the second president of the United States, was communicating to the officers of the first brigade10:49 of the third division of the militia of Massachusetts, who and he said this is what he said. Quote, we have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions,11:01 unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, and gallantry would break the strongest cords of our constitution as a whale goes through the net. Our constitution11:13 was made only for a moral and a religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. Our system only works. It was created for a people who will govern themselves11:25 according to the word of God. And that's why we have this breakdown, this lawlessness. As we move away from this truth, this founding truth of our nation. And as we move into the 200 and fiftieth anniversary, it's a11:37 great time to rediscover that. Alright. Let's wrap this up. Chapter 14, we see the intersection of the law, our liberty in Christ, and our call to love god and others. Like Corinth, as11:49 we talked about a moment ago, there was apparently Jewish believers who were still keeping the ceremonial laws of Judaism, while others, primarily gentiles, were exercising their freedom in Christ.12:01 And the conflict was in their attitude toward each other. Those who had strong faith, being free from the law, looked down upon those con and condemned those who were weaker and vice versa.12:13 So let's look. Verse 1, chapter 14. 14. Receive 1 who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. Basically, you know, don't argue about these things that don't matter. For 1 believes he may eat12:25 all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats, for god has received him. What12:36 business is it yours if he eats, if he doesn't? Who are you to judge? Another servant. Oh, because we serve the lord. That's he doesn't serve you. He's god's servant.12:50 To to his own master, he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for god is able to make him stand. Drop down to verse 12. Paul says, we will each give an account to god. So don't worry about what's on13:02 your neighbor's plate. Just pay attention to your own. So then each of us shall give an account of himself to god. Therefore, let us not judge 1 another anymore, but rather resolve this not to put a stumbling block13:14 or a cause to fall in our neighbor's way. Rather, look at verse 19, what we should be doing. Therefore, let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which 1 may edify13:26 another. Do not destroy the work of god for the sake of food. What do you mean the work of god? The work that god is doing in the life of someone else. So you might have the liberty to do it. Doesn't mean you should13:38 do it. You need to be looking out for the well-being of others so that the work that god has begun in someone else would not be destroyed. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.13:51 In essentials, unity, in non essentials, liberty, in all things, charity or love. Father, we thank you for your word. And, lord, again, just such practical14:03 instruction. And I pray that the Holy Spirit would help us to to, number 1, receive it, understand it, and apply it. As Paul wrote earlier, lord, sanctify us by your word.14:15 Your word is truth. And so, father, I just pray you would strengthen us on this journey, open our eyes, and show us how to apply your word to this world in which we live. We thank you for your love, and we14:27 pray and ask all this in Jesus name. Amen. Thanks for joining me this morning. And until next time, keep standing on the word.14:36 Today's study comes from the stand on the word bible reading plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day,14:48 you can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 Christian Duty to Government, Neighbor, and God
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