Preacher: Jeremy Herbert
Text: Romans 13
Theme: 4 Reasons We Should Submit to Government
Notes:
Context: written by the Apostle Paul, who was:
- A Jew
- A Christian
- A Roman citizen
The Roman Empire was a foreign occupying force in Israel
- They dislike for both Jews and Christians alike.
- They saw Jews and Christians as traitors, as neither would bow to their gods, whose worship was enmeshed with the civil government.
Paul is writing this around 56AD–just about a decade before he would be martyred for his faith.
- In Romans 1-11 Paul makes a masterful exposition of salvation by faith.
- In Romans 12-16 Paul lays out how the gospel applies in various practical areas
- In Romans 13 Paul addresses how we live out our earthly citizenship
God gives 4 authorities to live out his creation mandate:
- Conscience – personal
- innate sense of right and wrong
- Romans 2
- Family – relational
- Foundation of society
- Human government – civil
- 1 Tim 2
- Isaiah 10
- Church – spiritual
Each has its own realm of authority; we have problems when they intersect or when one tries to rule outside its given sphere of authority
4 Reasons We [e.g., every soul] Should Submit to Government
- Submit for wrath’s sake
- Submission to civil government (and other authorities) is an expression of our submission to God
- We submit not because an earthly authority is respectable–but because God is
- This instruction doesn’t give spiritual approval for any specific form of government, eg, socialist/democracy/monarchy
- Paul’s instructions apply to every Christian, in every place, in every time
- 1 Peter 2:13-17
- Titus 3:1-2
- We are not to speak evil of our leaders
- Titus 3:2
- This does not mean we may not call out evil
- Romans 13:1b, “those that exist have been instituted by God”
- Some believe this means that God sovereignly appoints each specific government/leader
- Others believe this means that God sovereignly appoints human government in general
- Regardless, God desires us to respect our given authorities–until we are being commanded to disobey God
- Governmental authority is derived authority
- In those cases we appeal to a higher authority–same as other spheres of authority
- Children need not obey wicked commands from parents
- Congregants need not obey wicked spiritual leaders
- Acts 5:29
- We may also use the established governmental system
- We may leverage judicial appeals
- Acts 25:11
- We may leverage civil rights
- We may peacefully protest
- We may hold civil servants accountable
- We may leverage judicial appeals
- Our default posture is peaceable, respect, and submission
- We only disobey those orders that violate God’s law–we don’t just disobey all orders because the government issues wrong orders
- Submit for conscience’s sake
- Luther, “To act against your conscience is neither right nor safe.”
- Submit for love’s sake
- Romans 13:8
- We submit to government as a specific expression of our love for our neighbor
- “Owe no man anything” is not a prohibition against borrowing/lending, but an exhortation to pay everything we owe, eg, pay off loans, pay respect, pay others with kindness
- Jeremiah 29:7, “pray for the peace of the city”–the city of Babylon, where they were going to be captives
- Titus 3:8
- 1 Tim 2:1-3
- Love seeks to actively do good to others–and this includes those who serve in government
- Seek to live quiet and peaceable–as much as it is possible.
- Why?
- As a positive witness to draw people to Christ
- Submit for Christ’s sake
- John 18, “…my kingdom is not of this world, if it were my servants would fight.”
- If you say the Pledge of Allegiance, our allegiance to our national is not absolute
- We are not to be gripped by the things of this world–no matter how good they may be
- Our true and primary citizenship is with Christ
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