Sermon Tone Analysis

Review:

We are on the last unit of the book of Romans

Unit 1 - Doctrine - Romans 1-8.

The Power of the Gospel

The Doctrine of Sin

The Doctrine of Justification

The Doctrine of Sanctification

Unit 2 - Prophecy Romans 9-11.

Israel’s past election

Israel’s present rejection

Israel’s future restoration

Unit 3 - Love - Romans 12-16.

- Personal holiness and ethical behavior

Paul’s Plea For personal holiness (Rom 12)

Paul’s Prescript for Personal Holiness (Rom 13)

Paul’s Prescript For Personal Holiness

Subjection to Authorities & Governments (Rom 13:1-7)

Read Rom 13:1-7 “1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.

For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.

Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?

do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good.

But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”

As Christians - who are to be holy because we are connected to and cleansed by Christ - we are to be in subjection to governing authorities

The reason why.... I’m a why person… It is so much easier sometimes to do something correctly or appropriatly if you know the why

(Rom 13:1) Because those authorities have been placed there by God.

(Look at Rom 13:4 “4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good....”

The only time we should resist a governing authority is when???

Imo - Only when they are breaking the established rules (In our democracy - doing something unconstitutional)

Requiring something that is a direct disobedience to God’s law or your conscience

(Rom 13:2) Because when we resist them we are resisting or opposing the authority of God - and will receive the same condemnation from God as if you opposed HIM - this is serious stuff.

(Rom 13:3) These God ordained rulers are not there to punish good behavior but bad behavior - wrong doing.

(Rom 13:4) These authority figures are placed there as the minister of God to execute wrath and punishment on the wrongdoer.

Before we even made it half-way through January of this new year the United States executed three criminals.

Amber (Scott) McLaughlin - murder, Robert Alan Fratta - arranged a hitman to murder his wife, Scott James Eizember - murder of elderly couple -

I don’t know your thoughts on the death penalty - but according to this scripture it is the authority figure’s job to carry out part of the justice of God.

(Rom 13:5) we don’t need to just be subject we fear their wrath - but because of our conscience - It is a Christian’s prerogative to keep a clear conscience - it is a part of personal holiness.

(Rom 13:6-7) We are called to:

Pay our taxes - because rulers are servants or ministers of God

Render/ give what is due them

taxes

Custom/ revenue/ fees

honor/ respect

Fulfill the Law Through Love (Rom 13:8-10

Read Romans 13:8-10 “8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Love One Another (Rom 13:8-10)

We are not to let out debts remain outstanding - except love - we can never fully repay our debt of love to one another.

Loving God and loving one another is the fulfillment of the law - this sounds very similar to what Jesus says

Matthew 22:37-40 “37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Notice how all of these commandments Paul lists in Rom 13:9 have to do with loving others

Adultery

Murder

Theft

KJV & NKJV have ‘bearing false witness’ falsely accusing

Coveting - To crave something of your neighbors

Put on Christ (Rom 13:11-14)

Read Romans 13:11-14 “11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

This is the passage that Augustine read that convicted him and lead to his conversion.

The works of darkness

Rioting - carousing

drunkenness

immorality

sinful indulgence / unrestrained

strife

envy

Contrasted with Putting on Christ