Romans 13:1-10, Titus 3:1-11, ”The Law of the Kingdom"

Offending Christians…Olympic opening ceremonies, closing ceremonies. Why do we care? The western world has moved on from worrying what Christians think about anything. What is the proper response to that? Outrage and anger, or the response the Lord Jesus commanded?

Matthew 5:44 (ESV)

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

or the Apostle Paul

Romans 12:9 (ESV)

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

And then went on to tell us how to do that, and why we should do that.

Romans 12:14 (ESV)

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

When we dig into that, we find that the kingdom of God has one law.

Romans 13:8 (ESV)

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

If we are to live as citizens of the kingdom of God, living according to love, how do we live as citizens of our country, which might pass laws contrary to God’s laws? What is the proper relationship of a Christian to the governing authorities of our state and country, especially when those in power use their authority to legislate immorality?

We saw last week that the kingdom of Jesus does not come from this world. It doesn’t operate by the same laws. That is why Jesus said His followers would not bear the sword for His sake.

John 18:36 (ESV)

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

Any time Christians have done this, they have misrepresented our Lord Jesus, and have created incredible injustice in our world.

In fact, Jesus says the kingdom of God has a different kind of authority than the kingdoms of this world, like the one Pilate represented. Pilate and Rome represent the kingdoms of this world, which bear the sword to keep order. It is externally imposed justice and righteousness. The sword belongs to Rome, Babylon, Egypt, Washington, Augusta. Many laws are required to keep peace and establish justice. There are certain things they cannot do. Human governments cannot change people’s hearts. They cannot make them more loving.

In God’s kingdom, Jesus exercises authority from the inside out. He is just, is righteous. When His subjects surrender to His reign through repentance and faith in Him, He lives His life in them, and their justice and righteousness come from within them. It is not an external imposition. It is an internal motivation. He gives us His love.

How do we apply love to our relationship with those in authority in government?

God has instituted human governments to exercise authority, to bear the sword to maintain order, impose justice, and encourage righteousness. He has another purpose for citizens of His kingdom while they are on earth. It is to pursue justice and righteousness through love.

When we submit to the authorities God has put over us and choose to love when love is outlawed, we have a greater opportunity to advance the kingdom of God than if we resist and dishonor them.

Paul says,

Romans 13:1 (ESV)

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.

Romans 13:2 (ESV)

Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

If you resist your government, you should expect that government to judge you and prosecute you. Paul says, ideally they would never punish you for doing good. But if you do wrong, you should expect retribution. Paul says, whether they realize it or not, the ruler is

Romans 13:4 (ESV)

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.

He says it twice, a ruler is God’s servant.

Romans 13:5 (ESV)

Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

You should pay your taxes because those authorities are ministers of God.

Romans 13:6 (ESV)

For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.

The same way you would financially support your priest or pastor in their ministry, for the sake of conscience you support the governmental authorities who give their full devotion (“attending” in ESV) to public service.

Romans 13:7 (ESV)

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.

The first two are easy. The IRS tells us what we owe in taxes and revenue. To whom do we owe respect and honor?

What if they don’t deserve it in my estimation?

We respect and honor their office. You still owe them one thing.

Romans 13:8 (ESV)

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

When you are free of all debts, you are truly free. Free to love.

Romans 13:9–10 (ESV)

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment,

are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Love is the law of the kingdom. Keep this one law, and you’ll fulfill righteousness. Then if your government passes unjust laws and you continue to fulfill righteousness, you bear the consequences. But never in a disrespectful way or a way that dishonors them.

Consider the rulers of Paul’s day. They were godless, corrupt, and power hungry. Every one was part of a tyrannical hierarchy that ruled all the world that Paul traveled. One of the worst places was Crete, an island between Greece and Turkey.

Paul had planted a church there, and left Titus, one of his coworkers there to oversee it as pastor. This is what he wrote to Titus to instruct his congregation about how to act in public life.

Titus 3:1–2 (ESV)

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Expanding out from just our submission and obedience to rulers and authorities, Paul gets to the application of the law of love.

Ready for every good work. Between chapter 2 and 3, Paul repeats this six times. Our good works are what distinguish us. If we say we love but do no good for others, our words are meaningless.

But keep going, look at the rest.

Speak evil of no one. How many of us can say we never do this? I was at a gathering of Christians from southern Maine recently in which someone shouted out about the “tyrants” in Augusta. I think maybe that person has not lived under true tyranny. I’ve been in gatherings of Christians who want to talk about “liberals” or “trans” or pick your label. But when we dwell on the wrong we think others are doing and label those, we are falling into the ways of the world, and it is difficult to cultivate fruitfulness in their lives. Labeling someone is a lazy way to avoid getting to know them as a person who may only come to know God through you. Remember, we are a kingdom of priests, called to cultivate the knowledge of the God who is abounding in grace and mercy.

Keep going. Avoid quarreling. The word here is a little stronger than avoid: “not fighting”, just not doing it at all. Jesus said His followers would not fight to defend Him. So, when someone wants to pick a fight, just don’t. What would change in our society if we chose to never argue with anyone? I’ve heard a pastor quote Psalm 120 when it comes to the debates over moral issues in the public sphere, “I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.” What are we supposed to do when people want to pick fights with us? Don’t engage.

In fact, Paul we become much more explicit in verses 9-11,

Titus 3:9–11 (ESV)

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

We have so many things we can divide over, debate about, and argue over. Most of it is foolish. Some of it is important, but not worth arguing over. As for someone who stirs up division after one warning, they are self-condemned. There’s not a lot of wiggle room there for someone who wants to continually stir the pot on debatable matters that aren’t essential to the gospel of God in Christ.

There are too many pot-stirrers these days. Don’t be one of them. And don’t let your pot get stirred.

Titus 3:2 (ESV)

to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Be gentle, and “show perfect courtesy toward all people.” The word there for courtesy is the word for the kind of compassion for others that understands their misery. We empathize and handle others with a mild humility and meekness. It’s something like considering others better than ourselves and putting their needs first. We bear with their miserable condition. We don’t condemn or belittle. We are not arrogant or rude or self-seeking, or irritable or resentful. We live the law of love.

But Ken, don’t you realize these people are foolish? They disobey God, they have been led astray, they just make choices out of their lusts and pleasures, they indulge in hate.

When we focus on the faults of others we disagree with, we have forgotten the gospel. Remember, God loved us when we did not deserve it.

Titus 3:3 (ESV)

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

Titus 3:4 (ESV)

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,

Titus 3:5 (ESV)

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Titus 3:6–7 (ESV)

whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

If we understand how the gospel applies to us, how will that impact the way we deal with others?

Titus 3:8 (ESV)

The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

If God is King and Jesus is Lord, you have one law to fulfill. Love everyone. Devote yourself to demonstrating that love through good works. Let that speak for you when others want to argue with you about debatable matters.

When we ourselves were foolish, disobedient, led astray, enslaved to our desires, envy, and hate, God saved us out of His goodness and lovingkindness.

Communion

Questions for Discussion

1. What are some ways you are experiencing the goodness of God?

2. What makes it difficult to submit to those in authority over us? What would make it easier?

3. What do we learn about God in our passages?

4. What do we learn about ourselves in these passage?

5. Paul talks in Romans 13 about submitting to the governing authorities who serve God as ministers of law and order. How should we behave if we believe they aren’t fulfilling that ministry?

6. What does Romans 13:8 mean? How do we apply it in the context of Romans 13:1-7?

7. How would you assess yourself and your Christian friends according to the standards Paul describes in Titus 3:1-2? Which of these is hard for you? Is there someone you see doing one ore more of these things well?

8. What is the connection between the behavior Paul describes in Titus 3:1-2 and the gospel He describes in 3:3-7?

9. How does the hope of eternal life shape the way we treat others who may be different or who want to stir up arguments with us?

10. How will you respond to these passages this week?