D6 S-O w7: Submitting to Authority

Believers Should Submit to Those in Authority Unless it Means Disobeying God

Romans 12:1–7 (ESV)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;

Just because we are Christians doesn’t mean we don’t have to listen to authority while we live here on earth. All people, you included, have to submit to authority in your life.

Who has authority over you?

Paul also affirmed that above all of that authority is the authority of God the Father. He is above all. Believe it or not, He even places people in authority, even people we don’t like or people who are not great; however, this does not mean God approves of evil things or sinful actions.

And, believe it or not, we are called to obey our authority figures UNLESS it means disobeying God.

If someone in charge of you asked you to do something sinful, what would you say?

Would that take courage?

We submit to authority to save ourselves from punishment and to save our conscious from guilt. Our obedience is first to God and then to man, but obedience to humans in charge of you is a biblical commandment.

What does it mean to submit to those in positions of authority?

When should a believer choose not to obey human authority?

What is the danger in letting politics shape our view of authority rather than letting our faith shape our view of authority?

People are going to be in charge of you, no matter what. People are in charge of me and I am an adult! We must respect our authority, even if we disagree with them.

Believers Fulfill God’s Law by Loving Others

Romans 13:8–10 (ESV)

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

Paul now moved to talk about more personal stuff, yes we are supposed to respect our authority and government, but more personally, we are to love people.

What types of people are the most difficult for you to love? why?

Whether we are in a bad mood, hungry, tired, or whatever, we don’t always want to show love. When we feel that way. what can we do to refocus our minds on the love of Christ?

The principle here is this: if people loved others as they should, there would be no need for other laws. Why?

How does showing love to others fulfill God’s Law?

In what ways can we practically show love to people this week?

In support of this principle, Paul listed several of the Ten Commandments that deal with these relationship. He said, don’t commit adultery, don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t covet.

It’s clear, who would steal from someone they loved? Who would intentionally hurt someone they loved? this is what Paul is talking about.

Believers Live Like Christ, Not Like the Lost World

Romans 13:11–14 (ESV)

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

What does it look like to be an active Christian instead of a passive Christian?

Because we are living closer and closer to Jesus’ return, we should take some specific actions. We should act like Christ, love like Christ, lead people to Christ.

Christ-followers are to love honestly and properly.

how do we know if we are living the way we are supposed to? (the Word and our Conscious)

What steps can we take to live like Christ?

How would Jesus conduct himself in our culture today?

Respond

Who did we pray for last week? (Simmons to the Samburu)

What were some of their specific needs?

*pray for them again*