Being a Good Citizen

Something you need to know about me, I’m not a rule follower. Whether pushing the limits posted speeds or looking for loopholes to test the boundaries of tax returns, I find myself pushing against the boundaries. When Gail and me were first married I worked in sales and got so many speeding tickets that my job was in jeopardy. But sometimes, I find myself bumping up against the rules my accident.

A few years ago, Gail and I were at the airport going through TSA. We had just placed our bags on the conveyer belt and walked through the scanner when all of a sudden everything stopped. The TSA people were looking around, calling people over and then here came the police and other security personnel from behind closed doors. Then I approached and asked the question, sir, do you have a gun in your bag. (tell the story)

How many of you are rule keepers or rule breakers? The rules are there for a purpose and submitting is not optional and breaking the rules has a price.  You and I resist submitting to rules through various strategies. It’s a way we maintain autonomy or challenge authority. I was reading an article about how we break rules or push boundaries. It read …

The psychology behind rule resistance often involves protecting personal autonomy, challenging perceived injustice, asserting individual identity, or responding to rules seen as arbitrary or illegitimate. The form resistance takes usually depends on the perceived consequences, the strength of one's convictions, and available alternatives.

Then it listed the ways we resist the rules.

Passive resistance involves following the letter of the law while undermining its spirit - where someone follows rules so literally that they become ineffective … this is driving the speed limit when doing so becomes a hazard.

Creative interpretation is when you find loopholes or gray areas in rules. Tax avoidance strategies, creative accounting, or finding technical workarounds.

Selective compliance means picking and choosing which rules to follow. Someone might follow traffic laws but ignore certain workplace policies, or comply with major regulations while ignoring minor ones.

Open defiance where you directly challenge rules through protests, civil disobedience, or public refusal to comply.

Underground resistance creates parallel systems that operate outside official rules - like black markets, speakeasies during Prohibition, or alternative social networks that bypass official channels.

Symbolic resistance uses cultural or artistic expression to challenge authority - graffiti, protest art, subversive literature, or counter-cultural movements that reject mainstream values.

Bureaucratic resistance happens within systems when employees slow down processes, lose paperwork, or use their position to subtly undermine policies they disagree with.

When in it comes to keeping the rules, there is one word that many of us do not like and that’s the word submit? And as you can see, we evaluate the rightness rules, we decide if the rule is arbitrary, ridiculous, or even archaic. But it’s here that we find ourselves bumping up against a truth in our relationship with God, his authority and his instituted authority over us in which we are all called to submit.

Slide The fundamental posture of a believer toward God is submission!

This new identity we have in Christ is lived in submission to him in all things.

Greek word for “submission,” hupotassõ, always signals obedience to God and God-given authority. When it comes to following Jesus …

Slide Divine Direction begins with unconditional Submission!

True strength lies in submission which permits us to dedicate our lives, through devotion, to something beyond ourselves, greater than ourselves.

You and I can’t pick and choose when, what or how we will obey. God says submit to Him and all forms of authority that He has given to us for our benefit. There are Six Spheres of Submission In our Relationships. One we will talk about this morning and one of them we will talk about next week. But here are the six sphere of submission in our relationships where we are called to submit. The first is …

Slide 1. In our relationship with God – we submit.

James, the brother of Jesus writes.

Slide Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.                                                         James 4:7–8

Tolstoy wrote that

Slide God cannot be understood by logical reasoning but only by submission.  Leo Tolstoy

As we live in unconditional submission to God’s will and way we begin to fully experience the life that God has for us. Alan Redpath, who is a British pastor and author wrote …

Slide The essence of sin is arrogance; the essence of salvation is submission. Alan Redpath

To live without submission is to consider ourselves greater that God. The second Sphere of Submission is

Slide 2. In our relationship with each other – we submit.

Next week we will delve deeper into this one. But in Ephesians Paul writes …

Slide … but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.                           Ephesians 5:18b–21

And here is the key in the relational sphere …

Slide We can’t separate vertical devotion from horizontal love.

The standard Greek-English lexicon renders hypotassō in 5:21 … Voluntary yielding in love.

Slide And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”       Mark 10:42–45

Slide We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.                                                                                                                         1 John 4:19–21

We will talk more about that next week …The third Sphere of Submission is

Slide 3. In our relationship as husbands and wives – we submit.

Slide Submission is not about authority and it is not obedience; it is all about relationships of love and respect.

Paul writes to the church at Ephesus …

Slide Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Nowas the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.                                                                                                                     Ephesians 5:22-24

The fourth Sphere of Submission is

Slide 4. In our relationship as a family – we submit.

Slide Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”                                                         Ephesians 6:1-3

The fifth Sphere of Submission is

Slide 5. In our relationship at work – we submit.

Slide Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.                                                        Ephesians 6:5-8

Slide Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.        Colossians 3:23–24

Slide Daily submit yourself fully to God and you will bring God’s light and love to all of the  relationships in which you are called to submit in love.

Which brings us to this morning, the sixth Sphere of Submission is …

Slide 6. In our relationship with Government – we submit.

So let’s look at our passage of study this morning in from Romans 13:1-7

Slide 1 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. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 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. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 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. Romans 13:1-7

Or as Peter wrote …

Slide 13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:13–17

Slide We all have dual citizenship!

Slide 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20

The concept of dual citizenship creates a divine tension for believers. Paul's use of poleetima (citizenship) in Philippians 3:20 emphasizes that Christians are colonists of heaven living in foreign territory. This doesn't negate earthly responsibilities but establishes priorities.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God… Ephesians 2:19

Slide We are citizens of the Kingdom and citizens of a country!

John Stott wrote …

Slide "The Christian is a citizen of two worlds, and he must be careful not to let his citizenship in one interfere with his citizenship in the other." - John Stott

So let’s take a moment and see what Paul says about the role, rule, reason, response to and rival against government. So what is our role toward government.

Slide Our Role toward Government – vs. 1,5

Paul says,

1 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 13:1

5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. Romans 13:5

Hypotasso (be subject to) is a military term meaning "to arrange under" or "to subordinate." It's not blind obedience but ordered submission. The present tense indicates continuous action - this is to be the Christian's ongoing posture. Paul uses this same word for marriage relationships (Eph. 5:22) and church order (1 Cor. 14:32), showing submission as a Christian virtue that brings order to society.

Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 1 Peter 2:13-14

Slide Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good.  Titus 3:1

Slide Submission to government is not capitulation to tyranny, but participation in the order God has established for human flourishing.  Wayne Grudem

So our role is submission. What is the rule of government?

Slide The Rule of Government – vs. 2

Romans 13:2 - "Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves"

Paul establishes the divine origin of governmental authority with theos (God) as the source. The perfect tense of tetagmenai(established/ordained) indicates a completed action with ongoing results. Government isn't a human invention but a divine institution. Jesus' words to Pilate demonstrate that even corrupt authority operates under God's sovereign permission.

Jesus even said to Pilot as he stood before him …

Slide Jesus answered, 'You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above'" John 19:11

Human government was formed after the flood for the purpose of common grace. After the flood, God established human government (Genesis 9:6) as a restraint against human sinfulness. Like a dam holds back destructive waters, government restrains the flood of human depravity, allowing society to function and the gospel to advance. The sun shines on the just and the unjust. Laws, police, judges,

Slide Government is not a necessary evil, but a necessary good - a gift of God's common grace to a fallen world. Albert Mohler

Slide The Reason for Government – vs. 3-5

Romans 13:3-4 - "For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer"

Paul uses diakonos (servant/minister) twice in verse 4, emphasizing government's service role. The "sword" (machaira) represents legitimate use of force - the power of life and death. Government serves as God's agent (ekdikos) for justice. The purpose is both positive (promoting good) and negative (restraining evil).

1 Timothy 2:1-2 - "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness"

Slide Two purposes - Protect and Punish

Government officials – Paul calls them servants.  They occupy a divinely ordained office.

Government's dual function mirrors God's character - both just and merciful. The protection of the innocent and punishment of evildoers reflects divine justice. This establishes the moral foundation for law enforcement, military defense, and judicial systems.

The state exists to serve justice, and justice involves both the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty.  Francis Schaeffer

What is our response to government?

Slide The Response to Government – vs. 6-7

Romans 13:6-7 - "This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor"

Paul lists four specific obligations: phoros (taxes), telos (revenue/tribute), phobos(respect/reverence), and time(honor). The progression moves from material to moralobligations. Jesus' response to the Herodians and Pharisees establishes the principle that supporting government doesn't compromise spiritual devotion.

The Herodians supported Roman rule for political advantage; Pharisees opposed it for religious reasons. Jesus transcended both positions, showing that faithful citizenship and faithful discipleship can coexist.

Matthew 22:17-21 - "Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?... Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's"

Government should be supported - Pay Taxes, Herodians vs Pharisees, is it lawful to pay taxes?

Government should be respected – seen as stabilizers in society. R.C. Sproul said …

Slide A good Christian will be a good citizen. The gospel does not make us less civil but more civil. R.C. Sproul

Okay, we have looked at the role – we submit, the rule – common grace, the reason – to serve … but what is there a rival against government?

Slide The Rival against Government

In Acts when Peter and the apostles are told not to preach about Jesus … they reply

Acts 5:29 - "Peter and the other apostles replied: 'We must obey God rather than human beings!'"

The Greek construction peitharchein dei (it is necessary to obey) in Acts 5:29 shows moral compulsion, not mere preference. The apostles established the principle that when human law contradicts divine law, Christians must choose God's authority. This creates the theological foundation for righteous resistance.

Acts 4:19-20 - "But Peter and John replied, 'Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard'"

So, it begs the question …

Slide Is there ever a time for civil disobedience?

Biblical examples establish clear parameters:  as John MacArthur puts it … "Civil disobedience is not only the right but the obligation of the Christian when government demands what God forbids or forbids what God commands." - John MacArthur

Exodus 1:17 - "The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live"

Daniel 6:10 - "Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before"

The Hebrew midwives, Daniel, and the apostles all disobeyed specific laws that contradicted divine mandate while maintaining respect for governmental authority in general.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer participated in the plot against Hitler, writing: "We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself."

Slide A Christian should be a good citizen until being a good citizen means being a bad Christian!

The Christian's primary allegiance to God doesn't negate civic responsibility but defines its limits. When these loyalties conflict, divine authority takes precedence. This creates responsible citizenship that serves both earthly and heavenly kingdoms.

Slide "The Christian owes allegiance to two sovereigns - God and Caesar - but when Caesar demands what belongs to God, the Christian must choose God." - Carl F.H. Henry

The Christian life requires wisdom to navigate dual citizenship. We honor government as God's institution while maintaining ultimate allegiance to Christ. This creates not passive subjects but engaged citizens who work for justice, pray for leaders, and stand firm when faith demands it.

Live in a posture of submission to God’s authority and all authority that God gives. But when authority says don’t believe, don’t pray, don’t talk about Jesus, then it is clear … we act out of our love for God and others. We submit out of love for God, that he might receive all the glory.

Can you imagine your life lived in complete and unconditional submission to God’s authority and all authority in your life because love compels you. Pray with me.