Under God’s Authority: The Call to Submit

Bible Passage: Ro 13:1–14

Introduction

Is there anyone here that is just perfectly content with the current state of our government? I’m not necessarily asking about your approval rating for any of the current individual leaders. I’m talking more about the overall state of our government structure everywhere from the local level to the national. Again I’m not thinking about society in America today. I’m talking just specifically about the whole of government throughout the United States of America. You know I don’t think I’ve heard very many people say, it’s perfect and we should just keep right on going the way we are. Some of us believe it’s gotten completely out of control and is far too involved in the daily lives of individuals. Others believe we don’t have nearly enough government and we need to start spending a great deal more on it, just not in the areas where we’re currently spending. Face it our whole political system today revolves around blaming the other guy. If it’s not good it’s because “they” did it. The funny thing is the structure of our government is of the people, by the people and for the people. So if we don’t like the current state of it all of us are to blame. We all keep electing people who do things we don’t like so they can keep getting re-elected. At the end of the day in the United States of America, if you’re not happy with the form of our government are you voting and participating. If you’re not then quit whining about it. Now that’s just about as close as you’ll get to hearing me talk about politics. But Paul has a lot to say to us today about the role of government in our lives.

Romans 13:1–2 “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. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”

If that one doesn’t hit you right in the face, maybe you need to read it and be honest with yourself a little bit. Have you ever violated a speed limit? Have you ever stretched the bounds of truth on your income taxes? Have you ever been given a bill you knew wasn’t right (in your favor) and just said well, how quickly can I get out of here before they notice?

1. Sovereign Structure: God Above All

Romans 13:1–4 “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. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 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, 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.”

God Rules All

His Authority Never Dies

He Puts All Governments in Place

Submit to Him

Resistance is Disobedience

Submission Acknowledges His Rule - Not agreement with Government

Submission Aligns Our Life with Heaven

Follow Christ’s Example - Live in obedience to God

Foster Peace and Justice

Our Obediences Leads - Encourage peace

Our Leadership Brings Justice - Encourage justice

Justice Leads to Peace - Our society needs peace

Do you believe that God is in control of all things? When a hurricane blows through everyone points the finger at Him. It was an “act of God”. But when your driving through the parking lot at Walmart on a rainy day and the first slot opens up just in time for your arrival, do you give Him the credit for His sovereignty over your life? Do you look to Him in thanks when things go well at work or at home and say Thank you Lord? Tougher question still, do you like that He’s in control and you are not?

2. Submit in Spirit and Practice

Romans 13:5–7 “Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 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.”

Escape God’s Wrath

Be Submitted to God - By submitting to rulers

Avoid God’s Wrath - Fearful to be subject to His punishment

Save Your Conscience - Sleep soundly at night

Pay what You Owe

Taxes to IRS - Serving the Lord

Express Your Faith - Demonstrate you trust God’s plan

Government Ministers - Does God’s will in your life

Do Not Cheat or Steal

Give Full Payment - You owe it so pay it

Show Respect - Demonstrate your faith not blind obedience

Honor Those Over You - Show you respect God’s will for you

It can be hard to give up control of our lives to God. Oh sure we like coming to Him with our problems. But do we come to Him first or when we’re saying “oh well I guess there’s nothing left to do but pray.” In other words, I already tried everything else on my own and flopped, how about you take over now Jesus. I wouldn’t listen to the direction you’ve been giving me in your word and through the people you’ve put around me, but now that I’m well and truly dug myself deep into a pit, how about you pick me up out of it?

3. Steward Love Over Law

Romans 13:8–10 “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.”

Love Fulfills the Law

Our Obedience Shows Love

Our Love Points to Jesus

Our Participation Demonstrates Faithfulness

Foundation of Our Existence

Love Obeys the Lord

Willingly Obeys the Law

Reflects Our Love for the Lord

Love is Our Testament

Love is God’s Primary Commandment

Loving Testifies to Our Obedience

Loving Fulfills the Law

Do you see the demands of love require that we live in accordance with the law? I’m not just talking about the “Law” in what’s been called the Pentateuch or the first five chapters of the Bible. I’m talking about the laws of the land in which we live. We’re called to be productive and model citizens. We’re commanded by Paul to live in accordance with the law not in conflict with it. In fact the only freedom we have to ignore it is when it clearly runs afoul of His law. Even then, to the best of our ability, we’re directed to stay within the bounds of the law God’s placed over us.

4. Stay Awake: Christ Returns

Romans 13:11–14 “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.”

Time to Start is Now

Wake Up He’s Coming

Salvation is Near

Cast Off Darkness - Obey the law

Walk Properly in the Daylight

No Orgies and Drunkness

No More Immorality and Sensuality

No Quarreling and Jealousy

Put on Jesus

Be Clothed with Humility and Kindness

Don’t Give in to Your Flesh - Run from what Weighs You Down

Don’t Gratify Your Desires - Be prepare for Christ’s return

I miss my Mother-in-Law. Helen was a wonderful woman with a huge heart full of love for those around her and a fearless protector of her family. She even loved me fiercely. I remember so many occasions we had to just hang out and talk and laugh together, often when Pam was shopping neither one of us could keep up with her. She could be a bit ornery but she loved Jesus and look forward to His return. When I think of this particular line of thinking, I always remember the story of her going to the movies. She’d gone to a movie she knew probably she shouldn’t have gone to and she didn’t really get to enjoy it because she kept praying the whole time, don’t come back now Jesus and find me here. Ask yourself this morning, where are you spending your time that you wouldn’t want Jesus to appear?