Give to God what is God’s

Prayer

In Jesus name, amen!

Welcome

Main Passage:

Matthew 22:19–21 NASB 2020

Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”

Title:

Give to God what is God’s

Introduction

Story

Explanation

When we give God our lives, we glorify Him in all we do.

Illustration

Application

Context

Background

Paul uses Romans 12:1-2, the mercies of God, as the foundation or launching pad to transform our attitude towards:

(1) How we view worship

(2) How we function in our spiritual gifts

(3) How we live in relation to believers and unbelievers.

(4) and now, more broadly, how to view the state or governing authorities and how to think of ourselves within a state.

Transitional Sentence

3 reason why we should submit to governing authorities.

Bible

Romans 13:1–7 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. 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. 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.

What Paul is not saying or doing in Romans 13:1-7.

Not Addressing the relationship between church and state.

He is giving instruction to individual christians about their personal citizenship.

How the christian believer is to live as a citizen of his or her country

How the christian is to view the state, both positively and negatively.

The christian responsibility to the state; the states responsibility to its citizens.

Not saying that submitting to authority is absolute or applicable in all cases.

“So the bible gives a very clear basis for civil disobedience; namely, if the state commands what God forbids, or if the state forbids what God commands, then civil disobedience is christian duty.” Pg 133.

Exodus 1:17; 21, 1 Kings 18:4-16; Es 4:16; Dan 3:12-18; 6:10; Matthew 2:12; Acts 5:29; Hebrews 11:23.

Reason 1: Right

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

Explanation

It’s right because we recognize the role God has given government or ruling authorities.

Illustration

John 19:11 NASB 2020

Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over Me at all, if it had not been given to you from above; for this reason the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.”

Daniel 4:17 NLT

For this has been decreed by the messengers; it is commanded by the holy ones, so that everyone may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them (authority) to anyone he chooses— even to the lowliest of people.”

Application

Reason 2: Wise

Romans 13:3–4 ESV

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.

Explanation

Governments are need to hold people accountable to live in a way that makes it possible to live together. It’s wise.

Illustration

James 3:13-18.

 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

Application

Reason 3: Fair

Romans 13:6–7 ESV

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.

Explanation

Governing is hard and we should give government what we owe them. Since they do their part ruling, we must do ours in submitting.

Illustration

Matthew 22:19–21 NASB 2020

Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”

Application

Image on the coin is Caesar Augustus and an inscription written on the coin that says, “Caesar Augustus, son of the divine.”

Who’s inscription is written on us? We are the image of God.

So give to caesar what is caesar’s and we give to God what is God’s — our whole lives.

So what

Now what

Prayer

In Jesus name, amen!