The Church and the State

REVIEW QUESTIONS

QUESTION: What two groups are we to love as a church?

ANSWER: Those on the inside and those on the outside of the church

QUESTION: What does love look like on the inside of the church?

ANSWER: To be devoted to loving them

Honoring others above ourself

Hating evil

Not being lazy when it comes to serving the Lord

Sharing with others

Practice hospitality

QUESTION: What does love look like to those outside the church? (v 14-21)

ANSWER: Bless those who curse you

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep

Live in harmony with others

Never repay evil for evil

Do what is right in the sight of others

(If possible) be at peace with all men

Leave revenge in God’s hands

overcome evil with good

INTRODUCTION

There is not a whole lot of direct teaching in Scripture about the government, but when this issue arises it is usually negative whether it is inside the church or outside the church.

But here in Rom 13, Paul explains what our relationship with the government should look like. And it may seem a strange tacked onto his exhortations on love.

But this is how a transformed mind is to live. Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” which means the way we love, but also how we relate to the governing authorities.

I am going to give you three simple points that sum up these verses:

1) The Government has been established by God

Romans 13:1–2 “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.”

(v 1) “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities”

“In subjection” = “to be subordinate to” or “to obey”

Now as Christians we like to separate the church and state. As long as we are faithful to God, then we really do not have to do what the state says…

But this verse says otherwise.

It is not a suggestion, but a command to be subject or obey the government that is over us.

Who does this include?

City

State

Federal

Any governing agency that has authority over us

Why?

“For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God”

In other words, the governments are not there by man’s will, but by God’s will. And if God has established the government’s authority, then ultimately it is God whom we are obeying or disobeying by rejecting that authority..

The same principle exists in parenting: Ephesians 6:1 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

If a child disobey his parents, he’s not just disobeying his parents but he is also disobeying God

It is the authority behind the authority that matters

Now that brings us to this QUESTION: What if your government is evil and makes laws that go against Christian Principles? Do we subject ourselves to them? Why or why not?

ANSWER: You should obey man

Acts 5:27–29 “When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

And that must be our heart in this issue as well. We obey and submit, until it is a call to disobey God and that is where we draw the line.

But this does not give us the right to break laws set in place by the government that do not against our Christian convictions

Example: John MAcArthur Grace Community Church

John believed that the call to gather was in every circumstance.

Well the government in California made it illegal for churches to gather together during Covid.

I think MacArthur was eve threatened with jail. Despite these laws imposed by the state, grace Community continued to meet and eventually won in a court room.

(v 2) “Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves”

Those who oppose will receive condemnation

The question is who is going to bring this condemnation (judgement)? Is it God or is it the government?

The answer is both. For this passage teaches us that the government has been established “as an avenger..on the one who does evil”.

So one should expect to receive judgement from the government which is the will of God is they do evil

2) The Government has been established to punish evil

Romans 13:3–4 “For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.”

“For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil”

To those who do what is right, there is no need to fear the government.

There is no need to be afraid of the police, the president, the state, etc. They are there to reward good behavior and punish the bad behavior.

“But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing”

If we do what is wrong, then we should fear the earthly authorities. Because we are doing exactly what they have been established to take action on.

Personal story: In my previous years (previous years as before Jesus) I was very much afraid of any governing authorities. I did not like cops, court houses, or anything of the sort. Do you know why? Because I lived in a perpetual state of breaking the law. And I lived in a constant worry of bring caught breaking the law and being punished.

Now on this side of the cross, I have no fear toward police, or the court house because I obey the laws and live according to the laws of the land.

I want you to notice the language of good and evil. Governments don’t really use that language do they? What we often see is governments pushing evil agendas and promoting sinful things like government funded abortion clinics or encouraging homosexuality..

QUESTION: The government has been established to punish evil behavior and praises good…what do you think will happen when a government becomes corrupt and begins to praise and encourage evil behavior and punish good behavior?

ANSWER: I think historically this is how a nation

QUESTION: Is there ever a time when people should get involved? How do we as a church make a difference?

I think it begins by training up our children in the way we should go. I think we need more Christian people in leadership positions. I think we need to be willing to call what is evil, evil and what is good, good.

“for it does not bear the sword for nothing”

That is, the state has the right to take away life from people who do crimes worthy of capitol punishment. So “to bear the sword”

QUESTION: In light of the commands in Scripture that place value on human life, and the prohibition against murder in Scripture, why does God allow the government to allow capital punishment?

Genesis 9:6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.”

It is there to put fear in people to prevent them from carrying out murder.

Imagine how many more murders or terrible crimes we would have if there was no chance of serious punishment.

3) Christians should obey the government because of our allegiance to God

Romans 13:5–7 “Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”

“but also for consciences sake”

What does he mean for consciences sake? That is our sense of moral responsibility.

When we do something wrong, the guilt we feel for that wrong doing comes from our conscience.

This is the moral guide God has given to humanity to know good from evil.

Since we know that God has ordained the state to rule on earth and that God is the One who has established the government, then for the sake of our consciences we are to be in subjection to them

And if we are not, our conscience will bear witness against us

How do we do that?

Pay the taxes you owe (property tax)

Don’t cheat on your taxes. Pay what you owe even if it feels like your getting ripped off.

This does not mean that you cannot abide by their rules and pay less. Claim what they say you can claim, etc. Just be honest and do it right.

Why should we pay our taxes?

(v 6) Because our taxes pay those who work for the government and carry out this work God has given them to do

customs to whom customs (tax on goods, sales tax)

Don’t try to get out of paying sales tax. If you owe it, pay it.

You know what this tells me? There has always been a ridiculous amount of taxes and there always will be.

fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

Does this mean I have to give the president respect? Yes

Does this mean I have to give honor to the governor Beashear? Yes

We have a dual role in this life.

We are subject to the government but we are also subject to God and we are to do them both

The Pharisees asked, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

And this is what Jesus told them….

“Show me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.

This verse was taken from a conversation about paying taxes to Caesar. And they asked if it was right to pay taxes or not

Jesus answers by saying do both

Pay taxes because that is our responsibility while we walk through this world

But also we are responsible to “render to God the things that are God”

Now Caesar’s mage was on the coin. Give Caesar the coin

But God’s image is on man, so we must give God our lives

There is a dual responsibility that we have in this life. One to the government and the other to God.