Romans 13
Romans • Sermon • Submitted
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· 3 viewsThe Christian owes respect and honor the the authorities as well as obedience, but that obedience is subservient to obedience ultimately to God. Perhaps more important, the Christian owes love to all people, and must consider this wakefully and not apathetically, since there is an urgency to the gospel message.
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Introduction
Introduction
The relationship between the church and the state has always been a thorny one
Persecution and brutal treatment
Nero
Fire in AD64 that burned nearly three quarters of the city of Rome, with a rumor that Nero had started it, either for his own amusement or so that he could enlarge his palace
Nero, to stop this rumor from spreading, accused the Christians in Rome of setting the fire, since they were regarded as a small insignificant offshoot of Judaism
Fierce persecution broke out and Nero tortured and killed numerous Christians by setting them on fire, covering them with the hides of beasts so that dogs would maul them to death, nailing them to crosses, or using them as torches to light his evening bonfires.
Domitian - AD 81-96
Nero
Domitian was an emperor who declared himself “Dominus Deus” - Lord and God
Alliance and integration
Constantine made Christianity the official religion of Rome in AD380
Began an era of “Christendom”
The Church was under the control of the state
The church was willing to use coercive state power structures to bring about the church’s mission
Current politicizing
It’s hard to tell for some people where their faith in Jesus begins and their political allegiance ends
This is concerning because it seems apparent that there are many people who have confused the hope of the gospel and the kingdom of God with the political movement within our country either direction.
In essence, there are far too many Christians who are putting all of their hope in a human government instead of the kingdom of God and the mission of Jesus.
I love this country and want it to administer justice and righteousness, but I also recognize that ultimately, this nation is not the kingdom. My hope and my trust is in something that is totally separate from the United States of America.
Question: How should Christians relate to the government under which they live?
Liberals democrats think Jesus was essentially a liberal
The kingdom of Jesus is not limited to any nation, nor is it defined by any national border
In , Paul deals with this question in a way that may fail to satisfy some of the questions that we want addressed, but it will cause us to change our categories of thinking and start asking different questions.
Conservative republicans think Jesus was a republican
I.
Setup
In , Paul had forbidden Christians from taking vengeance on their enemies, because he had called his readers to leave justice to God and love their enemies like God does, and in so doing show the kind of kindness and love that brings people to repentance.
s and love that brings people to repentance.
In essence, Paul had given a certain definition of the mission of God as well as the primary means that we accomplish it; the mission of God is to reconcile people to himself, and he does that through love and kindness, and so our mission is likewise to participate in reconciling people to God, and we do that by loving people, even and especially our enemies.
But this raises two very important questions:
How does God work out his justice? To which Paul replies that God’s wrath is administered through civil government.
When Paul says that it is God’s ju
How should Christians relate to that government? In short, Paul’s answer is to submit to it with honor and respect.
But Paul has a twist that will realign our questions and our concerns.
I. Christians owe honor and respect to governing authorities
I. Christians owe honor and respect to governing authorities
Romans 13:1-
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.
Christians must be subject to governing authorities
This is sticky - our minds are immediately flooded by myriad questions
What if we live under an unjust and tyrannical government?
What if the government instructs and commands us to disregard commands of God?
What if the government is illegitimate?
What if the state has failed in its duty?
Paul is not trying to cover every conceivable situation
It is clear from Paul’s life and from biblical teaching that we must obey God rather than man if ever there is a conflict
Peter responds to the order not to preach about Jesus to people: “We must obey God rather than men.”
He is speaking as the essence and ideal of government, and the responsibility of Christians who live under it
What does “be subject” mean”
Not the same thing as “obedience”
Submission will often mean obedience, but we must be careful to pay attention to what Paul says, as it does not always refer to “obedience”
- Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Be subject to every fellow worker and laborer
Submission means humbly accepting a posture of respect and honor
Authority all comes from God
1 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.
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.
1 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.
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.
1 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.
1 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.
Every ruler governs only because God has allowed them to
This implies two important truths
Their office and position is one of dignity and honor
Their calling is high and they are accountable to God for how they lead because their leadership is subordinate leadership
To resist the authorities in their God-given authority is to resist 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.
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.
2 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.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
They exist to create order, not chaos
Authorities exist to enforce justice
They do not bear the sword in vain - they have great punitive capacities
They punish evil and reward good
They are servants of God
Therefore: if we desire to live in peace with the government, we ought to do what is right
Additional reason and check for submission: conscience
5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
We live in subjection to government not only because we fear punishment, but because it is right
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
Interestingly, Paul bringing conscience into the discussion makes two important points
We live in subjection to government not only because we fear punishment, but because it is right
Our conscience establishes a boundary of our obedience to government
Conscience = conviction of right and wrong, which is a standard that we draw from God
Leon Morris:
Conscience at one and the same time obliges us to be obedient and sets a limit to that obedience.
Christians must give authorities their due
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.
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.
Taxes to carry out the work God has commissioned them for
Respect and honor as servants of God carrying out the task he has commissioned them for
APPLICATION
Pay your taxes honestly and fairly
Honor and respect government regardless of your political affiliation
This is not because a person or government is in themselves worthy of respect, but rather because their position and role has the dignity of being ordained by God himself
Pray for leaders
Clement of Alexandria toward the end of the first century wrote a letter to the church in Corinth
This was after several incredibly brutal persecutions of the church by Roman authorities - Nero and Clement
Nero had burned down a large section of the city of Rome and blamed it on Christians, resulting in widespread persecution
Nero
Thou, Lord and Master, hast given them the power of sovereignty through Thine excellent and unspeakable might, that we knowing the glory and honour which Thou hast given them may submit ourselves unto them, in nothing resisting Thy will. Grant unto them therefore, O Lord, health, peace, concord, stability, that they may administer the government which Thou hast given them without failure. 2For Thou, O heavenly Master, King of the ages, givest to the sons of men glory and honour and power over all things that are upon the earth. Do Thou, Lord, direct their counsel according to that which is good and well-pleasing in Thy sight, that, administering in peace and gentleness with godliness the power which Thou hast given them, they may obtain Thy favour.
Pray for them on two levels
Personal - blessing, health, stability, protection
Blessing, health, peace, stability
Wisdom, fairness and
Governmental - wisdom, justice, fairness in their leadership
Critique ideas and opinions instead of people
Most disagreement in our culture comes down to character attacks
It is not a disrespect to disagree with ideas, but it is disrespectful to attack a person
Christians should be people who relentlessly hold to thoughtful, respectful dialogue no matter what others do
Transition:
Paul makes an interesting turn here though; in talking about giving to people what they are owed, he moves on to what everyone is owed and moves off of his treatment of government.
The way that Paul does this suggests that he believes what is of greatest concern for us is not what the government is doing, but what we as God’s people are doing.
How we respond to government is really an outflow of the love we have for all people as followers of Jesus.
II. Christians owe all people love
II. Christians owe all people love
Christians must love all people because love fulfills the law
8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 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.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Paul is reiterating Jesus’ words:
Lawyer asks Jesus “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” i.e. what does God require of me?
Jesus asks him what he thinks, and he responds with “love God with everything I have, and love my neighbor as myself”
Jesus says he has answered correctly, but loving my neighbor as myself is a tall order, so the lawyer tries to excuse him by asking “who is my neighbor?” i.e. who can I not count among those I am supposed to love?
Jesus then tells a story that essentially boils down to “everyone is your neighbor.”
All of the “law and the prophets,” in essence the entire OT, hinges upon the command to love God and love people
So here, Paul is saying that to love is to fulfill the law.
Remember, LOVE here is NOT primarily thought of as a feeling or as never calling someone to account; it is placing the wellbeing another person above your own, your commitment to their wellbeing.
Christians must love all people because time is short
11 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. 12 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. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
11 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. 12 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. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Salvation is nearer now than when we first believed
Salvation can be thought of as something that happened in the past, is happening in the present, will happen in the future
God saved me when I put my faith in Jesus
God is saving me every day in the sense that he is sanctifying me, healing me, cleaning me up and making me look more like Jesus
Eventually, the hope of Jesus’ return will be fully realized and God will save me - he will deliver on all of the promises he has made and hasn’t yet fulfilled.
History is moving toward a definite conclusion when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead
Therefore, we must have a sense of urgency
People die every day who do not know Jesus and have been reconciled to God through faith in him
Christian love for others is not simply about me fulfilling my obligation to God - it’s about them, and the urgency of the gospel
Therefore, let us wake from sleep and get to work
Cast off the deeds of darkness - refuse to live according to the pattern of the world and the ways in which we did before Jesus saved us
Three pairs of words that we can’t live in
Not orgies or drunkenness - a life characterized by losing control to a substance
Not in sexual immorality or sensuality - a life characterized by pursuing the satisfaction of our pleasures
Not in quarreling and jealousy - a life characterized by the pursuit of our selfish desires, preferences, opinions, and agendas
Put on Christ
Close association and identification with Jesus
Spending time with him so that his character becomes your character, his thoughts your thoughts, his words your words
Putting off an old way of life in exchange for putting on Jesus is typical language for Paul - and
Application
We owe it to all people to love them
To love enough to receive and accept people how they are, to warmly welcome them no matter what
To love enough to speak the gospel of Jesus
To love enough to show kindness, compassion, honor and respect to all, even our leaders whose opinions we don’t like
We have to understand the urgency of the gospel
The history of this church is filled with highs and lows -
Times of dreaming, risk, vision, daring urgency for the sake of the gospel
Times of difficulty, discouragement, lack of faith, apathy, sleepiness
We desire to be a church going about the mission of Jesus with a sense of profound urgency
To become a church that dreams dreams again, that has v
We have to love others with the love of Jesus in order to live out the mission that Jesus has given us
We want to do relational evangelism, but we want it to be evangelism
Our love is nothing more or less than how we treat other human beings, and our love is nothing more or less than the weakest
Not “building relationship” for decades without ever sharing the gospel
Conclusion
We owe people things - we owe honor and respect to governing authorities, and we owe love to all people. And in a sense, our love for people is displayed, or not displayed, in the way that we treat those in authority. In other words, the way we honor and respect those in authority directly reflects our ability or lack of ability to love our enemies. And as we close, I don’t just want to give a command: love people better! Work more, try harder! I want to leave you with this image of Jesus, and let him change our hearts toward people, even those in government we don’t like.
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
We are able to love all people, even government officials with whom we profoundly disagree, because God first loved us by sending Jesus to suffer dishonor, disgrace, and death on our behalf. He is the one who ultimately loves even those who reviled, persecuted, tortured and killed him, and it was his willingness to suffer for us that has turned enemies of God into sons and daughters of God. As we take communion, we celebrate and remember what Jesus did for us, and we commit to live our lives in response, to love others as he has first loved us.