Submission and Love
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
I love how the Lord works when it comes to His Word. It blows me away how interconnected it is. The things we study on Tuesday mornings will correlate with Wednesday’s message and both applies to Sunday morning. It is excited right? Last Sunday we looking in depth at the first two verse of Romans chapter 12:
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. 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.
and we saw what it means for us to be living sacrifices holy and acceptable. After all since the Son of God died for us, the least we can do is live for Him. The call to be separate from the world will be continued in our passage today also.
We also looked at 7 of the gifts of grace given to us by the Holy Spirit: prophecy, serving, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and mercy.
And we closed the service with a challenge to live out the rest of the passage. and as we continue through the rest of the letter to the Roman’s we are to start applying these truths to our lives and exercise our spiritual muscles.
This morning not only are we going to see why living for God is important but also the importance of living for Him too.
vv 1-2) Subject to the governing authorities.
vv 1-2) Subject to the governing authorities.
There is an interesting connection between Romans 12 and this chapter. Last week we saw that Christians are not to seek person vengeance, but that doesn’t take away the government’s authority to punish wrongdoers.
You see that as people who are justified by faith we are obligated to be subject to human government. What Paul is talking about here doesn’t only apply to believers but to everyone. This was in contrast to groups of zealous Jews in that day who recognized no king but God and paid taxes to no one but God.
God established human government after the flood when He degreed:
6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed,
for God made man in his own image.
You see that decree gave authority to men to judge criminals matters and to punish offenders.
In every ordered society there must be authority and submission to that authority. Otherwise you have a state of anarchy, and it is possible for people to live under those conditions. It seems to me that any government is better than no government. So God saw fit to institute human government, and no government exists apart from His will.
Now let me be clear that in no way does that mean that He approves of all that human rulers do. He certainly does not approve of corruption, brutality, and tyranny!
Believers can live victoriously in a democracy, a constitutional monarchy, or even a totalitarian regime. No earthly government is any better than the men who comprise it. That is why none of our governments is perfect.
The only ideal government is one that lives in submission to Jesus Christ.
Paul wrote this section on subjection to human government when Nero was Emperor. Those were dark days for Christians. Nero blamed them for a fire which destroyed half the city of Rome that he probably had ordered.
This dude was so evil that he immersed some believers in tar, then ignited them to provide illumination for his promiscuous parties. Others he had sewn up in animal skins, then thrown to ferocious dogs to be torn apart.
God appoints a nation’s leaders, but not always to bless the people. Sometimes it is to judge the people or to ripen the nation for judgement. The Roman Empire was no democracy, and no friend to Christians- yet Paul saw their legitimate authority.
Think about this for a moment… Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, one of the worst Roman governors Judea ever had; and Paul under Nero, the worst Roman Emperor. Neither of them denied or reviled the “authority.”
[2] Paul makes it perfectly clear that the one who disobeys or rebels against the government is disobeying and revelling against what God has ordained. Those who resists lawful authorities earns and deserves punishment.
There are exceptions, of course. A Christian is not required to obey if the government orders them to sin or to compromise on their loyalty to Jesus Christ.
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
No government has a right to command a person’s conscience. So there are times when a believer must, by obeying God, incur the wrath of man. In such cases they must be prepared to pay the penalty without complaining.
To sum it all up… God alone is responsible for the appointment of all human authorities. This means that human rulers are “servants of God” and that disobedience to authorities is a form of disobedience to God.
What makes this particular section difficult to apply to our lives is the simple fact that we do not live under the same government as Paul.
I’m sorry I do not have all the answers to how far or how little are we to follow this passage of scripture.
What I do know for sure is that Paul is continuing the application of the Christian service we saw in chapter 12.
1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
In my opinion Paul is urging the Roman believers to submit to governing authorities as a way of acting in unison with one another rather than identifying with movements that rebelled against Rome. These believers would need each other for support for the persecution that they would face. For us there needs to be unity also, that goes beyond the two party system. Let us pick the third option of living for Jesus Christ.
vv 3-4) The governments purpose
vv 3-4) The governments purpose
[3] As a rule, people who do what is right need not fear the authorities. Only those who break the law have something to fear, punishment.
Paul I believe is stating that Christians should be the best citizens of a nation. Even though their loyalty is to God before all others, they are loyal. We are to be honest, giving no trouble to the state, paying our taxes, and- most importantly- praying for the authorities and the country.
So if you want to enjoy a life free from tickets, fines, trials, and imprisonment, the key is to be a law-abiding citizen.
[4] The ruler, whether president, governor, mayor, or judge, they are servants of God in the sense that he is a servant and representative of the Lord. Now they may not know God personally, but he is still the Lord’s.
David repeatedly referred to the wicked king a Saul as the Lord’s anointed:
6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?”
Despite all of Saul’s repeated attempts on David’s life, the latter would not allow his men to harm the king. Why? because Saul was the king, and as such he was the Lord’s guy.
These rulers are servants of God, and are expected to promote the good of the people- their security, tranquility, and general welfare. It is through the just punishment of evil that government serves its function in God’s plan of holding man’s sinful tendencies in check.
The government is expected to punish evil. Keeping man’s sinful tendencies in check.
When a government fails to do this consistently, it opens itself up to God’s judgement and correction.
“he does not bear the sword in vain,” is referring to capital punishment. In the Roman Empire, criminals were typically executed by beheading with a sword. Here is a statement in the NT that implies that the government has the authority to take the life of a capital offender.
“But pastor Exodus 20:13 states “You shall not kill.” But that commandment refers to murder, and capital punishment is not murder.
The Hebrew word translated “kill” means “murder.”
Paul is writing this with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and there is no doubt that the state has the legitimate authority to execute criminals.
vv 5-7) The believer’s responsibility towards government
vv 5-7) The believer’s responsibility towards government
[5] We must be subject to government; not only because we fear punishment, but because we know it is right before God to do so.
[6] We owe the government not only obedience but financial support by paying taxes.
It is to our advantage to live in a society of law and order, with police and fire protection, so we must be willing to bear our share of the cost. With these implications the taxes collected are to be used by the government to get the job done of restraining evil and keeping order in society- not to enrich the government officials themselves. They will be held accountable if they do.
[7] There is no way around what Paul means here. The fact that we are citizens of heaven:
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
doesn’t exempt us from responsibility to human government. We are to give to the state the money, honor, and proper reverence which are due to the state even if they can’t always respect their personal lives, all the while reserving our right to give God that which is due to God alone.
21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
I want to make this perfectly clear that what I believe this to mean is that as Christians we should never join in speaking in a derogatory way of the President or other leaders.
5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”
vv 8-10) Obligated to love
vv 8-10) Obligated to love
We now move into the Christian’s obligation to his neighbors. Basically, the first part of this verse means “pay your bills on time.”
We live in a different culture then Paul, he isn’t saying that we cannot have any debts at all, but the admonition here is not to get into unnecessary debt. We should practice financial responsibility by living modestly and within our means, always remembering that the borrower is slave to the lender.
7 The rich rules over the poor,
and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
On a different level, the only debt we are to carry is the debt to love one another- and we are obligated to carry before God and each other.
We can never say, “I have done all the loving I need to do.” Love is a permanent obligation, a debt impossible to pay off.
The word used for love in this letter, with only one exception (12:10), is agape., which signifies a deep, unselfish, sacrificial, superhuman affection which we are to have for one another.
This love is not activated by any virtue in the person loved; but rather, it is completely undeserved. It is unlike any other love in that it goes out not only to the lovable but to one’s enemies as well.
This love is manifested in giving, and generally in sacrificial giving.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
This love is a matter of the will rather than the emotions. After all we are commanded to love indicates that it is something we can choose to do. If it were uncontrollable emotion we couldn’t be held accountable. I am not denying that emotions can be involved though.
It is impossible for an unconverted person to demonstrate this divine love. I would go so far as to argue that it is impossible for even a believer to demonstrate it in their own strength. It can only be exhibited by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Love found its perfect expression on earth in the Person of Jesus Christ. Our love for God manifests itself in obedience to His commandments.
Meaning the person who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law, or at least the section pertaining to the law which teaches love for our fellowmen.
It is easy for us to love in the theoretical and abstract, but God demands that we love real people.
“No man can compass the ends of life by drawing a little line around himself upon the ground. No man can fulfill his calling as a Christian by seeking the welfare of his wife and family only, for these are only a sort of greater self.” -Spurgeon
Paul echoes Jesus’ words as recorded in:
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
It is so easy to do all the right religious “things” but to neglect love. Our love is the true measure of our obedience to God.
vv 11-14) Love and walking right with God
vv 11-14) Love and walking right with God
As we look at the last bit of the chapter we are encouraged to live a life of spiritual alertness and moral purity.
Youth Pastor fail...
Family time is short. The Dispensation of Grace is drawing to a close. We know the danger of the times too and we anticipate the soon return of Jesus, all the more reason to be more energetic and committed to a right walk with God.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
[12] We look out at our world around us and it is like a night of sin that is just about to run its course. The day of eternal glory is about to dawn for believers also.
We are called to cast off all the filthy garments of worldliness- and what I mean by that is everything associated wit h unrighteousness and evil.
“The rags of sin must come off if we put on the robe of Christ. There must be a taking away of the love of sin, there must be a renouncing of the practices and habits of sin, or else a man cannot be a, Christian. It will be an idle attempt to try and wear religion as a sort of celestial overall over the top of old sins.” - Spurgeon
Putting on the armor of life, means the protective covering of a holy life. The pieces of armor are detailed in Ephesians 6:14-18 and they include.
The Belt of Truth - The Word of God
Breastplate of Righteousness- Imputed Righteousness from Jesus
Helmet of Salvation- Through Christ alone by faith alone
Shoes of the Gospel - The Good News of Jesus Christ
Shield of Faith - Faith in Christ alone
Sword of the Spirit - The Word of God
[13] Notice that the emphasis is on our practical Christian walk. Since we are children of the day, we should walk as sons of light.
What does a Christian have to do with wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, and sensuality? The answer is nothing at all.
[14] We are to put on Christ and it is a strong and vivid metaphor. It means so much more than putting on the character of Jesus, but signifies letting Jesus Himself be the armor that you wear.
(We are called to) Adopt His whole lifestyle, living as He did, accepting Him as our Guide and Example.
The flesh- is the old, corrupt nature. It incessantly cries to be pampered with comfort, luxury, illicit sexual indulgence, empty amusements, worldly pleasures, materialism...
We make provision for the flesh when we buy things that are associated with temptation, when we make it easy for ourselves to sin, when we give a higher priority to the physical than to the spiritual. Do not indulge the flesh even a little. Rather, as JBP states in his translation. “give no chances to the flesh to have its fling.”
God used this passage to show Augustine, the great theologian of the early church, that he really could live the Christian life as empowered by the Holy Spirit- he just had to do it. And so do we.
Communion:
24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.