SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). the Christians role with government (vs 1&5)
(2). the rule of government (vs 1b-2)
(3). the reason for government (vs 3-5)
(4). the response to government (vs 6-7)
(5). the rival against government (vs 5b)
SERMON BODY:
Well, the new government is up and running,
• And life goes on pretty much the same as it did before they took power!
• Of course, time will tell if Labour are able do a better job than the Tories.
• So, we will have to wait and see!
• Joke: As one man once said,
• “I don't approve of political jokes... I've seen too many of them get elected.”
• Joke:
• Question: Do you know the difference between socialism and capitalism?
• Answer: Capitalism is man exploiting man, & with socialism it is the other way round!
Ill:
• I wonder if anyone here has dual citizenship?
• I haven’t yet, I say yet,
• But because my father was American so I can apply for a USA passport if I want to.
• A dual passport would make me a citizen of two countries.
• TRANSITION:
• As a Christian I already have dual citizenship.
• Because every Christians is a citizen of two kingdoms:
• God's eternal kingdom and an earthly physical country.
• i.e. The New Testament teaches that we are citizens of heaven.
• (Philippians chapter 3 verse 20, (Ephesians chapter 2 verse 18-19; chapter 6 verse 20).
• i.e. But as the recent Euros football and the soon coming Olympics remind us,
• Our world is divided into a variety of countries (195 in total.)
• You were born in one of them –therefore you also have earthly citizenship.
• Because we are residents of two realms, we should learn to live responsibly in both
• We should not be uninvolved or uninformed.
• We must learn how to balance our allegiance to both realms
• These verses deal with how we can behave in our earthly societies,
• According to the values of God's heavenly kingdom?
(1). The Christians role with government (vs 1&5)
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”
Ill:
• I wonder who your favourite Prime Minister was?
• Harold Wilson, Jim Callaghan, Ted Heath, Maggie Thatcher, Tony Blair,
• Boris Johnson, Theresa May, Rishi Sunak, and now of course Keir Starmer.
• Imagine if you had been born in another country and your leader was,
• Pol Pott, Kim Jong Un, Vladamir Putin, Idi Amin or Adolph Hitler!
• (Maybe out choices weren’t so bad!)
• TRANSITION: Now amazingly this passage declares it is that men like that,
• Who are in some sense, servants of God.
• (Now that will make interesting content for the Thursday house group!)
When the apostle Paul refers to governing authorities,
• He uses a phrase that can best be translated "the powers that be."
• He is not just talking about heads of state, i.e. Prime Minister/President etc.
• He is talking about all levels of authority,
• All the way down to the local Councillors, the Police etc.
• For those of you at school, your teachers and members of staff!
• The apostle Paul, tells us how we should think about these "powers that be."
• He says, that in some way, they are brought into being by God himself.
• We will delve into that a little bit more later on in this sermon.
Note:
• No one type of government is commended over another.
• He doesn’t say Conservatism is better than Socialism,
• Or that imperial is better than monarchical and republican.
• We are just told to submit to the authorities, because God instituted them.
This does not mean that all the powers accord with God's will in what they do.
• There are good and bad authorities,
• God-fearing and godless governments.
Ill:
• Many of you know Moldova is a Country I visit every year,
• I work alongside the Moldovan Mission, for a 10-day gospel preaching undertaking
• There are very much two attitudes to the Government.
• The older people/seniors in Moldova,
• Can remember when the Russians invaded and ruled their land.
• I have asked some of them did, they prefer the Russian communism or self-governing,
• They often reply under communism, “We all had food and we all had jobs!”
• Ask the young people and the last thing they want is communism back,
• They like capitalism and Western ways; they all want true democracy.
• (still have many restrictions that may shock you, if I had time to explain).
• Joke told of a man under the communist system,
• Going into as post office to buy a stamp,
• The old-fashioned type that of stamp you licked to make it stick to the envelope.
• As the man came out the post office he spat at the stamp,
• His friend said, “Serge what are you doing? You are supposed to wet the other side!”
• TRANSITION:
• Not all the powers accord with God's will in what they do.
• There are good and bad authorities,
• God-fearing and godless governments.
• But the principle that state authority is instituted by God.
• Ordered government is not a human invention.
• It is part of God's, created order and provision for the well-being of societies.
Note:
• In these seven verses, the apostle Paul says six times,
• That the governing authorities are from God.
• Verse 1 – “. . . there is no authority except from God . . .”
• Verse 1 – “. . . the authorities that exist are instituted by God.”
• Verse 2 – “. . . the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command . . .”
• Verse 4 – (speaking of authorities) “For it is God’s servant . . .”
• Verse 4 (again, speaking of authorities) – “For it is God’s servant . . .”
• Verse 6 – “. . . the authorities are God’s servants . . .”
Question: What should our role with government be?
Answer:
• Paul summed it up with one word in verse 1: we are each to be "subject"
• Other translations prefer the word, “obey.”
• And in case you missed it, he repeats himself again in verse 5.
• “Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities.”
• To submit or obey is referring to a voluntary attitude of cooperation,
• An attitude that helps to carry a burden
Ill:
• Husbands and wives need to submit or obey need that attitude for a happy marriage.
• Parents and children need that attitude for a happy family.
• Bosses and workers need that attitude for a happy association
• TRANSITION: The same attitude is needed for a happy society.
• We are not talking about blind obedience, but respect, order and cooperation.
(2). the reason for government (vs 3-5)
“For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.”
Ill:
• 10 Downing Street is one of the most heavily protected buildings in Britain.
• They have of course a “decorative” policeman outside the front door.
• 10 Downing Street cannot be opened at all from the outside,
• Because it has no handle,
• No one can enter the building without passing through an airport-style scanner,
• And a set of security gates manned by armed guards.
• Despite this security, I am reliably informed.
• (Well, I read it on the internet so it must be true!)
• That in the first five years after Tony Blair became Prime Minister [1997 -2002],
• 37 computers, 4 mobile phones, two cameras, a mini-disc player, a video recorder,
• Four printers, two projectors, and a bicycle were stolen from inside the house.
• TRANSITION: the reason for government,
• Is to bring law and order into society and not help create disorder and crime!
The apostle Paul said that government is to be God's servant on earth for two reasons:
• To protect the community
• To punish the criminal
• The governments job is to make sure sin and evil are restrained,
• And to make sure that citizens can build their lives in safe, caring communities.
Notice:
Three times in these verses the apostle Paul referred to government officials as,
• NIV: “Servants.”
• KJV: “Ministers.”
• The Greek word is diáconos,
• Sound familiar, we get our word, “Deacon,” from that word.
• A word used to refer to those who serve us in the church
• Governing authorities occupy a divinely appointed office,
• We might like those who occupy that position, but we respect the office.
Ill:
• If you are stopped by a Police man or woman in your car.
• One officer may have a pleasant manner in how they deal to you.
• Another may be sarcastic or nasty and very unpleasant.
• But because of the office they hold, the uniform they wear,
• Because of the power invested in them we respect their authority if not always them.
• The ideal of course and what we all hope for,
• Is to respect both the office and the officer.
Remember at the time the apostle Paul wrote these words,
• Rome was in power, and Nero was the Ceaser.
• That was the political background of the New Testament,
• Was not a democracy it was an autocracy.
• There was only one governmental structure in power in most of the world,
• And that was the Roman Empire.
• And Rome was the ultimate dictator and dominance.
Ill:
• Think back to the Christmas nativity,
• Remember that part of the story (Luke chapter 2 verses 1-20)
• Caesar had the power and the ability to take a census of the known world and tax it.
• And no-one was able to resist or stop him!
Ill:
• And it would be this same Ceaser - Nero,
• Who in a few years’ time would chop off Paul’s head from his shoulders!
• And have him executed.
• TRANSITION: You may remember in our last study,
• The apostle Paul said statements like,
• “Bless those who persecute you,” and “live at peace with everyone.”
• (Chapter 12 verses 14-21)
• Well, now he is saying, here is your chance to put that into practice!”
(3). the response to government (vs 6-7)
“This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.”
These verses suggest a twofold response to those in authority:
• Government should be supported.
• Government should be respected.
• We may not like the Government,
• You may disagree with them,
• But you are bound by Scripture to honour them,
• And also, according to 1 Timothy chapter 2 verse 1 to pray for them
Note: Let me just pick out one phrase, “why you pay taxes.”
Ill:
• No one likes paying taxes.
• Story told of a man who wrote to the Inland Revenue and said,
“I am having trouble sleeping at night due to not paying my tax,
enclosed is a cheque for £500. If I still can’t sleep, I will send the rest!”
• TRANSITION:
• What is true today was true in the day of Jesus.
• People don’t like paying taxes.
• Do you remember this incident.
• And the clear reply of Jesus to a question about paying taxes to Rome
• (Luke chapter 20 verse 22- 25).
• YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/KZ0EHQ5LwdA?si=V7cVt5KRJrzJpztV
• TRANSITION:
• The Romans heavily and I mean heavily taxed the people of their day!
Ill:
• Every citizen paid what ss called the poll tax.
• Every male aged 14 to age 65, every female aged 12 to age 65, paid a poll tax.
• Question: What's a poll tax?
• Answer: It's being taxed on breathing air. For being alive!
• On top of that, there was the income tax, a flat 10% rate.
• On top of that were taxes for roads and harbours.
• On top of that were import taxes.
• On top of that was the ground tax.
• One tenth of all the grain or the proceeds of the grain,
• One tenth of all of it went to Rome.
• One fifth of all of the wine or proceeds went to Rome.
• Then there was the fish tax.
• You were taxed on how many nets you would throw out into the lake or into the sea.
• You were then taxed on every single fish that your net caught.
• On top of that, there was called the cart tax.
• If you had a cart, you were taxed on the number of wheels you had on your cart.
• So, the wheelbarrow was your friend!
• But if you required four wheels to distribute weight, you'll be taxed for it.
• TRANSITION:
• So, people lived under this oppressive taxation by an oppressive government,
• And the apostle Paul write, “pay your taxes.”
(5). The rival against government (vs 5b)
“Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.”
Quote:
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it, misdiagnosing it and then misapplying the wrong remedies.”
• TRANSITION: A question that obviously arises from these verses is,
• “Is there ever a time we should show general defiance and rebellion?”
• “When and how can we show our disparagement and criticism?”
• Answer: Twofold:
• FIRST: in a democracy that is an easy one to answer.
• In a democracy, every time there is an election, we get to cast a vote!
• We are encouraged to contact our Politicians and sound our voice and opinion.
• SECOND: Verse 5 goes beyond that and applies to all Christians democracy or not!
• Verse 5 says that you have a conscience!
• That inward voice that reminds you of what is right and wrong.
• When a government violates God's law,
• We allowed to protest, to object and to speak up.
• We submit to the government up to the point,
• When a government asks us to violate a clear command of God, you obey God.
Ill:
• Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin - Acts chapter 4 verses 19-20).
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/Rw_O2l_yJQE?si=wMirBiV27_ZR1Fd2
Note: This passage does not demand blind obedience to a government.
• But as far as it depends on us,
• We seek to be good citizens who pay our taxes and keep the laws of the land.
• Yet, when we see something unjust, evil, anti-God, we oppose it.
• And as Christians in our country, a free society,
• We are responsible,
• To raise our voices on behalf those who are persecuted for their faith.
• And cannot speak up against a godless and evil regime.
• Organisations like
• Open Doors – www.opendoorsuk.org
• Tearfund – www.tearfund.org
• Care for the Family – careforthefamily.org.uk
• Provide us with information and advice on how to do just that.
Prayer
Our Father, we thank you for these practical words.
How extremely practical they are for our lives,
They remind us of how deeply concerned you are even about matters like this.
Help us to be good citizens, Lord,
Help us to be faithful to our responsibility,
to show honour to those to whom honour is due,
And respect to those who deserve it.
Even though they may not personally be men and women deserving of our respect,
The office they hold demands it.
Ans so, we pray that we may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
We ask this in the name of Jesus,
Amen.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=pJPUd16DMl16BgtxiX42Z3sm4fjYCTLR
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/Ah6S25ewMvA
