July 6, 2003
Morning Service
Text: Romans 13:1-7
Subject: Obedience to the Law
Title: Whom Shall We Obey?
As the Fourth of July weekend comes to a close we want to remember our country with a salute to the freedoms and liberties that we have. Let’s just stop for a moment and ponder these things. What is it that makes America so great? Why are we the land of the free and the home of the brave?
French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831, said, "I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests--and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning--and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution--and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!"
Alexis de Tocqueville
Because our nation was founded on the basic principles of right and wrong found in the Ten Commandments, we began as a great nation and continue to be great.
George Washington from his Farewell Address to the Nation.
Do not let anyone claim the tribute of American patriotism if they ever attempt to remove religion from politics
It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Patrick Henry
So what kind of relationship are we as Christians to have with our government. In our scripture passage today Paul tells us what is expected of us in relation to our country.
I. Christians are to be in under authority of the government. (Verses 1-2)
A. Submit. (Verse 1) Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. What would happen if there were no government in the world today? Because of the fallen nature of man there would be total chaos. The last verse in the book of Judges tells us what to expect when there is no government. Judges 21:25, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own eyes." Isaiah wrote, "We all like sheep have gone astray, each to his won way." We have seen that on the news in the past few months. In Iraq, where there is no government, the citizens resorted to looting and destruction. There was no law to stop them. Because of man’s sinful nature, without restraints there would be no end to the evil being done.
B. Do not resist. If you resist the authorities you resist the ordinances of God. The ordinances of God refer to the Commandments. The word ordinance in the Greek means "something that has been thoroughly arranged, ordained or set in order." These commandments of God were given for several reasons, the first being to help retain civil order in the world. Verse 2 says there is no civil authority except from God and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Jesus told Pilate in John 19:11, "You could have no authority over Me at all unless it had been given you from above." The laws of man are to have their basis in God’s law. The ones who are in authority are expected to govern accordingly.
C. Avoid judgment. Verse 2, those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. As I studied this I began to think, who is to be subject to the Law? It is not only the citizens but those who execute the law as well. As the citizens of this great land we must obey the law. But I believe that those who are in charge of seeing the law carried out will be judged even more severely. Look what Paul says about judges (rulers in authority) in Romans 2:1-9,
1. "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things."
2. "But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. "
3. "And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?"
4. "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"
5. "But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,"
6. "Who "will render to each one according to his deeds":
7. "Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
8. "But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath,
9. "Tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;"
As we see the responsibilities that are given to both citizen and ruler, we can better understand our relationship to government.
II. Christians are to have proper attitudes toward the government. (Verses 3-5)
A. Do not fear. If you are obedient to the Law then there is no reason to fear. Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good!" The question really boils down to this, if we do evil and are judged, we should be more concerned with the wrath of God than the wrath of government. Jesus said in Matthew 10:28, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell."
B. The ruler is God’s minister. Just as a pastor/ teacher is God’s minister of the gospel, the civil authorities are God?s ministers (an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Verse 4) Minister means servant. Just as God uses preachers as a tool to share the gospel, He uses government to maintain order. The NKJV calls this servant an "avenger". KJV - "revenger". NIV - "an agent of wrath." Government officials are just doing what God has placed them in authority to do.
C. Christians should have clear consciences. Paul wrote to Timothy in I Timothy 1:5, "Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience and from sincere faith," Paul ties these three things (pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith) together with love. If we love God and country we can easily maintain clear consciences while we exercise faith with pure hearts. The way we approach our relationship with our government will tell us how we should act towards it.
III. Christians are called to respond to the government. (Verse 7)
A. Give taxes and customs where they are due. Pay your taxes. Even though they may seem burdensome and we know that money goes toward ungodly things, give to Caesar what is due to him. Jesus said, "render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s" If you owe it pay it. Let integrity be your guide.
B. Fear and Honor. There is a bumper sticker out that says, "I love my country, but I fear my government." We respect our government officials but we don’t have to fear them, but we must fear and honor God, always. Psalm 2:11, "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling."
C. Responding to conflict between God’s law and man?s law. Civil government that rejects God?s law is illegitimate, a minister of the enemy rather than God. Remember verse 1? "Let every soul be subject to governing authorities." As we are to be under authority of government, government in turn is to hold true to God’s word. What happens when there is conflict? Peter said in Acts 5:29, "we ought to obey God rather than men." Do we love our country? We are supposed to. But there are times when we are called to love in a way that seems harsh. By always standing for God even if it conflicts with man’s laws, we can keep our clear conscience. That is why, even though abortion is legal, Christians would never even consider it. Even though there is a push to legalize same sex marriages, Christians could never support it. God is never wrong in His commands. Man by nature, fowls things up.
Conclusion.
Church, we live in the greatest country that the world has ever seen. Our freedoms are limitless. Our liberties beyond comparison. We have been tremendously blessed by God. But I venture to say that our sense of God’s authority is changing. Rather than weighing the conduct of our society against the word of God, we have now begun doing the opposite. If God’s word doesn’t fit our changing society, then it becomes irrelevant.
Edward Gibbon, author of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, has attributed the fall of the Empire to:
1. The rapid increase of divorce; the undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis of human society.
2. Higher and higher taxes and the spending of public monies for free bread and circuses for the populace.
3. The mad craze for pleasure; sports becoming every year more exciting and more brutal.
4. The building of gigantic armaments when the real enemy was within, the decadence of the people.
5. The decay of religion--faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life and becoming impotent to warn and guide the people.
Edward Gibbon.
Many claim that our nation was not founded on biblical principals. But the overwhelming evidence is to the contrary.
He who shall introduce into public affairs the principles of Christianity will change the face of the world.
Benjamin Franklin, 1774, Ambassador to France.
Everyone appointed to public office must say: "I do profess faith in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ his only Son, and in the Holy Ghost...one God and blessed forevermore; and I do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be given by divine inspiration.
Delaware Constitution, 1776 (consistent with the First Amendment).
As the church of Jesus Christ if we would be sure to consider God’s commandments when we vote just consider what extraordinary changes would take place! But if the government continues on the path it has been on, judgment awaits. I want to encourage you to continue to respect our government and pray for those in authority over you.
Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever.
Thomas Jefferson, inside the Jefferson Memorial.
Be subject to the civil authorities? Yes!
Have proper attitudes towards government? Of course!
Respond appropriately to the law? Without a doubt.
But never forget Who the true lawgiver is and it is His law first and foremost that we are concerned with. That is the law of grace working in our lives to salvation. When man is right with God all governments will fall into place. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen till Jesus returns. Until then we will continue to be overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.
As we sat and watched the fireworks Friday night, I was reminded of how our Christian life works. Paul wrote to the church that we are being changed into His image from glory to glory. As a fireworks display would flash in the sky followed by the big boom, the multi colored sparkles would brighten the sky for a moment and then fade away into darkness. Then another would light the sky and so on. We are like that in more ways than we know. Some of the prettier displays would light the sky without much noise to accompany it. Most of the louder displays didn’t have the beauty to go along with it. All would flash then fade away. We do that too. But God always enables us to keep on flashing from glory to glory. It is Christians just like you that have made this country great. We have the ability to let it continue to be great or to let it fade away like a Fourth of July night- time display. It’s your choice.
