Preacher: Jeremy Herbert
Text: Romans 13
Theme: 4 Reasons We Should Submit to Government
Notes:
Context: written by the Apostle Paul, who was:
* A Jew
* A Christian
* A Roman citizen
The Roman Empire was a foreign occupying force in Israel
* They dislike for both Jews and Christians alike.
* They saw Jews and Christians as traitors, as neither would bow to their gods, whose worship was enmeshed with the civil government.
Paul is writing this around 56AD–just about a decade before he would be martyred for his faith.
* In Romans 1-11 Paul makes a masterful exposition of salvation by faith.
* In Romans 12-16 Paul lays out how the gospel applies in various practical areas
* In Romans 13 Paul addresses how we live out our earthly citizenship
God gives 4 authorities to live out his creation mandate:
* Conscience – personal
* innate sense of right and wrong
* Romans 2
* Family – relational
* Foundation of society
* Human government – civil
* 1 Tim 2
* Isaiah 10
* Church – spiritual
Each has its own realm of authority; we have problems when they intersect or when one tries to rule outside its given sphere of authority
4 Reasons We [e.g., every soul] Should Submit to Government
* Submit for wrath’s sake
* Submission to civil government (and other authorities) is an expression of our submission to God
* We submit not because an earthly authority is respectable–but because God is
* This instruction doesn’t give spiritual approval for any specific form of government, eg, socialist/democracy/monarchy
* Paul’s instructions apply to every Christian, in every place, in every time
* 1 Peter 2:13-17
* Titus 3:1-2
* We are not to speak evil of our leaders
* Titus 3:2
* This does not mean we may not call out evil
* Romans 13:1b, “those that exist have been instituted by God”
* Some believe this means that God sovereignly appoints each specific government/leader
* Others believe this means that God sovereignly appoints human government in general
* Regardless, God desires us to respect our given authorities–until we are being commanded to disobey God
* Governmental authority is derived authority
* In those cases we appeal to a higher authority–same as other spheres of authority
* Children need not obey wicked commands from parents
* Congregants need not obey wicked spiritual leaders
* Acts 5:29
* We may also use the established governmental system
* We may leverage judicial appeals
* Acts 25:11
* We may leverage civil rights
* We may peacefully protest
* We may hold civil servants accountable
* Our default posture is peaceable, respect, and submission
* We only disobey those orders that violate God’s law–we don’t just disobey all orders because the government issues wrong orders
* Submit for conscience’s sake
* Luther, “To act against your conscience is neither right nor safe.”
* Submit for love’s sake
* Romans 13:8
* We submit to government as a specific expression of our love for our neighbor
* “Owe no man anything” is not a prohibition against borrowing/lending, but an exhortation to pay everything we owe, eg, pay off loans, pay respect, pay others with kindness
