Can you think of an authority figure in your life whom you knew that you had to respect but you really didn’t care for that person? Perhaps it was a coach, a teacher, a boss, or maybe a government official.

Did you know that person was in a position of authority because God designed authority to be part of our world and in God’s sovereign plan, that person was placed in that position?

Well, today, we’re going to talk some about authority, specifically governmental authority.

Most of you know that I’m not a big fan of discussing politics in worship services. I’m here to talk about Jesus and the Word of God.

However, today Paul takes us down the road of talking about governmental authorities and how a follower of Jesus is supposed to relate to governmental authorities.

Today’s sermon is entitled “God and the Government.”

This is a very important issue, so let’s go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to speak to us.

(prayer)

Remember, in chapter 12 of Romans, Paul is giving us some practical advice about how to live out our lives as followers of Jesus.

You may remember that Paul said such statements as “Bless those who persecute you,” and “live at peace with everyone.”

Now, Paul wants to talk to us about how to relate to the government.

Of course, the topic of governmental rulers is a hot topic in our culture. Just with the last two presidents, we’ve had people who said “that’s not my president,” about one and others who’ve said “that’s not my president” about the other.

Since I’ve been a voter we’ve had some who acted as if certain presidents were the antichrist and others who’ve acted like certain presidents were the Messiah.

In my lifetime, we’ve had multiple presidential impeachments, multiple FBI probes, voter fraud accusations, pregnant chads, birth certificate concerns, a storming of the capital, and more; and I’m only forty years old and that doesn’t even include governmental authorities on the state or local levels.

This is a topic that concerns us and as we will discover, this is a topic that concerns God.

Needless to say, this is a topic that concerns us and as we will discover, this is a topic that concerns God.

So, let’s read the passage and see what we can learn from God’s Word.

Look at Romans 13:1-7:

1 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. 2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. 4 For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. 5 Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience. 6 And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks. 7 Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.

Now then, let’s discover two realities concerning governing authorities as discussed by Paul.

First, . . .

I. Governing authorities are from God.

Paul is very clear about this reality and it’s not hard for us to discover this.

Look again at what Paul says:

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