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