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Your Day in Romans - 13:1-7

Started by Al Moak, December 24, 2004, 04:46:20 PM

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Al Moak

The Seventeenth Sermon
Romans 13:1-7
Earthly Government and the Transformed Mind


How do you relate to your country's government?  More specifically, is there a way to really glorify God in that relationship?  Are there, in fact, specific, practical things you could do?  We'll find some good answers in Romans 13:1-7.

In the previous chapter, Paul made it clear that the wonderful mercies of God should move us to a response of grateful and unreserved dedication to Him, a dedication that transforms first our minds, then our lives.  Today's chapter deals with one specific of that dedication, namely the way in which we relate to civil authorities.

Paul makes it clear that our relationship to civil government, just as that with every other aspect of our lives, should flow from our relationship to God.  The point that's made here is that, in fact, when we obey the laws of the land we're actually obeying God Hmself, since, as Paul points out, it is He Who has appointed that government over us.

Before anything else, we need to notice that our Lord's purpose has been very, very gracious in appointing civil government, since He uses it to preserve order in the fallen world we live in. That's why, in 1 Timothy 2:1-3, Paul says, "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior."  At least one of our Father's purposes for civil government is to provide a quiet and peaceable environment for the Church in an otherwise evil and tumultuous age.  Except in instances of intense persecution, He's been largely successful in that purpose.  Overall, as Paul points out here in his letter to the Roman church, " . . . they are God's ministers, attending continually to this very thing."

Let's think for a moment, then, what kind of response to this provision for us we, as Christian, should make in order to glorify Him.  The first response mentioned here is that of "subjection."  That just means obedience - obedience to the laws made by that civil government, whether written or verbal.  To glorify the God Who created and sustains earthly governments, then, you and I should obey the laws they make - even when others do not or when it's inconvenient and undesirable.

Of course, as with many things we're called upon to do in this world, there are exceptions. There are specific occasions upon which we should not obey the laws of men.  Acts 5:29 reveals one of these occasions.  There Luke says, "But Peter and the other apostles answered and said; 'we ought to obey God rather than men.'"  The problem was that The apostles had been ordered to cease preaching the Gospel - but God had sent them for the express purpose of preaching it.  We need to be very clear here: the choice the apostles had was obedience to God or to men and men's laws. 

It's the same for us.  When God has given us clear and unequivocal commands, then those commands must be obeyed before any contrary commands or laws made by men.  We need to be absolutely certain that there's a clear contrast between the law or command of men and the law or command of God.  If, at root it's really just a matter of desirability (we don't like the law) then we need to obey it.

Even here, though, there's a needful caution.  As the apostle says here, "If you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain."  He goes on to say, though, "Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake."  Neither fear nor convenience, but love and faithfulness to God ought to be the deciding factor.

So, since civil authorities are God's ministers, as Paul points out, we need to pay "taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor."  At times it may be hard for us to do it, but paying our taxes should actually be just as joyful a necessity as paying our tithes, since both support the ministry of God.  Proper fear is also appropriate, beause such fear should actually be reverence for the authority of God.  The word "honor," as used here, means obedience, since honoring earthly authority is honoring God.

With all of this, there are in this passage some other aspects regarding civil authorities that we must not miss.  One thing we need to notice is that God makes clear that the proper role for government, even when  they are elected democratically, is to be God's ministers.  Of course such "civil servants" are responsibile to rule not merely on the basis of human whim or circumstance but upon the basis of justice and truth.  They are  ultimately answerable to God.  And the actions of the governed are equally answerable to Him.  Along with this, though, we need to remember that there are none more able nor more obligated to remind governing officials about their obligations than those who are at the same time citizens of a higher kingdom.  It is certainly every Christian's duty to make their officials aware of the true King (via letters, personal exhortation, etc.).

Secondly, God's Word here tells us that "rulers are . . . a terror . . . to evil."  We're told, in fact, that these ministers of God don't bear the sword in vain.  That just means that they have the obligation to inflict the death penalty and other harsh judgements, upon evildoers.  They must not do so on their own authority, nor even upon that of the government they represent, but, ultimately, upon the authority of God and as His representatives.  God gave life, and God may rightfully take life away, and He expects civil authorities to exercise their authority in obedience to Him.  Such exercise of authority is a fearsome duty when it involves inflicting such punishments as the death penalty.  It MUST to be done with much prayer for wisdom.  But, ultimately, it must be done. 

Let there be no more arguments for and against capital punishment: it is God's requirement upon human government.  Nor is it merely corrective or deterrent - though it may actually accomplish both objectives - but it is God's (not man's) judgement (sometimes final) upon evil in His world, and it must be carried out by His agents.

Finally, let Christians who aspire to elective office be ware: they are not aspiring merely to that which will position them favorably in the eyes of fellow citizens, nor are they merely aspiring to a "good living," but they are aspiring to a very serious, sometimes even fearful servanthood. They seek a ministry that demands a close relationship to God in His Word and in prayer to know His will not only for themselves, but also for an entire body politic.

It seems to me that we should be seeking those within the Church who are gifted for such ministry.  After all, who more than the Church should be seeking gifted men to be God's ministers?  And we need to go on encouraging them after they're elected or appointed.  We need to support them and seek God's blessing upon them - His wisdom in their hearts and minds. 

And, last but not least, we ought to pray for wisdom to be given them, and we ought to feel obligated before God to to exercise the right to vote.  Having done so, though, we ought to pray for and communicate with our officials, that they may be guided in specific issues according to the Word of God. Finally, we surely ought to communicate with them relative to God's written will in regard to issues and decisions they face (whether they listen to us or not).

Let's begin to pray for God's blessing upon us in these things.  And let's thank our Father for His rule through man's government over earthly affairs.  Let's thank Him for the peace we enjoy.  Let's pray and work for its continuation.