Romans 13:1-7
Dual Citizenship
Welcome!
Would you open your Bibles to...
Matt.
Matt.
Matt.
Matt.
Pray
Intro
√ The balance Christians face since we are…
"in the world, but not of the world"
√ …that we have a dual citizenship!
√ Born a citizen of the
√ Born again a citizen of the
√ The makings of a potential conflict!
· To whom does the Christian owe their supreme allegiance?
· Does a Christian have any obligations to the governments of Man?
· What should a Christian do when the laws of his/her government ruin contrary to God’s Law?
Ex. As we read in Matthew 17-Jesus acknowledged that even He and Peter had an obligation to the rules of men-even when the only motivation is that they not offend without cause!
Ap. Paul answers these questions in our text this morning regarding a Christian’s responsibility.
· General attitude toward government
·
Specific instructions regarding those
duties and responsibilities
Longest section in the
New Testament which deals with this also:
I
Peter 2:13-17
I
Timothy 2:1-4
Titus
3:1
*Very important because some Christians have wrongly concluded that they have no duty to government.
…been a poor witness
Ex. They don’t pay taxes but expects the government to support them.
While others have stood silently as their government committed horrible crimes….
and brought shame to the name of Christ.
Ex. Nazi
√ Lets look at what the Bible has to say about this important topic.
Human government (vs. 1)
Rom.
13:1 Let every
soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except
from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
1. Firstly-note the extent of the application of Paul’s instructions-
“every soul”!
Ap. That means you and me!
2. What is the motivation for our obedience?
Ordained by God!
Paul tells us that EVERY human government exists and receives its authority from God!
*NOTE: not an isolated case-rather a general principle!
Ex. Nebuchadnezzar
Dan.
4:17 This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of
the holy ones, In order that the living
may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He
will, And sets over it the lowest of men.’
Ex. Pharaoh
Exo.
Ex. Pilate
John
John
*Ultimately all power and
authority in the universe comes from God and operates at His
discretion!!
Including: spiritual realm (Ex. Satan-Job 1)
Physical
realm (Ex. "hold all…. by His Word)
That truth has some profound
implications!
·
It means that good and Godly rulers-as
well as evil and ungodly ones…
·
…ultimately received their power and authority to rule from
God!
EVEN HITLER!?!
Yes, just as Pharaoh was raised up to
rule in
…so every leader including Hitler
operates at God's discretion.
Ex. Hitler's
madness and desire for world dominance led to the II World War…
Which changed the face of the world and set the stage for the End
Times.
With the conclusion of II World War
·
Creation of the United Nations and the charter to
re-establish the Nation of Israel!
·
The Club of Rome-EEC/EC
·
The creation of weapons of mass destruction
·
The fostering of the concept of a One World Government and
financial system.
So, while God
does not promote or encourage evil…
…He sets up
and takes down rulers, governments, and powers
that He might
accomplish His purposes.
Ap. Like Jesus-The Christian has nothing to
fear from the government of man-for their power comes from God.
Ex. I don't have to have a coronary when my
choice for public office doesn't get elected.
I did my part-vote-when it comes out it is up to God.
Submission (vs. 2-5)
Rom. 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
Ö
First duty of the Christian.
To be "subject" to the
government and it's laws.
*** Relax!
We'll get to civil disobedience!
Why?
·
To avoid punishment (Verse 2)
·
To have a clear conscience (Verse 5)
Ö
To avoid punishment
Note that in Verse
2 Paul equates resisting the authority of the government to resisting God!
·
In a good and Godly society, God has established rulers to…
Protect the good
Punish the evil
…that people can live in peace and
prosperity.
Therefore, Paul
says-if you don't want to suffer punishment-don't break the law!
·
The second reason that Christians are told to obey the laws
of the land is that they might have a clear conscience (Verse 5).
Each of us has a God given conscience,
which prods us, to do good
and to obey.
When we do wrong-break the law-then our
conscience convicts us of
that sin.
Very uncomfortable to live with a
guilty conscience!
Ö What about laws that contradict God's
laws?!
Ex. Nazi
Germany-turn over Jesus.
Whenever the laws of man
violate the law of God we are to obey God to whom we owe our first allegiance.
The Bible is filled with
examples of men and women (heroes of the faith) who
practiced "civil disobedience".
Ex. 1. Moses'
parents disobeyed Pharaoh's orders to drown their baby
(Exodus 2).
2.
Daniel disobeyed Darius's command not to pray (Daniel 6).
3.
Shadrach, Meshach and AbedNego refused to bow (Daniel 3).
4.
Peter and John continued to preach (Acts 4).
5.
Shiphrah and Puah-Hebrew midwives who refused to kill the baby boys
(Exodus 1).
Ap. We are called to be law abiding citizens of
the nation to which we are citizens.
However, if obedience to those laws require that we violate God's laws…
…Then we are to obey God and say with
Peter and John
"Judge for yourselves whether it
is right to obey you or God!"
Support (vs. 6-7)
Rom.
13:6 For
because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending
continually to this very thing.
Rom.
13:7 Render therefore to all their due:
taxes to whom taxes are due, customs
to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
Ö Christians are also called to
support their government.
Specifically:
Pay taxes
Pay customs
Show respect
(fear)
Give honor
Note that Paul is very
clear!
His point is that since
government officials are God's servants and give their time to serve us…
… it
is our responsibility to support their effort.
Ap. No room for tax evasion on the
grounds that the government does things we don't like.
Remember, it was a Roman
governor and Roman soldiers that crucified Jesus!
Yet, Paul doesn't
say-"don't pay taxes to
Ex. Christian
web-site that links to a site that purports to tell one how to avoid taxes.
Yet, the same
person has no issues driving on roads built with taxpayer dollars or enjoying
police protection when people threaten his ministry!
CLOSE
·
So-Christians have a unique challenge…
Duel Citizenship
·
Called to obey and honor the laws of man…
…unless to do
so would violate the Law of God.
Pray for
wisdom to know what to do and for Godly leaders!