"THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS"
The Christian's Duty To Government (13:1-7)
INTRODUCTION
- Christians are blessed to be citizens of a heavenly kingdom...
- Our citizenship is in heaven - Php 3:20
- We have been conveyed into the kingdom of God's dear Son - Co
1:13; Re 1:9
-- As such, we are described as "sojourners and pilgrims" in this
world - 1Pe 2:11
- As "pilgrims", we live and work under the governments of men...
- With a variety of political systems: democracies, kingdoms,
dictatorships, etc.
- Offering varying degrees of freedom, responsibilities, etc.
-- What is our duty to such governments?
- The Lord's church began and thrived during the Roman Empire...
- To Christians in the capital city of Rome, Paul wrote of their
responsibility
- To Christians dispersed in outlying areas of the Empire, Peter did
also
-- The Christian's duty to government is made very clear by the
apostles
[Using Paul's comments in Ro 13:1-7 as our starting point, let's review
what our duties are...]
- BE SUBJECT
- THE RULE...
- Stressed twice by Paul
- "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities"
- Ro 13:1
- "Therefore you must be subject..." - Ro 13:5
- Peter likewise taught this duty - 1Pe 2:13-14
- "Therefore submit yourselves..."
- Submit means "be subject to"
- Signifying "to place one's self under subjection; to
render one's self subordinate"
- We are to submit "to every ordinance of man"
- The word "ordinance" literally means "a creation"
- The Greeks and Romans described the appointment of
officers as the "creation" of them
- Thus the expression "ordinance" actually refers:
- Not to a particular law passed by government
- But to the civil government or institution itself
- Cf. "to every human institution" (NASB, NRSV)
- Note that we are to submit to every human institution
(whether it be a monarchy, democracy, totalitarian state,
etc.)
-- Our responsibility is clear: "Let every soul be subject" - Ro
13:1
- THE REASON...
- Governing authorities that exist have been appointed by God!
- Ro 13:1
- As emphasized in the book of Daniel - Dan 2:20-21; 4:17,25a,
32a
- Even those that are evil, which God often uses for His
divine purposes and then replaces - cf. Exo 9:16 (Egypt);
Isa 10:5-12 (Assyria)
- Therefore to resist government means to resist God Himself!
- Ro 13:2-4
- To resist is to bring judgment upon one's self
- For government is a minister of God, designed to avenge evil
- Peter adds two good reasons - 1Pe 2:15
- First and foremost, "this is the will of God"
- Cf. also, "for the Lord's sake" - 1Pe 2:13
- This will suffice for all true servants of God
- That we may "put to silence the ignorance of foolish men"
- Because of their allegiance to a heavenly king,
Christians are often falsely accused of sedition or
treason - e.g., Ac 17:5-8
- By doing good (e.g., by submitting), we can "silence"
(lit., muzzle) ignorant charges
-- To avoid wrath and have a good conscience, "you must be subject"
- Ro 13:5
- THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE...
- It is not whenever government is oppressive
- Consider the government and conditions when Paul and Peter
wrote
- The government was totalitarian, under Nero's evil and
despotic rule as emperor
- Under Nero's reign, Christians suffered greatly - cf. 1 Pe
4:12-13; 5:8-9
- Paul and Peter were eventually martyred
- The only exception: we must obey God rather than man!
- As illustrated by Peter and the apostles - Ac 4:18-20; 5:27-29
- When government tries to force us to disobey God, we must
disobey the government
- Even then, we may break only the particular law designed to
force disobedience to God
- We have no authority to break other laws in protest to the
unjust law
-- When government seeks to stifle our service to God, we must
obey God rather than man!
[As we return to our text, we note additional duties to government...]
- PAY WHAT IS DUE
- WE ARE TO PAY TAXES...
- As an act of submission we should pay our taxes - Ro 13:6
- Also other fees that are due, such as customs - Ro 13:7
-- We may not approve of how the taxes are spent, but I doubt the
early Christians approved of how Nero spent the government's
money either
- WE ARE TO PAY RESPECT...
- Fear to whom fear is due - Ro 13:7
- Such as police officers, judges
- And if you do evil, be afraid! - Ro 13:4
- Honor to whom honor is due - Ro 13:7; cf. 1Pe 2:17
- Such as presidents, kings, governors, local leaders
- Out of respect for the office, if not for the man (or woman)
-- Our duty is not limited to those whose political or personal
behavior we approve
[Before we end our study, we should certainly note another duty to
government that is ours...]
- PRAY
- FOR KINGS AND ALL IN AUTHORITY...
- We are to offer supplications, prayers, intercessions - 1Ti 2:1-2
- Praying for those who lead, not only our country, but those
around the world
- Praying that they rule with wisdom, righteousness, and mercy
- We are to offer thanks - 1Ti 2:1-2
- Taking time to thank God for those who rule well
- Thanking God for when we live in peace and prosperity, and
for protecting us when we do not
-- An invaluable contribution Christians can give their country
are their prayers
- THAT WE MIGHT LEAD GOOD LIVES...
- Good in a material sense, to enjoy quiet and peaceful times
- cf. 1Th 4:11; He 12:14a
- Good in a spiritual sense, free to be godly and reverent - cf.
He 12:14b
-- As God works through the governments of men to bestow peace,
prayer should be a priority for those who wish to live in peace
CONCLUSION
- The duties placed on Christians toward their earthly governments are
clear and simple...
- Be subject to governing authorities
- Pay what is due in taxes and respect
- Pray for all those in positions of authority
- Beyond this, our involvement in the affairs of government may fall
into the realm of judgment...
- Should we enter politics, serve in law enforcement, enlist in the
military?
- Such questions have been debated by Christians for centuries
-- One thing is clear, we must obey God rather than man, and avoid
becoming entangled with the affairs of this life to the neglect of
our service to God (2Ti 2:4)
As a Christian, are you faithfully fulfilling your duty to earthly
government, while sojourning as a citizen of a heavenly kingdom...?