Posts
(part 2)
In the Bible, we
discover three institutions that God has ordained. These three are a) the home,
b) the church, and c) the state or government. These three have separate areas
of authority and operations under God on earth. Romans 13 is in the practical
application section of the book of Romans. This section instructs genuine
believers who understand the gospel of God and the doctrines of salvation on what
their duties are now that they have embraced Jesus by faith, repentance, and
surrender. The home, state, and church must only function in their proper spheres.
I.
God has given duties and
responsibilities to the state/government. vs. 1, 3-4, 6
A. The
state’s authority was established and granted by God. vs. 1
B. The
state was ordained by God vs. 2
C. The
state is not to be resisted when it is functioning biblically. vs. 2
D. The
state functions as a substitute for God in certain areas; thus, to rebel
against biblically lawful mandates is a sin punishable on earth and at the
judgment. vs. 2
E. The
state is to punish evildoers and praise those who do good works. vs. 3-4
1. This
punishment includes death for certain crimes (Gen 9:4-6; Exod 21; Deut 17).
2. Swift
justice serves as a fearful deterrent to crime (Eccl 8:11).
3. When
the state is operating properly, only evil men will be afraid of its actions.
F. The
state is to serve God by providing certain things for its citizens’ welfare.
vs. 4, 6
1. It is
to protect its citizens against unwarranted harm.
2. It is
to punish those who practice evil.
G. The
state is to preserve law and order. vs. 4
H. The
state is to provide for its services by taxation. vs. 6
II.
God has given duties and
responsibilities to the believer concerning the state. vs. 2, 5 -7
A. We are normally
to submit to the state/government. vs. 2
1. The federal
government on interstate matters.
2. The state
and local governments on local matters.
3. The institutions
and employers we contract to join or serve (colleges, Wal-Mart).
B. We must
realize that opposing biblically lawful mandates of the state is to oppose God.
vs. 2
C. We must
submit to lawful orders to maintain a clear conscience. vs. 5
1. Lawful
orders are laws, or rules that do not contradict God’s righteous standards in
the Bible.
2. Unlawful
orders are ones that contradict the Bible’s clear commands.
D. We must
realize that God asks us to be the best citizens in the land. vs. 5
E. We must
not evade our tax obligations (taking legitimate exemptions is wise). vs. 6-7
F. Application.
1. Are we
submitting to God by believing on His Son, Jesus the Messiah for salvation? Are
we submitting to God by obeying the lawful orders of those in authority over
us?
2. Are we submitting
to the state in every area required, including traffic laws?
3. Are we
willing to obey in the little things as well as the big things?
4. Are we
willing to adjust our attitudes towards God, other believers, our enemies, and
the state (Romans 12 and 13)?
G. We must
disobey the state (or church or home), however, when they mandate in areas in
which they are not ordained to serve and when a law or order is clearly not
biblical.
1. If the
state forbids what God requires (Daniel 6 prayer; Acts 5:29 witnessing).
2. If the
state requires what God forbids (Exod 1:15-21 murder; Daniel 3 idolatry).
3. The
same disobedience is required for the church and the home if they do (1. or 2.).
H. Test
cases.
1. A
pastor calling a sitting president by a pejorative term (Paul and the High
Priest)
2. A
disruptive person in a church service—they are throwing things, using
profanity, endangering the welfare of the church body. Three deacons approach
this person. What should they do and not do?
3. A well-liked
lawyer who is a Sunday School teacher gets caught in the act of molesting a 9-year-old
girl during Sunday School. He is 48 yrs. old, married with children, a deacon,
and a respected leader in the community. Only a few church leaders know about
this act, which is a felony. What should they do? Can they just choose to
forgive him and look the other way?
4. You
work for a lawyer, and he tells you a government inspector is coming, so you
must start shredding documents that he hands you to cover up the firm’s illegal
activities. Should you obey your employer?
5. A
teenager witnesses a parent commit a felony. The parents ordered them to tell
no one, as their authority in the home. What should they do?
I. The
magisterial reformers (Luther, Calvin) operated in a state church that blended
two of God’s separate institutions too closely, so that the state wrongly
executed heretics.
J. The
Anabaptist doctrine of two worlds/kingdoms also contradicts Rom 13:1-7:
III.
God has given the duty and
responsibility to believers to stop owing anyone any late debts. vs. 8a
IV.
God has given the duty and
responsibility to believers to start loving each other. vs. 8b-10
V.
God has given the duty and
responsibility to the believer to replace ungodliness with Christlikeness using
God’s strategy. vs. 11-14
