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What a year 2016 was in our nation and 2018 is sure to not disappoint for those who love politics.
Have you ever wondered what our role is as Christians as citizens?
The relationship between church and state has been a source of conflict from the beginning.
When the church is dominated and controlled by the state, the church suffers.
The state suffers, on the other hand, when it comes under the control of the church.
On paper our country has devised the best approach.
In our approach to church and state, we have left the church free from the control of the state, and the state free from the control of the church.
Our system allows a man to be a citizen of a state and a member of the church without conflict to him/herself.
Biblically speaking, we are citizens of two countries.
We are by natural birth citizens of the United States of America, at least most of us are.
By spiritual birth, we are citizens of Heaven.
Being a citizen of God’s Kingdom should make us better citizens of the US.
It does not forbid us from entering into the life of the earthly state, but rather places upon us some specific responsibilities as they relate to the earthly state.
You cannot be a good Christian without being a good citizen.
We need this Word from the Lord.
The last 8 years, some of you had a hard time with our leadership.
But hear me, if we as professing Christians will take seriously this Word in concerning our Christian duty of citizenship, it could help heal the fractures in our nation.
We will never have a better nation until we have better citizens.
They only way people will turn around is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not the Constitution.
This passage this morning is directly related to our relationship to God.
Because this week contains our July 4th Independence Day, I skipped this week.
We will go back next week, but what you need to remember is that based on all that Paul wrote from to 11:32, now applies to our life in this way.
This is the ethical portion, the practical portion of Romans.
These practical guidelines are for the man or woman who’ve been justified by faith in Christ alone.
They are ours because we are the people of God.
Christians Ought to Submit to the State
Verse 1 - “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.”
Regardless of who you are, this word is for you.
That governing authority for us as Americans related from DC all the way to our local level.
From the Gonzales PD, to the Sheriff’s Dept, to the Texas Troopers and Rangers.
Every man and woman is included in this and every expression of government is included.
The KEY WORD here is “be subject.”
The word calls for voluntary subjection of yourself to this authority.
The other important thing to note here is that it is a command.
BECAUSE IN PRINCIPLE, TO SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNMENT IS TO SUBMIT TO GOD.
The subjection is continuous.
It simply means to place oneself under authority.
It’s the same word Paul uses of the wife in .
Of a servant being subjected to his master, a soldier to his commanding officer
Even of Jesus the Son to God the Father.
It is an outward expression of an inner recognition of the authority of God that has been delegated to the authority in question.
The REASON for this is also found in verse 1, “For there is no authority except from God.”
God has delegated some of His authority to the state for the purpose of assuring the good of the citizens, and the purposes of restraining the growth of evil in society.
If God has appointed every civil ruler, every governing authority, then why should any Christian fear submitting to that which God has appointed?
Easy to say in our context, not so easy to say when looking around the world.
Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that “God sets up kings and deposes them.”
He then goes on to tell Nebby that “The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory…He has made you ruler ().
Daniel’s point is clear, from King Nebuchadnezzar until God’s final kingdom, God is in control.
God sets up and takes down in order to accomplish His perfect will.
Even after the he/she is in office there is always
Jesus, in tells Pilate -
You see, in Paul’s day they dealt with leaders such as Claudius, and Nero.
Men who claimed to be gods.
They were not necessarily Christian friendly.
Especially Nero.
Claudius ordered all the Jews out of Rome as mentioned in Acts 18:2-3.
Nero accused the Christians of causing the great fire of Rome in AD 64 which led to intense persecution of Xns.
Verse 2 - Resistance - Good or bad?
Well according to what Paul says here, bad.
Bad because those who resist, resist what God has established for our good, and to encourage us to do good.
Verses 3&4 tell us that God has established this system for our good.
But resistance, willfully disobeying the law, will bring judgment.
BUT It is a great question…how far does this submission extend?
Is the Christian to always be submissive to the will of the state?
Is there ever a time when it is proper for the Christian to resist the authority of the state?
There are times when we are painfully aware of the fist we raise against God in some areas of life, but it can hard to see it here.
We can rest in the sovereignty of God if an earthquake destroys our town, or a flood, but when a 20 something whipper-snapper pulls us over and gives us a ticket…now then it might be a little harder.
Paul says to rebel against that ticket is to rebel against what God has instituted.
The fact that human authorities are just that, human and sinful just like us makes it a little more difficult.
How far are we to go in submission?
Even in the last 8 years, I’d especially point out the Supreme Court decision in 2015 legalizing gay marriage.
How far?
It is a question of CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE...
There are times when governing authorities are to be “resisted” through disobedience to their injunctions.
There are times for resistance and non-submission.
HERE’S THE ANSWER - WHEN THE STATE SEEKS TO REPLACE GOD IN THE LIFE OF THE PEOPLE, THE STATE MUST BE RESISTED.
Only when obeying the Government would mean disobeying God.
Resistance began all the way back in - In fact, If they had not resisted, we wouldn’t have seen Moses rise up.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow before the idol set up by the state.
Now, their resistance brought them the fiery furnace, but God confirmed the rightness of their actions by delivering them from the flames.
So it was with Daniel when he continued his prayer time when prayer became unlawful.
In that case, it was the state seeking to replace the living God in the life of Daniel.
Peter and John was a similar situation.
, and .
Some of the first readers of this letter would later be put to death because they continued to acknowledge Jesus alone as Lord in Rome, when the sate began to say that Caesar alone was Lord.
But here is something needs to be seen - They resisted though still in respect of government.
Their resistance didn’t lead to an attempt to over throw the government.
They resisted with a willingness to bear the wrath of the state without complaint.
IF they were jailed, like Peter and Paul, they weren’t filing appeals, they were praying to the God of heaven.
They were willing to pay the price for resistance.
Fortunately, we live under a government where we have avenues of change open to us.
A small part of your offering each month goes to the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC, and the Christian Life Commission.
Both of which try to help guide policy in DC and Austin.
Verses 3 & 4 - Two Reasons why
Christians Should Support the State
Our responsibility does not end with subjection.
Submissiveness is extended to giving practical support to the state.
A primary form of that support is through taxes.
(YOU THINK ITS HARD TO PREACH ON TITHING…YOU SHOULD SEE YOUR FACES WHEN I MENTION TAXES!)
Well, the statement is clear, it is mandatory for the Christian to be faithful and honest in the payment of taxes.
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