01-12-2020

Two or three weeks and Romans in the first few verses of Romans 13. I'm going to read verses 1 through 7, but we're going to focus on the first one this morning. But every person be subject to the governing authorities for there is no Authority except from God and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities is this what God has appointed those who resist will incur judgment or rulers are not a terror to Good Conduct. That's bad. Would you have no fear of the one in whose in Authority then do what's good and you will receive his approval rate is God's servant for your good but if you do wrong be afraid for does not bear The Sword in vain for you as the servant of God and Avenger who carries out God's Wrath on the wrongdoer there for one must be in subjection. Not only to avoid God's Wrath but also for the sake of conscience for because of this you also pay taxes with the authorities are ministers of God attending to this very thing pay to all what is owed to them taxes to him taxes are owed Revenue to whom revenue is owed respect to him respect and honor to whom honor is This is the word of the Lord.

Where does government get its Authority from? The come from God right? But the common answer that's right. The common answer since John Locke wrote his Second Treatise on government. Is that government gets its Authority from the consent of the governed that's partially true. It's helpful in understanding how governments are formed in a fallen and broken world, but ultimately, Governments get their Authority from God. Last week we looked at Psalm 146 and we waste saw that there's this propensity to idolize government, right the psalmist said and contrast the rule of God versus the rule of men and we saw that that people tend to go to government to solve their problems. And then solve this is calling us back to the rule of God that he is a God who who executes faithfulness me execute Justice need feeds the hungry and he heals the sick and he cares for people at risk and that that's the description of not only his government but the description of all good government the way that government should play out.

We also learned that the rule of God is Ultimate in Psalm 146. It's the highest rule which is why we don't idolize government. We turn to God and we pray to him. We see Kim will David Paul pics that up here, right? And he picks up this authority of God and he shows how that Authority structure passes down. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. He says for there is no Authority except from God and those that exist have been instituted by God. Jesus says a very similar thing. Is he standing before Pilate Jesus stand before Pilate and he says you would have no authority over me unless it was given you from above. Paul and Jesus are saying the same thing as Authority comes from God and gets passed down or delegated to lesser authorities on the Earth. We need to remember that. So what does Paul mean when he says there is no Authority except from God and those that exist have been instituted by God remembering Paul's talking to Christians and living under a Roman government. That doesn't like Christians. And Paul is writing insane the authorities come from God they come from God to the Romans Paul was writing to the term governing authorities would Encompass a whole host of various civil people. Let me go through some of them for you there be Pro consoles and pro consoles will be kind of like our Governor's people that are are are instilled with the right to rule over a large territory. Execute Justice in that place. They wouldn't have any authority over the military, but they did have the authority to summons people into their presence. They have the authority to arrest people have the authority to govern the daily right of what happens inside of that Province. So in many respects a lot like the governor in our world today that were Tribune's these are people that were elected free citizens of the city of Rome. They had the right to veto any law of the Senate. They have the right to veto any law that any other magistrate made. They also had the right to arrest and put people to death.

They were praetorians. Eventually, these guys became the chief aids to the Roman Emperor. So anemone Woody's they're kind of like today's cabinet ministers. They say they sat around the emperor the ultimate Sovereign of the land and and they helped him to rule the gave him advice and wisdom on how to carry things out. They were often military men. They oversaw the Imperial Guard. They they were responsible for the criminal law enforcement of the empire. So all of those kinds of folks fall in to our world, there were Chris taureans have the physical power of the Empire. These are the guys that handled the money. I think they decided how many was spent how was supervising the treasury in and conducting audits kind of like cfo's today, right? So here we have Paul speaking about the governing authorities is talking about everything from the people who rule all the cabinet ministers all the folks who are in kind of law enforcement and government military might and and all of the financial pieces and he's saying these are the governing authorities, but God has instituted and put into practice put into place. Yeah. So, that's the way that almost every catechism that's ever been written understands the fifth commandment honor your father and mother and it incorporates into that all other authority. You realize what the governing authorities are pretty wrong. They're pretty Broad. They're all the things that we take for granted and good working Civil Society. All the officials who hold power over anyone. Exercise control in order to the governed life so that it there's a a political economy. That works well. Evil behavior is wild and good behavior is built up and Paul Saint all of these authorities in a civil and the family and the church all authorities. Come from God. the Greek word from it says there's no Authority except from God that group word from seems to hear imply that it originates in the Lord. Their Authority originates with God it's not originate in themselves and it's not originating with people. It's originating in God and the great world by the seams. That's where it says that they've been instituted by God. Seems to imply that God is the one who brings them forth. He's the agent by which they come to actually gather their power literally that he places them in the positions and what she puts them. Your inclination is to say that no one has the right to tell me what to do, isn't it? There's a powerful form of libertarianism at work in the western world that says I am my own God and nobody else has the right to be God over me. Nobody has the right to rule over me I get to decide what to do. and Paul is saying No, there's authorities over you that God has instituted. And he's put them there and they have the right to do many things.

John chrysostom the archbishop's in the early church Archbishop constant Noble in the late 300s, unless he preached on this passage me read you a little excerpt. He says Christ did not introduce his laws for the purpose of undermining the state but rather so that it should be better government. He does not speak about individual rulers, but about the principle of authority itself for that. There should be rulers and ruled and that things should not just lapse into Anarchy. What the people swaying like waves from one extreme to the other that is the work of God's wisdom. Chris Austin got half of it right he got the part right that said God has ordained the structures, right all authority comes from God. He's established structures that make life work. Well in the governed world to those living in Rome right under the imperial system with men in charge of laws and finance and criminal and Military Affairs Palo saying, The sauce them is echoing. No matter what Roman official may claim is the source of their Authority. Ultimately comes from God. As people who have a transformed mind who live under the the leading of God trust and remember that Authority comes from God. But chrysostom missed something right? He he says the that the authorities not the individual but the system is god-ordained, but the individual people aren't

that's not what scripture says. What's the weather Prophet Daniel declare? He said blessed be the name of God forever and ever to whom belongs wisdom and might he changes times and Seasons. He removes Kings and he sets up Kings right individual people that he puts in place. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those governors of understanding that we can answer himself at goes and he says the most high rules the kingdom of men and gives it to him he will and he sets over at the lowliest of men. God not only establishes the structures Authority is from God, but God also establishes the individual people there instituted by God.

That's not real popular today for Republicans. They hated the fact that Obama was in office and for Democrats, they hate the fact that Trump's in office, but the reality is that God is behind the structure that we have in our world today. I'm God is behind the individuals that he puts into place. They're from God. That's probably why scripture calls us to pray for them so much because like all people they are and they make mistakes. He tells us to be subject to the governing authorities be subject to them.

Listen, listen to our catechism question 104. What is God's will for you in the 5th commandment? Play honor love and be loyal to my father and mother. Seems easy enough to all those in authority over me.

And then I obey and submit to them as was proper when they correct and when they punish but also that I be patient with their failings or through them. God has chosen to rule us. All of these people whether we like them or not, whether we voted for them or not, whether we think that they're A wise choice or not God and his wisdom is chosen to rule us through them. And so we are called to love them honor them submit to them pray for them and be patient with them.

Next week as we get into deeper into Romans 13. We'll get some more practical things. I want to cover some kind of theoretical things this morning. as we talked about just government broadly, right if God has established all structures and people A scripture says then there's some things that we need to think about about government. And the first is that all governments are going to be flawed because the people he delegated authority to our centers if they're all Sinners all of us and they all fall short of the glory of God. And so all of the people that God puts in the Play Store going to be Sinners and that means but sin is going to worm its way into every little bit and every corner of government laws are going to be slanted sinfully in ways that they shouldn't be just this is going to be roughly applied. Rulers are going to abused the power that they have in the position that they have for their own gain. And because all governments are going to be corrupt even though God behind the structure. We must be careful never to equate any government in this world with the kingdom of God. They're different. Dogs rule over this world through government's though it is his wisdom is different than the kingdom of God and we have forgotten that throughout the history of humanity the to somehow get conflated all the time. But they're different. God can work through any and all types of government and any and all types of people that he places into government.

that said the wisdom the God has endowed people with lets us see that some forms of government are more prone to corruption than others. And so we can be thankful that God has put us in a Republican. Democracy as opposed to a dictatorship. But neither of them. Is wrong God can use either of them to further his plants.

Related to that. We must remember that the kingdom of God is going to be manifestly better than any form of government. We ever see on this Earth while sinful human being still live. The kingdom of God has to be so much better.

If you want to read more about these these ideas right that the kingdom of God shouldn't be conflated or or confused with the kingdoms of men weed Augustine city of God. Does a marvelous job walking through and contrasting these two and showing how God tries tries to God doesn't try anything how God does work through?

Some governments and not through others The Marvelous work. The second thing we need to remember if it is true. In fact that God has established and ordained and instituted governments and individuals is that governance government and the people that God puts into them will be judged by him. If God is the ultimate Authority.

And he's appointing delegating his authority to people then they will be judged for the way they use. He is giving them he's entrusted to them. Tom toohey did a number of months ago, but let me just remind you Psalm 2 verses 10 to 12 there for all king's be wise be worn the rulers of the earth serve the Lord with fear Rejoice with trembling kiss the son y lest he be angry and you perish in your way for his wrath can be candles in a moment.

Governments, and governors will be judged. How and when this judgment happens is a grand mystery? Sometimes it appears that God judges as he did Sodom and Gomorrah instantaneously with fire from heaven. other times it appears that God uses other nations in the world to bring judgment upon the rulers in the government's which of corrupt we see that as God brought Babylon and Assyria against Israel and Judah We also know that God has Herod Agrippa. Is he standing before hearing the acclamations of the people and they're saying that. Struck him down dead. Is he judged Herod for not correcting? people

the Old Testament reports pestilence in sickness and drought and loss of property thievery and oppression as some of the means that God brings into places to judge people and governments and those in authority But that can't be the end of this. We all know that there are unjust corrupt governments existing today that seem to be getting away with it. And there is no judgement coming against them. And so we take solace that God will judge them and it's a mystery how and we don't understand but there will be a day of reckoning listen to origin. What does Paul mean when he says that there's no Authority except from God isn't Authority which persecutes the children of God, which attacks the faith, which undermines our religion. Is that from God? We shall answer this briefly. Nobody will deny that our senses are sight or sound in our thoughts are given to us by God, but although we get them from God what we do with them is up to us. God will judge righteously for having abused what he gave us to use for good likewise God's judgment against the authorities will be just if they have used the powers they received according to their own. Ungodliness and not according to the laws of the Lord. Origin of saying like God will judge even though the system looks broken. It's still from God and those people are accountable which is why we're called to pray pray for those in Authority that they might govern well. The third thing is if God's established and its to the authorities that are then governments need to understand that they have to restrain themselves. Governments need to restrain themselves and X5. There's the story of Peter and the apostles addressing the Sanhedrin and the rulers telling them that they need to be quiet notice what the text says when the rulers heard. This is Peter told them how you killed the Son of God when they heard this they were enraged and they wanted to kill them but a Pharisee and the council in Gamaliel the teacher of the law held in Honor by all the people he stood up he gave orders to put them in outside for a while and he gave a speech urging them to exercise restraint and they're action cautioning them about past historical situations and then saying so I tell you in this case keep away from these men and let them alone with the plan is A men it will fail. But if it's of God will not be able to stop them.

The Sanhedrin had all the power to take the life of these men. God had established and said you guys have the authority to do this their blaspheming at least what they understood is blasphemy. They were rulers and power but the problem wasn't whether they had the power to punish. The problem was was it wise? Was it useful for them to use that or did they night to exercise restraint?

To government and those that are specifically put into Authority will often find they have the power to do something. They will often find it does no law can be specific enough to challenge every possibility. No, law can be copious enough though. We seem to be making good Headway on filling our legislative things with volumes after volumes No, law can be specific enough for copious enough to address every situation until they'll always be leeway and which I somebody in Authority has the right the power to exercise rule. question isn't do you have the power do they have the right? It's should they governments need to exercise restraint recognizing that their sinful if they're broken.

All authority forcepoint is that all authority is limited Authority? If God is in fact the Supreme. Authority than everything else that gets delegated is a limited Authority smaller amounts each Authority that God has established. He's instituted and put into place and he's giving them a jurisdiction in which to work. for example In our world, so I understand that the in the police World write all of them get Statewide charges. Generally the way it works is that the city of Bellingham police take care of the office a managing the city of Bellingham. They don't go out into the county and in police they may have to go if somebody calls them in but they generally care for the sphere in which they are. And the sheriff doesn't transgress into the city bounce. Generally. He stays in the spirit, which he's been given. the state patrol stays in the spear in which they've been given and the FBI and the CIA work in the Spheres in which they've been given each one having the sphere in which they work but recognizing the authority and sovereignty of each of the ones underneath have limited Authority the same struan government God is established families, and he's giving them a charter was certain things that they're supposed to do. Are for the needy within their relational framework? Raise up. All The Offspring display a picture of Christ and the church to the world right discipline Rebellion among their children. Churches have a charger but they've been given preach the gospel guard the sound Doctrine care for the needy with in their communities that don't have families to take care of them. And several government also has a charger.

I will get more into that in the coming weeks if we read Romans 13.

There are other institutions. Is established and each of them have a sphere in which they're called to work.

The world of theology. It's called sphere sovereignty among the reform reformers. If you're a Catholic Theologian is called subsidiarity. That's the same thing that says if the closest at the lowest level put keep the things that the place of the closest level where they need to be and don't let higher governments do things a lower governments can do and should do. Reality is no institution can do it all nor should it try and do it all. Will be unwise for the government of a Nation to do what a family should do. It would be unwise for the government of a family to try and do what a nation's government should do. Each one has a limited Authority and it needs to recognize its limits.

Final point if we really believe that God is in charge. The governments must seek to govern according to the word of God because God established has them he has instructions to give them.

Yes things for them to learn write biblical truth is given to us. Not only so that we find individual salvation. But so that we understand how to live life. Well, I love the way the Westminster says scripture guides Us in all things needful and necessary not only for salvation for life to thrive. God has instituted doesn't it make sense that he would have something to say to government about how to live life. Have God's established families doesn't make sense that he'd have something in the scripture to say about how family should be run. And if he's established churches doesn't it make sense that he does something in the scriptures say about church it should run.

So every Authority needs to govern itself according to what the scripture declares. is good for if to do

So because God.

Stop pushes government structures and individuals in government and because governments are ruled by sinful people in bit cuz God will ultimately judge all of them and because we have to restrain ourselves and we should exercise restraint upon our governments. And because their Authority is limited, isn't it? Good to know that there is somebody over all of those authorities.

We have a God who rules and Reigns and wisdom and righteousness. He's good and he is loving and he is not abandon. This world is actively involved in the little things that are going on each and every day over seen all of it. So that though we look and we might fear for the way things are going we can trust that our God is still in control. And we can trust that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess one day that Jesus is Lord. Every Authority every structure every individual He reigns about this whole process of how government works from Harry to the Practical. Let us never forget that our God is Sovereign and this world as we saying three or four times in different song our world belongs to God Amen. Hey, man, let's pray. Heavenly father. Thank you. Thank you that you rule and that you rain in The Institute among men governments. structures so that we to be restrained and so that the human flourishing can come.

Help us Lord, help us to pray for those in Authority help us lure to submit to those in Authority. Help us Lord to be patient with the failings of the weak.

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