A Call to Submission
The Romans Road • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction:
Open your Bibles to Romans 13
While you find your spot, let me address something I have seen a lot of lately that concerns me.
This country is divided now more than we have been in a very long time.
We will allow anyone and anything to divide us these days.
Right now, I could divide this room over what sports team to root for
I’ve got friends and family all over the United States
Some of them can’t stand the current president
Some of them think he’s the greatest thing ever
I’m not going to tell you who thinks what, because if I did, some of you wouldn’t like them
In fact, some of you may be mad at me now, because I have friends and family on both sides
What is disturbing, though, is the level to which we seem to be willing to hate those we don’t agree with
For four years while President Trump was in office, I saw people refuse to call him the president
I saw constant and flagrant disrespect towards the highest elected official in our country
And I saw many Trump supporters who were upset by this
But now, many of the same people that were upset that Trump was disrespected are now being disrespectful of the Biden administration
I saw a bumper sticker the other day wishing for malice towards the president and towards anyone that voted for him
And on the same car was a sticker about Jesus
And in seeing these things, I couldn’t help but think of our discussion in Romans
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to live transformed lives
Our lives should look vastly different than they did before we met Jesus
Our lives should look radically different from the lives of others around us
We are called to love and give sacrificially for the sake of the Gospel and the advance of God’s Kingdom
Last week, we were talking about how our love...
must be more than lip service
It must be giving and happy not to receive
requires us to be peacemakers among warmongers
The things that Christ calls us to in love are simple, but they are not easy
But you and I are called to be different. And as we continue in Romans this morning, we’re going to see this includes the way we handle those in authority over us
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;
for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Pray, invite the church to be seated
*LISTENING GUIDES OUT
Last week, we were challenged in our text to love those that hate us and persecute us
This isn’t something that you and I have had to experience a lot of in the U.S.
It is something that is normal, though, for followers of Jesus
Jesus told us that we should expect people to hate us because of Him
Should it really be shocking, then, that it happens more and more?
And one major source of persecution historically is government
This is why the Pilgrims came to the New World
It is why the early church scattered from Jerusalem
Persecution against Christians often has come from the hands of government authority
And based on that sentiment, the human side of me says to fight fire with fire
Shouldn’t we fight for our rights as our greatest priority?
Isn’t it right for us to disparage those with unbiblical opinions or worldviews different than our own?
Isn’t it okay for us to be disrespectful and mocking of those in government that we didn’t vote for or don’t agree with?
In human reasoning, all of these things see like logical, normal responses
And yet, what we find is that Christ again calls us to a place of surrender.
There are three ways Christ calls us to a difficult surrender in regards to government authority. Let’s look at them one by one. Verse 1:
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;
for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
The first hard call to surrender this morning is this:
God puts men in authority, and we must be subject to them
God puts men in authority, and we must be subject to them
God is the sovereign King of the universe!
All authority comes from Him
If someone has authority, it is only because God granted that authority to them
Those that are in authority are also accountable to God for how they use that authority
But you and I are also accountable: for the way that we respond in subjection to them
This doesn’t mean we need to obey laws and orders that are contrary to Scripture
There are strong examples in Scripture that show this isn’t the case
Daniel in the Lion’s Den
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
This does mean, though, that we need to remain humble and Christ-honoring in showing respect to our leaders, even when standing against an immoral law.
Failing to respect your leaders and authorities is a rejection of God’s sovereignty because...
God put them in that place
His Name is put to shame by you when you rebel
In general, doing good will bring no rebuke from authorities
We should be less concerned with who is in authority and more concerned with doing good and not evil.
Evil is always punished
Even a despot ruler that punishes evil is a minister of God when he doe it.
Let’s continue, verse 5
Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
The next hard call to surrender this morning is this:
Respectful submission to authority glorifies God in loving witness
Respectful submission to authority glorifies God in loving witness
Being obedient and submissive will keep you out of trouble, but it also exalts the name of Christ when His people are good citizens.
When we obey, even what we think is unfair, we open doors for the Gospel and avoid being a stumbling block
God’s people have often seen unfair taxation by governments
Rome
European governments
Our first response as Americans towards something like this is to fight and to pitch a fit about it
Christ calls us to a different response
They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”
Did Jesus ask if the tax was fair?
Did he ask if it was warranted?
Did he ask if we agree with it?
But what Jesus commands us to do is the same thing that Paul says here: PAY THE TAX!
Remember:
God put these people in authority
They will be held accountable for their actions by God: Vengeance is His!
Regardless of their intent, God is serving His purposes in allowing them to act in what they say and do.
Paying what is owed in taxes and customs and honoring those in authority is Christ-honoring
A Christian is to be a man of his word
Pay your bills, debts, and taxes promptly
Don’t leave room for critique! Be a good citizen!
Paying your taxes and debts, being a good citizen is a way that we show love to our neighbors
Think of what the world sees when Christians fail to do these things...
at best, bad witnesses (we defame Christ’s Name)
untrustworthy people (We don’t do what we say)
rebellious and selfish (unwilling to do our part)
And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
“This is the great and foremost commandment.
“The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.
Jesus said that loving others is the second greatest commandment
The entirety of God’s law is built on loving God and loving others
Even if we disagree with our leaders, being disrespectful, rebellious, and dismissive of them defames the name of Christ
ex: mask mandates- I have a right not to wear it!
Which is more important? Your “right” or the lost person who got a poor picture of Christ through your attitude?
If we want to be able to share the Gospel with them, we have to do all that we can to avoid building barriers to it
Let’s continue
Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.
The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
The final hard call to surrender this morning is this:
We know that Christ is coming soon, and so we need to live like it
We know that Christ is coming soon, and so we need to live like it
Jesus told us that He is coming soon-we have no time to waste
We can’t afford to be part-time Christians
Our faith must be on display in the way we live our lives, not just on Sunday
Our lives must be Christ-centered now, honoring Christ in following the leaders He puts over us
We are called in Christ to righteous living:
Those who don’t expect Christ to come live like the world
They rebel and carouse, their pursuits are selfish and self-centered
The world sees their life does not line up with what they claim to believe
They blame a lack of power in the Gospel
but those who truly believe
rely on the coming Christ, and don’t dare to pursue anything but the Kingdom
Live lives at peace with others, even leaders we disagree with
know that living sacrificial lives in pursuit of Christ will be worth it in His Kingdom
Want to be found about their Father’s business
INVITATION:
This morning, our invitation is simple and difficult
We are called by Christ to pray for our leaders, even those we disagree with and didn’t vote for
We are called by Christ to honor them, even as we stand for righteousness
This morning, won’t you be willing to surrender in subjection for the sake of the Gospel
For it isn’t about being right-it is about drawing any and everyone that we can to the only One who is righteous
PRAY