Paul's
Epistles
Part
31 – Honoring Authority
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House
of Faith Church | www.PS127.org
| www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
We
are going to look at the Epistles of Paul in this series of sermons. Paul has
explained in the last few verses that God's mercy is great, and He forgives all
who call on the name of the Lord.
Last
week we took a look at Paul explaining how, in light of God's mercy he has just
explained, we should be Living Sacrifices.
This
week we will take a look at Paul telling us to honor authority.
SCRIPTURE
REFERENCE Romans 13:1-7
Let
everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no
authority except that which God has established. The authorities that
exist have been established by God.2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is
rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring
judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but
for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in
authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do
wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are
God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only
because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the
authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if
revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
I.
NO POWER BUT GOD
a.
Government is
established by God's hand
i.
This refers to human Government
ii.
God has ordained your Government
iii.
Human Government is a permanent institution brought
into being by God's hand for the regulation of human affairs.
iv.
Therefore, Government should, and must be based upon
the very teachings of God's Word, rather than man's word.
b.
Rebellion against
just laws is rebellion against God
i.
We are called to obey the just laws of the land.
ii.
Paul told this same thing to Timothy in Titus
3:1 "Remind the people to be subject to rulers
and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever
is good, "
iii.
In fact, Titus
reads that we were created in order to do GOOD! To show others that we are
saved by God's Grace, and that Christ has begun a work in us, we are to be
examples of Good Citizens.
iv.
When we rebel against just laws based on God's Word, we are
rebelling against God.
v.
However, this only refers to the laws which are right and
good.
1.
i.e. the "laws" say abortion is OK, yet, this law
is not based on scripture, or anything which is right or good.
c.
Breaking the law,
you will be judged by the government
i.
Even if the law is unjust.
ii.
King Darius made the decree that everyone shall pray to
him alone. This "law" is not based on scripture, nor is it right or
good. Daniel still prayed to God, doing what is right and good regardless of
the unrighteous law, and he was punished by the government.
1.
God preserved him.
iii.
King Nebuchadnezzar built a gold idol and ordered all in the land
to worship it. This "law" was not based on scripture, nor was it
right or good. Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, refused to worship it, and were punished by the
Government.
1.
God preserved them.
iv.
In both case examples from scripture, God placed King's
in authority with the responsibility of being a servant of God, leading the
people in authority of what is right and good. In both cases, the leaders
rebelled against God, and those who broke the laws of the land, although not
right or good, were punished by the law of the land.
v.
We are called to honor authority because God placed it
there, and we are called to obey the laws of the land, unless they go against
what is right and good.
II.
WHAT GOVERNMENT IS
CALLED TO DO
a.
Rules should hold
no terror for those who do right
i.
Because the Government is established by God
ii.
Therefore, if you do what is "right", you
should have no fear of the Government...that is, if the Government is serving
God as they have been called to do.
b.
Do what is right,
and you should have no fear
i.
What is right?
ii.
The scriptures teach us right and good behavior. If the
government is properly serving God as they have been called to do, then the
laws will be based on scripture. If we live according to scripture, walking in
the Spirit, then we do not have to worry about breaking laws.
c.
However, do wrong,
and you should fear.
i.
If the laws are just, fear God's wrath, for you are
living in accordance to your flesh, not your spirit.
ii.
If the laws are not just, fear the Governments judgment
for being a law breaker.
iii.
If a Government which has been placed in authority by
God's hand does not serve Him, it will be removed, and God will place another
system in authority.
1. Daniel 4:30-31 "The king reflected and said, 'Is this
not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might
of my power and for the glory of my majesty?' 31"While the word was in the king's mouth, a voice came from
heaven, saying, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has
been removed from you,"
iv.
There was a time this great country was built upon the
very foundations of Christianity. Laws
were based on scripture, the first year of every college was seminary, and the
Bill of Rights was created, stating that these rights were given by God, not
man, and that which is given by God, cannot be taken by man.
v.
Even in the beginning of God establishing this great
nation, there was an element of evil at work. The laws slowly reflected this
evil as it worked to infiltrate the system God established, and laws which
propagated evil began to emerge.
1.
Legalization of Slavery, is one from our past.
2.
How many are there today as the Government grows
further and further from God's Word and truth?
a.
Killing of babies is legal as long as you pay someone
who went to college to be a doctor.
b.
Homosexual marriage, not yet legal in all states, but
getting there.
c.
God being removed from schools.
d.
God being removed from government buildings.
e.
God being removed from legal documents.
f.
The government is even trying to re-write the
Constitution of the United States to "update it for our times", which
will include removal of any reference to God or our freedoms ordained by Him.
i.
Remember, if God doesn't give us freedoms, then it
comes from man...if man gives, man can take away.
g.
"Under God" removed from the pledge of
allegiance at many events, including NBC in its lead up to the US open at the
Congressional Country Club.
h.
Prayer is still done before Congress...but they allow
many false religions to pray instead of praying to the one tru God who founded
this nation.
III.
WHAT WE ARE CALLED
TO DO
a.
We must submit to
the authority God has established as a matter of conscience
i.
What establishes our conscience?
ii.
Scripture and the Holy Spirit.
b.
We must also fear
punishment
i.
But do not fear
man.
c.
And yes, we must
pay our taxes!
i.
Full time government officials deserve pay if the
authorities are God's Servants
ii.
If you owe, then pay!
iii.
Whether taxes, revenue, respect or honor.
CONCLUSION
Paul
shows us that we are to be Good Citizens obeying the Right and Good laws which
comes from the Government God has ordained and set in place.
What
if the Government has turned away from God?
As
it was with King Darius and Nebuchadnezzar, as the Government God places in
authority turns away from Him, they will be allowed a time to repent.
2 Chronicles 7:14 "if my people, who are called by my
name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their
wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and
will heal their land."
If we do
not...this scripture we love to quote continues as a warning, not just to
Israel, but to all who are "called by His name"
19-22 if you[a] turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you[b]and go
off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this
temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of
ridicule among all
peoples. 21 This temple
will become a heap of rubble. All[c] who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this
temple?’ 22 People will
answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of
their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods,
worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’”
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