WEBVTT 00:00:02.439 --> 00:00:05.219 I should probably apologize to Laurel Sulak. 00:00:05.339 --> 00:00:08.599 I think maybe she still is 29 now that I've thought 00:00:08.599 --> 00:00:11.900 about that for a moment. I know this, she's a 00:00:11.900 --> 00:00:17.620 whole lot younger than Dave. I'm sure she would 00:00:17.620 --> 00:00:26.300 want me to point that out. Two weeks from today 00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:28.859 is a very important day for us as a church. It's 00:00:28.859 --> 00:00:32.200 our third anniversary. We want to encourage you 00:00:32.200 --> 00:00:34.700 to be present on that day and to invite others 00:00:34.700 --> 00:00:36.880 to come with you as we celebrate together what 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:39.500 God has done in the three years of our ministry 00:00:39.500 --> 00:00:42.880 together as Grace Church Roseville. We have so 00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:46.100 very much for which we wish to thank God. On 00:00:46.100 --> 00:00:48.880 that day, I'll be speaking in the morning, and 00:00:48.880 --> 00:00:52.399 then in the evening, Dr. George Brusharber, president 00:00:52.399 --> 00:00:54.920 of Bethel College and Seminary, will be our speaker. 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:58.000 In addition to him, in the evening, we will hear... 00:00:58.380 --> 00:01:01.840 a music concert by Dick and Zoma Edstrom. This 00:01:01.840 --> 00:01:03.740 will be a fun day, and one which I hope you will 00:01:03.740 --> 00:01:06.799 include, of course, on your calendar of upcoming 00:01:06.799 --> 00:01:12.659 events. This is 1984, and of course we hear a 00:01:12.659 --> 00:01:16.239 great deal about that. We are reminded that George 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:20.879 Orwell wrote a fiction regarding a totalitarian 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:25.920 government which had complete surveillance of 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:29.079 the population. and controlled the population 00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:33.340 through that surveillance. He entitled his book 00:01:33.340 --> 00:01:38.620 1984. So we think about our relationship to Big 00:01:38.620 --> 00:01:43.400 Brother as it's put. From the very beginning 00:01:43.400 --> 00:01:46.700 of the Church of Jesus Christ in the book of 00:01:46.700 --> 00:01:51.599 Acts, believers have struggled with their relationship 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:56.359 to human government. For after all, we recognize 00:01:56.359 --> 00:02:01.719 a sovereign who is above all earthly sovereigns, 00:02:01.719 --> 00:02:05.500 and we belong to a kingdom which is not of this 00:02:05.500 --> 00:02:11.020 world. And yet, we must live here, witness here, 00:02:11.180 --> 00:02:15.719 do the will of God here. How are we to relate 00:02:15.719 --> 00:02:19.960 to human authorities around us, considering our 00:02:19.960 --> 00:02:25.030 dual citizenship? This was a matter of concern 00:02:25.030 --> 00:02:27.710 in the early church, and therefore we find several 00:02:27.710 --> 00:02:30.229 statements in the New Testament relating to it. 00:02:30.349 --> 00:02:34.469 In Titus, for example, you will notice in the 00:02:34.469 --> 00:02:39.370 third chapter, in verse 1, these words. Remind 00:02:39.370 --> 00:02:42.849 them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, 00:02:43.030 --> 00:02:47.689 to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed. 00:02:48.810 --> 00:02:57.729 In 1 Timothy, chapter 2. And verse 1, he says, 00:02:57.810 --> 00:03:00.449 First of all, then, I urge that in treaties and 00:03:00.449 --> 00:03:03.370 prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be made 00:03:03.370 --> 00:03:08.030 on behalf of all men, for kings, for all who 00:03:08.030 --> 00:03:11.849 are in authority, in order that we may lead a 00:03:11.849 --> 00:03:15.930 tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and 00:03:15.930 --> 00:03:20.150 dignity. And Peter also, in the second chapter 00:03:20.150 --> 00:03:22.669 of his first epistle, reminds us that we are 00:03:22.669 --> 00:03:27.150 to obey the authorities that are over us. And 00:03:27.150 --> 00:03:29.990 so in the early church, as those men were writing 00:03:29.990 --> 00:03:33.729 under the inspiration of God's Spirit, the believer's 00:03:33.729 --> 00:03:37.469 relationship to Big Brother was a matter of concern. 00:03:39.210 --> 00:03:41.949 As we come to our text today, which actually 00:03:41.949 --> 00:03:46.680 is in Romans chapter 13, we need to remember 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:51.659 the historical background to the text. Paul is 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:57.960 writing to the Romans in about 56 or 57 AD. Suetonius, 00:03:57.979 --> 00:04:01.919 who is a Roman historian, tells us that Emperor 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:06.060 Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome because 00:04:06.060 --> 00:04:08.900 they were constantly rioting at the instigation 00:04:08.900 --> 00:04:13.879 of Crestus. which many scholars believe to be 00:04:13.879 --> 00:04:18.019 a variant spelling of the name Christ. In other 00:04:18.019 --> 00:04:20.860 words, the preaching of the Christ in the Jewish 00:04:20.860 --> 00:04:23.540 community in Rome by the early church created 00:04:23.540 --> 00:04:28.439 riots, and that brought the displeasure of the 00:04:28.439 --> 00:04:32.680 Roman government. Claudius caused them to leave 00:04:32.680 --> 00:04:35.360 Rome. He expelled all of the Jews. He said, get 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:38.100 out of the city if you can't get along among 00:04:38.100 --> 00:04:42.629 yourselves. In Acts chapter 18 and verse 2, we're 00:04:42.629 --> 00:04:45.250 reminded that Aquila and Priscilla had just come 00:04:45.250 --> 00:04:49.129 to Corinth from Italy because Claudius had commanded 00:04:49.129 --> 00:04:54.149 all the Jews to leave Rome. And so there was, 00:04:54.170 --> 00:04:57.790 in the background of these believers in Rome, 00:04:57.870 --> 00:05:02.290 a problem of conflict with the Roman government. 00:05:03.949 --> 00:05:06.310 And it is with that in mind that the Apostle 00:05:06.310 --> 00:05:09.110 Paul writes these words in Romans 13, beginning 00:05:09.110 --> 00:05:13.269 in verse 1. Let every person be in subjection 00:05:13.269 --> 00:05:17.709 to the governing authorities. For there is no 00:05:17.709 --> 00:05:21.870 authority except from God, and those which exist 00:05:21.870 --> 00:05:26.170 are established by God. Therefore he who resists 00:05:26.170 --> 00:05:30.060 authority has opposed the ordinance of God. and 00:05:30.060 --> 00:05:33.319 they who have opposed will receive condemnation 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:36.899 upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of 00:05:36.899 --> 00:05:41.259 fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you 00:05:41.259 --> 00:05:44.939 want to have no fear of authority? Do what is 00:05:44.939 --> 00:05:47.620 good, and you will have praise from the same. 00:05:48.220 --> 00:05:51.579 For it is a minister of God to you for good. 00:05:52.300 --> 00:05:56.079 But if you do what is evil, be afraid, for it 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:59.399 does not bear the sword for nothing. For it is 00:05:59.399 --> 00:06:03.220 a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath 00:06:03.220 --> 00:06:07.399 upon the one who practices evil. Wherefore, it 00:06:07.399 --> 00:06:10.800 is necessary to be in subjection, not only because 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:15.519 of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. For 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:19.199 because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:22.980 are servants of God, devoting themselves to this 00:06:22.980 --> 00:06:27.860 very thing. Render to all what is due them. Tax 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:32.240 to whom taxes do, custom to whom custom, fear 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:39.720 to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Believers 00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:42.399 are to be submissive to governing authorities 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:46.759 over them. That is the general principle and 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:50.819 command of Scripture. We see that in verse 1. 00:06:51.399 --> 00:06:54.519 In the rest of the text, there are several insights. 00:06:55.449 --> 00:06:59.230 which help explain to us why we should be in 00:06:59.230 --> 00:07:03.029 submission to governing authorities and how we 00:07:03.029 --> 00:07:06.649 are to be so. The first insight is the assurance 00:07:06.649 --> 00:07:11.110 that God gives us in verse 1. And that assurance 00:07:11.110 --> 00:07:16.990 is that it is God himself who ordains human government 00:07:16.990 --> 00:07:21.149 and authority. We find the origin of that back 00:07:21.149 --> 00:07:23.889 in the book of Genesis, chapter 9. I invite you 00:07:23.889 --> 00:07:26.990 to look there. Why is there human government? 00:07:27.370 --> 00:07:30.709 Is it because evolution has simply produced the 00:07:30.709 --> 00:07:34.970 need for it in the process of time? Hardly. It 00:07:34.970 --> 00:07:39.329 is because God, the Creator, established the 00:07:39.329 --> 00:07:41.889 principle of human government immediately after 00:07:41.889 --> 00:07:47.430 the flood in Noah's day. In Genesis chapter 9, 00:07:47.670 --> 00:07:52.189 beginning in verse 5, God says this to Noah. 00:07:52.889 --> 00:07:57.170 And to us through him. And surely I will require 00:07:57.170 --> 00:08:01.149 your lifeblood. From every beast I will require 00:08:01.149 --> 00:08:04.310 it. And from every man, from every man's brother, 00:08:04.490 --> 00:08:09.009 I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds 00:08:09.009 --> 00:08:13.509 man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed. 00:08:13.610 --> 00:08:18.370 For in the image of God he made man. And as for 00:08:18.370 --> 00:08:21.410 you, be fruitful and multiply. Populate the earth 00:08:21.410 --> 00:08:49.279 abundantly. Then skip down to verse 12. becomes 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:52.360 at this point God's symbol of this covenant, 00:08:52.600 --> 00:08:55.480 what we call the Noahic covenant, the covenant 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:58.720 with Noah, which establishes the principle of 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:02.840 human government. This is its origin. Now, why 00:09:02.840 --> 00:09:07.059 did God establish human government? Human government 00:09:07.059 --> 00:09:11.840 is necessary because man left to himself would 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:18.019 live in anarchy and chaos and degeneration. and 00:09:18.019 --> 00:09:22.559 total selfishness. There would be no safety for 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:25.279 human life. Indeed, human life would practically 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:29.159 be impossible if it were not for the ordination 00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:32.759 of human government and authority which God gives 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:38.000 us in Genesis chapter 9. God established the 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:41.759 principle of human government, and now he raises 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:47.370 up rulers and governments to accomplish His purpose 00:09:47.370 --> 00:09:52.429 in history. Would you turn now to the Old Testament 00:09:52.429 --> 00:10:02.769 book of Daniel? And turn in Daniel to the second 00:10:02.769 --> 00:10:06.929 chapter. We're going to pick out two verses. 00:10:09.289 --> 00:10:16.169 Verses 20 and 21. And Daniel answered and said, 00:10:16.269 --> 00:10:19.730 Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, 00:10:19.889 --> 00:10:29.909 for wisdom and what? Power belong to him. And 00:10:29.909 --> 00:10:34.110 it is he who changes the times and the epochs. 00:10:34.970 --> 00:10:41.100 He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives 00:10:41.100 --> 00:10:45.740 wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding. 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:53.879 Turn over now to Daniel chapter 4. Look in verse 00:10:53.879 --> 00:11:03.679 17. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:06.480 an unusual vision and asked Daniel to interpret 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:12.129 that. And in part of the statement it says, the 00:11:12.129 --> 00:11:16.649 sentence that is given upon Nebuchadnezzar is 00:11:16.649 --> 00:11:20.429 by the decree of the angelic watchers, that is 00:11:20.429 --> 00:11:27.009 the holy ones, the angels. And the decision is 00:11:27.009 --> 00:11:30.110 a command of the holy ones in order that the 00:11:30.110 --> 00:11:34.230 living may know that the Most High is ruler over 00:11:34.230 --> 00:11:38.750 the realm of mankind. and bestows it on whom 00:11:38.750 --> 00:11:43.350 he wishes, and sets over it the lowliest of men. 00:11:43.509 --> 00:11:48.629 Nebuchadnezzar was a very arrogant man, and claimed 00:11:48.629 --> 00:11:52.649 for himself even the position of deity, claiming, 00:11:52.750 --> 00:11:57.190 I have made this great Babylon. And therefore 00:11:57.190 --> 00:12:01.649 God pronounced upon him seven years of a mental 00:12:01.649 --> 00:12:06.120 disorder. Seven years when apparently he lived 00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:10.519 like an animal in the royal parks of Babylon. 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:13.679 They did not know what to do with their insane 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:19.700 king. And so he lived there in the wilds, under 00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:25.139 the heavens, with no roof, for seven years. And 00:12:25.139 --> 00:12:27.980 at the end of that time, he was humbled. And 00:12:27.980 --> 00:12:31.659 he came back to his senses. Down in verse 34, 00:12:31.820 --> 00:12:35.500 it says, And here it is quoting Nebuchadnezzar, 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:39.080 I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:42.419 and my reason returned to me and I blessed the 00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:45.000 Most High and praised and honored Him who lives 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:49.659 forever. For His dominion is an everlasting dominion 00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:54.200 and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:58.080 And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted 00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:01.809 as nothing. but he does according to his will 00:13:01.809 --> 00:13:05.070 in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants 00:13:05.070 --> 00:13:09.769 of the earth. What do we see revealed here in 00:13:09.769 --> 00:13:13.210 the book of Daniel? It is simply this, that it 00:13:13.210 --> 00:13:18.230 is God who orders human history. He raises up 00:13:18.230 --> 00:13:21.129 a ruler, and when he is finished with that ruler, 00:13:21.269 --> 00:13:24.870 he lays him aside. Witness the rise and the fall 00:13:24.870 --> 00:13:27.990 of Antropov in the Soviet Union, even in recent 00:13:27.990 --> 00:13:33.259 days. It is God who rules over the kingdoms of 00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:38.600 men. This does not mean however that God approves 00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:44.519 of the specific actions of governments or rulers. 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:49.759 In other words a government may be an oppressive 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:54.259 and corrupt government. Because it is it does 00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:59.100 not mean that God has put that corrupt in the 00:13:59.100 --> 00:14:04.840 government. God is not responsible for the sin 00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:09.759 of man. But God does raise up kingdoms and rulers, 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:13.159 and within the spheres that he establishes, within 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:16.159 the boundaries that he establishes, he allows 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:19.679 man then to rule. And so whether a communist 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:22.740 government is in control, or a rightist dictatorship, 00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:27.029 or perhaps a democracy, It is God who raises 00:14:27.029 --> 00:14:30.250 up government. Please understand that there is 00:14:30.250 --> 00:14:32.730 no form of human government that is perfect, 00:14:32.950 --> 00:14:37.850 not even democracy. There is no form of human 00:14:37.850 --> 00:14:40.769 government which can guarantee freedom from injustice, 00:14:41.330 --> 00:14:46.570 cruelty, and oppression. In fact, God's form 00:14:46.570 --> 00:14:51.909 of government is not communistic or democratic. 00:14:53.070 --> 00:14:58.909 But God's form of government is theocratic. God's 00:14:58.909 --> 00:15:01.649 idea of government is theocracy. That is His 00:15:01.649 --> 00:15:06.070 direct rule over man. And that is what will be 00:15:06.070 --> 00:15:10.289 established in the kingdom age. And yet now, 00:15:10.470 --> 00:15:13.929 in this age, in this time, God allows leaders 00:15:13.929 --> 00:15:18.070 to rule within the limits that He sets for them. 00:15:20.300 --> 00:15:22.779 Ultimately, through the action of that ruler, 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:27.559 God's will is accomplished and will be realized. 00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:31.340 But God is not responsible for perhaps the cruelty 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:37.080 or the injustice of that human ruler. And so 00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:39.960 we have this assurance as we think about subjecting 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:42.379 ourselves to human government. Whatever is over 00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:47.779 us is ordained of God. God is bigger than human 00:15:47.779 --> 00:15:50.929 government. Please remember that the Apostle 00:15:50.929 --> 00:15:55.750 Paul was writing in a time when an emperor was 00:15:55.750 --> 00:16:01.129 not only the ruler, but he was the God. He was 00:16:01.129 --> 00:16:06.070 the absolute despot of the whole empire. And 00:16:06.070 --> 00:16:08.809 the Apostle Paul says that as believers in that 00:16:08.809 --> 00:16:12.690 day, they were to submit themselves to Caesar 00:16:12.690 --> 00:16:17.970 and to his government. The same would be said 00:16:17.970 --> 00:16:21.129 to us in the United States of America or to believers 00:16:21.129 --> 00:16:24.590 in China or in the Soviet Union or any other 00:16:24.590 --> 00:16:28.909 country that you can think of. Why do we submit? 00:16:28.970 --> 00:16:31.889 Because we have this assurance that God is bigger 00:16:31.889 --> 00:16:36.610 than government, that God is in control. Now 00:16:36.610 --> 00:16:41.570 he goes on to give us an argument as to why we 00:16:41.570 --> 00:16:46.740 should submit ourselves. The argument is threefold. 00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:53.539 He says in the last part of Romans chapter 13 00:16:53.539 --> 00:17:00.820 and verse 1, those governments, those authorities 00:17:00.820 --> 00:17:04.519 which exist are established by God. Therefore, 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:09.460 he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance 00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:13.000 of God. Argument number one as to why we should 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:17.930 submit. To resist authority is to resist God's 00:17:17.930 --> 00:17:24.869 appointed order, and thus God himself. To rebel 00:17:24.869 --> 00:17:29.289 against God's instituted authority is to rebel 00:17:29.289 --> 00:17:34.150 against the Lord himself. We see this exemplified, 00:17:34.170 --> 00:17:38.650 for example, in David in the Old Testament. God 00:17:38.650 --> 00:17:41.589 had raised up Saul in answer to the plea of the 00:17:41.589 --> 00:17:45.380 people. But then Saul, because of his disobedience, 00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:47.819 was rejected by God, and God ordained David. 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:50.160 But there was not an immediate switch of power. 00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:55.480 A transfer was several years in coming. And during 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:58.099 that time that Saul was reigning and David was 00:17:58.099 --> 00:18:01.599 nonetheless anointed, David submitted himself 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:06.519 to Saul. Indeed, he called Saul the Lord's anointed. 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:10.140 And when he had the chance to kill Saul so that 00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:14.119 he could assume power, Power that God had promised 00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:20.279 him. He did not do it. He called Saul the Lord's 00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:23.440 anointed and said he would not touch that man. 00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:26.740 He knew that God had his own way and his own 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:31.640 time of removing that authority. David was submissive 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:34.640 because he did not want to rebel against the 00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:39.220 Lord, against God's appointed order. A second 00:18:39.220 --> 00:18:44.529 argument. To resist authority places one in danger 00:18:44.529 --> 00:18:47.470 of punishment. That's what he means in the last 00:18:47.470 --> 00:18:50.990 part of verse 2. They who have opposed will receive 00:18:50.990 --> 00:18:56.289 condemnation upon themselves. Primarily the thought 00:18:56.289 --> 00:19:00.529 is the condemnation of the human authority. Punishment. 00:19:01.470 --> 00:19:05.569 He goes on in the following verses to call human 00:19:05.569 --> 00:19:10.380 government God's servant. the minister of God. 00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:15.200 In fact, he even uses the word deacon here. He 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:18.000 says that human government is the deacon of God 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:23.299 for a society. He says that human government 00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:27.680 bears the sword and not for nothing. In other 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:31.059 words, there's a purpose to it. That sword is 00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:36.460 to enforce law, to preserve human life, order, 00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:41.630 and righteousness. God has given to human government 00:19:41.630 --> 00:19:47.430 executive and criminal jurisdiction. We as believers 00:19:47.430 --> 00:19:52.289 are not to seek personal vengeance for wrongs 00:19:52.289 --> 00:19:54.650 done against us. We saw that back in chapter 00:19:54.650 --> 00:19:58.950 12 and verse 19. He says, never take your own 00:19:58.950 --> 00:20:03.769 revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath 00:20:03.769 --> 00:20:08.160 of God. Now there is a consummate sense in which 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:11.160 the wrath of God will come at the judgment of 00:20:11.160 --> 00:20:14.259 those who have wronged us when they stand before 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:18.380 God. But he is also leaving room here for the 00:20:18.380 --> 00:20:22.819 wrath of God to be fulfilled upon those who have 00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:25.900 wronged us through the medium of human government. 00:20:26.859 --> 00:20:29.859 If we have been wronged, we can appeal to the 00:20:29.859 --> 00:20:34.759 government as God's deacon. God's minister who 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:39.059 bears the sword for a purpose. Ah, you say, but 00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:43.460 what about an unjust government? Again, may I 00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:45.839 remind you of the government in which Paul wrote 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:50.539 these words? He himself had suffered injustice 00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:55.160 at the hand of local government. In Acts chapter 00:20:55.160 --> 00:21:00.440 16, it records that he was beaten. As a citizen 00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:03.099 of Rome, he was beaten before any hearing was 00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:06.859 held that is against Roman law. And he called 00:21:06.859 --> 00:21:10.039 the magistrates of that city of Philippi to account 00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:16.400 for it. And they were fearful. But as he was 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:18.920 about to be beaten, he did not stand up and argue 00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:22.359 and oppose. He simply allowed it to take place, 00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:24.900 though it was unjust, though it was illegal and 00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:27.599 unlawful. He allowed it to take place and then 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:31.440 in the end used it. for the glory of God. He 00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:34.079 upheld this principle that he writes here, that 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:37.859 we are to be submissive to government. The general 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:41.220 principle he tells us is this. Human government 00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:44.180 is established by God for the praise and protection 00:21:44.180 --> 00:21:47.200 of those who are good and for the punishment 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:52.460 of those who are evil. Therefore, to resist authority 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:57.299 places one in the possibility of punishment. 00:21:58.029 --> 00:22:00.589 By the very government that God has established 00:22:00.589 --> 00:22:04.470 over him. And then there's a third argument that 00:22:04.470 --> 00:22:08.509 we see. It is to resist human authority offends 00:22:08.509 --> 00:22:11.630 the conscience. Notice at the end of verse 5 00:22:11.630 --> 00:22:14.529 he says we're to obey not only because of wrath, 00:22:14.869 --> 00:22:20.450 but also for conscience sake. In other words, 00:22:20.450 --> 00:22:23.190 we are to have a sensitive conscience as believers. 00:22:23.829 --> 00:22:27.380 He wants our consciences then to be... void of 00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:33.059 offense, both toward God and man. And if our 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:35.200 consciences were going to be clear, he says, 00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:38.920 we have to obey the government that God has placed 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:43.700 over us. And so we are to obey human government, 00:22:43.819 --> 00:22:47.480 to have a clear conscience, to avoid judicial 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:51.500 punishment, and to evidence submission to God's 00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:57.640 plan and authority and order. We come now to 00:22:57.640 --> 00:23:01.259 the application of our text, verses 6 and 7. 00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:06.980 He explains here what our civic responsibility 00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:11.259 is as children of God. And basically, he says, 00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:15.640 we are to render what is due. The word render 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:20.759 means to pay back. And the idea is that since 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:25.880 the government gives to us protection, an order 00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:30.500 for our society. We are to pay back to the government 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:39.079 what it says in terms of taxes and obedience. 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:48.759 Notice that he says very clearly, render tax 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:57.720 to whom tax, custom to whom custom. I recognize 00:23:57.720 --> 00:24:01.759 that we don't enjoy paying taxes. And I recognize 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:04.880 that we live in a state where taxes are very 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:08.440 high. And there are times that we become disgruntled 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:12.000 about that. But that disgruntlement should never 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:15.819 lead us to the point that we fail to render to 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:21.059 the government what is due. Jesus Christ himself 00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:25.200 practiced this. I would remind you of this by 00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:30.440 turning to Mark chapter 12. And here we have 00:24:30.440 --> 00:24:34.779 a verse that is very often quoted. Let's look 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:38.299 at the context. Mark chapter 12, beginning in 00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:46.140 verse 13. And they sent some of the Pharisees 00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:49.980 and Herodians to him, Jesus, in order to trap 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:53.299 him in a statement. Now that's the context of 00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:56.839 what's taking place here. And they came and said 00:24:56.839 --> 00:24:59.119 to him, Teacher, we know that you are truthful 00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:04.420 and defer to no one, for you are not partial 00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:07.400 to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:11.200 it lawful to pay a poll tax to Caesar or not? 00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:15.960 Now here was the trick. The Jews hated the poll 00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:21.769 tax. That was a way in which Rome enforced a 00:25:21.769 --> 00:25:26.029 domination of them as a people. And the Jews 00:25:26.029 --> 00:25:30.990 absolutely despised it. And so the Herodians 00:25:30.990 --> 00:25:34.809 thought they had him. How was Jesus going to 00:25:34.809 --> 00:25:37.470 answer this? For if he answered and said, you 00:25:37.470 --> 00:25:40.670 should pay the tax, then the Jews would turn 00:25:40.670 --> 00:25:44.269 away from him. They hated the tax so much. But 00:25:44.269 --> 00:25:45.930 on the other hand, if he said, don't pay the 00:25:45.930 --> 00:25:48.299 tax, Then they could turn him into the government. 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:54.519 And so they say in verse 15, Shall we pay or 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:58.819 shall we not pay? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, 00:25:58.960 --> 00:26:02.700 said to them, Why are you testing me? Bring me 00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:04.720 a denarius to look at. And they brought him one. 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:07.420 And he said to them, Whose likeness and inscription 00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:12.240 is this? And they said to him, Caesar's. And 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:14.480 Jesus said to them, Render to Caesar the things 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:19.140 that are Caesar's. and to God the things that 00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:24.000 are God's. And they were amazed at him. You see 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:27.559 what he did? He actually turned their question 00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:31.000 on them. Because he says, you see, this is Caesar's 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:34.839 picture. Therefore, you should render to Caesar 00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:39.339 what belongs to him. Tell me, who and where would 00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:42.460 they find the inscription or the image of God? 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:49.089 Upon themselves. So he was saying to them, you 00:26:49.089 --> 00:26:51.250 render to Caesar what belongs to him, but give 00:26:51.250 --> 00:26:55.910 God yourself. He belongs, you belong to him. 00:26:57.950 --> 00:27:00.569 You see the principle that Jesus upheld on another 00:27:00.569 --> 00:27:03.349 occasion? He paid the tax. Peter went out and 00:27:03.349 --> 00:27:07.230 found the coin necessary to pay it in the mouth 00:27:07.230 --> 00:27:13.829 of a fish. Should I avoid paying taxes if I can 00:27:13.829 --> 00:27:19.470 legally? Certainly. If the government allows 00:27:19.470 --> 00:27:22.049 you to deduct from your taxable income or to 00:27:22.049 --> 00:27:24.250 deduct directly from your taxes through some 00:27:24.250 --> 00:27:27.109 means, then it's not wrong to take advantage 00:27:27.109 --> 00:27:30.029 of that. It's lawful. The government allows you 00:27:30.029 --> 00:27:33.710 to do that. But it is wrong for a Christian to 00:27:33.710 --> 00:27:36.910 evade taxes as much as it's wrong for anybody 00:27:36.910 --> 00:27:40.309 else. But doubly so for a Christian as one who 00:27:40.309 --> 00:27:43.970 is under God's law. You say, but what if my tax 00:27:43.970 --> 00:27:48.319 money is used for a purpose I don't like? What 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:50.640 if my tax money is used to build nuclear weapons? 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:54.359 I don't like nuclear weapons. What if my tax 00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:56.539 money is used to support a war I don't like? 00:27:57.519 --> 00:28:00.259 It makes absolutely no difference what the money 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:04.380 is used for, as far as God is concerned. We are 00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:07.039 to render to Caesar what is Caesar's. We are 00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:11.299 to pay our taxes. So you've got about six weeks 00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:17.400 to work on that. Beyond that, he says, Now going 00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:27.279 back again to Romans chapter 13. We are to render 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:31.240 fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. In other 00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:35.019 words, we are to give respect and honor to those 00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:38.579 who are in positions of authority over us. Not 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:41.579 just because of their prestige and their influence. 00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:47.339 But because of our awareness of their role as 00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:53.359 God's deacons, God's servants, we are to respect 00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:56.960 the person who holds the office, even though 00:28:56.960 --> 00:29:01.700 we may disagree with that person. We are to give 00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:05.700 respect and honor to governmental authorities. 00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:12.759 questions that come to mind after a message like 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:16.940 this. Should a young man refuse to register for 00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:22.220 the draft if he is a pacifist? Should a church 00:29:22.220 --> 00:29:26.400 provide sanctuary for illegal aliens and defy 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:31.759 the government? Should a church obey an ERA provision 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:37.759 mandating women in the office of elder? These 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:40.200 are questions that we confront in our society, 00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:45.900 or will confront, I believe, in days ahead. Should 00:29:45.900 --> 00:29:49.740 a Christian school give certain reports to the 00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:56.000 state government? To answer those questions, 00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:58.480 we need to look at some of the principles involved 00:29:58.480 --> 00:30:01.299 in Scripture. So let's ask another question that's 00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:06.289 more general. Is it ever appropriate? for a Christian 00:30:06.289 --> 00:30:11.569 to resist the state? The answer to that is absolutely 00:30:11.569 --> 00:30:15.130 yes. There are times when it is appropriate. 00:30:15.269 --> 00:30:20.589 But we should never resist merely because of 00:30:20.589 --> 00:30:27.569 a personal objection. We should only go to the 00:30:27.569 --> 00:30:32.440 point of resistance. when the glory of God or 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:38.579 the command of God is violated, when the state 00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:44.000 usurps God's authority, then we are allowed by 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:47.880 God to resist the state. An example of that is 00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:50.099 Daniel 1, when he and the three other young men 00:30:50.099 --> 00:30:53.519 determined in their hearts that they would not 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:55.859 defile themselves with the king's meat, which 00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:59.220 he had ordered them to eat. But because it would 00:30:59.220 --> 00:31:02.019 defile them ceremonially, they said, no, we will 00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:04.420 not eat this. They said that in their hearts. 00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:07.839 But then wisely, they looked for an alternative. 00:31:08.420 --> 00:31:11.920 So instead of a direct opposition, it was an 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:16.359 indirect opposition. And God blessed that alternative 00:31:16.359 --> 00:31:21.779 in that case. Let me apply that in a way that 00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:23.680 might be applied. There are some Christians, 00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:28.819 I am not one of them, who are pacifists. and 00:31:28.819 --> 00:31:30.640 therefore they do not believe that they should 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:34.960 enter military service. Rather than making a 00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:37.539 big deal of opposing that, I would suggest to 00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:39.619 them that they take the opportunity to work in 00:31:39.619 --> 00:31:43.400 public service, which I understand to be an option 00:31:43.400 --> 00:31:46.380 for those who do not believe in going into the 00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:50.119 military. It seems to me that is a similar thing 00:31:50.119 --> 00:31:52.539 to what Daniel did. It's at least an application 00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:56.500 of it. However, in Daniel chapter 3, we find 00:31:56.500 --> 00:31:59.859 a different occasion. On this occasion, Nebuchadnezzar 00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:01.920 builds the great image and demands that everyone 00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:04.240 bow down at the sound of the music and worship 00:32:04.240 --> 00:32:08.380 the image. So again, the state usurps the authority 00:32:08.380 --> 00:32:11.680 of God. And those three young men did not look 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:14.900 for an alternative this time. Apparently there 00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:18.160 wasn't one. And so instead of bowing down, they 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:22.079 stood up, they remained standing, and they were 00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:24.279 quickly pointed out as disobeying the government. 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:28.839 In that particular case, it was one of outright 00:32:28.839 --> 00:32:32.500 refusal. God chose to deliver them. God does 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:35.180 not always choose to deliver His people in that 00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:37.640 way, for Hebrews 11 says that there were some 00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:46.660 who were sawn asunder, stoned, etc., etc. That 00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:48.740 brings me to this point, that if it is appropriate 00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:51.319 for us to resist the state, then we must be willing 00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:56.599 to bear the consequences. of that position of 00:32:56.599 --> 00:33:00.900 resistance. And not be ashamed to do so, but 00:33:00.900 --> 00:33:04.019 as 1 Peter 4 .16 tells us, we should glorify 00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:07.700 God in whatever punishment is meted out upon 00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:11.559 us. I think Dr. Bruce puts it well when he says, 00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:14.779 the state can rightly command obedience only 00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:17.319 within the limits of the purposes for which it 00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:20.740 was divinely instituted. In particular, the state 00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:25.000 not only may, but must be resisted. when it demands 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:29.460 the allegiance due to God alone. We see the same 00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:32.400 principle, don't we, in the example of the apostles 00:33:32.400 --> 00:33:34.380 in the early church when they were commanded 00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:36.519 by the authorities to stop speaking in the name 00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:39.180 of Christ, and they said to the authorities, 00:33:39.319 --> 00:33:41.740 whether it is right for us to speak or not, you 00:33:41.740 --> 00:33:44.119 decide, but we cannot help but speak the things 00:33:44.119 --> 00:33:49.299 that God has told us to speak. How far can a 00:33:49.299 --> 00:33:51.779 Christian go in voicing his opinion to the state? 00:33:53.900 --> 00:33:56.000 I don't believe that God is telling us that we 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:59.400 need to be as quiet as mice, that we should never 00:33:59.400 --> 00:34:02.380 raise objection to the government's policy or 00:34:02.380 --> 00:34:07.140 action, at least in our country, because within 00:34:07.140 --> 00:34:09.380 our system of government there is built that 00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:13.079 liberty for us as citizens to voice our opinions. 00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:16.239 That is our prerogative. And indeed, I believe 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:18.380 that we would be failing as Christian citizens 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:21.699 if we did not voice our opinions. But we must 00:34:21.699 --> 00:34:24.219 voice them legally in the way that is allowed. 00:34:26.780 --> 00:34:29.780 Then the question, should a Christian ever be 00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:33.719 involved in a subversive or revolutionary activity 00:34:33.719 --> 00:34:37.739 seeking the overthrow of established government? 00:34:39.199 --> 00:34:42.219 The answer to that is very simple. No, never. 00:34:45.449 --> 00:34:47.269 And today there are those who are Christians 00:34:47.269 --> 00:34:49.409 involved in this kind of thing, especially in 00:34:49.409 --> 00:34:52.150 Central America, Latin America, through what 00:34:52.150 --> 00:34:56.130 is called the liberation theology, which is neither 00:34:56.130 --> 00:35:02.909 theology or liberation. It is Marxist dogma wrapped 00:35:02.909 --> 00:35:07.690 in Christian terms. Christians are never to be 00:35:07.690 --> 00:35:10.429 involved in the overthrow of established government, 00:35:10.550 --> 00:35:13.469 not even in the case of injustice or oppression. 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:17.599 We are allowed to work within the law that is 00:35:17.599 --> 00:35:20.340 established by the land, but we are not to seek 00:35:20.340 --> 00:35:23.320 by subversion the overthrow of the government. 00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:26.800 The early Christians give us the example of this 00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:29.280 when they did not seek the overthrow of Rome. 00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:34.460 Our main concern is not the earthly kingdom under 00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:36.519 which we live, but the heavenly kingdom that 00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:41.980 we represent in this world. If a clear issue 00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:46.889 is involved, in which there is a direct conflict 00:35:46.889 --> 00:35:51.329 between God and the state, that I believe that 00:35:51.329 --> 00:35:55.510 nonviolent resistance may be utilized, again, 00:35:55.590 --> 00:35:58.309 with a willingness to pay the consequences, just 00:35:58.309 --> 00:36:03.550 as those apostles did for preaching in the name 00:36:03.550 --> 00:36:05.769 of Christ when they had been commanded not to 00:36:05.769 --> 00:36:09.610 by the authority over them. They paid the price 00:36:09.610 --> 00:36:13.750 by beating and imprisonment. But you say, what 00:36:13.750 --> 00:36:15.829 about a Christian who's in the military and is 00:36:15.829 --> 00:36:19.730 ordered to create or to assist subversive activity 00:36:19.730 --> 00:36:24.989 in another country? Well, the primary responsibility 00:36:24.989 --> 00:36:29.570 of a Christian is, of course, to God and to his 00:36:29.570 --> 00:36:33.489 own country of citizenship. And I believe that 00:36:33.489 --> 00:36:36.010 in a case in which he is under the authority 00:36:36.010 --> 00:36:38.789 of his government and is commanded by his government, 00:36:39.440 --> 00:36:42.440 to be involved in such activities I've mentioned, 00:36:42.579 --> 00:36:45.539 that it is right for him to obey his government. 00:36:48.900 --> 00:36:51.860 He is not doing what he is doing as a Christian 00:36:51.860 --> 00:36:53.900 for God's kingdom, but he is doing what he is 00:36:53.900 --> 00:36:57.159 doing as a soldier who happens to be a Christian 00:36:57.159 --> 00:37:03.079 under the authority of his own country. Now the 00:37:03.079 --> 00:37:06.039 same kinds of... Principles that I've talked 00:37:06.039 --> 00:37:08.000 about can be applied to those other questions 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:10.900 I asked earlier. And I would not expect that 00:37:10.900 --> 00:37:12.880 we would see unanimous agreement, even among 00:37:12.880 --> 00:37:15.260 ourselves, as to how those principles might be 00:37:15.260 --> 00:37:18.400 applied. But make no mistake about this, that 00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:22.139 God is not silent in his word regarding our relationship 00:37:22.139 --> 00:37:25.579 to the state and the government authorities over 00:37:25.579 --> 00:37:29.260 us. You see, the point really is this, that we 00:37:29.260 --> 00:37:33.619 are to be a people in subjection. God has placed 00:37:33.619 --> 00:37:36.519 all of us in different spheres of authority. 00:37:37.239 --> 00:37:40.199 And we are to be submissive in each one of those, 00:37:40.260 --> 00:37:43.800 whether it's in the home with a husband -wife 00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:48.360 relationship or parents and children or in the 00:37:48.360 --> 00:37:55.599 local church or in the government or in the employer 00:37:55.599 --> 00:38:00.269 -employee realm or in the sphere of... being 00:38:00.269 --> 00:38:02.429 a part of a college and being a student in that 00:38:02.429 --> 00:38:06.690 college. In each sphere, God puts His authority 00:38:06.690 --> 00:38:10.329 over us, and our responsibility as Spirit -filled 00:38:10.329 --> 00:38:14.449 believers is to be submissive, as unto the Lord. 00:38:15.090 --> 00:38:19.929 And then when conflict does occur or seems imminent, 00:38:20.190 --> 00:38:24.610 we are then to seek God's Word and ask for direction 00:38:24.610 --> 00:38:27.349 in the application of the principles of His Word. 00:38:28.360 --> 00:38:30.360 I would close this morning with this question. 00:38:30.440 --> 00:38:32.960 Is your attitude one of obedience and submission? 00:38:33.400 --> 00:38:35.980 We live in a world today in which the prominent 00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:38.920 attitude is one of rebellion and resistance and 00:38:38.920 --> 00:38:43.719 anarchy. I will do my own thing because it pleases 00:38:43.719 --> 00:38:47.179 me to do that. That is not to be the attitude 00:38:47.179 --> 00:38:52.159 ever of a Christian. The attitude of submission 00:38:52.159 --> 00:38:56.219 is that which glorifies God. Is Jesus Christ 00:38:56.219 --> 00:38:59.150 the Lord of your life? Are you in submission 00:38:59.150 --> 00:39:02.329 to him? Are you in submission to the other authorities 00:39:02.329 --> 00:39:06.110 that God has placed over you? Are you seeking 00:39:06.110 --> 00:39:08.710 to know him, to grow up in him and his word, 00:39:08.869 --> 00:39:11.989 and then to consciously give every area of your 00:39:11.989 --> 00:39:16.570 life to his control? Are you a person in subjection? 00:39:19.590 --> 00:39:23.349 Heavenly Father, I pray that we will understand 00:39:23.349 --> 00:39:27.179 today. your teaching regarding our relationship 00:39:27.179 --> 00:39:30.980 to the state, but even more than that, I pray 00:39:30.980 --> 00:39:35.139 that we will understand the spirit, the attitude, 00:39:35.219 --> 00:39:39.780 which is to be involved in that relationship 00:39:39.780 --> 00:39:43.980 and in other relationships to authorities, the 00:39:43.980 --> 00:39:49.960 attitude of submission, subjection. Father, wherein 00:39:49.960 --> 00:39:53.840 there are areas of rebellion in our lives, areas 00:39:53.840 --> 00:39:57.920 that we refuse to deal with and submit to Christ's 00:39:57.920 --> 00:40:00.099 lordship or to the authority that you've placed 00:40:00.099 --> 00:40:03.280 over us, then focus on those areas and bring 00:40:03.280 --> 00:40:05.599 conviction there that we may understand that 00:40:05.599 --> 00:40:11.320 we need to repent and be submissive. Lord, have 00:40:11.320 --> 00:40:14.480 your way in our lives today as you've expressed 00:40:14.480 --> 00:40:19.619 your will in the word. In Jesus' name, amen.