#69 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth
Valley – December 8, 2002 p.m.
This is the last message dealing with the government/s of
the Satanic world system. Discussing the
Christian and his or her role in the government of the world system it carries
on the theme of the last message. The
core of this material is found in Romans 13.
It is here that we are taught that the authorities of human government
are ultimately ordained by God. Through
this condition divine programs for elements of the human race are carried
out. Human government has specific
responsibilities to God even though it is a part of the orderly system designed
by Satan. It is easy for Christians to
react to human government negatively because of their heavenly
citizenship. There is a balance that
must be maintained in one's attitude and relationship to human government and
Romans 13 clarifies the issue. The
Christian can expect certain things from the government of the world system on
a limited basis. Paul encourages the
Roman Christians to be subject to government while living lives that carry a
testimony to that good the God produces through them.
Romans 13:1, 2 forthrightly encourages each individual
Christian ("soul" = individual) continually to be subject to
governmental authorities for one's own benefit (present middle
imperative). The verb has the idea of
falling in order under the authority of another. It was often used in a military sense of
falling into orderly formation at the order of an officer. These "higher powers" are literally
elevated authorities. A simple
explanatory statement follows:
"There is no authority except from God (anarthrous indicating a God
quality including all three Persons)."
Ultimately all human authority is permitted and given by God. The text says, "Existing authorities are
in a state of being in God's order (perfect act. part.)." Romans 13 1-5 uses several forms of the verb tasso
which means "to put in a place or order, to appoint." These include "be subject" (hupotasso)
(vss. 1, 5), "ordained" (tasso) (vs. 1), "resist" (antitasso)
(vs. 2) and "ordinance" (diatage) (vs. 2). Verse two uses the verb with the preposition anti
prefixing the root indicating that some may oppose submission to governmental
authority even in normal areas of governmental function. Such resistance to authority is ultimately
resistance (or a "standing against or in opposition") to the order or
ordinance of God. These resisters will
receive on their own behalf a quality of judgment ("condemnation" of
the AV is inaccurate since the Greek term is simply "judgment"). This quality of judgment will be at the hands
of the human authorities. Resistance to
the authority that leads to violation and disobedience of the laws of the
government which, in turn, will lead to human judgment.
Paul presents two reasons for God's expectations of human
government. A believer does not need to
fear government if he or she is living a consistent Christian life. Fear for government does not come from one's
good works but rather from manifestly evil of works that are lacking in
character. Paul asks the question: "But don't you desire to fear on your
part the authority?" "Do good
and you will have a quality of praise from it (the authority)." 13:4 explains how all of this works. One who is in authority is a servant
("deacon") of God for the good (that which will make another
happy). If a person happens to be
continually doing evil (present act. subjunctive), he has a reason to
fear. The one in authority does not bear
the sword in vain. The word
"vain" is the same word found in 1 Cor. 15:2 where it speaks of
believing in vain or without an object or a target. Why does one in authority bear a sword? To slap one's hands? To put one in jail? To fine?
To give probation? No! He bears the sword with two possibilities. A sword takes lives in capital punishment. It
administers the death penalty. The
second use of the sword is to mutilate a criminal by cutting off parts of one's
body for a crime. This is easily
understood in the "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" principle of
the Mosaic Law. This verse supports
capital punishment in this dispensation by human government. One who is in authority is a servant
("deacon") of God with the purpose of being an avenger (the idea is
one who works out or administers righteousness) for wrath (wrath is only on
earth) to the one who is continually evidently evil (a lacking in
character).
Verse five teaches that subjection to the human government
of the world system is a necessity for the Christian. It is one's duty as a Christian. At this point I cited a number of quotations
from writers in the early church concerning their relationship to the
government of
How often is a Christian confronted with questions
concerning taxation and fees levied by government? Some have said that our tax money goes to
fund abortion clinics and so we must not pay our taxes. Verses six and seven confront this
issue. Every government in history uses
tax money for things that are unrighteous.
The Roman government in some of its history used tax money to kill
Christians. Yet Scripture tells grace
believers to pay taxes. If the question
of the righteousness of entities of the world system was central to what a
Christian wouldn't do or purchase, he or she would have to become a hermit with
a big garden. Look at how many of our
groceries come from big tobacco money or from other evil sources. God expects Christians to pay taxes on a
regular basis (vs. 6). God even makes
this more difficult. He says that they
are religious or temple servants of God (not just "deacons"). Their mission is to continually attend to the
matter of taxation for the public good (we hope). In verse seven two words are used of taxes
(cf. IV., D., 1.). The believer is to
give all men their dues (i. e. an obligation of necessity owed to them). We are to give tax to whom tax is obligated,
custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear and honor to whom honor. Verse eight goes on to say that we are to owe
(or have an obligation) nothing to any man except to love one another.
V. goes back into biblical history to passages of Scripture
that shows that God ultimately places men in positions of authority even though
they are leaders in the human government of the Satanic world system. Examples of this with the passages of
Scripture include Pharoah of Egypt (as a part of the exodus events), Saul,
David, Cyrus of Persia, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and Pilate. Daniel
Christians have an obligation to obey government, expect capital punishment and other penalties and expects punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do good. The authorities of government are ultimately placed in their positions by God. Each is there because he or she has a specific role to play in God's plan no matter how evil they may be or how righteous they may be.
#69 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth
Valley –
1 John 2:15
Proposition: To establish some elementary guidelines for understanding a Christian's relationship to human government of the world system while living in the world system as revealed in Romans 13 and related passages.
Introduction
A. The Authorities of Government Are Ordained by God
B. The Activities Expected from Human Government in the World System
C. The Association of the Divinely Ordered Human Government and the World System
D. The Attitude of the Christian Toward Human Government
TRANS: Paul encourages the Roman Christians to submit to human government of the world system. This involves the will of the believer who must determine for himself or herself to do so. He relates to the ultimate permission from God concerning the leadership of human government.
I. THE ENCOURAGEMENT FOR BELIEVERS TO BE SUBJECT
TO HIGHER AUTHORITIES – THE DUTY OF THE CHRISTIAN TOWARD THE STATE – THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHRISTIAN TOWARD THE GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD SYSTEM –
Romans 13:1, 2
A. Voluntary Submission to Governmental Authorities Expected – 13:1b
1. The Responsibility for Every Individual = "Soul"
2. The Resignation of the Subjection to Governmental Authorities
a. An Ongoing Practice – present
b. An Opportune Voluntary Involvement – middle
c. An Open Encouragement by an Imperative
3. The Recognition of Those Placed in Positions of Authority
a. The Promotion Over Others
b. The Position of Authority Given
B. Ultimate Source of Governmental Authorities – 13:1b
1. The Authority Ultimately Is by God
2. The Authority Exists by God
3. The Arrangements Ultimately Made by God
C. Potential Suffering for Resisting the Authority – 13:2
1. Opposition to Authority
2. Confrontation with the Ordinance of God
3. Reception of Judgment for Opposition
TRANS: There are certain divinely designed parameters expected of human government by God concerning the function of government in general terms.
II. THE EXTENT OF THE AUTHORITY EXPECTED OF GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE SUBTILITY OF RULERS IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD SYSTEM – THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT TOWARD ITS SUBJECTS IN THE WORLD SYSTEM – Romans 13:3, 4
A. The Matter of Fear and the Rulers
1. Not a Fear to the Good Work
2. A Fear to the Evil Work
B. A Question Concerning One's Desire to Fear
1. An Act of Will?
2. An Authority to Fear?
C. An Assurance of No Need for Fear
1. Do Good
2. You Will Have Praise
D. An Evaluation of the Relationship – 13:4
1. A Human Authority Is a Servant of God for the Good
2. He Is a Source of Fear for the One Doing Evil
a. Because He Does Not Bear the Sword in Vain
(1) Sword = Capital Punishment
(2) Sword = Mutilation
(3) A Definite Object or Target
b. Because He Is a Servant of God
c. Because He Is an Avenger (one who works out righteousness)
(1) Unto Wrath
(2) To the One Who Is Practicing Evil
TRANS: Paul gives two reasons for the Christian to be obedient to the powers that are in human government of the world system. He sees subjection to righteous government as a necessity or an obligation for the Christian.
III. THE
EXPLANATION OF THE NECESSITY FOR SUBJECTION FOR THE CHRISTIAN – THE SUBTILITY
OF REASONS FOR SUBJECTING TO HUMAN GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITIES – THE REACTION OF
THE ONE DOING GOOD VERSUS THE REACTION OF ONE DOING EVIL – Romans 13:5
A. The Requirement That the Believer Be Subject
B. Reason #1: Because of Wrath
C. Reason #2: Because of Conscience
TRANS: A Christian's relationship to government involves certain obligations that are established by God. These obligations involve the payment of these obligations in various areas of life as noted in verses six and seven.
IV. THE EXPECTATION OF THE COMPLETE PAYMENT
OF OBLIGATIONS TO GOVERNMENT AND OTHERS – THE DEBT OF THE CHRISTIAN TOWARD
GOVERNMENT AND OTHERS – THE RECOGNTION OF SPECIFIC OBLIGATIONS FINANCIAL OR
OTHERWISE – Romans 13:6, 7
A. The Payment of Taxes to Authorities – vs. 6
B. The Place of the Authorities
1. They Are a Quality of Religious Ministers/Servants
2. Of Deity = Anarthrous
C. The Push for Ongoing Attention to the Paying of Taxes
D. The Presentation of Obligations to All Men – 13:7
1. To the One Tax to Tax
a. fo,roj = tribute paid by a subjugated nation; an annual tax on houses, lands and
persons
b. Four times in the N. T. (cf. Lu. 20:22; 23:2; here)
2. To the One Tribute to Tribute
a. te,loj = a toll, tax; what is paid for public ends; indirect tax on goods
b. This secondary meaning is found in Matt. 17:25; Rom. 13:7
3. To the One Fear to Fear
4. To the One Honor to Honor
TRANS: There are a number of examples of God's ultimate authority in the placement of men in positions of governmental authority. Men may be elected by a majority, born into royalty, oust the existing government, buy their way into office and such like but ultimately they would never have the power without God's permission or without accomplishing God's purposes in spite of themselves.
V. THE
EXAMPLES OF GOD'S PLACING MEN IN PLACES OF AUTHORITY IN HUMAN GOVERNMENT – THE
ULTIMATE DECISION CONCERNING THOSE PLACED IN GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY – THE ROLE
OF GOD IN THE PLACING OF MEN IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY
A. Jehovah's Purpose for Raising Up Pharaoh Over Egypt – Exodus 9:16
1. The Divine Cause for Pharaoh's Standing Up as King
2. The Divine Cause for Showing Pharaoh's Power
3. The Divine Character Told in All of the Earth
4. Cf. Romans 9:17
B. Jehovah's Provision for the Kings of Israel – 1 Samuel 16:1
1. The Rejection of Saul as King
2. The Provision of a Son of Jesse - David
C. Jehovah's Placement of Cyrus as King of Persia – Isaiah 45:1-4
D. Jehovah's Placement of Nebuchadnezzar as King of Babylon – Daniel 2:28
E. Jehovah's Power to Change Kings in the World System – Daniel 2:21
F. The Power of Pilate Given from Above – John 19:10, 11
G. The Projection of Accepting Divine Authority Over Human Authority – Acts. 5:29
TRANS: Without a question, a believer is obligated to be subject to the authority of the civil government of the world system. Fear should not be a factor if one is doing good rather than evil. One must realize that the fact that everyone that is in authority is ultimately there by divine permission no matter how evil he is. Be reminded that Nero was emperor when Paul wrote the letter.
Conclusion
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© by
Valley Baptist Church
P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119