Key Christian Duties - Romans 13:1-14 - November 16, 2008

Sunday School Lesson - Key Christian Duties – November 16, 2008

We continue our study of Romans. Our scripture is Romans 13:1-14.

America has just elected a new president. As with any new president, we have to wait to determine what kind of president he will be. Campaigning politicians state what they will do when they are elected to a certain office. However, when they occupy that office, they see it is not as easy as they thought. Politicians tend to paint an idealistic picture because the truth would not get them elected and once they are in the office, they have to play the game and be practical.

People being governed tend to rebel against authority. The Apostle Paul was telling the Christians in Rome to submit to authority. Does this mean if the authority goes against GOD’S commands? No! But he was telling the Christians in Rome to obey those who have authority over them so they can function without fear of government intervention.

The Jews, both the non-Christian and the Christian Jews, hated living under Roman rule. They believed only a descendant of David should rule over them. The Christian Jews did have CHRIST ruling their lives but the non-Christian Jews did not.

Paul wanted the Christians in Rome to be good examples and not compromise their testimony by opposing the government. However, when government forbids what GOD commands or commands what GOD forbids, believers are to obey GOD. Is this contradictory for being a good Christian example? It is a matter of how Christians handle themselves. First, Christians have the power of GOD with them. Second, they can pray for opportunity to bring about needed change and ask for courage to speak and act as GOD leads them.

GOD ordains law and order. GOD is the GOD of order. Look at Genesis Chapter one (1) and you will see what GOD made on day one was necessary to support what HE did on day two and so on. GOD knows until HE establishes HIS rule that society needs to be governed to achieve HIS plan and purpose.

GOD ordains the institution of civil government. When civil government functions as GOD ordains, it is a government Christians can support because it functions according to GOD’S plan and purpose; because all who fill the various positions are appointed by GOD. This is considering an ideal government, which is non-existent in this world. The ideal church is also non-existent in this world.

However, the principles for civil and church governance are in place to guide and govern society.

Let’s read Romans 13:1-7:

1 Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. 2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do good and you will have its approval. 4 For government is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. 5 Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of your conscience. 6 And for this reason you pay taxes, since the [authorities]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. are God’s public servants, continually attending to these tasks.[1] Lit to this very thing 7 Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.

The word “submit” means to “place under”. Paul tells the Roman Christians that they are to consider that GOD has placed the government and its officials in that position. GOD uses government authority to achieve HIS plan and purpose. HE used rulers to punish the Israelites or to grant them peace. The Israelites would stray from GOD and GOD would allow them to be captured by a foreign ruler. They would repent and seek GOD. They would be freed from oppression to serve GOD. Then they would repeat the same pattern.

Has America strayed from GOD? Will HE allow a liberal agenda to rule our nation because we, who are Christians, have compromised our values? Is our recent election a wakeup call for Christians? Time will tell.

We need to pray for our government and church leaders. They, as well as all Christians, are accountable to GOD. We are to work within the framework of the governing body. In America and in many other countries, governing officials in both the government and church are elected by the majority of the people. What is the will of the majority? Does the majority seek to serve GOD or the flesh? Christian compromise in many countries will tilt the majority in the wrong direction and give rise to a more liberal government or church. Do you see the potential pattern for America?

Paul tells the Christians in Rome that they need to obey the government and not fight against it. I don’t think Paul was saying “roll over and play dead” but to work within the bounds of the law to change what needed to be changed and to focus on serving the LORD. Do not take up arms to overthrow the government because when you do, you will reap the wrath of the government. Pay what you owe to the government. If Christians rebel against the government then they become the target of government. However, living under a ruthless dictator or a Godless government is a different situation. Even then GOD is in control and provides opportunity for living.

Let’s read Romans 13:8-10:

8 Do not owe anyone anything,[2] Or Leave no debt outstanding to anyone except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal,[3] Other mss add you shall not bear false witness do not covet,[4] Ex 20:13–17; Dt 5:17–21 and if there is any other commandment—all are summed up by this: Love your neighbor as yourself.[5] Lv 19:18 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.

Paul was saying do not get in debt beyond your ability to pay.

Paul tells the Christians in Rome that love conquers all and love is a debt believers owe because CHRIST has bought them with the price of HIS shed blood. As CHRIST loved believers, believers should have unlimited love toward others. This includes the government officials. When a believer truly loves others then he or she will not do the things Paul has listed. When a believer keeps the law of love he or she automatically keeps the law of mankind.

Let’s read Romans 13:11-14:

11 Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you[6] Other mss read for us to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us • walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.

Paul was looking for the imminent return of CHRIST. He is telling the Christians in Rome not to focus on fighting with the government but to focus on living and spreading the gospel in harmony with the government while there is still time.

Paul used two (2) words for time. The first word for “time” means time as a season or an opportunity. Knowing that CHRIST has come and darkness has been dispelled in the lives of believers is motivation to present the gospel to those still in darkness. So believers in Paul’s day were living in the dawn of a new day and they were closer to the second coming of CHRIST with each passing day.

This knowledge provided every believer with the opportunity to present the gospel to those still lost in the darkness of sin and death. Paul used the second word for “time” to denote chronological time and he stated that “it is already the hour for you.” The believers were living in the season that salvation had come to mankind and the moment had come for those living in that season to live in the power of the HOLY SPIRIT. Believers are to be obedient and present the gospel as GOD leads them.
This message is as relevant to believers today as the day Paul wrote it.

There are two (2) aspects of believers taking action now:

- Christians are living between the first and second coming of CHRIST. Armed with this knowledge Christians, should take off any carryover from their past life in the flesh and put on the full armor of the gospel of light and go into battle, so-to-speak, with darkness each day.

- Christians should live as if CHRIST has already returned to earth for the second time and established HIS rule upon earth. They should walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh as GOD’S representatives to those in darkness.

Paul lists six (6) sins of the flesh. He seems to group them in pairs:

- Strong drink – Partiers – Carousing and drunkenness.

- Sexual – Sexual impurity and promiscuity.

- Attitude – Quarreling and jealousy.

Let others see CHRIST in you by taking off the old life in the flesh and putting on your new life in CHRIST. To do so requires a decision regarding who rules your life, the flesh or GOD.

Christians are GOD’S representatives or the light to those walking in darkness. A Christian may never utter a word but his or her life will speak volumes. Christians are responsible and accountable to GOD.