Romans
13:1
There
is No Power but of God
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is
no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
·
This message is
intended to show solidarity with Pastor James Coates and those that have been
arrested simply being faithful in their service to their flocks.
1. Let Every Soul Be Subject to Earthly Governments
a. What does the word subject mean?
i.
It does not mean
blind obedience, but rather a submissive spirit that is bound by allegiance and
duty
1. We honor the Lord by being compelled to follow His law
out of love not fear. - Romans
8:7
2. We do not blindly obey other believers - Ephesians 5:21
3. Wives are not to blindly obey their husbands - Ephesians 5:22
4. Citizenries are not to blindly obey their governments,
but to honor them by doing good works. - Titus 3:1
b. What is the duty of government?
i.
To protect the
rights of its citizenry. The following are the rights of every human as
outlined in scripture.
1. Life
a. The protection of life is one of God’s first ordinances
and is the primary duty of a legitimate government. - Genesis 9:5-6
2. Liberty
a. God gives the right to individual sovereignty to every
human. He also holds them individually accountable for their actions. - Genesis 1:26-28
3. Property (or pursuit of happiness, because the
founding fathers wanted to ensure the welfare of those that did not own property
as well)
a. The very fact that there is a command not to steal
implies that man has been given the right to personal property and that those
rights should be protected by their governments.
i.
Exodus 20:15
ii.
“We hold these
truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights,
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the
consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive
of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to
institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and
organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect
their Safety and Happiness” – Declaration of Independence
c. What is the current government you are under?
i.
You are not under
a monarchy but a constitutional government, which means your allegiance as a Christian
is owed the constitution not to an elected official who will only temporarily
be compelled by oath to defend it. – Lex Rex or the Law is King
1. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form
a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide
for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings
of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.” – the Preamble to the Constitution
2.
1 Peter 2:17
d. What do we do if government abuses its power?
i.
In Paul’s time he
lived under the tyranny of an absolute monarchy which believed in its own
divinity. You however do not live under a monarchy and are compelled by the law
of the land (your king) to keep your elected officials accountable that law.
1. “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long
established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and
accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to
suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the
forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and
usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce
them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw
off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.” –
Declaration of Independence
2. “Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of
grievances.” – The first Amendment of the Constitution
e. Is Paul forbidding any resistance to government?
i.
Absolutely not,
we could not count the times that Paul suffered for practicing civil
disobedience. - 2 Timothy
1:8
f.
When is civil
disobedience necessary?
i.
When government
forbids what God commands - Daniel
6:7-10
ii.
When government
commands what God forbids - Daniel
3:16-18
iii.
When government begins
to interfere with jurisdictions that are not given to them by God - Matthew 22:21
g. How do we behave when practicing civil disobedience? -
1 Peter 2:17-21
2. All Earthly Governmental Power is Given by God
a. Who is the true King to which all governments must
answer for the treatment of their citizenry?
i.
It is the duty of
the church to warn governments of their violations of God’s law and the coming of
a righteous King and Judge.
1.
Psalm 2:1-12
b. What is the Law by which all governments derive their
authority?
i.
The Law of God is
the authority by which men govern. When they command us to disobey God’s Law, we
are compelled disobey their command because of our ultimate allegiance to God.
1.
Acts 5:28-29
