Romans 13:3

 

Romans 13:3

Do That Which is Good!

Rom 13:3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 

        1.      Government’s Primary Purpose is to Punish Evil

a.       What is good and evil?

                                                              i.      The only standard of right and wrong is God’s holy law. There is no other standard of righteous judgement by which governments are established.

1.      Romans 7:12 

b.      What do we do when government rewards good and punishes evil?

                                                              i.      We are to honor a righteous government and do what we can to support her rule.

1.      We can support a righteous government by being citizens of integrity.

a.       “Because We have no Government armed with Power capable of contending with human Passions unbridled by <, Start deletion,[. . .], End,> morality and Religion. Avarice, Ambition <, Start deletion,and, End,> Revenge or Galantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”         - John Adams

2.      We can support a righteous government by being prepared to defend her.

a.       1 Samuel 30:6-8

b.      Psalm 144:1-2 

3.      We can support a righteous government by paying taxes

a.       Mark 12:17 

4.      We can support a righteous government by not joining in with anarchists

a.       Proverbs 24:21-22 

 

c.       What do we do when government terrorizes the good?

                                                              i.      Pray for our government

1.      1 Timothy 2:1-2 

                                                            ii.      Make appeals

1.      Esther 4:13-14 

                                                          iii.      Make appeals to lower magistrates

1.      Titus 3:1 

                                                          iv.      Be prepared to practice civil disobedience in matter of conscience

1.      1 Peter 2:17-19 

                                                            v.      Be prepared to suffer the consequences for civil disobedience

1.      1 Peter 3:14-15 

                                                          vi.      Do not participate in evil, even when it may benefit you personally

1.      1 Kings 21:11 

                                                        vii.      In some cases, use of force may be necessary

1.      2 Kings 9:5-7 

        2.      Those with a Clear Conscience Do Not Need to Fear Government

a.       You do not need to fear a righteous government

                                                              i.      Only the wicked fear a government that is following God’s law by punishing evil

1.      1 Peter 2:14 

b.      You do no need to fear an evil government

                                                              i.      God protects His people even when government shirks her duty

1.      Daniel 6:20-22 

         3.      My Primary Responsibility is to Do Good (Follow God’s Law)

a.       Jesus give us a clear guideline on how to obey His law when He sums it up in the following way:

                                                              i.      Matthew 22:37-40 

         4.      God Rewards Those that Do Good (Follow God’s Law)

a.       There may be an earthly reward for doing good

                                                              i.      Daniel 6:26-28 

b.      There will always be a heavenly reward for doing good

                                                              i.      2 Timothy 4:6-8