Sermon for Trinity Three – Sunday July 3, 2022
Calvary/Marquette ● Soli Deo Gloria

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise,
be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen (1 Timothy 1:17, NKJV).

Romans 13:1–7 (EHV)
Everyone must submit to the governing authorities. For no authority exists except by God, and the authorities that do exist have been established by God. 2Therefore the one who rebels against the authority is opposing God’s institution, and those who oppose will bring judgment on themselves.

3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to evil. Would you like to have no fear of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will receive praise from him, 4because he is God’s servant for your benefit. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because he does not carry the sword without reason. He is God’s servant, a punisher to bring wrath on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore it is necessary to submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of conscience.

6For this reason you also pay taxes, because the authorities are God’s ministers, who are employed to do this very thing. 7Pay what you owe to all of them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, and honor to whom honor is owed.

In the Name of Jesus, the Christ,
Who is seated at the right hand of God,
Far above all rule, authority, power and dominion,
Dear Fellow Redeemed in His Most Precious Blood –

As you are well aware, on the 4th of July each year we pause in the United States to observe and celebrate Independence Day. Independence Day marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain, July 4th 1776, 246 years ago.

Many will fly the American flag and sing the national anthem with a special gusto. We might even sing “God Bless America” and clap along with “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” Most Americans are proud to be Americans and appreciate the special freedoms that are afforded all Americans by the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

When the Apostle Paul was directed by the Holy Spirit to write the letter to the Roman Christians, he was a Roman Citizen, but had never been to Rome. Paul (formerly Saul) was from Tarsus in Cilicia, and while he was a Roman Citizen by birth, we don’t know if he had ever been in the capital of the Roman Empire. When he wrote this letter in the mid first century, it’s quite possible that the Roman Emperor Nero had just begun his time as supreme leader of Rome.

The bulk of the message of Romans concerns how sinners are justified and become citizens of God’s Kingdom. While Paul was born a citizen of Rome with all rights and privileges, a person isn’t a Christian simply because his or her parents were Christians. Each individual becomes a Citizen of Heaven through faith in the perfect life, sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. For many of us, that faith was created at our baptism by the working of the Holy Spirit.

In the previous chapter, the Spirit of God describes how the Christian is to live among other Christians. We are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God. We are not to be molded by this world’s attitudes, but to be transformed by the Word of God so that we show by our actions what is God’s Will. As Christians we are to humble ourselves and use the gifts that our Creator has given us to glorify Him. We are to hate what is evil and cling to what is good.

In the 13th Chapter of Romans, the Spirit of God shows how we are to live in the secular world. We are taught just who set up government and for what purpose. So, on the day before we celebrate our Independence, we should understand from God’s Word who authored Human Government and to what end. We begin with prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the many years of blessing that you have showered upon our land. Thank you for your gifts of prosperity in days of peace and protection in days of war. Thank you for our natural resources, our talents, and our abilities. Thank you for giving us freedom to worship and all the other freedoms we possess. We confess that we are sinners and deserve none of these things. Nevertheless, for Jesus’ sake, we ask you to bless our government and prosper the work of our hands. Above all enable us to fulfill our responsibilities as citizens of your kingdom of grace and also enable us to be conscientious citizens of this good land Amen.

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There are many different forms of human government described in the Holy Scriptures. For example:

 When Moses led the Sons of Israel out of their captivity in Egypt, their form of Government was a Theocracy. A Theocracy is a government ruled directly by God or by officials guided directly by God. When it was time to pull up stakes and move, Moses went into the Tabernacle and sought direction from God. In time, the Israelites became enamored with the form of government chosen by their Gentile neighbors and asked God for a change, for a King.

 The form of government among the Israelites became a Monarchy. A monarchy is a system of government in which one person rules, usually a king or queen. The results of this form of government were mixed, because some of their kings were God-pleasing and others were idolators. We really shouldn’t be surprised that human governments fail because sinful human beings are captivated by power and often make mistakes. Once again, in time, the Monarchy of Israel fell and the people of Israel living in Palestine came to be under the rule of the Roman Government.

 When the Roman Government was first established, it was a Republic. A republic is a system of government in which the people elect representatives who make decisions for them. In time their republic overtook and ruled over other nations, becoming an empire, a form of government ruled by a single ruler. In the Roman Empire, the first Roman emperors declared themselves to be gods.

 As Americans, we are especially fond of our form of government, which we call a Democracy. We are quick to boast that ours is a government ‘by the people and for the people’ until the majority elects someone that some people don’t approve of and like sullen children declare: “I didn’t vote for him. He’s not my president.” Sorry, but whether you voted for him/her or not, he is your president if you are a citizen of the United States.

What is the point of outlining these different forms of human government? Is the pastor just trying to put us to sleep? Well, no. The point is this, that without specifying a particular form of government, the Holy Spirit declares to us all, that whatever form of government we fall under we are to be subject to or obey:

Everyone must submit to the governing authorities. For no authority exists except by God, and the authorities that do exist have been established by God. 2Therefore the one who rebels against the authority is opposing God’s institution, and those who oppose will bring judgment on themselves.

In these words, the Spirit of God speaks to Christians, but not only to Christians. Everyone is to be subject to the governing authorities regardless of the form of government they make up. If we live in a nation where the form of government is a monarchy, a republic, a democracy or even socialist or communist, we are to willingly submit to the government and the laws established by it.

No way. Yes way...and we are given the reason why – because the authorities that do exist are established by God. We don’t know why God allows for certain rulers at certain times, but this Scripture says plainly that ‘the authorities that do exist have been established by God.’

Now this doesn’t mean that God approves of the actions of every ruler or government. Where Governments act in opposition to His Word and Will, they do wrong. God establishes government to keep order and because without government evil would run unchecked.

While God here (and in other places) tells us to submit to the governing authorities (whatever their form), He also reveals in Acts that there is one occasion when we are to respectfully disobey the governing authorities – when it commands us to disobey the highest authority of all – God. When Peter and John proclaimed Jesus’ Resurrection they were arrested and imprisoned. The authorities released them and commanded them to never again speak or teach of Jesus (Acts 4:17-18). As a result, all of the apostles began teaching and healing in the temple. They were imprisoned again by an angry government (Acts 5:17-18) but God sent an angel to set them free with this command (Acts 5:20, NKJV):

20 “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people
all the words of this life.”

When called to account for their disobedience, the Apostles stated the one circumstance in which we are not to submit to the governing authorities, namely when they command us to disobey God, for then (Acts 5:29, NKJV):

“We ought to obey God rather than men.

On the other hand, when Government does not disobey God and men rebel, it is also rebellion against God. Since God establishes government, to disobey it will result in two-fold judgment – judgment by the government and potentially judgment by God. God would have order, and so God allows for the establishment of government among men to keep order and peace as these words make clear –

3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to evil. Would you like to have no fear of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will receive praise from him, 4because he is God’s servant for your benefit. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because he does not carry the sword without reason. He is God’s servant, a punisher to bring wrath on the wrongdoer.

Human Governments, generally speaking, do not promote lawless conduct, but oppose it. Laws are established for the protection of every citizen. Whether it be the mayor, the chief of police, the governor or the president, rulers do not terrify those who willingly submit to the laws of the land and are obedient. In this case, the expression, ‘doing what is good’ refers to living according to the civil laws of the land; not attempting to be right with God by one’s actions.

On the other hand, if you want to be afraid of human government...then disobey it, break the law – and you will have reason to be afraid! After all, the governing authorities don’t carry the sword for no reason.

Human Government as established by God has the right to take the life of its citizens who commit the most heinous of crimes, like pre-meditated murder. The sword was not used for correction or rehabilitation...but to take life, to kill. So, when God speaks in the 5th Commandment and says: “You shall not murder” -- God speaks to the individual, not to government, not to His appointed representatives.

One of the purposes of Government is to keep order; another is to punish the person who does evil...evil as defined by God. We are told in simple language why we ought to submit to government: 1) It is established by God; 2) It keeps order and punishes those who do evil. Christians ought to be good, law-abiding citizens...not because of fear but conscience.

5Therefore it is necessary to submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of conscience.

As law-abiding citizens, we have no reason to resist the governing authorities (unless government commands us to disobey God). Still, we don’t obey the law because we fear being punished; but are bound by conscience.

As Christian Citizens, we obey the law – not because we are afraid – but because we see in government the hand of God. We know from these words that God has established government for our good here in time. The God who sent His Son to live and die and rise again to free us from Satan’s rule and dominion – has established government for our blessing. We may not always agree with our government, and as citizens we may petition our leaders, and speak out.

We are conscience bound because God is the one who established human government. Those who rule are only human beings, who make mistakes. For this reason, we ought to earnestly pray for those in authority, whether we voted for them or against them. This isn’t my opinion. Our Heavenly Father declares (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NKJV):

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”

We should also willingly pay taxes, and give respect and honor to our leaders for their office...whether we voted for them or not, as it is here written:

6For this reason you also pay taxes, because the authorities are God’s ministers, who are employed to do this very thing. 7Pay what you owe to all of them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, and honor to whom honor is owed.

Whether we hear these words on April 15th or July 3rd – they remain true, for these are God’s Words given through the Apostle Paul. God established human government and they serve as His Servants (whether they recognize it or not) in collecting taxes or revenue. We don’t only owe them these debts, but also – respect and honor.

We are not called upon to approve of the sinful lives of our leaders. We are not called upon to dismiss their sins because they are God’s ministers. We are called upon to show them respect and honor them – because of their position...their office.

While the world around us may delight in disrespecting and degrading our elected leaders and representatives...this is not the attitude our God expects to see from us His Children. Our God expects that we set a good example to our neighbors by praying for our leaders and honoring them for their office.

God forgive us for Jesus’ sake when we cross the line. God help us to serve as godly examples in this fallen world – not only by honoring our leaders but even more by speaking to everyone of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who died that we might be eternal citizens of Heaven. Thus, when the Savior comes again in glory, may God grant that many rise from the graves of this nation to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ forever and ever.

Amen!