Daniel's Notes

Submit to God's Authority

4 min read

💡Big Idea

Takeaways and Next Steps

📖Bible Passage

Romans 13:1-5

Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority, for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil. Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.

Points

  • Our American culture tells us that religion should be a private concern. Not public.
    • This idea is not found in the bible.
      • The bible teaches us to apply the whole of scripture to the whole of our lives.
      • To not apply the whole of scripture is the capitulation of authority to Caesar and the civil rulers.
    • It is found in the writings of Lenin.
    • Real life case study: Nazi Germany
      • The German Lutheran church held to the “2 Kingdom Theology” which teaches that the church should essentially stay out of political and civil matters. That these matters should solely be managed by government. This faulty theology led the church in Germany to capitulate to Hitler’s racist regime, foolishly hoping that it would allow them to keep their religious freedoms so that they could do the most good. (This hope was most certainly unfulfilled.)
    • All who do not seek to apply God’s laws to all of creation are guilty of idolatry. They have shown in their actions who their god is.
  • In Romans 13, the LORD describes a good and proper civil government.
  • Romans 13 shows our duties to both CIVIL GOVERNMENT and FROM GOD.
    • All civil government derive their authority FROM GOD:
      • not from the people, not from might and conquering
      • therefore, every civil ruler ought to be in submission to God their ruler.
  • This is the very reason why the USA is a republic not a democracy.
    • The word democracy is not in the Declaration of Independence nor it is in the US Constitution.
    • Do you know the difference?
    • A democracy is the tyranny of the majority over the minority.
    • A republic is a society ruled by constitutionally elected representatives of the people.
  • Should our nation be a “Christian” nation?
    • Historians debate whether the USA was founded as a Christian nation.
      • This question is actually less important.
      • The more important point is that the USA and every nation has a responsibility to be a Godly Christians nation, since every higher authority gets their authority from God. Romans 13:1
  • Whoever resists civil rulers is resisting God:
  • There is a huge difference between rebellious revolution and reformation
    • Revolution is violent rebellion against the authorities that God established.
    • Reformation is peaceful change from within.
  • The lawless actions of our sinful civil leaders is abhorrent must be changed, but not just any method will do?
  • ❓: Does this mean that we must follow the commands of wicked leaders no matter what they call us to do?
    • Not quite. We must obey them unless they require us to do that which is disobeying God.
    • The role of conscience:
      • Romans 13:5 : we should obey rulers not only to avoid their punishment, but yes even for conscience’ sake.
        • Therefore this means that if they are requiring us to do something that is against our conscience (i.e. sinning) then we should not obey such a sinful command.
  • Do not put your hope in political parties or princes. Only our LORD God can make a nation right.
    • Place your hope, devotion, loyalty in Him and Him only.
    • You and I need to repent and turn back to God. He will heal us and our land.

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