Religious versus Righteous

Scripture: Romans 3:21-26

C.I.: The Righteous Person and the Government

Last week we saw how a person whom God has made righteous is seen in their relationships with each other.
Today we will learn four reasons why a “righteous person” obeys human governments.

I. Four Motives for Submitting to the Government, (Romans 13)

A. Motive #1: For Wrath's Sake, (vs. 1-4)

1. ( vs. 1-2 ), “Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. – For there is no authority except from God and
those that exist are established by God. – Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who
have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.”
a. There were some good governmental leaders in Paul's day – as there are some good ones today.
1) The city treasurer in Rome, ( 16:23 ), “Erastus, the city treasurer greets you.”
2) Members of Caesar's household, ( Phil. 4:22 ), “All the saints greet you, esp. those of Caesar's h.”

b. Yet the Caesar at this time was Nero, a man who was infamous for his evil.
1) Eusebius, Eccl. History, II. Xxv.5, “…he is the first to be heralded as above all a fighter
against God … in that in his time Paul was beheaded in Rome itself and Peter was crucified.”
2) Yet in spite of who is “running things” – Christians are still commanded to submit to them!
3) The only time a believer may disobey government – would be when our obedience would
become disobedience to God, ( Acts 5:29 ), “We must obey God rather than men.”
a) Several months back – I said we as a church should not “march on city hall,” etc.
b) This isn't the work of the church. – But as citizens we may (lawfully) do these things!
c) That God is not opposed to believers working in gov't….: Daniel, Esther, Joseph, etc.

c. The government and capital punishment – is this right in the sight of God?
1) ( v. 4 ), “…it is a minister of God to you for good. – But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not
bear the sword for nothing; it is a minister of God , an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who prac...
2) “Minister” (= servant) brackets “the sword.” – Gov't. is God's servant in capital punishment!
a) Ex. 20:13 , “…shall not kill/murder” – Murder vs. kill (unlawful/lawful taking of a life).
b) Ex. 21:12 , “He who strikes a man so that he dies, - shall surely be put to death.”
c) Jesus - ( Jn. 19:10-11 ), “Do You not know that I have authority …' ‘You would have no A...”
d) Paul – ( Acts 25:11 ), “If I am a wrongdoer & have done anything worthy of death, I do not…
3) Therefore, the people whom God has made righteous – obey lest we tempt God's wrath!!!

B. Motive #2: For Conscience Sake, (vs. 5-7)

•  ( vs. 5-7 ), “Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. – For because of this you pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. – Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”.”
a. The person whom God has made righteous – will have their mind/conscience focused on God, 12:1-2.
1) Obedience = Good conscience, ( I Tim. 1:5 ), “Goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart….”
2) Disobedience = Seared Cons., ( I Tim. 4:2 ), “…the hypocrisy of liars, seared in their own C….”
3) Rebellion = Rejected Cons., ( I Tim. 1:19 ), “…a good C. which some have rejected & have suffered

b. Therefore, our submission to lawful commands of gov't. – gives us a good conscience before God!
1) ( I Pt. 2:17-19 ), “Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. – Be submissive to
those who are your own masters, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are
unreasonable. – For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under
sorrows when suffering unjustly.”

C. Motive #3: For Love's Sake, (vs. 8-10)

•  “Fear” of God's wrath is the lowest possible motivator for good behavior. – But a “Conscience” trained by the Spirit of God lifts our motivation to a higher level. – But “Love” takes it to a higher level still!
a. ( v. 8 ), “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.”
1) Remember “neighbor” has nothing to do with addresses/geography – but who can I love to God's glory.
a) Jesus gave us the Greatest Law, ( Mk. 12:30-31 ), “You shall love the Lord your God….”
b) So if we truly love God – then we will also truly love others (including those in government).

b. For the Jews whom God made righteous through their faith in Jesus – They now discover that their
motivation to obey God's laws – is LOVE!
1) ( v. 9 ), “For this, ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,'
and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'”
3) Therefore, we obey the laws of men – because of our love for others!!!

D. Motive #4: For Christ's Sake, (vs. 11-14)

•  Our greatest motivation for submitting to the laws of men – is because of our love for our Lord Jesus!
a. ( vs. 11-12 ), “And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour to waken from sleep; - for now salvation is
nearer to us than when we believed. – The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. – Let us therefore lay aside the
deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
1) The time of our Lord's coming is always nearer to us right now – than it was at any time before!

b. Is there anyone here who would want to be “caught in sin” when He returns?!
1) Therefore, Paul says, ( vs. 13-14 ), “Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not
in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. – But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no
provision for the flesh in regards to its lusts.”
2) The scriptures teach us that the last days will be days of lawlessness, ( II Tim. 3:1-4 ), “But realize this,
that in the last days difficult times will come. – For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant,
revilers disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving … lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
3) Therefore, because of our Love for our Lord Jesus – we live our lives to please Him in all areas; in the
home, the school, on the job…, and before the laws of the land!

CONCLUSIONS:

•  Christians hold a “dual-citizenship,” one here (so we obey man's laws) – and one in heaven ( Phil. 3:20 – so we obey God!).

•  ( Col. 1:13 ), “God has transferred us….” – We became kingdom citizens at the moment of our salvation…
( Jn. 3:16; Lk. 13:3; Rom. 10:9; Mk. 16:16 )!!!