Now, here in our last few lessons,
we've looked at what Scripture has to say about our attitude
towards one another, our attitude towards people in the world.
And today, here in Romans 13, we're going to look at our attitude,
the believer's attitude towards authority. Beginning in verse
1 of Romans 13, Paul says, 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. Now Paul says, let every soul,
all of us, be subject to the higher powers. This applies to
all authority that we need. Authority in the home, for husbands
and for parents. Authority in the school and authority
in the church. But particularly here, he's talking
about civil authority. The authority of the government. It applies to presidents and
kings. All the way down to different
levels of authority to policemen and the meter maid, all levels
of civil authority, were to obey them and respect them. Look over
at 1 Peter 2. In 1 Peter 2 verse 13. Submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether
it be to king or supreme, or unto governors, or as unto them
that are sent by him, for the punishment of evil doers, and
for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God,
that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men. You see, that applies to all
levels of authority, from the president, the top dog, right
on down. We're to obey them, to show them
respect, and to speak well, not just to them. You know, everybody
sees the president. Everybody speaks well of that
man to his face. They call him Mr. President.
You know, you can just imagine going through four years having
everybody just, I mean, melt in your presence. But what about
talking about them behind their back? What about showing them
the respect that they really do? That's what Scripture says
we're to do. Look at Ecclesiastes chapter
10. Ecclesiastes 10 verse 20. Curse not the king. No, not in
thy thought, not just outwardly, not even in thy thought. And
curse not the rich in thy bedchamber. For a bird of the air shall carry
the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter."
Just don't do it. Just show them, give them the
respect that they're due. And if you look over in Acts
chapter 23, we'll see a striking example of this. You hear someone in a position
of authority, what if they don't deserve our respect? Sometimes
they don't. What if they're an evil, wicked
man? Look in Acts 23, here's a striking example, we'll see
the Apostle Paul practice what he preached. In verse 1 of Acts
23, And Paul, earnestly beholding the counsel, said, Men and brethren,
I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And
the high priest, Ananias, commanded them that stood by him to smite
him on the Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thy
whited wall. For thou said it, for sittest
thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten
contrary to the law? And they that stood by said,
Revilest thou God's high priest? Now here's a man that should
be reviled, shouldn't he? But what did Paul say in verse
five? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the
high priest. For it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of
the ruler of thy people. There's the example that we're
to follow right there. And we all need this instruction.
You know, this is not the American way. It just isn't the American
way. You know, it's not the American
way to speak well of your political rival. You know, we do have freedom
of speech and we fight and die for that freedom. I think we
may have taken that freedom just a bit too far. Well, I don't
think, I know we have, because it's contrary to Scripture. This
is not the American way, and we all need this instruction.
The people who Paul was writing to in his day needed this instruction. Many of the early Christians
were accused of sedition, just like the Lord Jesus was. He was
accused of trying to undermine Caesar's rule. Many of the early
believers were Jews. who just never did get over the
thought that it was wrong to be in subjection to a Gentile,
particularly an evil one, an idolater. They just couldn't
swallow that. That's not an easy thing to swallow.
And you know, you would think about being in subjection to
authority. I thought of right here. Well, you know, it's just
easy to be in subjection to the authority of John, our pastor.
That's easy. But we should have the same attitude
towards people who are in authority right out there in the world.
It should be the exact same attitude. They don't rule well, like John
does, but our attitude is to be in subjection to them. That's
what Scripture teaches us. And I'll tell you another reason
Paul felt it necessary to deal with this subject. He'd spent
a good deal of time teaching us we're free from the law. From
our earlier studies here in Romans, there's no doubt in anybody's
mind, we are free from the law. Well, that's true, but now let's
not misunderstand where that's applied. We're free from the
law as a means of justification, but that doesn't give us the
freedom to go break God's law or man's law. A person who's
been made free in Christ is a better citizen because they love the
law of God. God's given them a nature that
loves God's law, so they're not going to break man's law either.
And Paul says, no, there's no power but of God. Every single
ruler, no matter where they are, what level of authority they
have, they have that authority from God Almighty. God gave it
to them. Look at Proverbs 8. I'll show
you that. No matter what level of authority they have, they
have it on loan from God. In Proverbs 8, verse 15, by me kings reign, and princes
decree justice. By me, princes rule and nobles,
even all the judges of the earth. No matter what level of authority
they have, they have it from God. Now that person may be an
evil man, but God still gave them that authority. You know,
they can't think, well, you know, I'm not evil and God blessed
me just because he put me in a position of authority. Pilate
found out better than that, didn't he? Our Lord told him you couldn't
have any power over me if my father didn't give it to you.
Look over in Daniel chapter four. This was the lesson King Nebuchadnezzar
had to learn. In Daniel 4, here's this mighty king, one
of the great kings in the history of mankind. And this is what
Daniel had to say to him here in Daniel 4 verse 17. This matter
is by the decree of the watchers. and the demand by the word of
the Holy Ones, to the intent that the living may know that
the Most High Ruler, God rules in the kingdom of men, and He
giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest
of men." Even the basest of men, God gives them authority in this
world. And here it is, our political
season, our election season, and we vote, and we should. We
all, you should make an informed vote and understand what you're
voting and who you're voting for and exercise your right to
vote. That's the freedom that men have
died for, to protect. But I'm telling you, no matter
how we vote, God's man's going to be president, all right? Just
so. That doesn't mean we shouldn't vote because we should, but God's
man's going to be president. You just rest assured it's not
going to be an accident. Whichever side you happen to
fall on, it's not going to be an accident. The man on the other
side wins. God's man is going to be on the throne. He says
here that the powers are ordained of God. That word ordained is
a military term, meaning the chain of command. You're to give
obedience to your CEO just as much as you do the five-star
general. My daughters will tell you, I'm a very big fan of the
Band of Brothers. I mean, I've watched it a hundred
times. And if it's on this afternoon, I'm going to watch it again,
no matter which episode it is. I mean, I love it. I'm fascinated
by those men. We just owe such a huge debt.
Those men saved this world. I mean, God was with them, and
that was the means that he used now. And I watch those men. They give obedience to the CO
just as much as they do the captain. And the general comes through
checking the troops, and they give him just the same respect
that they give the captain or the sergeant or I don't know
all the But they give respect. I mean, even if it means that
their life is going to be on the line, they obey the command.
And that chain of command worked in that army. And this is the
way God has put order in the world. God's a God of order and
he puts authority. We'll see this in these verses.
He puts authority in place for our good and for the good of
society, because there'd be absolute chaos without it. Look here,
verse two. Whosoever therefore resisteth
the power, resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist
shall receive to themselves damnation. Now, since all authority comes
from God, we understand that. Then whoever resists the authority
is resisting God. You know, you can resist a policeman
if you want, although you're going to get arrested for resisting
arrest. But when you do that, you're resisting God. There's
the issue, because God put that man in a position of authority.
And whoever resists that authority, you can just expect judgment.
That word damnation is judgment. You can just expect justice to
be beaded out by civil authority and by God. Both will execute
justice. You know, the rule was when I
was a boy in school, if you get paddled at school, you get paddled
home. You know, if you get paddled at school, you better do the
best you can to keep it from, you know, coming out of the home.
You can't keep it from God though, can you? You know, you get in
trouble at school, you're going to get in trouble at home. It's
a boat. Well, it's the same thing here. You can expect justice
from the civil authorities and from God, too. You know, if you
go faster than the speed limit, you can just expect the highway
patrolman to give you a ticket. Just expect it. And don't expect
the Lord to get you out of it, because the Lord's on his side,
not yours, because he gave him the authority. Now, let me say
this. Obviously, this doesn't include
an evil ruler who would make rules and laws against the law
of God. Look at Ephesians chapter 5.
You understand that. Ephesians 5 verse 22. Wives, submit yourself unto your
own husbands as unto the Lord. and the will of the Lord, not
something contrary to God's word, as unto the Lord. Look in chapter
6, verse 1. Children, obey your parents in
the Lord, for this is right. The key phrase there is in the
Lord. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Excellent citizens. They got themselves, they found
themselves in trouble when they refused to worship the golden
idol of Nebuchadnezzar. He made a law against the law
of God, they refused to obey it. Daniel did the same thing. Look over in Daniel chapter 6.
Daniel refused to give up praying. Darius made a law against praying
to anybody but him. And Daniel, a good citizen, is
not going to obey that law because it's contrary to the law of God.
In Daniel 6 verse 3. Now then this Daniel. was preferred above the presidents
and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king
thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and
princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the
kingdom, but they could find none occasion nor fault. Forasmuch
as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found
in him. Then said these men, and they
knew Daniel, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel,
except we find it against concerning the law of his God. We've got
to get the king to make a law that's against the law of his
God. Then he'll break the law of the king. But that's the only
way he'll do it. That's the way every one of us ought to be known.
Honestly, that's what Scripture teaches. To be a good, faithful
citizen, obedient citizen, until there's a law made against the
law of God. But as long as there's not, and I don't know of one,
you know, in our country, in our day that is, then we're just
to obey him. Look at verse 3 back in Romans 13. 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 the praise of the same. You know, no one obeying
the law ever has reason to fear the ruler. You know, you don't
fear the judge. You don't fear the prosecuting
attorney or the police officer. You know, part of my job I spend
far too much time at the prosecuting attorney's office and I see some
of the judges and I'm in there and the police officers come
in. You know, I come strolling in the prosecuting attorney's
office, I get a warm greeting. You know, they do a lot of work
for us. I bring them candy and flowers, you know, a few times
a year to stay on their good side. I get a warm greeting, you know.
But I'm sitting there, I see other people come in. They come
in scared, you know, because they've got a piece of paper
in their hand with justice on it. And they come in afraid and
timid. because they're not going to
obey the law until the threat comes to put them in jail. But
as long as you're obeying the law, you have no fear. The only
people who hate civil authority are those who break the law,
who just utterly hate authority. They're the ones. The reason
they hate authority is because they hate those that have the
power to enforce the rule. You know, here it is vacation
season. You go on vacation to the beach. It's a long way from
here. Well, would you like to have a trip filled with fear
and angst? Well, just go 90 miles an hour
the whole way. And you know, when you're going 90 miles an
hour down the highway, you get mad when you see that police
officer hiding in a bunch of trees, clocking people going
by. What are you mad at him for? You're not mad at him if you're
going 55 or 65. You're only mad at him if you're
going over a speed limit. Well, if you want to have a peaceful
trip, just go to the speed limit. And then you're not be afraid.
You see that man sitting over there in the woods, cocking people
because you have no reason to fear. Civil authority is set
up by God to prevent crime by punishing crime and giving praise
to those who do good. You just live your life, paying
your taxes, you know, volunteer a little bit. Your neighbors
have some trouble. You know, you help them out a
little bit. Make sure your house isn't a regular stop on a Sheriff's,
you know, patrol having to come by and break up some, you know,
disorderly conduct. And you get to be a little older.
They'll make you a Kentucky colonel or, you know, the mayor give
you the keys because they just praise somebody does that because
it's unusual. All you got to do is just do
what scripture teaches you. That praise is the same. Now,
verse four, look at this. For he is a minister of God,
to thee for good. But if thou do that which is
evil, be afraid. For he beareth not the sword
in vain, for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute
wrath upon him that doeth evil." Now here, our pastor, John, he's
the minister of God. Everybody knows that, the servant
of God. The highest calling a man can be called to be the servant
of God, a minister. But, you know, people out here,
just out here on the street in positions of civil authority
are God's ministers, too. They're His servants, too. In
the home, a parent is God's minister in the home for the good of the
home, for the good of the children. In the workplace, the foreman's
there for the minister of God. In city government and federal
government, we speak well of those people because they're
the servants of God. In Henry's outline, he mentions
a referee. He says, think about a game without a referee. Well,
you don't have to think very hard. Just go find a pickup basketball
game this afternoon. And when the rule is you call
your own foul, if they play long enough, there's going to be a
fight. And that's what happens in authority when the fastest
gun, you know, is the one making the rules. It breaks out into
a fight. And society would just be utter
chaos if there weren't people in authority who had the power
to enforce the law. You know, God's servant rules
in the church for the good of the church. Well, the police
officer out here working this morning serves God. God's minister
for the good of society, for your good, my good. And if anyone
doesn't obey the law, they just don't want to obey it, you know,
well, they've got good reason to fear. Because listen, that
sheriff doesn't carry that gun for just no reason. He's got
real power. That badge behind that badge
is real power. That gun and that stick is not
for show. God gave it to him to bear on
purpose. It's his responsibility to bear
that sword and execute judgment on evil. That's his responsibility.
Y'all, I am a big fan of swift justice. I mean, the fear of
punishment will prevent crime. Swift punishment will prevent
a lot of crime. And it starts when you're little,
you know, in schools. I know when I was in school,
you know, teachers paddled That's just what they did. I know sometimes
that was abused, and that's horrible. I got my own opinions. I don't
think it should have been taken out, but that's neither here nor there.
It is. But when a teacher could paddle a child, it prevented
a lot of trouble. I'm just telling you. You didn't
have much ADD when a teacher had to paddle. Now you didn't.
I was in third grade. There was a math teacher in third
grade. We lived in Danville. The woman looked to me like she
was about 6'7", 350 pounds. And she carried a paddle that looked
to me like about six feet long. And we'd change, you know in
third grade you just change classes maybe once or twice a day. She
taught math. And we'd go from this room to this room. And she's
standing there when you're going out from lunch and recess and
changing classes, she's standing there just lightly quacking that
paddle on her calf. I'm telling you, I wouldn't look
at that woman crossways to save my life. She had a peaceful class
because there was the threat of swift justice. She didn't
bear that sword in vain. God gave her that authority.
And we might have the same peace today, but it's still the same.
Anyway, that's just my opinion. Now, verse 5, he says, Wherefore,
ye must needs be subject not only for wrath, but also for
conscience sake. See, now he's speaking to the
heart of God's children. Fear of punishment is a good
motivation for human beings. For a goat, that's probably the
only motivation you can have. But the sheep want to do right
for conscience sake. Not just so we can avoid punishment,
but we prove of that authority where God's placed it. And our
strongest desire is to live a life that's pleasing to our Heavenly
Father. We desire to live a life that brings honor to our Savior.
So you do the right thing. Not just because you want to
avoid punishment. I try to tell my daughters this
all the time they've been growing up. But because your conscience
dictates that you live that way. Do the right thing when nobody's
watching. Even when you can get away with
it. Do the right thing. Not because of fear of punishment,
but for conscience sake. Because your conscience dictates
that you live that way. You know, I've used this example
before. There's a day I did what my mom and dad told me to do
because of fear of punishment. I learned, it took me a long
time, but I learned they didn't bear the sword in vain. Then
there came a day when I wanted to do what they told me to do
for conscience sake. Not for fear of punishment, because
I had a strong desire to please them. Wish I learned it years
and years earlier, but when I did, it was happier for both of us.
Not to have to always be carrying that sword around. Her sword
was one of them paddles that she had the little string and
the ball on it, you know. She took the string and the ball
off, that was her sword, and it worked! Well, when you want
to please, instead of fear of punishment, you're a whole lot
happier. And that's what he's saying. Do this for conscience's
sake, you'll be happier. Now verse six, for this cause,
pay ye tribute also, for they are God's ministers attending
continually upon this very thing. For this cause, because we know
all authorities ordained of God, because we know all civil authority
is given by God for our good, and because we agree with that
authority, it's right and just that they have that authority,
then for conscience sake, pay your taxes to support them. Our
Lord did. Look over Matthew chapter 17.
Our Lord was born in Bethlehem instead of Nazareth, where his
parents lived, were married, and his foster father, Joseph,
lived, because they went to Bethlehem to be taxed, to pay their taxes.
Well, Matthew 17, verse 24. And when they were come to Capernaum,
they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth
not your master pay tribute? And he saith, Yes. And when he
was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest
thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth
take custom or tribute? Of their own children, or of
strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto
him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should
offend them, go to the sea, and cast and You notice he didn't
tell him, bait the hook. You don't have to get a worm
and bait. Just cast a hook. Just put the bare hook out there
and you'll catch a fish. Take up the fish that first cometh
up, and when thou shalt open his mouth, thou shalt find a
piece of money. That take and give unto them
for me and thee. Here's the king of the earth.
Proving he's the king of the earth because he's going to catch
a fish on a bare hook and there's going to be money in his mouth.
The king of the earth. Pay taxes. Now we all have the
benefits of our local and federal government. You know, the perfect
proof of it is you have an emergency at your house, you call 911,
somebody's on their way. And since we have the benefit
of that government, we ought to be willing to pay taxes to
support it. I'll give you a perfect example of this. When Holly was
a baby, Janet and I didn't have two nickels to rub together.
I mean, I don't know how we didn't end up in a poor house. And I
paid my taxes because the taxes were taken out of my check. I
was always glad of that because I don't know if I had anything
left, you know, if I had to pay an old bill there at the end.
I was glad they were taken out of my check. Well, Holly was a baby, and Janet
actually started a grease fire in the kitchen. She calls 911,
and she asked them, she's crying, you know, fire's burning on the
stove, how do I put the fire out? And the lady at 911 says,
man, get out of the house. Just tell us where you live and
get out of the house. We'll come put the fire out for you. She
says, she's crying, she says, I can't afford it. Just tell
me how to put the fire out. And she says, man, your taxes
have already paid for it. Just tell me where you live.
You know, she's going to save a lot of time. And then they
did tell her, well, she told them where they live. She said,
well, you could throw some flour or something on it, but don't
delay. Get out of that house. Well,
the fire chief just lived three doors down and, you know, they
put the call out. He just ran right over and Jan
did throw some flour on it. You know, mostly it was out and
he finished to take care of it, opened the windows so the smoke
would get out. And she burned her hand. He is just so sweet,
just, you know, treating her hand with whatever they, you
know, treat it with. We walked past that man's house to this
day. Jan just loves him. Oh, she loves him. And I don't
care a bit to pay our tax. They send that tax bill every
year. I just fire check right off because they've proven. I
mean, boy, you call them. They're there to serve you. Just
happy, happy to do it. And that's the way we ought to
be. Look at verse seven. He says, render, therefore, to
all their dues. Tribute to whom tributes do.
Custom to whom custom. Whether it's taxes or sales tax
or property tax. Fear to whom fears do. and honor
to whom honor. Let us pay the taxes that you
owe, but more than that, give honor and respect to whom honor
and respect is due. God has given men authority in
this world. Their responsibility is to rule
well, and they're going to have to give an account to God for
that, how they rule. Our responsibility is to obey,
and we have to give an account, not for how those people ruled,
but for how we obey. That goes for civil authority,
and it goes for authority wherever you meet it in your daily life.
A number of years ago, Jan's aunt and I were talking, and
we were talking about Scripture and authority, and she said,
God's word tells my husband, Tom, to rule the home. God's given him that authority.
He'll have to give an account to God for that, for how he rules.
She said, God's word tells me to obey my husband and the Lord.
I'm going to have to give an account for that to God. She's
not just to me and not just my husband, but to God. And she
made this statement. She says, not my place to try
to take over, because if I do, I have to answer to God for that.
And that ought to be our attitude towards all authority, which
is to obey it where God puts it in place. And when the tax
bill comes, just pay it. Don't wait till the judge hauls,
you know, they haul you before the judge and, you know, make
you pay it or go to jail. Our Lord taught us to pay our
taxes. He said, he said, you know, that
when they ask you, should you, is it right to pay taxes of Caesars?
So who pictures on it? Well, then render unto Caesars
of things that are Caesars and unto God, the things that are
God honored whom honors do. And I know our taxes are too
high, but don't cheat on them because cheating on them, you
know what you're doing? You're cheating God. God put that authority
in place. It's just like trying to cheat
God. And they're too high. And the only thing I can tell
you about that is vote for somebody who's in favor of less taxes
and less government. But until then, pay the taxes. And even when you vote against
them, now, give them the respect that's due their office. Over
the course of my lifetime, there's been a number of presidents who
honestly have done nothing to deserve the respect of the American
public. Not one thing. But their office
is still do it. Just give them the respect that's
due their office. God will take care of it. This lady didn't
take care of it. It goes back to where we started,
you know, talking about the believer's responsibilities in chapter 12.
It's just a reasonable service. It's reasonable to give these
people the respect that's due their authority that God gave
them. All right, well, we'll quit there.