Showing posts with label government authority. Show all posts
Showing posts with label government authority. Show all posts

March 26, 2013

Journey to see God: Romans 13 - all about who pays dues to whom

Today's message requires broader look through what Jesus Himself had directly spoken. The issues of authority and due: Today's Christians live in a faithless and perverse generation (Matthew 17:17), where lawlessness abound (Matthew 24:12). How to apply the ordinances of the Kingdom of God in a godless world?
Jesus spoke on the subject. Take heed what He has said and be discerning spiritually. The only authority is God.

Satan is the ruler of this world (until he is removed at the end)
John 14:30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.
John 16:11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
The rulers of the world do not believe in Jesus Christ; they sneered at Him and crucified Him. They will do the same to those who follow Jesus to the end
Luke 23:35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”
Luke 24:20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.
Luke 21:12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.

___________________now read Romans 13
Romans 13 is all about dues: to the rulers, between citizens, and dues to self, as the citizens of the Kingdom of God, yet living in a physical human world. Rulers pay dues too -to the ultimate authority, God.
God is the final Judge. The Lord Jesus Christ will come again to Judge the secrets of men, the living and the dead. (2 Timothy 4:1; Romans 2:16)
Romans 13
Governing authorities – receive dues for appointment
1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by GodTherefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evilTherefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
(Note the definition of qualified 'rulers/authorities' - appointed by God, keep the ordinances of God, not a terror to good works, minister to God's people for good, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. )
Love is a due
Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
(Love one another is the only dues payable between citizens of the Kingdom of God!)
Make sure you receive your due!
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. 
(Citizens of the Kingdom of God also receive dues: Each has received Jesus Christ, and is entitled to put on Him, become the righteousness of God!)

________________________Matthew 22:21
They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

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