Romans Lesson 23

Introduction

Very pleasant good day to you. Welcome to Let the Bible speak. I’d like to encourage you to get your Bibles and be turning to the book of Romans, where today we’re going to be studying Romans chapter 13. If you recall and been studying along with us, regall in our last lesson, it closed chapter 12, closed with some admonitions concerning how to deal with our enemies, even to return good for evil. Not evil for evil, but rather return good. He says, don’t even be overcome of evil. Obviously that raises some questions in our minds. How is that possible? In fact, many of the admonitions that you find in the Bible for Christians to observe seem so hard to do. I’ve had one individual who just said it’s just so hard, it seems, to be a Christian.

How can a Christian live in this secular world? We find other things going on that the world at least conforms with different practices, and in fact it’s a me generation attitude. How are you able to struggle against that spirit of selfishness if you don’t just get in there and fight for your own rights? Perhaps even you don’t like the laws of the land. What should you do if you don’t really like the laws of the land? Can you just ignore them and disobey them? Or maybe what about dealing with with people of this world who really uh have mistreated you? Should you not get evil for evil? I mean, you know, your neighbor sometimes doesn’t treat you like you’d want to be treated, so why don’t you get in there and fight with him?

In fact, if he gets in your way, just push him aside. Do your own thing. The philosophy, even of this secular world is uh, you know, do what you want to do. Fleshly desire us. You fulfill any desire or less that you may have. That’s the world’s thinking. In fact, if you’re not doing that, they probably look upon you as rather narrow-minded and foolish. Humanism today says, do what you want to do. How can a Christian live in this secular world with the attitudes that are so prevalent? Well, Romans chapter 13 is really just one chapter in a series of chapters, as this book of Romans concludes with several exhortations of what it really means to be a living sacrifice unto God. And I would say to you that a person cannot understand how it is that he’s able to overcome evil with good until he understands what total consecration to God is all about.

In fact, you may recall in Romans chapter 12, he said, I beseech you by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice. Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. When we understand something about the mercy of God and the great sacrifice he’s made for us, then we begin to transform our own thinking. But the Christian who transforms his thinking in his life begins to understand that it is really the good way to live. Not only is it good, it’s acceptable to God, and it’s the perfect way to live. He finds really, rather than being so hard, such a climb upstream, you might say, or swimming upstream, he finds that, in fact, when he begins to put on the mind of Christ, it’s the best way to live.

1. Obey Civil Government

It’s a way of peace. It’s a way of a peace that surpasseth understanding. The Apostle Paul said to Philippians 4 in verse 7. Well, in our lesson today from Romans chapter 13, we’re going to see at least three of the applications of these of these exhortations. One has to do with civil government. How can we live in this world when we may not like the laws of the land? If you have your Bibles open now to Romans 13, let’s read the first seven verses. Romans 13, beginning in verse 1. 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. Whosoever therefore resisted the power, resisted the ordinance of God, and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

For rulers are not of 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 praise of the same. For he is the 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. Wherefore you must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also, for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Now, before we begin to discuss what this text says, let us remind you that this was written in a time when really to the Christian, and even to the Jew particularly who had obeyed the gospel, it was not pleasant to their ears. I mean, it it goes against the grain of what comes automatic or ins uh uh instinctively. You see, the Jew had long since rebelled and resented even the Roman rule that had required taxes of them and put them in subjection. And it wasn’t an easy thing to want to submit to the higher power to the government. And really, shortly after this was written, there was persecution of Christians, Nero and then many Caesars that followed him, put many Christians to death because of their faith in the Christ.

But yet, in this short text, the apostle says there is a responsibility of Christians to the higher powers. And the reason is because God ordained it. What he really says, in essence, is the principle of civil government has been ordained by God. Therefore, we ought to obey the government. Obey civil government. Now, God has not ordained one particular form of government over another. That is, uh, whether it’s a monarchy with its king, or whether, like we live in a republic with democratic process of electing officials, or whether it whether it be one who is a dictator. Really, the Bible doesn’t say one is better than another form of government, but the principle of government has been ordained by God. A society for it to exist, has to have leadership, has to have authority, has to have one who can punish the evil and praise or do good unto those who do good.

Government itself is ordained by God. And not only is this found in Romans 13, but look with me, for example, in 1 Peter, where the inspired apostle Peter said in chapter 2 in verses 13 through 15, submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether it be to the king as supreme, or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God that with well-doing you put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Though there may be some mistreatment even at times by government, yet the Christian’s responsibility is to be the good citizen that obeys the law of the land. In Titus chapter 3 and verse 1, he said, put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work.

You see, the reason for this, as in Romans 13, is that God has ordained these. That is, he set up, he’s appointed there to be the principle of government. And in Romans 13 and 2, in fact, he says, Whosoever therefore resisted the power isn’t just resisting the power. He says, You’re resisting God. And they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus said even to his disciples, fear not them that are able to kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. You see, the higher power, really, the highest of all powers is God. Now the reality is that civil leaders ought to recognize that their power really came from God.

That civil government or authority of man, any man, it inherits, first of all, with God. You may remember Jesus before Pilate reminded Pilate of that very point. In John 19 and verse 11, he said to Pilate, You’d have no power, were it not given thee from above. But Jesus didn’t resist even the power that put him to death. The higher powers, while they come of God. And they ought in turn to be responsible before God. Yet our duty is in order to serve them. Yes, yes, through the history of man, there have been governments that have been wicked and cruel. There have been wicked governments that have stood for a period of time, but they soon fell. I love the passages in Daniel chapter 4, at least three different times to Nebuchadnezzar, the prophet Daniel said in Daniel 4 17 and verse 25 and also 32 that it is God who raises up and puts down those whom he will.

So it may be that for a period of time God allows. For example, even the first and second centuries, he allowed some wicked Caesars. But did that Roman Empire fall? It certainly did. And other wicked rulers have come to an end. Because as Proverbs 14 and verse 34 says, righteousness exalteth a nation, but iniquity or wickedness is a reproach to any people. But looking at the principle of government, society has to have order, and God ordained that there be some order. In fact, he says in verse 3, rulers are not a terror to good works, they’re a terror to evil. In other words, if you’re doing what’s right, you ought not to be afraid of the power. You do what is good, and really you should have the praise from the power.

But look at verse 4. He’s the minister of God. God’s minister. In other words, he’s God’s servant. God’s in control, and therefore he is the one who really has the right to punish the evildoer. In fact, he says he does not bear the sword in vain. The expression bearing the sword really gives it the right to punish the evildoer. Even to the point, yes, even to the point of putting one to death. Capital punishment. The apostle Paul, in fact, did not resist capital punishment. In Acts 25 and verse 11, you remember before Festus he said, If I have done anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die. It may be that if one has broken the law of the land to the point that it’s worthy of capital punishment, the Bible really would even support it.

You know, if this is God’s minister, we must not resist God’s minister. There is only one time in all of the Bible where you read about Christians resisting the powers that be, and it’s the only time even today that we might resist. And that is when the law of the land seeks the Christian to do that which is against God’s law. There is one law above all others, and that’s God’s law. You may remember in Acts chapter 4 in verses 19 and 20, when Peter and John were threatened with the council not to speak at all or teaching the name of Jesus. They replied, whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you, judge ye, for we cannot but speak the things we’ve seen and heard.

Whether it be right to hearken unto you rather than to God, well, we’re going to do what God says. In fact, they went out from the council and began to preach, and they were brought again into that heathen council, and again these Jews said, Look, didn’t we straightly command you not to preach your teaching the name of Jesus? Peter responded, in Acts 5 29, we ought to obey God rather than men. But other than that cause, there is no reason or right for a Christian to disobey the law of the land. We have a responsibility to God in obeying the law of the land. In fact, the scripture says in verses 6 and 7, for this cause pay tribute. Pay your taxes even. They’re God’s ministers.

And in order to enable him to continue on in the service of keeping peace and control in an orderly society, render to all their due. Render what is your responsibility? Whether pay taxes, don’t cheat on the government when it comes tax time. Or custom to whom custom, even the levy of imported or exported goods, or fear, that is reverence to whom reverence and respect is due, honor to whom honor to the Christian. You have an obligation. In fact, one more verse along this line in 1 Timothy chapter 2, where he says in verses 1 and 2, I exhort, therefore, that first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

How do you live in the secular world? Well, you start first of all by obeying God as you obey the law of the land. We’re going to pause for a moment. We’re going to come back and look again at this question, how to live in the secular world even when our when our neighbors don’t really treat us like we would want them to treat us. What do we do? We’ll be back in just one moment. You stay with us. We continue to study in Romans chapter 13, and we’ve been addressing it in the form of a question, how can we live in this secular world? And yet the answer really comes that that the Christian, while he lives in a different lifestyle, he is not conformed to this world.

He is transformed by the renewing of his mind. And he’s able to live in the secular world when he recognizes that he’s really living under God and obeying God. The very Lord who bestowed mercy upon us all that provided eternal life through a gift that we do not deserve, that is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. So we learn through him to sacrifice ourselves. But you know, in the process of changing our lives and living as God would have us, which really seems so different from the secular world, instead of instead of really bringing hurt and harm to ourselves, it gives us an inward peace and joy that that really is not easy to explain to others. As Philippians chapter 4 and verse 7, he talks about a peace that surpasseth understanding.

2. Owe No Man Anything but to Love One Another

And so it is that to serve God, it’s the good, the acceptable, and the perfect will. It really provides a blessing to us all, even in this life. But really, I’m going to raise the question as we read chapter 13, verses 8 through 10, how can we live in this secular world when when others around us are selfish and greedy and they’re doing their own thing.

And if your friends get in the way, just push them aside. Do what you want to do, do all you can do. Get first place the best you can. Romans chapter 8, or Romans chapter 13, verse 8 begins to say something completely different from that. Listen, that’s what the apostle says, owe no man anything but to love one another. For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this thou shalt commit adultery, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

Don’t owe a man anything. But the one thing that a debt that is never paid in full, and that is to love. You see, when he says, Oh no man anything, it isn’t really saying that it’s wrong to to borrow money or that it’s wrong even to buy something on credit. But rather it is saying that when that debt comes due, you pay it. When it comes time for the monthly bills that come in, don’t don’t uh don’t cheat your neighbor. Don’t cheat him by not paying the debt. You you be honorable with all. Let your word be your bond. And in fact, when it comes time, you pay what is due. But there is one debt, and what he’s really getting at, rather than a monetary exchange, when he says, Owe no man anything but to love one another.

Here’s the here’s the underlying admonition, exhortation of this whole context here. That true love, sincere love, is going to do well and good to the fellow man. 1 John chapter 3 and verse 18, he said, Let us not love in word and tongue, but indeed in truth. Sincere love doesn’t just say you love, but its actions are such that proves you love. You see, when he says here that he that loveth another another hath fulfilled the law, again, that does not mean that there’s some kind of emotional feeling that it’s just all encompassing, and it doesn’t matter what else you do. Sometimes that’s been misread and misapplied that way. There are people who say, Oh, you know, you ought to just love, and they smile and they they act as though love is just kind of an emotional feeling for one another, and you hear them act toward God’s word as though the rest of God’s word doesn’t matter.

In fact, it’s often said today, it really doesn’t matter what you do, just so you love.

But when he says here that love is the fulfilling, or he that loves hath fulfilled the law. What he is saying is that how does love fulfill the law? Well, if you really love, you’re going to act as the law directs. If you truly love God, you’ll do what he commands. If you truly love your neighbor, how will you treat him? Well, you’ll treat him as as you would want to be treated. Why what we sometimes refer to as the golden rule in Matthew chapter seven in that great Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, Whatsoever you would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them. In other words, here is what love would do. It treats your neighbor as you would want to be treated, and then as he illustrates the point, he says, For this, or as an illustration, thou should not commit adultery.

Instead, if you really love your neighbor, don’t commit adultery, but maintain the sanctity of marriage. There’s a commitment that you’ve made to your wife or to your husband, and your neighbor has made to his wife or her husband, and therefore don’t violate that commitment. You be pure in your own life, faithful even unto death, that’s what you promise. So don’t violate it. If you really love your neighbor, you won’t lead your your your neighbor’s wife or her husband to commit immorality. If you truly love your neighbor, you’ll not kill, but you’ll help maintain and protect his life. If you truly love your neighbor, you will not steal, but rather you you will even help protect that which is his. If you truly love your neighbor, you’ll not bear false witness, but rather as a friend in integrity of a friend is upheld.

Your work can be dependent upon. If you truly love your neighbor, you’ll not covet that which he has, but instead, in fact, you you will rejoice with him in his good fortune. There, in fact, he says, if there be any other commandment, it’s briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Why? Is it comprehended? That is, if you treat him like you do yourself, you’ll always do him good. In fact, the very next verse is love works no ill. It doesn’t work harm to his neighbor. It only works good to his neighbor. Perhaps you remember the parable or the story Jesus gave about the good Samaritan. And what did he do in Luke chapter 10, verses 25 through 37, when there was that religious uh priest that went by on the other side, and the Levite, the tribe out of which the priest comes.

And and yet uh they went by on the other side when they saw the man beaten and robbed and left for dead. But it was the good Samaritan, the man of mixed blood, even of a different religion, who stopped and illustrated what love really would do. Cared for him, took him back to the end, paid for his way. What does love do? Its characteristics are it’ll never work harm, it’ll only work good. First Corinthians chapter 13, verses 4 through 7 really illustrate the characteristics of love. It’s generous, it’s kind, it’s it think the worst, it thinks the best. Love. Indeed, in this secular world, that isn’t the normal, is it? What this text is saying is not what mankind generally thinks about, but I want to tell you, the man who truly has presented his body as a living sacrifice, Romans chapter 12, verses 1 and 2, who really understands the mercy of God, and thereby is is never is is not conformed to this world, but is transformed, he understands the real meaning of life of living.

3. High Time to Awake Out of Sleep

He is going to obey the law of the land, and he’s going to treat his neighbor as he would want to be treated. But let’s look at the rest of the chapter. In Romans 13, verses 11 through fourteen, he says, And that knowing the time that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent. The day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof.

Now again, the question really sometimes comes up. The world would say, Do your own thing, man. Eat, drink, and be merry. Today we live, tomorrow we may die. Just do what whatever your flesh desires to do. Immorality, drunkenness. Have a good time, man. That’s the thinking of the world. But look at what the apostle exhorts. Though you live in that kind of world, don’t live like the world. Don’t be as of the world. What’s the difference? He says, it’s high time to wake out of sleep. In other words, he’s not just talking about physical sleep. There’s some that go to sleep on the preacher, but that’s not what he’s talking about. He’s saying in a contrast between as though darkness is nighttime and people who are walking in sin, as the Bible often illustrates the contrast between righteousness and sin is light, righteousness, for God is light, first John chapter 1 says, and those who walk in darkness or the nighttime are walking in evil.

So he says, it’s time to wake up. It’s time to get out of indifference and slowfulness. It’s time to serve the Lord. Because, as he said here, the fact is that our salvation is nearer than when we believed. Now, two ways of looking at that. First of all, our salvation is nearer. When person first obeyed the gospel, when he first believed, however, much time has passed, certainly salvation is closer than it was on that particular day. And no matter what age we are, we can still say it’s nearer than when we first obeyed the gospel. But perhaps more than that. The apostle is talking about the second coming of Christ. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 1 through 3, he says that the Lord will come as a thief in the night.

When men are saying peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh. Who knows whether you have tomorrow to live? Our salvation is nearer, for we know not really how soon the coming of Christ will be. Are you ready? It’s high time to wake out of sleep, that is, to turn off or put off darkness or evil to put on righteousness. In James chapter 4, in fact, he says, Go to now, ye that say the day or tomorrow will go into such a city and spend a year there and buy and sell and get gain. You don’t know what’s on tomorrow. What is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away. So what’s the admonition? Cast off the works of darkness.

Change your lifestyle. The apostle in the book of Ephesians, chapter 4 and chapter 5 talks about walking as as people who walk in the light, as people who have put off the old man and put on the new man. And that’s what he’s saying here. Be clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ. Not in not in darkness with rioting and drunkenness. These are the two things when we put into our mouths things that really bend our minds and we lose self-control. Not in those kind of things that cause us to do other evil. Not in chambering and wantonness. Really, literally here, he’s talking about immorality and doing those licentious things that lead to it. Not in strife and envying, not in those things that are sins of discord and attitudes that are wrong.

Put off those things. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lust of the flesh. Philippians chapter 1 and verse 27, the apostle says, You live as becometh the gospel of Christ. Let your life reflect that truly you love the Lord and you’re his child.

Conclusion

You put on Christ Jesus, and you’ll find it’s the best way of life. Until our next study, we bid that the grace and peace of the Lord be with you.