Grow With Pastor Joe

The famous American novelist Mark Twain famously said, “Never discuss politics or religion in polite company.” In today’s culture, it is no longer taboo to discuss either subject openly, however, in today’s degenerated society there is hostility about both subjects. Of course, the hostility that is displayed depends upon your own personal perspective of each. The reality is that both politics and religion make the world go ‘round. The two can’t be separated. Everything in your everyday life is impacted by theological and political implications. Every moral decision comes back to theology, but every political issue goes back to theology as well. The Bible is our sole authority for not just theological truth, but then the political, moral, and everyday issues that are compounded together. Whatever you affirm theologically will show up in your moral attitude and political actions. As citizens of the United States, we are privileged to life in the nation with the most individual liberties and freedoms. These freedoms come with great responsibility. They shouldn’t be taken lightly, ignored, or be unused. What about us as Christians? There is an identity issue amongst most proclaiming Christians today. Most are more American than they are Christian. Many are more attached or even more aware of what it means to be an American than they are committed to their faith. Today, believers must understand the truth that we are dual citizens of two kingdoms, both of which I would argue are at war with another. Where will your allegiance be? Your country, or Christ? The kingdoms of the earth, this includes all nations, tribes, and people are temporary. Every empire and nation have one thing in common; it has ended or statistically will end. However, Christ’s kingdom has no end because He has no beginning or ending of His reign. His rule and reign can’t be challenged. He doesn’t need to campaign. He doesn’t need your vote. He is God. He is King of Kings. He is Lord of Lords. He rules and reigns sovereignly forever. Psalm 90:2 says, “² Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”

For each of us who know Christ, we have a relationship and responsibility to both kingdoms; yet our allegiance to Christ supersedes all other allegiances. Nothing and no one should have as much influence on our life as Him. His policies don’t change. His character is pure. His ways are only good, right, and just. His rule is perfect and powerful, reaching throughout every inch of the universe. As we continue our study of Romans, we now enter into Romans 13:1-7 which 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. ² Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. ³ 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 praise of the same: ⁴ 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. ⁵ Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. ⁶ For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. ⁷ Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” It is incredible that God in His providence has brought us to this passage as our nation is filled with rioting, looting, and protesting. While this takes place here in America, there are two major conflicts with a third on the horizon, all of this impacts the world and are being influenced by our nation’s leaders. Politics and religion are kind of a big deal right now. God wants you to be a faithful citizen of His kingdom by being a gospel fueled grace filled citizen of the temporary world that we live in and under. This passage is simple, yet it is misunderstood and misapplied greatly by a whole spectrum of people (we’ll cover this perhaps another sermon). It comes down to this, there is authority in both the physical and spiritual world. And all are to some degree under the authority of another except for the Lord itself. How are we to live submitting to the authorities over our lives? Understand first and foremost, our hope is in King Jesus, His eternal sovereign rule, His coming Kingdom, and current activities in the world to bring about His purposes. With that said, I still must yield myself to the authorities that are in place in this world. Let me give you an example: Why do you wear a seatbelt, pay taxes, don’t go on killing sprees, and not steal groceries from the store? Because of the law. Period. It is funny that as Americans, we are so privileged with personal freedom that we naturally are bent to not trusting any authority, questioning all authority, skirting the boundaries of authority, and outright rebelling against it. It is the most American thing you can do after all.

As Paul is writing, He is writing as a man who has been under Jewish Law, Roman Law, and God’s Law. He is writing to believers who are living under Emperor Nero. Many believe that he was crazy or even demonic. His reign was brutal and under his rule, Christians were persecuted and much of Rome was burned up in a terrible fire of which the blame was placed upon the Christians of the area. Notice in the passage that Paul doesn’t say someone should assassinate Nero because he is a wicked ruler. Paul doesn’t say to rebel against the common laws of the empire. He speaks to the fact that all powers that be are under God’s authority and that we are to submit to authority because authority comes from God. Ouch. Gulp. Gasp. How are we to submit to God’s authority and the government’s authority (especially when it is corrupt) when they seem incompatible? I know that each of us have a million perspectives, thoughts, opinions, and responses to these verses, but today we will focus in on God’s sovereign authority in Rom. 13:1-2 to help introduce this passage. Hold your questions and tell your “Yeah, BUTS” to just hold their horses. Let’s see what God says about these issues, and truly it couldn’t be a better time to see these truths from God’s word.

First, we must see God’s infinite authority. Rom. 13:1-2 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. ² Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” Look at the phrase, “for there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” God is behind all authority because all earthly authority is bestowed by Him. Any earthly authority is just borrowed from God because it belongs to Him alone. He is the source of all authority, structure, and order in the world. From the beginning of the Bible, God’s authority and attributes are asserted through His actions of creation, covenant, the cross, the church, and the coming consummation of all things. From the garden of Eden to the glories of eternity, God’s authority is infinite. Sadly, in the garden of Eden, Man (Adam, the Federal Head of humanity) rejected God’s authority and rebelled against His rule. All sin does the same thing. Sin is a momentary rejection of God’s infinite authority to rule and reign. All of God’s attributes are full, complete, perfect, and unchanging. He is who He is all the time in all fullness of essence and expression. This means that the eternal God is infinite in His authority. Either God has all authority or none at all. His infinite authority is declared in His name because His nature is revealed through His name. He is the self-existent, self-sufficient, supreme, sovereign, all knowing, all powerful, and eternally present Lord of the universe. God’s infinite authority means that there is no limit or boundary except for His own nature. He will not and cannot do anything that would contradict His character. His hand is authoritative and active throughout all of human history because without His authority and activity there would be no humanity or history. His authority is infinite because it covers all of nature. He created it therefore it falls under His controlling authority and jurisdiction. Isa. 45:5-12 says, “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: ⁶ That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. ⁷ I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things. ⁸ Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it. ⁹ Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? ¹⁰ Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? ¹¹ Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. ¹² I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.” Furthermore, His infinite authority reaches not just all of nature, but every nation (people, tribe, tongue – all of life is His). This is seen in Daniel’s prayer in Dan. 2:20-23 and countless other exclamations in the scriptures. Pr. 21:1-2 says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. ² Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.” For a combination of the two, go read Ps. 135 to see His infinite authority that reaches throughout all of nature and over all nations.

Second, we must see God’s institutional authority. God is infinite in His authority but has chosen to rule through the earthly institutions that He established to bring about the fulfillment of His purposes and plans. The Bible presents this truth. From the garden to glory, God’s sovereign authority rules through representatives who are servants and stewards. The institutional authority of God is His authority seen through human administrations. God’s eternal purposes and plans are brought about through His authority and activity through the participation of people. Notice, Rom. 13:1-2 plainly states that all authorities are “ordained” by God. The word “ordained” is the word “tasso” which means, to place, to draw up in order, to arrange in place, assign or dispose to a certain position, order or lot or to a particular task, to ordain or to designate. There are three major institutions to keep rule, law, order, and governance over man. Each one is directed and derived by God. Each one is distinct from the other, yet influential with the others. Each has a specific sphere of authority, structure, and stewardship. This means that each one has a special heavenly and earthly relationship and responsibility. There are three institutions, and each one could have its own sermon, but throughout the larger passage of Rom. 13:1-7, each one will be addressed. Each one as well has a type or representing figure (hang tight). So, what are they, I know you’re just dying to find out.

One, God’s institutional authority begins with the family unit. God established the family with the federal head of the human race, Adam in the garden of Eden. Adam was to faithfully operate as God’s representative administrator to have dominion over His creation. God gave Adam a sphere of authority, structure, and stewardship. This was not just over the plants and animals. God’s greater purposes were for Adam to operate as prophet, priest, and king of creation and Adam’s home made of Eve, his wife, and then his children. The family unit is Godward first. The authority of the home rises and falls on the husband of the wife and father of the children. He is to love the Lord, his wife, and his children. He is to be led by the Lord in order to lovingly lead his wife and kids. The home has a rod which is for educational and disciplinary purposes (Pr. 29:15). This institution is where God for implemented His word, work, and will in the world. As goes the family goes the world. There are distinct roles and responsibilities for all in the home, but the question is, why would we expect a wife or children to follow the leadership of the husband when he refuses to fall under the authorities above him? For further study, read Eph. 5:21-6:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7.

Two, God’s institutional authority continues to government or the state as we may say. God established government in the Garden of Eden. Unfortunately, God’s man fell and in him all others have done likewise. God is the only unfailing governmental leader. We see that the governments of the world derive their authority from God. They are to be His representatives as seen in Rom. 13:1-7. They bear the sword which is used in keeping common, civil, and capital law (this includes capital punishment). God’s intention for institutional government is not for the benefit of lifelong politicians but for the good of the citizens. His concern was the protection of a nation’s borders and the benevolence of the people. God recognizes nations, governments, borders, and rulers. They are to answer to Him and will answer to Him (Ps. 2). Government is not bad, but governing wickedly is. However, God has used countless wicked rulers, governments, and nations to accomplish His plans and purposes (Ex. Nebuchadnezzar in Jer. 27:4-7).

Three, God’s institutional authority stretches to the local church. Christ is the head of the Body the Church. Within the local church, God has given structure of leadership (Eph. 4; Acts; 1 Tim. 3-5). The church bears the keys of the kingdom representing the ministry of edification, exhortation, and excommunication. The church is made up of individuals and families. The church is under the authority of Jesus. It is His Church. He bought it, He builds it, He belongs to it, and He will bring it to Himself. God has ordained these institutions for the good of man and for His own glory’s sake. God desires and has designed structure, leadership, and order. Each one has their own sphere of stewardship and structure, yet each one falls under the infinite umbrella of God’s authority. It is not His desire or design that any of the above institutions would usurp authority, but rather it is His desire that they would submit to His infinite authority.

Third, we must see God’s instructional authority. Now, this idea will be seen as God’s infinite authority has given instructions to all institutions and individuals. Our relationship with Jesus demands responsibility to Him and all that He has ordained, including those three institutions. You are responsible to humbly and faithfully live under authority from the moment you were born and then ultimately throughout eternity. Let me address this, in one sense, God alone is worthy of submission, but He has established these institutions and instructed us on how to submit, when to submit, why we submit, and when or if there are exceptions. In Rom. 13:1-2 there are two major instructions given and I don’t like them as much as you don’t, but God’s word carries all authority over our lives. We are instructed first to have “every soul be subject.” We are subjected to the authority of the scriptures and indwelling Holy Spirit. We are subject to the institutional authorities that God has ordained. The word “subject” is the word “hupatasso” which was a military term meaning to submit to or file under higher rank. In non-military use, it was a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden. This is a present imperative which demands continual obedience. This subjection is unconditional, yet it is limited. There are boundaries and limits. The limit is simply this, if man forbids what God commands or if man commands what God forbids then it is time to make an appeal, respectfully rebel, or flee. There are countless examples throughout the Bible as seen in (Ex. 1:17; Dan. 1-6; Acts 4). It is seen in a culmination in Acts 5:29 which says, “²⁹ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” The way that we live subjected to institutional authority, whether evil or good, is by focusing our attention on the Lord’s rule, not the leaders who are ruling. Know that the hand of every earthly authority must answer to the hand of God’s infinite authority. Rest in His sovereign righteous right hand. He is working in and through all circumstances to bring about His divine greater good purposes. Look through the government so that you can see God’s rule and reign through them. The second instruction here is for us to not only be subject to the powers that be (whether we like them or not), but to not resist because to resist the powers that be is to resist God’s ordained structure. As it has been said, when God wants to judge a nation, He gives them wicked rulers. Sound familiar? To resist here means to put on hostile battle array to come against an establishment. It is the attitude and actions of hostility or hatred. The idea here is simple; God forbids that we would be habitually hostile to institutional authority. Now, that doesn’t always look like a militia running drills or doing covert operations against the government. It looks like this, “I don’t care what law is…they can’t tell me what to do…I ain’t paying my taxes…he’s not my president.” Guilty yet? These verses actually indicate that we fall under God’s wrath and judgment when we reject His authority by way of rejecting His institutional authority.            

I’m a rebel at heart and so are you. We root for underdogs and rebels. We hate authority. We hate subjugating ourselves to another’s rule over our life. We hate all of these things because we want to be in God’s place, but that attitude should have no place in our hearts. We need once again to be conquered by the gospel, grace, and glory of Jesus Christ so that we would submit to God’s infinite, institutional, and instructional authority. We need to understand God’s sovereign authority so that we would place ourselves under it completely. It is for our own good and His glory. We also must ask ourselves if there are institutions that we aren’t subjecting ourselves to. Is our heart or home out of order? Do we seek to usurp authority or abuse it? Will we make Christ alone, His word, work, and will be our authority for all of life? Until we can submit humbly, biblically, and faithfully to the institutional authority in our life, then we will not truly be submitted to God’s infinite authority over our life. We are responsible to subject to God’s rule overall. Will you remain a rebel without a cause? May we respond rightly to and rest in God’s sovereign authority in all areas of life.