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.
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. Romans 13:3,4.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. Romans 13:5
For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Romans 13:6
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due: custom to whom custom: fear to whom fear: honour to whom honour. Romans 13:7
The government is to maintain law and order. When it does not do that, it has failed. I feel that a Christian should be opposed to the breakdown of law and order. We are to respect our rulers that are enforcing the law. I have great respect for our army, although it is honeycombed with corruption. I have great respect for police officers, although I know they make mistakes.
Christians are to obey the law not only because we'll be judged and have to pay a fine if we don't, but obey for conscience sake.
Although we may resent the way our tax money is being used, we are to pay taxes anyway.
The word for minister is one from which we get our word liturgy. It is strictly religious and is the same word used of angels in Hebrews 1:14 where they are called ministering spirits. This means that the ruler occupies a divinely-appointed office. He has no religious function, of course, but he holds a God-appointed office. That makes me pay my taxes, although I resent doing so.
Although there may be unworthy men in the office, we are to respect the office. We are to show respect for authority. A Christian will be the best citizen although his citizenship is in heaven.
Showing posts with label J Vernon McGee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label J Vernon McGee. Show all posts
Our Relationship To Government (Part 3)
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Romans 13:2
In other words, anyone resisting the authority is resisting the ordinance of God. And those resisting shall receive for themselves judgment.
The principle stated in verse 1 raises many questions which the following verses amplify and explain. This verse seems to preclude the possibility of a believer having any part in rebellion or revolution. What about it? The believer has opposed bad government and supported good government on the theory that good government is the one ordained of God. The believer is for law and order, as over against corruption and rank injustice. At great moments of crisis in history-- and that's where we are today --the believers have had difficult decisions to make.
Christianity never became a movement to improve government, help society, or clean up the town. The gospel was the power of God unto salvation of the individual. Paul never went around telling about the deplorable conditions of Roman jails -- and he knew them there. It is very difficult to say that we are to obey a corrupt government. There is corruption in government from the top to the bottom, and it is not confined to one party.
What is the Christian to do? My business is to get out the Word of God, and my business is to obey the law. That is what Paul is saying here. Christianity is not a movement to improve government or to help society clean up the town. It is to preach a gospel that is the power of God unto salvation which will bring into existence individuals like the men who signed the Declaration of Independence and gave us a government of laws. There is nothing wrong with our form of government; there is something wrong with the individuals who are in positions of power.
"America is int he hands of those who do not understand the spiritual heritage that we have."
Romans, Vol II, J Vernon McGee
In other words, anyone resisting the authority is resisting the ordinance of God. And those resisting shall receive for themselves judgment.
The principle stated in verse 1 raises many questions which the following verses amplify and explain. This verse seems to preclude the possibility of a believer having any part in rebellion or revolution. What about it? The believer has opposed bad government and supported good government on the theory that good government is the one ordained of God. The believer is for law and order, as over against corruption and rank injustice. At great moments of crisis in history-- and that's where we are today --the believers have had difficult decisions to make.
Christianity never became a movement to improve government, help society, or clean up the town. The gospel was the power of God unto salvation of the individual. Paul never went around telling about the deplorable conditions of Roman jails -- and he knew them there. It is very difficult to say that we are to obey a corrupt government. There is corruption in government from the top to the bottom, and it is not confined to one party.
What is the Christian to do? My business is to get out the Word of God, and my business is to obey the law. That is what Paul is saying here. Christianity is not a movement to improve government or to help society clean up the town. It is to preach a gospel that is the power of God unto salvation which will bring into existence individuals like the men who signed the Declaration of Independence and gave us a government of laws. There is nothing wrong with our form of government; there is something wrong with the individuals who are in positions of power.
"America is int he hands of those who do not understand the spiritual heritage that we have."
Romans, Vol II, J Vernon McGee
Our Relationship To Government (Part 2)
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. Romans 13:1
We are to submit ourselves to governmental authorities for the very simple reason that tehy are ordained of God. It is true that the kingdoms of this world belong to Satan, and injustice and corruption abound in all governments; yet God still has control. History is the monotonous account of how a government flourished for a time in pomp and pride and then was brought to ruin and rubble. Why? Because corruption and lawlessness became rampant. As it did, God brought the government to an end. God still rules --even over this earth. God has not abdicated His throne; He is riding triumphantly in His own chariot. Neither is He disturbed about what is happening on this earth.
You will recall that when Uzziah, king of Judah, died, Isaiah was disturbed and very much discouraged. Uzziah had been a good king, and Isaiah thought the government would disintegrate after he was gone. So Isaiah went into the temple, which is a good place to go at a time like that. He came into God's presence, and he saw the Lord sitting upon the throne, high and lifted up. In other words, God had not abdicated. Uzziah was dead, but God was not dead. God was still on the throne.
Now the allegiance of the Christian is to that throne. And his relationship to his government on earth is submission.
Romans, Vol II, J Vernon McGee
We are to submit ourselves to governmental authorities for the very simple reason that tehy are ordained of God. It is true that the kingdoms of this world belong to Satan, and injustice and corruption abound in all governments; yet God still has control. History is the monotonous account of how a government flourished for a time in pomp and pride and then was brought to ruin and rubble. Why? Because corruption and lawlessness became rampant. As it did, God brought the government to an end. God still rules --even over this earth. God has not abdicated His throne; He is riding triumphantly in His own chariot. Neither is He disturbed about what is happening on this earth.
You will recall that when Uzziah, king of Judah, died, Isaiah was disturbed and very much discouraged. Uzziah had been a good king, and Isaiah thought the government would disintegrate after he was gone. So Isaiah went into the temple, which is a good place to go at a time like that. He came into God's presence, and he saw the Lord sitting upon the throne, high and lifted up. In other words, God had not abdicated. Uzziah was dead, but God was not dead. God was still on the throne.
Now the allegiance of the Christian is to that throne. And his relationship to his government on earth is submission.
Romans, Vol II, J Vernon McGee
Our Relationship To Government (Part 1)
Romans 13:1-7
As we come to chapter 13, we still are talking about the service of the sons of God. We are going to see that the believer has citizenship in heaven, but he also is a citizen in the world down here, which gives him a twofold responsibility. If there is a conflict between the two, always our first responsibility is to our Lord in heaven.
The Lord Jesus made it very clear that we have a responsibility to human government. You remember that He was asked by His enemies, "Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, or no?" He asked them to show Him a coin. He asked them whose superscription and whose image was on that coin. They said, "Caesar's." Then He made this significant statement, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's" (Luke 20:25).
Governments are ordained of God, and He gave them certain authority. We live in a day when evil is called good, and good is called evil. However, believers have responsibility to human government. In fact, Paul said to a young preacher, "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 peaceful life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour (I Timothy 2:1-3). By the way, we are to pray for those in authority, not leave it to the preacher on Sunday morning.
The duty of the believer as a citizen of heaven is spiritual. The duty of a believer as a citizen under a government is secular. These two are separate functions, and to combine them is to fail to keep church and state separate and distinct.
The Jew in Paul's day was reluctant to bow before the proud Roman state. Jewry had fomented disturbances in the city of Rome, and as the result Claudius had banished them on one occasion. The proud Pharisees rejected the Roman authorities in Palestine in their desire to restore the government to the nation of Israel; it was they who masterminded the encounter with Jesus and raised the issue, "Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?" The implications smacked of revolution, as you can see. It is well to remember that the authorities in Paul's day were mad and murderous. Nero was on the throne of Rome, and there was Pilate and Herod --all a bunch of rascals, yet he said that believers were to obey those in authority.
Romans, Volume II, J Vernon McGee
As we come to chapter 13, we still are talking about the service of the sons of God. We are going to see that the believer has citizenship in heaven, but he also is a citizen in the world down here, which gives him a twofold responsibility. If there is a conflict between the two, always our first responsibility is to our Lord in heaven.
The Lord Jesus made it very clear that we have a responsibility to human government. You remember that He was asked by His enemies, "Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, or no?" He asked them to show Him a coin. He asked them whose superscription and whose image was on that coin. They said, "Caesar's." Then He made this significant statement, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's" (Luke 20:25).
Governments are ordained of God, and He gave them certain authority. We live in a day when evil is called good, and good is called evil. However, believers have responsibility to human government. In fact, Paul said to a young preacher, "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 peaceful life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour (I Timothy 2:1-3). By the way, we are to pray for those in authority, not leave it to the preacher on Sunday morning.
The duty of the believer as a citizen of heaven is spiritual. The duty of a believer as a citizen under a government is secular. These two are separate functions, and to combine them is to fail to keep church and state separate and distinct.
The Jew in Paul's day was reluctant to bow before the proud Roman state. Jewry had fomented disturbances in the city of Rome, and as the result Claudius had banished them on one occasion. The proud Pharisees rejected the Roman authorities in Palestine in their desire to restore the government to the nation of Israel; it was they who masterminded the encounter with Jesus and raised the issue, "Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?" The implications smacked of revolution, as you can see. It is well to remember that the authorities in Paul's day were mad and murderous. Nero was on the throne of Rome, and there was Pilate and Herod --all a bunch of rascals, yet he said that believers were to obey those in authority.
Romans, Volume II, J Vernon McGee
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