Render Unto Caesar

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This message is part of a series of messages over the Book of Romans. This sermon introduces the first several verses of Romans 13 concerning submission to governing authorities.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

The message today addresses a topic that is probably considered controversial, which means that there are a variety of views and opinions about how the text should be interpreted for modern Christians.

As you can see by reading just the very first verse of Romans 13, the topic is about the believer’s responsibility to civil authorities or the government.

I want to introduce the subject by sharing some quotes that I’ve found in Draper's Book of Quotations …

Plato, The philosopher (428-348 B.C.) – “The penalty that good men pay for not being interested in politics is to be governed by men worse than themselves.”

George Washington – “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”

Calvin Coolidge – “The foundation of our society and of our government rests so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings should cease.”

Charles Colson – “Government originated as an ordinance of God. It is, in one sense, God's response to the nature of the people themselves. While it cannot redeem the world or be used as a tool to establish the kingdom of God, civil government does set the boundaries for human behavior. The state is not a remedy for sin, but a means to restrain it.”

Charles Colson – “While human politics is based on the premise that society must be changed in order to change people, in the politics of the kingdom it is people who must be changed in order to change society.”

The duties and obligations of government and citizens to each other is the topic of endless debates among Christians and non-Christians alike. Apparently the Apostle Paul realized that there was a need for him to address this issue even with Christians living in the first century. He is writing to believers living in Rome, which was the capital of the empire.

We are studying the portion of Paul’s letter in which he has been talking about how the principles of salvation through Christ should affect the conduct of believers. He definitely believes that faith in Christ should impact the conduct of the believer.

A couple of weeks ago, we noticed in 12:1 that the first priority in the conduct of a Christian is a total and complete consecration of himself to God. Now, it makes sense for him to explain how their respect for civil authority is really connected to their consecration to God, because “there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” If they are going to be truly consecrated to God, then that includes giving honor and obedience to God-ordained rulers.

[I didn’t have time to go through the outline as given, so I hit some highlights and “ad-libbed”.]

D. Christian conduct involves respect for authority. (13:1-7)

i. Respect for authority is expected. (1, 5)

Exodus 22:28 (NKJV) "You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

a. Respect includes submission. (1, 5a)

The point is, don’t be rebellious or revolutionary against legitimate authorities.

b. Submission involves compelling reasons. (5b)

ii. Respect for authority is explained. (1b-4)

Immediately after commanding that the Christian believers be submitted to the governing authorities, Paul explains why it is necessary and reasonable to do so.

a. Authority is ordained by God. (1b)

“For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”

There are several OT passages of Scripture that I think will shed some light on what Paul says in the second part of verse 1.

Proverbs 21:1 (NKJV) The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Proverbs was written by King Solomon; a man who followed God, so he could say the king’s heart is in the hand of God, but…

The next two passages were written by prophets who lived and prophesied during the times of foreign occupation and under the reigns of kings who were not God-fearing men. And yet, hear what the Word says about God’s authority over them.

 Jeremiah 27:6-7 (NKJV) And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant; and the beasts of the field I have also given him to serve him. ⁷  So all nations shall serve him and his son and his son's son, until the time of his land comes; and then many nations and great kings shall make him serve them.

Daniel 2:20-21 (NKJV) Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. ²¹  And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.

Daniel 4:17 (NKJV) 'This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.'

b. To resist authority means resisting God. (2)

Since all authority is ordained by God; i.e. He raises up rulers and puts down rulers, then it is only logical to conclude that rebelling against authorities is the same as rebelling against God.

Sometimes in Scripture, God is portrayed as raising up specific rulers to bring judgment upon the nation for their corruption and immorality.

To rebel against the authorities is to rebel against God, which will result in bring condemnation upon ourselves.

God is still sovereign, and while He certainly allows rulers and kings to exercise free will, just like He does all human beings, yet there is nothing a king or ruler can do to frustrate God’s overall plan for the world and humanity.

There is nothing that the Republican Party or the Democrat Party can do to overrule God’s divine purposes for our nation or our world.

c. Authorities serve God by promoting good. (3-4) 

iii. Respect for authority includes appropriate support. (6-7)

a. Support is given through required taxes. (6)

b. Support is given through attitudes and actions. (7)

Conclusion:

We have the responsibility to live as citizens of two kingdoms.

Let us close by singing a hymn that has some very appropriate words, which apply to the topic of today’s message:

We Are Called To Be God’s People    

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