Grace Community ChurchGrace Community ChurchApril 26, 2009April 26, 2009

God and GovernmentGod and GovernmentRomans 13:1-7Romans 13:1-7

A Living SacrificeA Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:19-20Romans 12:19-2019 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, Beloved, never avenge yourselves,

but leave it to the wrath of God, for it but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” repay, says the Lord.” 20 20 To the To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his you will heap burning coals on his head.”head.”

Romans 13:1-2Romans 13:1-21 1 Let every person be subject to the Let every person be subject to the

governing authorities. For there is no governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by that exist have been instituted by God. God. 2 2 Therefore whoever resists the Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. incur judgment.

Romans 13:3-4Romans 13:3-43 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, For rulers are not a terror to good conduct,

but to bad. Would you have no fear of the but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, good, and you will receive his approval, 4 4

for he is God’s servant for your good. But for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

Romans 13:5Romans 13:55 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, Therefore one must be in subjection,

not only to avoid God’s wrath but not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.also for the sake of conscience.

Romans 13:6-7Romans 13:6-76 6 For because of this you also pay For because of this you also pay

taxes, for the authorities are taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this ministers of God, attending to this very thing. very thing. 7 7 Pay to all what is owed Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Jeremiah 29:4-7Jeremiah 29:4-74 4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to

all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 5 Build houses and live in Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 6 Take Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decreasedaughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. . 7 7

But seek the welfare of the city where I have But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.welfare.

How do we seek the city’s How do we seek the city’s well being?well being?

• Romans 13:1-7 Submit to the governmentRomans 13:1-7 Submit to the government• 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Pray for our leaders1 Timothy 2:1-4 Pray for our leaders• Matthew 5:13-15 Be Salt…Matthew 5:13-15 Be Salt…

– Individually: Live and speak righteously.Individually: Live and speak righteously.– Collectively: Be a part of the political process.Collectively: Be a part of the political process.

“…“…from these honored dead we take from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”earth.”

Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln

How do we seek the city’s How do we seek the city’s well being?well being?

• Romans 13:1-7 Submit to the governmentRomans 13:1-7 Submit to the government• 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Pray for our leaders1 Timothy 2:1-4 Pray for our leaders• Matthew 5:13-15 Be Salt…Matthew 5:13-15 Be Salt…

– Individually: Live and speak righteously.Individually: Live and speak righteously.– Collectively: Be a part of the political process.Collectively: Be a part of the political process.

• http://www.iowachristian.comhttp://www.iowachristian.com

• Matthew 5:13-15 Be Light…Matthew 5:13-15 Be Light…– Individually: Receive and be transformed by Christ.Individually: Receive and be transformed by Christ.– Collectively: The only hope for culture is Christ.Collectively: The only hope for culture is Christ.