Paul, on right living. How it's done.
Opening Prayer, Father God, again we come together to seek guidance for living as Christians, in our fallen world. Our prayer is that You would lead us in this study of how it is that we are to live at peace and under the authority of those who serve Your purpose in governing a nation that has even ruled Your word, in many instances, out of our public life. We seek to follow the precepts that You have set before us, yet we are conflicted in many such matters where justice seems misapplied. Be with us now and grant us understanding as we study Your word as given to us by Your Apostle Pau..Amen
From here to eternity?
Not until eternity will perfect justice be dispensed on earth. According to His own wise counsel, the Lord has determined that all of the unrighteous will receive their just deserts at the resurrection of the dead. Until then, however, He works through the imperfect means of secular authorities to keep society safe and to protect His people from harm. May we be encouraged not to show antagonism toward the state but rather humble submission when it does things right.
Romans 13:1-5; Earthly Authority, Whose is it?
Rom 13:1-5 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
Discussion
The Lord has given us the secular government for our own well-being, to protect us from anarchy and to keep us safe from those who would do us harm. Secular government often fails, and we must be honest about that, but we are not to be antagonistic toward the authorities, so long as they are appointed by due process of law. That law ordained by God and as such is there to promote good for the general populace. We must remember that Paul wrote this during the reign of the Roman Empire. It was no democracy, and no special friend to Christians - yet he still saw their legitimate authority. Yet there are governments in our world today who do injustice to their populace. Such government injustice does not escape God's notice. (Isiah 10:1- 3)
The reason we are to submit to the governing authorities is because they are God’s servants “for our good”. As a general rule, the laws of any nation are fundamentally designed to discourage wrongful actions and to encourage right and just conduct. Government, like the existence of the family relationship, is a divine institution. But it must be acknowledged, also, that there are boundaries beyond which even imperial or legislative authority may not go.
Questions
1. What drives Governments to pass laws that govern the personal conduct of individuals? 2. Are there cases where “breaking the law” would seem to be justified? 3. Name some instances where civil disobedience has changed our laws. 4. Name an instance where God has determined to let a nation suffer under unjust laws?
Pg.2
Love is all you need
As disciples we are to share God's Love with others as we have experienced in Jesus
Because we can never be out of debt to God, we are called upon to show unending love to our fellow man. So long as we love we cannot injure and this is the Christian ideal fulfilling that which Jesus has called us to do
Romans 13: 6 -14 Do what is right. What is right.?
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not covet," and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Discussion
My Grandmother was a very responsible and prudent manager of our home. In the process of managing time, money, supplies, and physical effort, and with a determined work ethic, her motto was “ keep all your responsibilities in front of you, do not procrastinate”. To me this meant, Focus, do not let anything worth doing get behind in the doing of it. Pay debts on time, do not slack in any effort, and take no shortcuts in any honest endeavor. (Deu 11:18) These laws and ordinances that Paul is speaking about are the very principles that God is speaking about in his admonishing his people in the days when he was leading them in the wilderness thousands of years ago. And they still apply to right living in our world today, and Paul is simply reminding the Roman church of the meaning of right living. And in verse eight we are reminded that love of our fellow man is also a debt, and as such it can never be “paid off”. We will always owe a debt of love to our fellow man. And everyone owes this debt... to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
Then Paul says our “salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed”. Because the Lord has us in His hand, we can trust that He will do as He says. When we grow discouraged with the lack of holiness in our lives, ( 1Corinthians 1:18), we must remember that God is working in us, and in His time, He will finish what He has started. (Philippians 2:12-13) If we continue in prayer and seek His will in all that we do, all that we are will become conformed to his will and purpose for our life. It is then that what is right will no longer be a question, it will become a way of life, and it will be reflected in all that we do, all that we say, all that we are, as hopeful Christians, true believers, putting our trust in Christ, glorifying God. (Titus 3:5)
Questions
1. What have taxes to do with anything religious, How does that apply to our faith?
2. How can it be that indebtedness a sinful state?
3. What principles are applied when one obeys the golden rule? Matthew 7:12
4. Are right living values taught to us in our world today? If so, where? And where do you say is the best place to teach such things? Where does God say is the best place to learn such things?
Questions
1. Deuteronomy 11:16 “Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them”. Does this verse have any significant meaning for us today?
2. From vs.11 above, “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed”. What does Paul mean?
3. What are your thoughts when applying these verses to our world today, paying taxes, paying honor, paying respect, paying your debts, loving others as we love ourselves, and obeying the ten commandments. How would you rate our world today ? Our country today?
4. Are right living values taught to us in our world today? If so, where? And where do you say is the best place to teach such things? Where does God say is the best place to learn such things?
Scripture references
Isiah 10:1- 3 Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, 2 to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. 3 What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?
Deu 11:18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
1Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
Mat 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Closing Prayer
Lord God, We pray that Your will, and Your guiding light always be the focus of how we live our liives, and that loving one another will lead our relationships with our fellow man. We pray also for our leaders and those responsible for our government that they too will have Your laws as their guiding principles. We pray now for those who need Your healing touch. ___________ Be with these mentioned, And those who reside in our hearts, and those who care for them, give them peace of mind, comfort and strength to sustain them through their trial and to their complete healing. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen
Pg.4
Christians and right living: Romans 13
Paul gives us something to think about
In Romans 12; Paul wrote that we should be living sacrifices, transformed in our minds so that we please God and do his will. Paul described the attitudes that should characterize believers: humility, service, love and peace. In chapter 13, Paul gets specific about how a Christian should respond to civil authorities. Paul knows that his advice will not be accepted automatically, so he supports it with theological principles: “The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted” “Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience” (v. 5). We should obey civil laws not only because the civil government might punish us if we don’t, but also because God wants us to be law-abiding people. Do these principles also apply to the matter of civil disobedience and non violent protests?
About paying taxes; Since civil rulers have a legitimate, God-ordained function, it is right for us to pay taxes to support this service. Rulers are never perfect, but they are still worthy of their wages, and God does not want us to rebel against that role. Since we should respond to evil with good, blessing even those who persecute us (12:14-21), in most situations we should cooperate with civil authorities, since they have a God-ordained function in society. The basic Christian ethic is not to fight for our own benefit, but to do good to others. However theft and corruption in office should be addressed and punished as fits the wrong committed. Do we now have provisions in the law to protect the ordinary citizen from corrupt politicians, and unjust laws?
The subject of love; There is not space enough to examine this subject but Paul gives us some basic precepts. “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another” Love is the most basic Christian ethic, and one of the most important of the Gifts of the spirit.“Love does no harm to a neighbor,” and love must go further than simply avoiding harm to a neighbor, it should actively seek to do good to the neighbor. Love is the perfect fulfillment of the law. If we love others, we have fulfilled the purpose of the law and have gone further than what it requires. Is this concept difficult to accomplish in our world today?
Sound advice; “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy”. The Roman Christians were probably not involved in debauchery, but judging from chapter 14, they probably were involved in dissension and jealousy. By grouping these vices together, Paul is implying that competitive attitudes within the congregation are just as inappropriate as debauchery. The church is to be a community of brothers and sisters, not a place where one person vies against another. Do we see that, (jealousy), in our churches today?
The Christians prerogative; Exemplified for us by Jesus' own life example: “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh”. Drunkenness and immorality come from the sinful nature; so do jealousy and dissension. Neither are appropriate for people who give their allegiance to Jesus Christ. When we clothe ourselves with him, imitating him, cooperation and mutual esteem will replace selfishness. This leads us to the question in all of life's situations “What would Jesus do”?
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