Session
5: July 8
Humility
– Being a Blessing
Romans
13:1-4 (NKJV) Let every soul
be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from
God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore
whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who
resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not
a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the
authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For
he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he
does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices
evil.
God created three institutions: family, church,
government.
Psalm
22:28 (NKJV) For
the kingdom is the Lord’s, And He rules over the nations.
Proverbs
8:15–16 (NKJV) By me kings reign, and rulers
decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of
the earth.
The following material comes from "The Open Bible".
The Function of Human Government—The general function of human government, as
instituted by God, may be said to be threefold: to protect, punish, and
promote.
The Function of Protection: The moment Adam sinned it was obvious that
civilizations would need some form of restraint and rule to protect citizens
from themselves. An example of this function is seen in Acts 21:27–37
where Roman soldiers step in and save Paul from being murdered by his own
enraged countrymen in Jerusalem.
The Function of Punishment: Both Paul and Peter bring this out. Paul
writes that duly appointed human officials are to be regarded as God’s servants
to “bear the sword,” that is, to impose punishment upon criminals (vv. 3,
4). Peter tells us that governors are “sent by him for the punishment
of evildoers” (1 Pet. 2:13, 14).
The Function of Promotion: Human government is to promote the general
welfare of the community where its laws are in effect. Paul commands us to pray
for human leaders “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness
and reverence” (1 Tim. 2:1, 2).
What is our Responsibility to Human
Government?
Romans
13:5-7 (NKJV) Therefore you must be subject, not only because
of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this
you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this
very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom
taxes are due, customs to whom
customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
Titus
3:1–2 (NKJV) Remind
them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every
good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle,
showing all humility to all men.
1
Peter 2:13–17 (NKJV) Therefore
submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the
king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him
for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the
ignorance of foolish men—16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak
for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the
brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Our Responsibility to Human Government—It is impossible for a believer to be a good
Christian and a bad citizen at the same time. As children of God our
responsibility to human government is threefold.
a. We are to recognize
and accept that the powers that be are ordained by God. This truth applies even to atheistic human
governments unless, of course, the law is anti-scriptural. In that situation
the believer must obey God rather than humans (Acts 4:18–20). In
fact, when Paul wrote Romans Nero was on the throne.
b. We are to pay our
taxes to human government (see Matt. 17:24–27; 22:21;
c. We are to pray for the
leaders in human government. “Therefore I exhort first of all that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all
men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness
and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Tim. 2:1–3). Paul exhorts us to pray for those who are in authority that we may lead a quiet life. We are to pray that they hold their offices in godliness and honesty.
and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Tim. 2:1–3). Paul exhorts us to pray for those who are in authority that we may lead a quiet life. We are to pray that they hold their offices in godliness and honesty.
We see our response to government
illustrated so beautifully in the life of Daniel…
Daniel
4:19-37 (NKJV)
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