Chapters 12-16 Part 2               May 9, 2021

Chapter 13:1-6  The Christian and Government. Without the Church

13:1a ¶ Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. Why?

·        The higher powers are government

·        13:1b For: God has ordained government have powers over the people or their nation.

·        ANARCHY Want of government; a state of society, when there is no law or supreme power, or when the laws are not efficient, and individuals do what they please with impunity; political confusion.

·        God is not a god of confusion. So for His peoples' sake He ordained government. This began with the priesthood.

·        God's demand we be subject to the government over us does not differentiate between good and bad government  Paul was living under the Roman government that was wicked.

13:2 Anarchy, wanting no government, is denying God's against law. This is not about working or fighting to change the government over you or resisting a specific  bad leaders.

·        The power is not the person in charge the power is government.

·        The damnation is not spiritual. Remember in 12:1 Paul begins talking about our bodies, our physical life. Those who advocate no government rule are working to bring physical damnation upon everyone. Complete confusion - For in verse three show this is about evil works.

·        2Peter 2:9-10 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:  10 ¶ But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

13:3-6  The specific government rulers. God ordained that there be government rulers over all, even Christians.

Those who have power over us are:

·        To be a terror to evil works and promote good works; the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

·        To be the minister of God to thee for good

We are to:

·        Do good so we have no reason to fear the wrath of  God's ministers of Good.

·        Be subject to the rulers over us not only for fear of their wrath and, more importantly, God's wrath (see V2); so our conscience is clear and we find no fault in ourown actions.

·        V6a For this cause; ministers of Good and we are to be subject we are to pay tribute (taxes) Why

·        V6b God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

V7a Render therefore all their dues (tribute, custom, fear, honor)

·        therefore because they are God's ministers they are due these

V8-10 What is the context of these verses? doing good

·        8a is not talking about borrowing money! It is about owing for the harm you do to others.  "Owe no man any thing'; do not do evil because it harms others. Under the O.T. Law when you harmed someone restitution was to be made.

·        8b-9 These verses, the last of the Tem Commandments, are about how we interact with others. Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. We are to treat those without the church the same as those within the church.  Matthew 22:40 the law summed up.

V11-14 Because the salvation of out bodies is near we are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ by doing good, not evil, outside the church as if we are in the church.

Chapters 14 & 15 build upon chapters 12 & 13 and focuses upon  within the church

V14:1Weak "in the faith" not "weak of faith" because the measure of faith is given to all men. See Romans 5:3 & James 1:2-3. Falling into divers temptation is the trying of your faith. But Chapter 14 is not talking about one who is weak in the faith going through tribulation. This chapter is about choosing what to do or not to do by faith. (V14:23) As one's knowledge of God's word grows his strength in the faith also grows.

Do not expect other Christians to make the same decisions by faith you have made, especially those who are "young" in knowledge.

*Follow the "Fors"

V7 For when deciding what is right and wrong a Christian must consider the Lord because he does not live or unto himself V8 For because we are the Lord's in life and death V9 For He died and rose from the dead to be Lord of both the living and the dead. He is our Lord while we are alive and will be after we die. That is true for the unsaved as well.

V10 does back to Chapter 2:1 why judge a brother or sister in Christ For all Christians will stand before Christ at His judgment seat For every one will bow and confess to God and V12 give account of himself for the choices made on the earth.

**So even though those of us who are stronger "in the faith" know it is alright to do something it is wrong to do when we know it is seen by one who is "weaker in the faith" believes the act is wrong and thus causes him to stumble "in the faith" and can cause discord within the church. For all will answer to the Lord not man. keep the peace.

V14:22-23 The stronger should have their faith before God so we make the right decisions. When someone doubts the right of doing something and still does it, that's sin because they went against the faith.

Habakkuk 2:4;  Romans 1:17; Galatians 3;1; Hebrews 10:38