paul’s letter to the romans. when guidelines are laid down for the behaviour of christians towards...

Paul’s Letter to the Romans

When guidelines are laid down for the behaviour of Christians towards those who are outside the fellowship, it is natural that something should be said about the Christian’s relation to the secular authorities – municipal, provincial, imperial.

This subject became specially acute during the decade following the writing of this letter.

2Paul's Letter to the Romans

Judaism was collegio licita (assembly allowed)

Gallio (51 AD?) in Acts 18:12-17 (indifferent)

Was Paul’s experience of Roman justice fairly favourable (and so v6 and v3?)

But: Jesus was a convicted felon (Tacitus simply refers to this as proving his point of Christian wickedness).

Cf Acts 17:6-9.Cf Mark 12:17But what if the authorities are unrighteous?


Nero!Fiddled while Rome burned (at his order)Blamed ChristiansPersecuted ChristiansFriendly Government?


Do we enjoy authority being over us?If we struggle with God’s authority…how do we respond to imperfect authority?Any Authority?

Life on my terms please!I don’t want to be vulnerableI don’t trust ______________Cynicism is a poison that says we can

arrogantly trust our own self defense mechanisms more than we can trust God.


Are we trying to win the world over to see the light we have found, or are we dismissing, ripping, tearing, or otherwise “writing off” the opposition?

Can God work through the wrong, even a bad leader?Nebuchadnezzar – Daniel 4:34-37 Cyrus – 2 Chron 36:22-23 Pontius PilateEven Gallio!

Who is REALLY running this show?We are called to be ambassadors of Love and

Mercy6Paul's Letter to the Romans

Being Subject does NOT call for blind obedienceNo human authority is absolute

(soldier may legally deny an illegal order)Biblically informed conscience places limits on

legitimate government!Paul demanded Due ProcessPeter refused to stop preaching

Willing to accept consequences of disobedienceThey resisted WITHIN the bounds of the

government,and in so doing – God’s will – corrupt empire falls –

church risesMotivated by Christian witness


1. Everyone must submit? (v1a)“Let every person…”

2. There is no authority that God has not established? (v1b)

“For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

3. To rebel against [human] authority is to rebel against God? (v2)

“Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”

4. “Rulers hold no terror for those who do right”? (v3)

No terror for those who trust God!

5. “If you do wrong…he does not bear the sword for nothing” [but for righteous judgement]? (v4)

“For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.”


J.W.Allen: [This chapter] “contains what are perhaps the

most important words ever written for the history of political thought. Yet it would be a gross mistake to suppose that men, at any time, took their political opinions from St Paul.”

Ref: A History of Political Thought in the Sixteenth Century


Submit to the authorities (v5)Because of possible punishment v5aBecause of your conscience v5b

How does our conscience call us to submit?Which form of resistance accomplishes more?

DisorderlyWithin the system?

Nero’s persecution (and that of his successors) led to MANY conversions

Similarly, pay your taxes (v6)Submit in all ways: taxes, revenue, respect,

honour…10Paul's Letter to the Romans

Better than civil disobedience!When the truth is on your side, and you are

willing to pay the priceWhen your message is not clouded by hate or

cynicism, but rather clothed in ChristAble to be used by God who raises and

decimates leaders, nations, and governments as he sees fit.


Submission means mutual love (v8)The Law is summed up in the injunction to

love your neighbour (vv9-10)“Understanding the present time”

We need to show our love and do it actively! Being proud, that the resistive efforts of Christendom have changed the world for the better, time and time again!

An expectation of the imminent return of Christ? (“the time… the day… the hour”)


“For Christians to gain the respect, if not always the approval, of those who define culture, they must first get their own house in order. Surveys have shown that Christians are divorcing at the same rate as non-Christians. So much for “family values.” People who say they are Christians are getting abortions at a rate as high, or higher, as those who profess a different faith or none at all. How can a spiritually dysfunctional church hope to speak truth to an even more dysfunctional culture when it has lost its moral compass and compromised its message by allowing internal rot.”

Cal Thomas, LA Times, 1994 13Paul's Letter to the Romans

Put aside the deeds of darkness (v12)Behave decently, as in the daytime (v13)Orgies, drunkenness, debauchery, dissension,

jealousy: normal (?) sins combined with sins of a community in conflict?


“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh”.

Gal 3:27, 5:16 ; Eph 4:24

In the footsteps of the master we can find the pathway to change our world – again.


Chapter 14 (4/20)Chapter 15 (& 16) (4/27)Reading & Discussion Session (5/4)Reading & Discussion Session (if needed)

(5/11)


Summer Classes?Return in Fall?Topics of Interest?


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