Today's lesson comes from Romans 13: 1-14. There are various forms of government in the world: dictatorships, monarchies, oligarchies, democracies, republics, etc. There is often a conflict between God's laws and the laws of men. How should we respond to that conflict?
We live in an age of civil unrest and discontent with our government. Negative attitudes can easily develop, which can lead to a disregard for the law. Paul discusses the need to submit to authority and follows that with the subject of love. The two themes are tied together. If people truly loved their neighbor, there would be less need for the need of a civil government. A sanctified heart, filled with divine law, will naturally keep the laws which relate to our interactions in society. Finally, in the lesson Paul encourages his readers to be alert and on guard, to be prepared for the coming of the Lord. This includes being awake, resisting any solicitation to evil, girding ourself with the armor of God, honesty in conduct, avoiding evil, and living a disciplined lifestyle. The lesson today has one of the strongest appeals that can be found in all the Scriptures for a loyalty to the law.
The first section is "Subject to Higher Powers." vv. 1-7 Paul makes clear that we are to "be subject unto higher powers." He states that "the powers that be are ordained of God." God is the ultimate authority and He ordains law and authorities to enforce law for man's good. Without law and order, there would be anarchy. Regarding the time that Paul wrote this passage, Christians were subject to the Romans which were known for their wickedness and being unjust. There is no doubt that the Christians suffered greatly during this time.
The question that must be asked is, "Must a Christian submit to an authority which would demand that he violate his conscience?" When a lesser power decrees contrary to God's revealed will, the Christian must choose obedience to God and do what is right regardless of the consequences. When the law does not violate our conscience, we should willingly submit. Paul gives two reasons:
1. To avoid the penalty which is prescribed for not keeping the law, and
2. For conscience's sake.
When we keep the government's laws, we keep a clear conscience in doing so. No Christian will knowingly and maliciously break the law of the land (unless it conflicts with God's law). Obedience to God involves obedience to civil law.
This is one of the reasons that we pay taxes. We "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's." We have a duty to the state to provide finances for the enforcement of law to keep order. We are to honor and respect those that are to be honored because of their authority. That makes us good citizens.
The next section is "Fulfilling the Law of Love." vv. 8-10 After writing about law, Paul now replaces it with a higher word, "love." We are to "owe no man any thing." This certainly includes being responsible and paying our bills and debts on time. Further, Paul tells us that "love is the fulfilling of the law." If you love your neighbor, you won't commit adultery, steal from him, bear false witness against him, or covet what he has. We are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Love includes a negative side. It includes "love worketh no ill to his neighbor." The person who loves his neighbor will most assuredly go on to the positive side of doing good to his neighbor. Love includes doing good and not doing ill.
The third section is "Ready for Christ's Return." vv. 11-14 We live in an age of spiritual lethargy and indifference. The hour is late; "it is high time to awake out of sleep." We should put away all that would lull you to sleep. This includes worldliness and worldly attitudes. It is time for Christians to wake up and realize that there is a Day of Judgment coming. We are to walk honestly not rioting and drunkenness, not in wantonness and not in strife and envying. The believer is to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and let Christ have complete possession of his thoughts, plans, words, and deeds. We are to make no provision for the flesh and are to set our affections "on things above." We are to be temperate in all things and not have an excessive passion for food, drink, ease, luxury, money and power. We can be ready and actually be looking forward to the Day of Judgment when we have put on Christ. It is holiness unto the Lord or it is judgment. Jesus must be Lord and Savior. He is our sanctifier. We can live a life that pleases Him. If you aren't doing that now, you can start today!
The Golden Text is: "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work." (Titus 3:1) "Civil government is God's ordinance for the good of all, and therefore must be regarded and submitted to by all--not for wrath and by force only, but willingly and for conscience' sake....The natural desire for liberty must be guided and bounded by reason and Scripture. Spiritual privileges do not make void or weaken, but confirm and strengthen, their obligations to civil duties." (Matthew Henry)
My summary points:
1. We are to obey the civil government unless to do so would violate God's Word or our conscience.
2. We are to love our neighbor with the perfect love of God from a sanctified heart.
3. We are to be alert and on guard ready for the Lord's return.
4. We are to put on Christ and make no provision for the flesh.
Next week, "Consideration of Others." Romans 14: 1-19
Don't forget to read the Sunday School Beacon for inspiration and encouragement.
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