Thursday Evening Bible Study

March 19, 2009

Introduction

Paul has moved through his doctrinal section in Romans and now has moved on to the practical side of things.  He’s talking about what a real Christian looks like.

:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.

authorities – exousia – power; the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed

governing – huperecho (“over” + “to have”) – to have or hold over one; to stand out, rise above, overtop; to be above, be superior in rank, authority, power; the prominent men, rulers

be subject – hupotasso (“under” + “to put in order”) – to arrange under, obey; to submit to one’s control

In the ancient Greek military it meant “to arrange troops in a military fashion under the command of a leader”.

In non-military use, it was “a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden”.

Lesson

Submission’s responsibility

Submission is not just a single issue subject, as if only wives are to submit to their husbands. It’s quite a broad subject.

Jesus submits to the Father

(1 Cor 15:28 NKJV) Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Jesus submitted Himself to His parents.

(Luke 2:51 NKJV) Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.

Angels submit to Jesus

(1 Pet 3:22 NKJV) who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

We are to be submissive to those “devoted” (KJV – “addicted”) to the ministry:

(1 Cor 16:15-16 NKJV) I urge you, brethren; you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints; {16} that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us.

We are to submit to each other

(Eph 5:21 NKJV) submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Wives are to submit to their husbands

(Eph 5:22 NKJV) Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

We are to submit to our employers

(1 Pet 2:18 NKJV) Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.

Submission isn’t based on whether your employer is a Christian or whether he’s nice.

We are to submit to the government (as in Romans 13:1)

(1 Pet 2:13 NKJV) Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,

We are to submit to our elders

(1 Pet 5:5 NKJV) Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.

Our spirits are to submit to us

(1 Cor 14:32 NKJV) And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

That means we are to have self-control when we operate in the Spirit.

Lesson

Submission’s limits

There is a limit to submission. It only goes so far.

We’ve seen both Paul and Peter tell us to be submitting to the government, yet you can only take it so far.

At one point in the early church, the Jewish leadership had the apostles arrested and they were warned not to ever speak about Jesus again:

(Acts 5:29 NKJV) But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.

The place where you draw the line on submission is when you are being asked to specifically go against God’s clearly revealed will.

Lesson

Submission’s test.

A lot of Christians talk about being in “submission” to others, but I’ve found out that usually this means that the people in “authority” over them are simply asking them to do the things they want to do.

The real “test” of submission is when you are asked to do something you don’t want to do.

It’s when we’re asked to something unpleasant, something that doesn’t stroke our flesh, that we usually start looking for excuses for why we can’t submit. That’s when you’ll hear someone say, “I must obey God rather than man”. But sometimes that’s just a cover for say, “Forget you! I’ll do my own thing!”

Remember, the “governing authorities” in Paul’s day included Caesar Nero. Peter told slaves to submit to their masters, even if they were unkind (1Pet. 2:18), wives are to submit to husbands, even if the husbands are disobedient to God (1Pet. 3:1).

It’s really all about your “will”. Are you going to be willing to give up your “will”? Ultimately we need be getting to the point where we are learning submission so well that we are easily submitting ourselves to God.

(Heb 12:9 NKJV) Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

I believe that God will use people in your life to test your ability to “submit”. I believe that if we desire to grow in the Lord, we need to not skirt this important lesson.

Our true goal is to learn to submit to God. We learn submission to God by submitting to authority.

:1 For there is no authority except from God,

All authority ultimately comes from God.

God is the sovereign ruler of the universe. He is the source of all authority.

When Jesus was on trial before Pontius Pilate, Pilate was surprised that Jesus wasn’t defending Himself.

(John 19:10-11 NKJV) Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?" {11} Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."

Jesus was telling Pilate that Pilate’s authority ultimately came from God. And He was most likely talking about Caiaphas or Judas as having the greater sin because they had delivered Jesus to Pilate.

There are some folks who have trouble with the idea that Barack Obama is our president. How did he get to be president?

I think we’d have to conclude that God put him there.

:1 and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

appointed – tasso – to put in order, to station; to appoint, ordain, order

This is the root word that ties several things together.

God is the one that “appoints” authority. It is our job to line up “under” (“be subject”) what God has appointed.

:2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

resists (1^st) – antitassomai (“against” + “to put in order”) – to range in battle against; to oppose one’s self, resist

This is the opposite of “be subject”. Instead of lining up “under” authority, this is being “against” authority.

resists (2^nd) – anthistemi (“against” + “to set”) – to set one’s self against, to withstand, resist, oppose; to set against

ordinance – diatage – a disposition, arrangement, ordinance; from diatasso (“through” + “to put in order”) – to arrange, appoint, ordain, prescribe, give order

God’s desire is for there to be order. He has “appointed” that there be order.

God wants the order to flow “through” things. We might translate this word “direction”, the way that authority flows “through”.

If you are working “against” the authority over you (resist), then you’re actually working against God.

Instead we need to put ourselves “under” authority for things to flow correctly.

Again, these are general rules – these things apply most of the time.

There will be times when we must resist authority because the authority is wrong.

Lesson

Warning against rebellion.

If God is really the one who put that person in authority over you, then when you decide to line up against that person, you’re lining up against God. It’s not a light thing to be bucking the authority that God has over us. If you feel you need to resist, you need to be really sure that you are sure that it’s God who is leading you and not just your own stubborn pride.

Illustration

Saul had been commanded by God to wipe out the Amalekites. He kind of got going on the job, but in the end he only completed it half way. He got rebuked by the prophet Samuel:

(1 Sam 15:22-23 NKJV) Then Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. {23} For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king."

You might think that your stubbornness isn’t that big of a deal. It is to God.

One of the problems we have with submission is when we are called to submit to an ungodly, wicked person.

The problem we have is in seeing how it could be right to have a bad person telling us what to do.

In reality though, sometimes the things that God brings about in our life aren’t going to seem all pretty and nice.

There are times when we will question what God is doing in our life.

Are we going to submit to God when we are beginning to wonder if He is all that good?

The trouble is that we don’t see the bigger picture. We don’t see the kinds of things that God is trying to do, all we see is the immediate situation.

It is important to learn submission, even in difficult times, so that we can stay true to what God is wanting to do in us and through us.

: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.

If you are doing the right things, obeying the law, doing good works, for the most part you should not be afraid of those in authority.

If you are breaking the law, then you’re always looking over your shoulder.

If you’re driving the speed limit, are you afraid when you drive past a Highway Patrol car? No.

: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.

minister – diakonos (“deacon”) – one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, minister

In a way, you could say that the police out on the streets are God’s “ministers”.

sword – machaira – a large knife, a small sword

Paul is talking about the government’s authority to punish criminals.

avenger – ekdikos – an avenger, punisher

Last week we saw this word (or a form of it) used twice in:

(Rom 12:19 NKJV) Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.

One of the ways that God brings His “vengeance” is through the government.

Last week we talked about how we wrestle with the tension between the Old Testament law of:

(Exo 21:24 NKJV) "eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

And this New Testament concept of not taking your own revenge (Mat. 5:39)

It comes down to personal responsibility versus government responsibility.

Personally, as a Christian I am to not take vengeance.

But the government does have the authority to be the “avenger”

Chuck Smith: “The next time you're stopped for speeding or violating the law, don't be nasty or angry. The officer may have saved your life. Be thankful for the police. If they weren't enforcing the laws, our society would be a much worse jungle than it is now.”

:5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.

must – anagke – necessity, It is a necessity that we be subject to the government.

be subject – hupotasso (“under” + “to put in order”) – to submit

conscience – suneidesis – the consciousness of anything; the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, prompting to do the former and shun the latter, commending one, condemning the other

Two reasons for obeying the government:

1. You won’t experience “wrath” (you don’t get a ticket)

2. Your own conscience –

Lesson

Pay attention to your conscience.

Your conscience should be telling you it’s wrong to disobey.

Illustration

Many electronic fire alarms have an internal switch triggered by a beam of light. As long as light is received unbroken by the photo-sensitive receiver, the detector is quiet. But if smoke or moisture or an insect obstructs the beam for even a split second, the alarm sounds. Our conscience resembles such an alarm. When sin obstructs our connection with the light of God's Spirit, the conscience signals us that there's life-threatening danger.

-- A.D. Sterner, Akron, Colorado. Leadership, Vol. 16, no. 4.

The problem is that our conscience can become corrupt.

(Titus 1:15 NKJV)  To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

Billy Graham: “Most of us follow our conscience as we follow a wheelbarrow. We push it in front of us in the direction we want it to go.”

Illustration

A man consulted a psychiatrist. He complained, “I’ve been misbehaving, Doc, and my conscience is troubling me.” The doctor asked, “And you want something that will strengthen your willpower?” The fellow replied, “Well, no, I was thinking of something that would weaken my conscience.”

If you are doing something wrong and your conscience DOESN’T bother you, then you’ve got a problem buckaroo.

(Eph 4:17-24 NLT) With the Lord's authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. {18} Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him. {19} They don't care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed.

A heart gets hard and a conscience gets defiled when we continue in sin and refuse to listen to what the Lord is telling us. A callus develops when a part of the body is rubbed or poked continually. If the Spirit keeps convicting you, yet you resist, you will eventually develop a callused heart.

{20} But that isn't what you were taught when you learned about Christ. {21} Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, {22} throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. {23} Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. {24} You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness--righteous, holy, and true.

Get away from the old sinful ways and immerse yourself in the good things. Your heart will become softer.

Charles Spurgeon writes, “It is a very terrible thing to let conscience begin to grow hard, for it soon chills into northern iron and steel. It is like the freezing of a pond. The first film of ice is scarcely perceptible; keep the water stirring and you will prevent the frost from hardening it. But once let it film over and remain quiet, the glaze thickens over the surface and it thickens still, and at last it is so firm that a wagon might be drawn over the solid ice. So with conscience, it films over gradually, until at last it becomes hard and unfeeling and is not crushed even with ponderous loads of iniquity.”

:6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.

taxes – phoros – tribute, esp. the annual tax levied upon houses, lands, and persons

you pay – teleo – to bring to a close, to finish, to end; to pay

This is the word that Jesus used when He hung on the cross:

(John 19:30 NKJV) So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Jesus was saying that He had paid, He had paid for our sins.

ministers – leitourgos – a public minister, a servant of the state; a minister, servant

attending continually – proskartereo – to adhere to one, to be devoted or constant to one; to be steadfastly attentive unto, to be in constant readiness for one, wait on constantly

Lesson

Submission leads to paying taxes

Paying our taxes shows our submission to the government.

I wonder how these goofy cults ever can come up with the idea of not paying their taxes.

Jesus endorsed paying your taxes:

(Mat 22:17-21 NKJV)  "Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" {18} But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? {19} "Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. {20} And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" {21} They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be careful about how much tax we pay. You don’t have to feel guilty for taking exemptions on your income tax. That’s all part of the law. You aren’t obligated to pay Caesar more than he’s due. But don’t cheat the government either. Don’t fall into the world’s trap of doing things illegally. If you are paid in cash, report it as income. Pay your taxes.

: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.

render – apodidomi (“away” + “to give”) – to pay off, discharge what is due

We’ve already seen Paul use this word just a few verses back:

(Rom 12:17 NKJV) Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

There are some things we don’t “pay” – we don’t pay evil for evil.

There are some things that we DO “pay” – like taxes

due (1^st) – opheile – that which is owed; a debt

There are four things that we owe: Taxes, customs, fear, honor

taxes … customs – we ought to pay all the various taxes

taxes – phoros – tribute, esp. the annual tax levied upon houses, lands, and persons

customs – telos – end; toll, custom (i.e. indirect tax on goods)

We are obligated to pay all our taxes.

fear – phobos – fear, dread, terror

Who do we owe “fear” to?

(Eph 6:5 NKJV)  Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;

Your boss.

(Mat 10:28 NKJV)  "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

We are supposed to fear God.

honor – time – a valuing by which the price is fixed; honor which belongs or is shown to one

Lesson

Giving honor.

Who do we owe “honor”?

1. Honor God.

(1 Tim 1:17 NKJV)  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

2. Your boss.

(1 Tim 6:1 NKJV)  Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.

When you value your boss, God is not blasphemed (as in “Oh those Christians!)

3. Widows that can’t take care of themselves.

(1 Tim 5:3 NKJV)  Honor widows who are really widows.

The idea is that the church would honor them by meeting their financial needs.

4. Elders.

(1 Tim 5:17 NKJV)  Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

4. Your marriage

(Heb 13:4 NKJV)  Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

5. Your wife

(1 Pet 3:7 NKJV)  Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

6. Honor your parents

(Eph 6:2-3 NKJV)  "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: {3} "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."

This is a difficult commandment if your parents were abusive.  We may have a difficult time understanding them or being around them, but we are asked to place a high value on them all the same.

7. Honor every person

(1 Pet 2:17 NKJV)  Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Lesson

God honors you

(John 12:26 NKJV)  "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

(1 Cor 6:20 NKJV)  For you were bought at a price (time); therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

God values you highly. He’s paid a great price for you. That ought to affect the way we live.

It probably makes it a little easier to show honor to others.