Transform — Week Four

OCTOBER 15/16, 2022

TRANSFORM

Intro: “God has established three institutions: the home (Gen. 2:18–25), government (Gen. 9:1–17), and the church (Acts 2).
– WARREN W. WIERSBE, BE RIGHT (ROMANS)

ROMANS 13:1-7 

1Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

1. The importance of historical ( v.1)

1Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

“Paul is anxious, precisely because he believes that Jesus is the true Lord of the world, that his followers should not pick unnecessary quarrels with the lesser lords.” NT WRIGHT, ROMANS

2. The challenge of Paul’s (vv. 2-4)

2Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

3. The complexity of personal (v. 5)

5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

“Conscience is a powerful reinforcement of the outward directions to submit to the state. But once conscience is brought in, there is a limit: what is against conscience cannot be done … Conscience at one and the same time obliges us to be obedient and sets a limit to that obedience.” (THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS, PAGE 465) KELLER, TIMOTHY. ROMANS 8-16 FOR YOU

4. The duty of Christian (vv. 6-7)

6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

“For 30 years of Jesus’ life on earth he lived in a Roman world, submitted to and respected flawed parents, learned a trade and paid taxes, was part of a local community and most importantly … he never got mad at Rome but at hypocritical religious leaders.”  ANDREW MCCOURT 

Fill-In Answers:

Context

Command

Conscience

Compliance