Resisting God’s power brings judgment on you from God and government, both - “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves judgment“ (vs1-2). Be not a disturber of the peace. Preach Christ and leave the government to Him (1 Tim 2:2). Pray for your leaders, but honor them obediently.
Fear your leaders because of reverence for God - “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same: for he is the servant of God to you for good” (vs3-4).
Without rulers, we’d have chaos, murder, and rape.
The leaders are here for protection, as imperfect as they are - “For he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: for he is the servant of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil” (vs3-4). God gives authority for government to punish the evil, so do good, and you’ll have no reason to fear.
Pay taxes, so that you’ll have a conscience PURE before God - “Wherefore, you must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay you taxes also: for they are God’s servants, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: taxes to whom taxes is due: custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Owe no man anything, but to love one another”, so that love, not disrespect, should rule us, “for he that loves another has fulfilled the law” (vs5-8).
We aren’t fighting the power; we are PREACHING the gospel of Christ, trying to save men from hell. Christ’s kingdom is glorious. The kingdoms of men are under-kingdoms that temporarily exist for protection of the church.
RESPONSIBILITIES TO PEOPLE
You love you, so love others - “For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (vs9). William Hendrickson says, "it is a certain thing that a person will love himself, and it is also certain that he will do so in spite of the fact that the self he loves has many faults!" Eph 5 teaches us that “no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church”, so that loving is treating people with the love you have for yourself - “Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law”, it is what the law commands, even though we’re under the new gospel of Christ (vs10).
WHAT TIME IS IT?
“And, that knowing the time”, what season it is in life, “that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (vs11). It is time to live God’s life, now.
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honorably, as in the day”, as people of God, “not partying wildly in drunkenness, not in sexual impurity and lawlessness in living, not in strife and envying. But, put you on the Lord Jesus Christ”, honoring Him in character, “and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof” (vs12-14). Keep the old man in check and live the new. The New Living Translation says, “Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy” (vs13).
Paul reproves our character in love, so that we love, as evidence that we know Him who saved us. We live DIFFERENTLY, so that all may see.
Fear your leaders because of reverence for God - “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same: for he is the servant of God to you for good” (vs3-4).
Without rulers, we’d have chaos, murder, and rape.
The leaders are here for protection, as imperfect as they are - “For he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: for he is the servant of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil” (vs3-4). God gives authority for government to punish the evil, so do good, and you’ll have no reason to fear.
Pay taxes, so that you’ll have a conscience PURE before God - “Wherefore, you must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay you taxes also: for they are God’s servants, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: taxes to whom taxes is due: custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Owe no man anything, but to love one another”, so that love, not disrespect, should rule us, “for he that loves another has fulfilled the law” (vs5-8).
We aren’t fighting the power; we are PREACHING the gospel of Christ, trying to save men from hell. Christ’s kingdom is glorious. The kingdoms of men are under-kingdoms that temporarily exist for protection of the church.
RESPONSIBILITIES TO PEOPLE
You love you, so love others - “For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (vs9). William Hendrickson says, "it is a certain thing that a person will love himself, and it is also certain that he will do so in spite of the fact that the self he loves has many faults!" Eph 5 teaches us that “no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church”, so that loving is treating people with the love you have for yourself - “Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law”, it is what the law commands, even though we’re under the new gospel of Christ (vs10).
WHAT TIME IS IT?
“And, that knowing the time”, what season it is in life, “that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (vs11). It is time to live God’s life, now.
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honorably, as in the day”, as people of God, “not partying wildly in drunkenness, not in sexual impurity and lawlessness in living, not in strife and envying. But, put you on the Lord Jesus Christ”, honoring Him in character, “and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof” (vs12-14). Keep the old man in check and live the new. The New Living Translation says, “Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy” (vs13).
Paul reproves our character in love, so that we love, as evidence that we know Him who saved us. We live DIFFERENTLY, so that all may see.
No comments:
Post a Comment