The Gospel Applied: A Church shaped by the gospel - loving our government

Well, in just under two weeks' time, on Friday the 23rd of May, we're going to have the opportunity

to vote. We're going to decide who will represent us on our local councils and who will represent

us in Europe. So, who are you going to vote for? And more importantly, what will be your

attitude to those who are elected? I'm not going to tell you who I'm going to vote for,

if you want that conversation with me afterwards you can. But God's Word is very clear about

how we should respond to those elected to rule over us. Look at verse 1. Everyone, that's

all people, and in the context especially those within the church, everyone must submit himself

to the governing authorities. You see, the church that has come to believe and experience

the gospel will work itself out in love to those elected to rule over us. Because all

of what we've looked at so far in Romans, in the first 11 chapters, is all about the gospel,

God's mercy, God's kindness, God's goodness to us. And when that gospel filters into our

lives, it begins to shape us into a loving church. So, in chapter 12, verses 9 to 21, we looked at this

last week, it's all about love for each other. So, in verse 10 of chapter 12, be devoted to one

another in brotherly love. And then when we move into chapter 13, verses 8 to 14, the next section on,

it's all about love for the world. So, in verse 8, we read, let no debt remain outstanding except the

continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. So,

there's this great theme of love. And sandwiched in between is Romans 13, verses 1 to 7, which is all

Romans 13:1–7

about the governing authorities. And the implication is, is that we should love those who are in authority

too. Because the church that has come to believe and experience the gospel will work itself out in

love for all kinds of people. And here this morning, it works itself out in love to those who are elected

to rule over us. So, this love is expressed in three ways. First, loving submission to the governing

authorities. Look at verse 1 again. Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities. Submission

is not easy. We don't like the idea of submission because it implies that we're living under the rule

and authority of someone else. But submission isn't a bad thing. It's a good thing because it's part of

God's order and design for our lives and for the world. So, he gives us actually three reasons why

we should submit. Here's the first reason. We submit to our governing authorities because

they are established by God. So, look at the, let's read verse 1 again. Everyone must submit

themselves to the governing authorities for or because there is no authority except that which

God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Now, you and I are going

to vote on the 24th of May and whoever gets the most amount of votes are going to be elected. But whether

that's Seamus McGrath of Fianna Fáil or Fiona Cairns of Sinn Féin, behind their election stands

the rule of God. In other words, those who are elected only have authority to rule as God allows it

or as God permits it. Let me give you an example of this. So, keep your finger there in Romans 13

and jump back to Daniel chapter 4. It's on page 888. Daniel chapter 4.

Daniel 4 · chapter mention Daniel 4 · chapter mention

It's on page 888.

Daniel is a great book in terms of kings and those who are in authority in God and how God rules over

these things. And in Daniel 4 we're introduced to King Nebuchadnezzar who was the most powerful ruler

in the world at that time. He had the empire of Babylon. He was very, very powerful and he's very

proud about his rule and authority. So, in verse 30 of chapter 4, as he surveys and he looks out upon

his vast kingdom, this is what he says in verse 30, is not this the great Babylon that I have built

as the royal residence by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?

But no sooner does he boast about his rule when God reminds him who is in charge. Verse 31.

The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven.

This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar.

Your royal authority has been taken from you.

You will be driven from the people and live with the wild animals and eat grass like the cattle

seven times. So, that's after seven years will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High,

that's God, is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and he gives them to anyone he wishes.

You see, so whoever is elected, we need to know, and more importantly they need to know,

that their position of authority is given to them by God. He gives and he can take away.

Go back to Romans 13.

So, if all authorities have been established by God, that means, verse 2,

consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted.

And those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

You see, we mightn't like our present government.

You mightn't even like who gets elected on the 24th of May.

But if we are people who believe the gospel and experience the gospel,

if it's worked down into our lives,

then that means we won't be a rebellious people against the governing authorities.

Instead, as an expression of our love to God,

we will lovingly submit to those who are in authority.

So, that's the first reason why we should submit.

They are established by God.

Here's the second reason.

We submit to our governing authorities

because they are appointed to keep order.

So, look at verse 3, chapter 13, verse 3.

4. For, or because,

rulers hold no terror for those who do right,

but for those who do wrong.

Do you want to be free from the one in authority?

Then do what is right and he will commend you.

Now, imagine what it would be like if we lived in a nation without rulers.

Well, that's anarchy.

And that's what parts of Ukraine are experiencing right now.

A nation or a country without rulers in charge

ends in chaos and disorder,

violence and death.

It ruins people.

It ruins communities.

So, God in his goodness has provided leaders

to keep order and to establish peace.

You see, authorities are only bad news for those who reject it,

but for those who lovingly submit to the authorities,

it is good news because, look at verse 3 again, the beginning,

rulers hold no terror for those who do right,

but for those who do wrong.

So, if we want to enjoy a good life,

if we want to live in a peaceful, ordered society,

if we want a caring and a good community,

then, look at the end of verse 3,

do what is right,

and he, that is the rulers,

will commend you.

So, we submit, secondly,

because they are there to keep order.

The third reason he gives,

we submit to our governing authorities

because they are God's servants to do us good.

Look at verse 4.

For he is God's servant to do you good,

but if you do wrong,

be afraid,

for he does not bear the sword for nothing.

He is God's servant,

an agent of wrath

to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

I don't know if you've ever considered

that those who will be elected

to our local councils

or to the European Parliament

are not just politicians,

they are God's servants.

That's what it says here.

They are God's servants

to serve the people.

They have been appointed by God

to establish and uphold justice.

You might remember back in chapter 12,

we were encouraged as a loving community

not to seek revenge

or to want to repay people.

Instead, we are called to love our enemies.

So, look at verse 19 of chapter 12.

It says,

Do not take revenge, my friends,

but leave room for God's wrath.

Sorry, this is Romans 12, verse 19.

Romans 12:19

Do not take revenge, my friends,

but leave room for God's wrath,

for it is written,

it is mine to avenge.

I will repay, says the Lord.

On the contrary,

instead of looking for revenge,

if your enemy is hungry,

feed him.

If he is thirsty,

give him something to drink.

Now, while we're called

to have a certain attitude

and love for our enemies,

on the one hand,

and God is saying,

on the other hand,

that when he returns,

he will bring his ultimate justice.

But in the meantime,

in between,

God has provided a means

for bringing justice today.

And his servants,

the governments,

the rulers,

those in authority,

are the ones to bring that justice.

So, that's why it says

at the end of verse 4,

of chapter 13,

he is God's servant,

an agent of wrath,

to bring punishment

on the wrongdoer.

That's why we have

a justice system.

That's why we have courts.

That's why we have laws.

God has provided servants

to protect people from evil,

to punish those who do evil,

so that it may be good for us.

So, governing authorities

have been established by God.

They're there to keep order.

They're there to do good.

Therefore, look at verse 5,

therefore it is necessary

to submit to the authorities,

not only because of possible punishment,

but also because of conscience.

We lovingly submit,

not out of fear,

as in,

well, if I do something wrong,

I'm going to get caught

and be punished.

That's part of the motivation.

But more importantly,

because of conscience.

God has made it clear to us

in his word.

This is part of his good design

and order,

that there would be people elected,

people that would rule over us.

And the church that has come

to believe and experience

the gospel,

will work itself out

in loving submission

towards those who are elected

to rule over us.

So that is the first way

we show our love.

We submit to those

governing authorities.

Now, I'm sure,

as we've gone through

this first section,

it's raised all kinds of questions.

Which brings us to the next big idea.

There is a loving exemption

from governing authorities.

Look at verse 3 again,

the beginning of verse 3.

It says there,

for rulers hold no terror

for those who do right.

Is that true?

What about the beginning of verse 4?

For he is God's servant

to do you good.

Is that always true?

I mean, what about the people

who live in North Korea

under the brutal regime

of Kim Jong-un?

Are they to submit

to the authorities?

What about all the people

who live in all kinds

of corrupt governments

around the world?

What about Christians

who live in a situation

where they're not allowed

to preach the gospel

or go to church

and meet with others?

And what about us?

I mean, the news

has just been plastered

at the minute

about some of our

elected politicians

who've lied and cheated.

And what about our whole

justice system at the minute?

It's a mess.

Well, the command seems

very clear in chapter 13,

verse 1.

Everyone must submit himself

to the governing authorities.

But we must also remember

that those who have been placed

in authority over us

do not always use

their God-given authority

for good.

The world is full of leaders

throughout history

and even now.

People like Mugabe of Zimbabwe

or Assad of Syria

who abuse their authority

inflicting great suffering

and pain on their people.

So does that mean

they are to take verse 1

and say,

I must submit to them?

Well, there are times

when we are exempt

from submitting.

Rulers have been put in place

by God

to bring justice and peace,

to punish evil

and to pursue good.

But here's the crux.

Where their laws

are contrary

to God's laws,

we are exempt

from submitting

to their authorities.

Where their laws

are contrary

to God's laws,

we are exempt

from submitting

to those authorities.

Let me give

some examples.

We need to go back

to the Old Testament

for this.

First,

as far as possible,

as far as possible,

we should submit

to our governing authorities.

Look back to Jeremiah

Jeremiah 29 · chapter mention

chapter 29.

Jeremiah was the prophet

who had made it clear

to the people from God

that God's people

were going to go into exile,

into a foreign land,

under a foreign ruler.

And that ruler was,

we've already met him already,

was Nebuchadnezzar.

They would be placed

under a foreign rule

under Nebuchadnezzar.

But look at what God

says to the people.

How should they respond

in this new situation

under a new leader?

Verse 4 of chapter 29,

this is what the Lord,

God Almighty,

let me start again,

this is what the Lord Almighty,

the God of Israel,

says,

to all those I carried

into exile

from Jerusalem

to Babylon.

Build houses

and settle down.

Plant gardens

and eat what they produce.

Marry and have

sons and daughters.

So get on

with life as normal.

Verse 7,

also,

seek the peace

and prosperity

of the city

to which I have

carried you

into exile.

Pray to the Lord,

for it.

Because if it prospers,

you too

will prosper.

Now this is a foreign land

under a foreign leader.

But yet,

they have been called

to lovingly submit

to their new leaders

and to do

what is right.

Not to start a rebellion,

but to do what's right.

However,

move on to Daniel

Daniel 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3.

It's just a little

further on.

Daniel chapter 3.

Daniel 3 · chapter mention

When laws are

in defiance of God,

we are exempt

from submission.

So in Daniel chapter 3,

Daniel 3 · chapter mention

we actually get a picture

of what it was like

for these people

who've been carried

into exile

to Babylon

under Nebuchadnezzar.

And we meet

three people

who you've all heard of,

I'm sure,

Shadrach,

Meshach,

and Abednego.

So here's three people

who've been carried

off into exile

under a new leader.

And while they're in exile,

King Nebuchadnezzar

made a law

that said to the people,

I'm building

this big statue,

90 feet tall,

made of gold.

Perhaps it was

in an image

of Nebuchadnezzar himself

and people were

to bow down

in worship

to this idol.

And if they weren't

going to do that,

they would be thrown

into the fiery furnace.

That was the law.

Well, Shadrach,

Meshach,

and Abednego

knew God's law

that only God

should be worshipped.

He should be number one.

The priority.

And look how they respond.

Chapter 3,

verse 16.

Shadrach,

Meshach,

and Abednego

replied to the king,

O Nebuchadnezzar,

we do not need

to defend ourselves

before you

in this matter.

If we are thrown

into the blazing furnace,

the God we serve

is able to save us

from it

and he will rescue us

from your hands,

O king.

But,

even if he does not,

we want you to know,

O king,

that we will not

serve your gods

or worship

the image of gold

you have set up.

They were exempt

because it was

against God's law.

Now,

I don't think

Ender Kenny

has any plans

on setting up

an idol

or an image

of himself

and calling everybody

to bow down to him.

but our government

is seeking

to set up laws

that are contrary

to God's laws.

There is a push

for same-sex marriage.

There is a push

towards abortion.

And each of these

stands in contradiction

to God's design

and God's good order

for life.

So,

as Christians,

we need to make

a stand.

And while we are

living in this country,

in this nation,

under the governing

authorities that we have,

as far as possible,

we should always

submit to our

governing authorities

and do what is right

and best

for the country

and for the people.

But,

where laws are in

opposition to God's law,

we are exempt

from obeying them.

It doesn't mean to say

we start up a rebellion.

But we are

lovingly

turning away

from those

earthly rulers

and submitting

ourselves

to God's law.

So,

what will it look like,

then,

to actually

submit to

our

authorities

today

in this country?

Which brings us

to our third

big idea,

our loving expression

to our

governing authorities?

Look at verse 6,

back to Romans 13,

Romans 13:6

verse 6.

So,

here's a very

practical example

of working out

of how we express

our love

towards those

in authority.

Verse 6,

this is also

why you pay taxes.

Oh,

taxes.

Yes,

taxes.

For the

authorities

are God's

servants

who give

their full

time to

governing.

Taxes

are nothing

new.

And we're

not immune

to taxation

in this

country,

and there's

certainly

a lot of

talk about

water tax

coming up

to the

elections,

isn't there?

I wonder

what your

view is

on the

water tax.

Are you

going to

join in

with the

other

rebels

in some

parts of

Cork

who've

gone and

attacked

the

meter

installer?

Or park

your car

over the

little hole

where the

water meter

is so they

can't get

at it?

That would

be a good

idea,

wouldn't

it?

Or do

you verbally

abuse the

politician,

or when you're

with a group

of people,

talk about

them behind

their back?

Well,

as a

community

of love,

we are

to express

our love

to the

governing

authorities

by obeying

their laws

and showing

their respect.

Verse 7,

So,

this is what

it is.

If you want

to show

your love

to the

governing

authorities,

verse 7,

give everyone

what you owe

him.

If you owe

taxes,

then pay

your taxes.

If revenue,

then revenue.

If respect,

then respect.

If honour,

then honour.

You mightn't

like paying

tax.

You might

think it's

too much.

You mightn't

have even

voted for

the present

government,

but as we

have seen,

they are

God's

servants,

appointed

by God

to do

good,

and so

we express

our love

by paying

our water

tax,

by paying

the property

tax,

and we

speak

respectfully

of our

leaders,

and I

have to

take that

to heart

because I

don't always

speak

respectfully

of our

leaders.

I mightn't

agree,

but I

must be

respectful.

So ask

ourselves,

does God's

law forbid

paying taxes?

No,

it doesn't.

So pay it

as an

expression of

love.

Does God's

law forbid

speaking

disrespectfully?

Yes,

it does.

So speak

well as

an expression

of love.

And we're

going to have

an opportunity

to put this

into practice.

I guarantee

that all of

you,

over this

coming week

or the

next two

weeks,

are going

to be in

conversation

with someone

about water

tax or

about the

government

and the

elections.

And everybody

is going to

be saying

what they're

going to

do.

Oh,

I'm not

going to

pay that

or oh,

I'm not

going to

vote for

them and

oh,

they're

useless

and they're

stupid

and they're

no good.

Here's your

opportunity

to give

your voice.

What are

you going

to say?

That

authorities

are good.

I've had

some great

conversations

with the

guys who've

been knocking

on the

door.

And being

able to

remind them

and saying,

do you know

what I'm

speaking on

this Sunday?

You can

direct them

back to the

same passage.

And you

can say you're

praying for

them because

we take it

seriously that

they have been

placed there by

God and so

we'll pray for

them.

And as you

speak with

people,

don't fight

against the

government.

Show your

loving expression

to them.

God's love

for his

people.

You see,

in Jesus

we see the

ultimate leader,

the supreme

authority over

all people

and over

every nation.

God's love

is the

one who

came as

a servant

for us.

He came to

bring us and

to do good

for us.

He came to

bring peace.

He came to

bring order.

Jesus came to

bring justice.

But here's how

he's different.

He didn't come

with a sword.

Look at verse

four.

He didn't come

with a sword

as an agent

of wrath

to bring punishment

on the wrongdoer.

Instead,

Jesus came

to take the

place of

the wrongdoer.

He came to

take the

place of

people like

you and me

who rebel

against God's

authority,

who speak

ill of those

who are in

authority over

us.

And on the

cross,

Jesus takes

the place

of the

wrongdoer.

For you

and for me,

he dies in

our place.

He is the

one who came

and took the

sword that

you and I

deserve so

that we might

be set

free,

so that we

might live

a life of

love,

because we

are people

who have

been richly

loved by

God.

You see,

the church

that has

come to

believe and

experience the

gospel,

who have

come to

see what

Christ has

done,

who came

to serve

us and

give his

life for

us,

the expression

of that

will be

loving those

who have

been elected

to rule

over us.

Let's

pray together.

As we

pray,

let's

remember that

God's word

does command

us to

pray for

those in

authority.

authority.

So let's

now pray

for those

presently in

government and

for those who

will soon to

be elected to

our councils.

Let's pray.

Our Father

God, we

thank you for

our country,

for this

nation.

We thank you

for those who

you have put in

place to rule

over us.

us.

We thank you

for all the

good things

that we

enjoy because

of their

leadership.

And while

there is so

much that we

may see

fault in or

see wrongdoing

in, Father,

please help us

to support and

submit to all

that is good

and right,

trusting that

behind every

leader stands

our heavenly

Father who

rules over

all.

And Father,

would you

please help

all those who

are in

government right

now and

those soon to

be elected,

that they

would be

people who

stand for

good, who

condemn evil,

who pursue

what is right,

who protect

the vulnerable,

provide for

the most

needy, and

give to those

who are most

in need of

health, and

those who are

in most of

need of

housing and

finances and

support.

Raise up

leaders who

will do this

in a right

way.

Raise up

leaders who

will bring

justice to

our nation,

who will

live lives of

integrity and

honesty, who

will not lie

and cheat and

steal, but do

only what is

right and

good.

And Father,

we pray for

ourselves.

Please help

us to

show our

loving submission

to our

leaders, to

speak well of

them, to

pay our

taxes, not

as a grudge,

but as a

loving expression,

because you

have richly

loved us.

we pray for

our land, for

our nation, and

for ourselves.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Amen.

Well, let's

turn to the

screen again as

we sing, from

heaven you

came.

Here is a

song about our

great leader, the

Lord Jesus

Christ, who

didn't come to

be served, but

to serve and to

give his life

that we might

live.

Let's stand

together as we

sing this.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.