WEBVTT 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:06.592 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil but living as servants of God. 00:00:07.240 --> 00:00:11.672 Honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the emperor. 00:00:11.672 --> 00:00:20.493 This is the word of the Lord, amen. 00:00:20.493 --> 00:00:27.068 Hey, if you have a copy of God's word, go ahead and open it up, if you would, and you can find where we will be in the back of your Bible. 00:00:27.068 --> 00:00:44.021 We will be in the book of 1 Peter as we continue our series Exiles Exiles book of 1 Peter, just as a reminder, the letter from the apostle Peter, who was the disciple, the spokesperson of the twelve, is written to elect exiles. 00:00:44.021 --> 00:00:55.633 In short, people who had placed their faith and trust in God are a part of his people, now his elect, and are exiles, meaning that there are still some promises they await when Jesus returns. 00:00:55.633 --> 00:00:57.380 We are those people. 00:00:57.380 --> 00:01:04.370 We are God's people still awaiting some promises yet to come, and namely, those promises are fulfilled in a new place. 00:01:04.370 --> 00:01:06.894 So exiles means we're not home. 00:01:06.894 --> 00:01:14.894 We live in a country, under a government, with neighbors, but this is not our eternal home. 00:01:14.894 --> 00:01:19.912 We await the day when Jesus will return and will institute the new heavens and the new earth. 00:01:19.912 --> 00:01:24.206 Heaven will descend and all will be made new. 00:01:24.206 --> 00:01:34.233 The dwelling place of God will be with man, as Revelation 21 says, and so again, we are hopeful and yet in some ways homeless. 00:01:34.233 --> 00:01:36.668 This isn't home, not yet. 00:01:38.820 --> 00:01:41.990 Last week we introduced a new section of first Peter. 00:01:41.990 --> 00:01:49.769 I had mentioned that the beginning and the end of the book talks about the hope that we have in our future. 00:01:49.769 --> 00:01:56.103 That hope we have is because chapter 1, jesus resurrected from his grave. 00:01:56.103 --> 00:01:59.070 Therefore, our hope is as alive as our Lord is. 00:01:59.070 --> 00:01:59.933 We have a living hope. 00:01:59.933 --> 00:02:02.402 Maybe you know the song by Phil Wickham, living Hope. 00:02:02.402 --> 00:02:03.262 It's from 1 Peter, chapter 1. 00:02:03.262 --> 00:02:04.784 And maybe you know the song by Phil Wickham, living Hope. 00:02:04.784 --> 00:02:05.784 It's from 1 Peter 1. 00:02:05.784 --> 00:02:12.270 The very end of the book references hope again, and it's the hope that we have that Christ will return and we will resurrect to be with him. 00:02:12.270 --> 00:02:25.080 The middle section two exiles is how we are to live in the meantime, in this space in between Christ's first coming and his second. 00:02:25.080 --> 00:02:32.786 And the answer for that question how we are to live is we are to be holy witnesses in a sometimes hostile world. 00:02:32.786 --> 00:02:36.508 Holy witnesses in a hostile world. 00:02:36.508 --> 00:02:41.091 That's a long section with many practical subsections. 00:02:41.091 --> 00:02:43.372 I want us to ask that question this morning. 00:02:43.372 --> 00:02:52.877 As we begin, you'll see that question on the screen how are we to live as holy witnesses in a hostile world. 00:02:52.877 --> 00:03:03.759 A question on the screen how are we to live as holy witnesses in a hostile world? 00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:07.003 Well, the whole middle section of 1 Peter is answering that question. 00:03:07.003 --> 00:03:14.383 And since Peter has already assured us that we are God's people in the world, he will now teach us how we ought to act. 00:03:14.383 --> 00:03:15.305 That's the right order. 00:03:15.305 --> 00:03:16.747 Think about it all. 00:03:16.768 --> 00:03:19.252 Throughout the New Testament, paul writes a number of letters. 00:03:19.252 --> 00:03:30.734 In his letters, he talks about the gospel before he talks about its implications in the life of a believer. 00:03:30.734 --> 00:03:33.139 You get to the indicative before you get to the imperatives. 00:03:33.139 --> 00:03:36.930 This is who you are and, in light of who you are and have been made to be, this is how you ought to live. 00:03:36.930 --> 00:03:39.139 You've been given a new heart and this is how your body should function, with that new heart. 00:03:39.139 --> 00:03:43.325 As we are elect, that is our position before God. 00:03:43.325 --> 00:03:48.814 Our election ought to determine our action, our practice on the earth. 00:03:48.814 --> 00:03:53.510 In other words, who we are ought to determine what we do. 00:03:53.510 --> 00:03:59.973 Better stated, whose we are ought to determine how we live. 00:03:59.973 --> 00:04:16.685 So Peter provides us with simple instructions on how different spheres of our life should look as elect exiles. 00:04:16.706 --> 00:04:23.214 Last week we introduced the section looking at warring against our sin, our personal sin, we're put to death what is earthly in us. 00:04:23.214 --> 00:04:27.625 We also looked at the importance of our public witness last week. 00:04:27.625 --> 00:04:40.387 This week, while we introduced it last week, this week we begin looking at how we submit to the authority structures God has put in place in our life and if we ever need to subvert those authority structures. 00:04:40.387 --> 00:04:49.007 Next week we'll look at how we live in relationship to one another, even in marriage, and the next week after that we'll look at how we live in relationship to one another, even in marriage, and the next week after that we'll look at how we suffer. 00:04:49.007 --> 00:05:09.007 Well, my goal this morning is to simply help you, to help us think through the question of how God's people should relate to the government above them, the temporary government, and, this time, before he returns, as exiles underneath it. 00:05:09.007 --> 00:05:14.843 That's Peter's message in this section how do we remain a holy witness in a hostile world? 00:05:14.843 --> 00:05:18.009 In relation to government. 00:05:18.009 --> 00:05:28.584 If you can stand with me as I read our text of scripture once more this morning, just in honor of God's word, we'll read it through, we'll pray and then we'll begin. 00:05:31.410 --> 00:05:34.915 1 Peter 2, verses 13 through 17. 00:05:34.915 --> 00:05:50.028 Be subject, for the Lord's sake, to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors, as sent by him, to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 00:05:50.028 --> 00:05:57.771 For this is the will of God that by doing good, you should put to silence the ignorance of such foolish people. 00:05:57.771 --> 00:06:05.494 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 00:06:05.494 --> 00:06:13.992 Honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the emperor. 00:06:13.992 --> 00:06:21.048 God, I do pray you, knowing my heart and my struggle still against sin. 00:06:21.048 --> 00:06:27.901 You knowing my fallibility, struggle still against sin. 00:06:27.901 --> 00:06:33.983 You knowing my fallibility, would you still use me this morning to bring and present your infallible word for your glory, so that we might know how to live in the world you've created us to live in. 00:06:33.983 --> 00:06:39.461 Lord, you have not returned, and so we trust that you still have a plan for our lives. 00:06:39.461 --> 00:06:44.533 We are still alive, and so we trust you still have a plan for our lives. 00:06:44.533 --> 00:06:48.807 Use us as your servants to that end, for your glory. 00:06:48.807 --> 00:06:50.533 Amen, you can be seated. 00:06:53.740 --> 00:06:57.887 This morning is quite simple as far as an outline goes. 00:06:57.887 --> 00:07:05.992 There are four questions that I want us to ask of the text pertaining to government and our relationship with it. 00:07:05.992 --> 00:07:12.867 We will look at other texts in scripture to give examples, and one other primary text to see how we are to relate to the government. 00:07:12.867 --> 00:07:14.706 That text is Romans 13. 00:07:14.706 --> 00:07:21.112 Five questions, and they are presented as fill-ins, just so we're tracking with each other. 00:07:21.112 --> 00:07:27.369 All right, the first question I want us to ask is what is government? 00:07:27.369 --> 00:07:29.232 What is government? 00:07:29.232 --> 00:07:41.540 You may have learned that in fifth grade, sixth grade, seventh grade. 00:07:41.560 --> 00:07:45.627 Well, in verse 13 of our text, we are told to, for the Lord's sake, be subject to every human institution. 00:07:45.627 --> 00:07:50.055 What sort of human institution is he referring to? 00:07:50.055 --> 00:07:56.733 Well, he goes on to say it includes, like an emperor or governors, in verses 13 and 14. 00:07:56.733 --> 00:08:08.341 So in this section, it's clear that the human institution he is referring to is the institution of the government under which you live In Paul's sake. 00:08:08.341 --> 00:08:15.153 Paul's case, it was Rome and in some ways, initially in his life, the Sanhedrin. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:49.365 Now, if you were to go and look online to just get any definition you could find by AI or by Webster's Dictionary, and you were to look up what is government, you will read something like this A government is a system or organization that governs a community, country or state by making and enforcing laws, collecting taxes that we may want to put a line to that sometimes and providing public services to achieve collective goals and maintain order. 00:08:49.365 --> 00:08:51.289 And you know what? 00:08:51.289 --> 00:08:52.693 The internet's not always wrong. 00:08:52.693 --> 00:09:00.904 That's actually a pretty good definition of what a government is and that's what God has in mind when he talks about human institutions in this text. 00:09:00.904 --> 00:09:03.009 Simple question. 00:09:03.528 --> 00:09:05.732 We get onto more complex questions as we go. 00:09:05.732 --> 00:09:11.250 Number two where does the idea of government come from? 00:09:11.250 --> 00:09:15.961 Where does the establishment of government come from? 00:09:15.961 --> 00:09:18.945 Well, verse 14,. 00:09:18.945 --> 00:09:21.768 You see that governors are sent by who. 00:09:21.768 --> 00:09:26.052 Verse 14, the emperor, who is in power. 00:09:26.052 --> 00:09:34.009 But a good question to ask then is well, if the emperor sent the governors, who sent the emperor? 00:09:34.009 --> 00:09:37.822 And we have an answer for that as we look to scripture. 00:09:37.822 --> 00:09:45.145 An answer for some of us, of course, us in this room who live in the country of the United States. 00:09:45.145 --> 00:09:51.432 Our answer for our president might be well, the people elected that president. 00:09:51.432 --> 00:10:01.583 An answer for other Christians in different parts of the world may answer well, the family determines the next leader of that family. 00:10:01.583 --> 00:10:10.171 Well, and for others in other parts of the world, it might be well, it's the one that kills the leader that's currently in power that takes the next position of power. 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:23.826 All these are partly true, but all these are not the total determining factor for a leader, a government or for its people. 00:10:23.826 --> 00:10:41.980 Because Romans chapter 13 tells us in verse 1, there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 00:10:41.980 --> 00:10:54.674 In the same section it also teaches that God has instituted said governors or leaders of a particular country and they are to be God's servants, whether they be good servants or bad servants. 00:10:54.674 --> 00:11:04.879 So the establishment of government and its leaders is from God. 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:05.826 Sometimes you might think about this. 00:11:05.826 --> 00:11:09.943 God establishes particular governments for the discipline of his children. 00:11:09.943 --> 00:11:19.504 If you read in Daniel chapter one, it says that God gave Israel's leader over to Nebuchadnezzar. 00:11:19.504 --> 00:11:36.261 Because of Israel's sin, god established a wicked leader and put him in place for the judgment of his people, that they might recognize their dependence upon the Lord and also might repent of their sin. 00:11:36.261 --> 00:11:46.096 So sometimes God establishes leaders for the discipline of his children, for the discipline of his children. 00:11:46.096 --> 00:11:50.169 Other times God may establish a particular government for the blessing of his children. 00:11:50.801 --> 00:11:55.828 You think of, like Israel under the rule of David and for a great amount of time under the rule of Solomon. 00:11:55.828 --> 00:12:02.700 Sometimes for the discipline of his children, sometimes for the blessing of his children. 00:12:02.700 --> 00:12:11.102 And sometimes he establishes a government to judge the wicked you think of. 00:12:11.102 --> 00:12:23.173 While Rome was certainly wicked itself in many ways, it also was known for a strict judgment against the wicked or those they deemed so. 00:12:23.173 --> 00:12:36.366 Judgment against the wicked or those they deemed so you think of traitors within or enemies on the outside being lined up and hung upon crosses so that those who visited the great city would know not to mess with Rome. 00:12:36.366 --> 00:12:41.480 And it should be said that we talk about these in categories. 00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:47.874 Like some governments are established for judgment of the wicked, some for blessing of his children, some for discipline of his children. 00:12:47.874 --> 00:12:57.489 And you could say that God can be up to all three, or up to two, or up to one, as he sees fit, as he sovereignly chooses, at any time. 00:12:57.489 --> 00:13:07.053 At the same time, but all the time, god establishes governments and their leaders. 00:13:07.053 --> 00:13:10.589 So the answer to number two you'll see on the screen. 00:13:10.589 --> 00:13:25.528 God puts leaders in positions of power for reasons not always known to us, and he can take those leaders out of their positions of power, however and whenever he wants. 00:13:25.528 --> 00:13:48.280 However, and whenever he wants, you might say it like this Because he's God At any point in time, if he so chooses, he can overthrow a nation's leader and remove them from power and remove them from the earth. 00:13:48.280 --> 00:13:52.669 Let me give you two examples, a lot of examples here. 00:13:54.373 --> 00:14:00.894 There's a story in the Old Testament where Jehoshaphat and Ahab are considering two kings. 00:14:00.894 --> 00:14:02.419 They decide to. 00:14:02.419 --> 00:14:07.269 They're considering where they want to link together and go against another nation and they consult the prophets. 00:14:07.269 --> 00:14:10.240 Kings go to the prophets and they say should we go? 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:11.903 Is God behind this? 00:14:11.903 --> 00:14:18.581 And 400 prophets come back and tell Jehoshaphat and Ahab yes, absolutely, we love you, king. 00:14:18.581 --> 00:14:19.664 You're the best king ever. 00:14:19.664 --> 00:14:21.428 There's not ever been kings like you. 00:14:21.428 --> 00:14:23.868 Man, if I could be like you, I wish. 00:14:23.868 --> 00:14:29.067 They told him what they wanted to hear and they said yes, certainly you will win. 00:14:29.067 --> 00:14:33.248 One of them gave him like a little crown of horns and said yeah, go take him with the crown of horns. 00:14:33.248 --> 00:14:42.345 But there was one other prophet and Ahab did not want to consult that prophet because that prophet had spoken against Ahab in the past and that prophet's name was Micaiah. 00:14:42.345 --> 00:14:49.087 Well, micaiah said you shall not go, for the Lord says you will lose your life and lose the battle. 00:14:49.087 --> 00:14:55.389 They did not listen to the Lord's prophet, micaiah, and they went and he died. 00:14:55.389 --> 00:14:57.466 That was the end of Ahab's life. 00:14:57.466 --> 00:15:08.701 So this is a situation where God sent a prophet to warn a king not to go lest he die, and the king did not listen to God's word. 00:15:08.701 --> 00:15:16.215 God can overthrow a person in a position of authority anytime he wants. 00:15:16.215 --> 00:15:25.094 Think of another example, but the opposite In the book of Daniel, one of my favorite chapters in the book of Daniel. 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:34.648 Yes, I love the chapter where God uses the 13, 14 year olds, daniel and, as we know them, shadrach, meshach and Abednego. 00:15:34.648 --> 00:15:51.471 And they're young boys and they're assimilated into they're told to assimilate into the Chaldean way in Babylon, by eating their food and reading their books that were like just astrology back then and they decide and resolve they will not sin against God. 00:15:51.471 --> 00:16:06.283 And then, of course, you know the story of Shadrach, meshach and Abednego they didn't bow to the golden statue and that Nebuchadnezzar had placed, and they get thrown in the fiery furnace and Nebuchadnezzar's servants die, but they don't, and there's a fourth man in the fire. 00:16:06.283 --> 00:16:07.166 Oh, it's a cool story. 00:16:07.166 --> 00:16:09.774 I love it, right? 00:16:09.774 --> 00:16:15.030 Maybe you know the VeggieTales version, where it's Rackshack and Benny and there's a chocolate bunny they won't bow down to. 00:16:15.030 --> 00:16:16.802 It's great, I love it. 00:16:17.783 --> 00:16:32.394 And then chapter six, maybe the really famous story of Daniel in the lion's den, where in VeggieTales he's eating pizza with the lions overnight in the story where he won't stop praying. 00:16:32.394 --> 00:16:36.740 But maybe you don't know another story in the book of Daniel. 00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:39.210 It's about Nebuchadnezzar. 00:16:39.210 --> 00:16:48.554 You see, daniel had forcibly served Nebuchadnezzar for a long time in his life. 00:16:48.554 --> 00:16:51.943 Nebuchadnezzar was historically a very bad man. 00:16:51.943 --> 00:16:52.404 In fact. 00:16:52.404 --> 00:16:56.253 Historically, the exile first took place. 00:16:56.253 --> 00:17:06.976 Well, it took place about 20 years before Nebuchadnezzar would finally burn down the city of Jerusalem. 00:17:06.976 --> 00:17:17.780 And so Daniel, a young boy, is forcibly to serve a king named Nebuchadnezzar who is persistently pursuing and killing his family. 00:17:17.780 --> 00:17:19.263 What do you do? 00:17:19.263 --> 00:17:33.346 Well, we know Daniel loved Nebuchadnezzar, that he witnessed Nebuchadnezzar when he was given the audience and at the end of Nebuchadnezzar's life or toward the end of his reign. 00:17:33.768 --> 00:17:37.488 In chapter 4, if you ever go back and read this, I encourage you to read this. 00:17:37.488 --> 00:17:39.605 Do you know who writes Daniel? 00:17:39.605 --> 00:17:40.107 Chapter 4? 00:17:40.107 --> 00:17:42.326 It's the only chapter Daniel doesn't write. 00:17:42.326 --> 00:17:43.470 You know who writes it? 00:17:43.470 --> 00:17:43.770 Nebuchadnezzar. 00:17:43.770 --> 00:17:44.251 It's written by chapter. 00:17:44.251 --> 00:17:44.673 Daniel doesn't write. 00:17:44.673 --> 00:17:45.035 And who writes it? 00:17:45.035 --> 00:17:45.576 Nebuchadnezzar. 00:17:45.576 --> 00:17:50.327 It's written by Nebuchadnezzar and it's actually Nebuchadnezzar's testimony. 00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:54.888 Nebuchadnezzar had a dream again that he was going to lose. 00:17:54.888 --> 00:17:57.307 He didn't know it at first, that he was going to lose his kingdom. 00:17:57.307 --> 00:18:04.112 Daniel has to interpret that for him by the power of God's spirit and Nebuchadnezzar is kicked out of his kingdom for seven years. 00:18:04.112 --> 00:18:06.913 We actually have it on historical record that Nebuchadnezzar disappears for seven years. 00:18:06.913 --> 00:18:09.875 He was made to be like an ox in the field. 00:18:09.875 --> 00:18:24.010 The beast that was within showed from without and he ate grass and he lived among the wild beasts until he recognized that the most high God reigns and can take away leaders and remove their kingdoms. 00:18:24.010 --> 00:18:30.404 And he says I finally believed and reason was given back to me. 00:18:30.404 --> 00:18:32.990 It's such a cool story. 00:18:32.990 --> 00:18:40.046 God takes away kings and kingdoms and can put them back however and whenever he chooses. 00:18:42.029 --> 00:18:49.104 You read at Daniel, chapter four, verse 32, the most high rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 00:18:49.104 --> 00:18:51.892 You know who said that Nebuchadnezzar? 00:18:51.892 --> 00:18:55.702 No king or stands. 00:18:55.702 --> 00:19:03.402 No king stands or stays in their position of power unless the Lord's hand holds them there. 00:19:03.402 --> 00:19:10.462 We may never know why he allows certain kings in their position this side of heaven. 00:19:10.462 --> 00:19:27.555 I don't know why God is and has allowed certain kings in well-persecuted parts of the world to allow, why he allows them to stay in positions of power for so many years, killing Christians and the missionaries we sent. 00:19:27.555 --> 00:19:29.542 I don't know, no idea. 00:19:32.508 --> 00:19:42.624 I draw comfort from Malachi, chapter 1, or Malachi chapter 1, people of Israel asking that same question and God says what you see now is not what will be. 00:19:42.624 --> 00:19:44.151 I will have vengeance. 00:19:44.151 --> 00:19:50.106 It's not our place to go call God's goodness into question. 00:19:50.106 --> 00:19:58.661 If we get anything from the book of Job, it's that it's not our place to go call God's goodness into question and we don't know and understand what he's up to. 00:20:00.967 --> 00:20:07.856 Number three, the third question, is the establishment of government a good thing. 00:20:07.856 --> 00:20:08.460 Is government above us? 00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:09.626 That has been established a good thing? 00:20:09.626 --> 00:20:10.993 His government above us? 00:20:10.993 --> 00:20:14.000 That has been established a good thing. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:28.144 So, going back to our passage, governments are verse 14, to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 00:20:28.144 --> 00:20:37.184 So a government is called to govern its people by establishing laws, by praising those who are righteous and by punishing those who are evil. 00:20:37.184 --> 00:20:47.827 So yes, the answer is God established governments to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good, thereby maintaining peace and protecting its citizens. 00:20:50.375 --> 00:20:59.201 God established government as his servant, romans 13, to be a terror, to be a terror to bad conduct. 00:20:59.201 --> 00:21:04.320 In other words, to scare people from doing bad things. 00:21:04.320 --> 00:21:09.267 To scare people to keep them from doing bad things. 00:21:09.267 --> 00:21:13.992 He's established government to bear the sword Romans 13, to carry them from doing bad things. 00:21:13.992 --> 00:21:16.597 He's established government to bear the sword Romans 13, to carry out his wrath on the wrongdoer. 00:21:16.597 --> 00:21:19.305 Government's my servant to carry out my wrath. 00:21:19.305 --> 00:21:29.407 Governments have been allotted oversight to render judgment and to carry out temporal wrath until God's eternal wrath comes in its fullness. 00:21:29.407 --> 00:21:38.736 So government is established by God to keep the peace, protect citizens' lives and their livelihood, and carry out and maintain justice. 00:21:38.736 --> 00:21:46.497 This is a plan of God In this temporary time between his first and second coming, even before then. 00:21:46.497 --> 00:21:56.263 But in this time that we live as exiles, we have governments put in place above us to protect its citizens and maintain justice. 00:21:58.346 --> 00:22:14.701 So ask a fourth question how are Christians, how are exiles, supposed to relate to the government above them, the temporary government above them, the government that is not to be, or the government to be is perfect. 00:22:14.701 --> 00:22:18.880 Verse 13. 00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:30.877 Be subject, for the Lord's sake, great word subject is hupotasso. 00:22:30.877 --> 00:22:38.220 I say that because it's used a lot in these two passages 1 Peter, chapter 2, and Romans, chapter 13. 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:51.499 Hupotasso to obey, to submit to, to yield to the power, authority or control to the power, authority or control. 00:22:51.499 --> 00:22:54.442 Romans 13 uses this word twice. 00:22:54.462 --> 00:22:57.288 I'm going to read Romans 13, 1 through 7. 00:22:57.288 --> 00:22:58.209 I want you to listen to it. 00:22:58.209 --> 00:23:08.615 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. 00:23:08.615 --> 00:23:17.765 Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 00:23:17.765 --> 00:23:26.208 Then do what is good that is under their instruction, and you will receive God's approval. 00:23:26.208 --> 00:23:48.588 Therefore, one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also, for the sake of conscience, pay to all what is owed to them Taxes, to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, and honor to whom honor is owed. 00:23:48.588 --> 00:23:55.718 Respect is owed and honor to whom honor is owed. 00:23:55.718 --> 00:23:56.219 So here's your answer. 00:23:56.239 --> 00:24:01.529 A Christian's normative response to the government God has put over them is the response of submission. 00:24:01.529 --> 00:24:05.219 That is our normative response, that is our call. 00:24:05.219 --> 00:24:16.542 Our primary posture to the government god has put over us in our lives is and must be submission, whether you like to hear that or not. 00:24:16.542 --> 00:24:17.184 Submission. 00:24:17.184 --> 00:24:21.153 We are also to honor verse 17. 00:24:21.153 --> 00:24:21.954 Honor the emperor. 00:24:21.954 --> 00:24:22.916 Look at the end of our text. 00:24:22.916 --> 00:24:24.278 Respect the office. 00:24:24.278 --> 00:24:26.782 I mean even the officer is evil. 00:24:26.782 --> 00:24:27.865 Respect the office. 00:24:27.865 --> 00:24:30.849 We are to pray also. 00:24:32.215 --> 00:24:36.116 You might think of 1 Timothy 2, where it says I urge. 00:24:36.116 --> 00:24:48.567 Paul says that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all people, including kings, and for all who are in high positions, which in that day would have been Nero, who was one of the most awful emperors. 00:24:48.567 --> 00:24:52.461 They would be responsible for Paul's death. 00:24:52.461 --> 00:24:55.167 Why? 00:24:55.167 --> 00:25:00.585 Why are we to submit and to honor and to pray for our government and its leaders? 00:25:00.585 --> 00:25:02.067 It's a good question, right. 00:25:02.067 --> 00:25:08.426 Why To obey God's will for our lives and for the sake of our witness? 00:25:08.426 --> 00:25:11.482 Look at verse 15 in our text, verse 15. 00:25:11.482 --> 00:25:25.343 For this is the will of God that by doing good, which is defined as verse 13 and 14, you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 00:25:25.343 --> 00:25:33.622 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 00:25:35.365 --> 00:25:48.663 I just think of an example here going off the cuff, daniel under the Medo-Persian King Darius, in chapter 6, before he was thrown into the lion's den. 00:25:48.663 --> 00:26:08.884 Before he was thrown into the lion's den, the other high officials sought to find a reason that he should be put to death and, finding none, they sought to put him to death because of his prayer life, playing on Darius's pride, so they couldn't find where he had used, you know, government stamps for personal letters. 00:26:08.884 --> 00:26:10.981 They can find anything right. 00:26:10.981 --> 00:26:17.326 He lived under the authority of the man, even one with whom he disagreed. 00:26:17.326 --> 00:26:28.829 Christians are to model submission to authority, to give picture to the fact that we submit to a higher authority, to God, above the king that we serve. 00:26:28.829 --> 00:26:36.488 This offers our world a very unique witness. 00:26:36.488 --> 00:26:40.599 Yes, we are to take down arguments raised up against the knowledge of God. 00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:41.201 We looked at that last week. 00:26:41.201 --> 00:26:48.020 Yes, we are to preserve our society, speaking up for what is good and right in it, as it is decaying under godless ideologies. 00:26:48.020 --> 00:26:54.450 But we are here ultimately to be light in our cities and communities, not to fight. 00:26:57.296 --> 00:27:00.905 This is what we find in this longer section written by the Apostle Peter. 00:27:00.905 --> 00:27:05.026 That's what we see in the section on marriage in chapter 3, verses 1 and 2. 00:27:05.026 --> 00:27:13.221 Where a believing wife is called to submit to her unbelieving husband even though he's an unbeliever. 00:27:13.221 --> 00:27:16.423 Wives be subject to your own husbands verse 1,. 00:27:16.423 --> 00:27:18.141 So that here's the purpose. 00:27:18.141 --> 00:27:27.124 Even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 00:27:27.124 --> 00:27:37.848 There's a way you live that testifies to the Lord you serve is winsome and kind of changes the heart of the person seeing you. 00:27:37.848 --> 00:27:38.690 God uses that. 00:27:38.690 --> 00:27:42.241 This is what you see in the workplaces. 00:27:42.241 --> 00:27:44.761 Look at, just right after this section, verse 18 through 20. 00:27:45.544 --> 00:27:46.406 Servants to their masters. 00:27:46.406 --> 00:27:53.487 Servants be subject to your masters, with all respect, not only to the good and gentle masters but also to the unjust masters. 00:27:53.487 --> 00:27:59.965 This is a gracious thing when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 00:27:59.965 --> 00:28:08.781 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure, but if, when you do good and suffer for it, you endure? 00:28:08.781 --> 00:28:11.016 This is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 00:28:11.016 --> 00:28:16.305 Submission is our primary and first response. 00:28:16.305 --> 00:28:19.434 Jesus said pay your taxes to Caesar. 00:28:19.434 --> 00:28:28.323 And Jesus knew what those taxes would pay for in Rome, in an imperial society with no voice given to its citizens. 00:28:28.323 --> 00:28:36.329 Paul says pray for Nero that he might be won by our conduct. 00:28:36.430 --> 00:28:49.171 As we live a gentle, quiet life, holy and pleasing to our brothers and sister in Christ and pleasing to God, we are not to have a reputation of unlawful behavior or unruly behavior. 00:28:49.171 --> 00:28:50.997 We should never be considered anarchists. 00:28:50.997 --> 00:28:57.699 We are to obey the authority God has placed over us, even those with whom we may disagree, knowing God has put them. 00:28:57.699 --> 00:29:01.807 There we are to give witness to our submission to God. 00:29:01.807 --> 00:29:10.727 In our submission to governing authorities, that by any means possible we might testify to Christ means possible, we might testify to Christ. 00:29:10.747 --> 00:29:22.243 I'll point you to an early church letter, not in your Bible, but written to help a unbeliever understand that Christian group living among them. 00:29:22.243 --> 00:29:26.942 It's called the Epistle of Diognetus, written around 150 AD, and the writer is explaining who these Christian people are. 00:29:26.942 --> 00:29:27.405 Here's what he says. 00:29:27.405 --> 00:29:28.855 And the writer is explaining who these Christian people are. 00:29:28.855 --> 00:29:31.477 Here's what he says. 00:29:31.477 --> 00:29:44.790 Although they live in Greek and barbarian cities alike and follow the customs of their country and food and clothing and give proof Sorry, they give proof of a remarkable constitution of their own commonwealth. 00:29:44.790 --> 00:29:55.473 They obey the established laws but go far beyond what is required of them. 00:29:55.473 --> 00:30:01.554 They witness to a different and higher king. 00:30:02.775 --> 00:30:06.685 Now you most certainly are probably asking a question in your mind Does that go for all circumstances? 00:30:06.685 --> 00:30:12.855 The answer is no. 00:30:12.855 --> 00:30:14.798 Number five what if the government orders something ungodly? 00:30:14.798 --> 00:30:20.827 I'll take you to a text of scripture in Acts, chapter four. 00:30:20.827 --> 00:30:29.055 Our fifth and final question the governing authority for the Jewish people was the Sanhedrin. 00:30:29.055 --> 00:30:33.054 The governing authority for the Jewish people was the Sanhedrin. 00:30:36.035 --> 00:30:39.945 The Sanhedrin was primarily responsible for persecuting the early church in Jerusalem before it spread out to Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth. 00:30:39.945 --> 00:30:53.507 But in order that it may spread no further this is Acts 4, among the people, the Sanhedrin said we should warn them to speak no more to anyone in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:30:53.507 --> 00:30:59.007 So they called Peter and John and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 00:30:59.007 --> 00:31:03.665 But Peter and John answered yeah, we're not going to do that. 00:31:03.665 --> 00:31:09.645 Whether it's right in the sight of you, you must judge. 00:31:09.645 --> 00:31:12.143 But we cannot speak of what we have seen and heard. 00:31:12.143 --> 00:31:14.624 We must obey God rather than man. 00:31:16.755 --> 00:31:25.163 So in the book of Acts, christians are imprisoned and killed for sharing the gospel, what they're ordered by their government not to do. 00:31:25.163 --> 00:31:38.442 In the book of Revelation, christians were seen as traitors and killed because of their refusal to make sacrifices to the Roman gods, to the Roman emperor, and be a part of the imperial cult. 00:31:38.442 --> 00:31:40.583 They were ostracized for such things. 00:31:40.583 --> 00:31:44.665 The Jewish people, it seems in the book of Revelation, pointed them out hey, they don't worship you. 00:31:44.665 --> 00:31:48.777 And they were hunted down and killed and put in the arena for doing what. 00:31:48.777 --> 00:31:59.250 They were hunted down and killed and put in the arena for doing what they were sorry for not doing what they were ordered to do, thank you. 00:32:00.935 --> 00:32:02.563 So what does that mean for us? 00:32:02.563 --> 00:32:29.410 It means that while we're called to obey government or authority structures in place above us in most scenarios, there are particular occasions that are biblical to undermine and disobey the governing authorities. 00:32:29.410 --> 00:32:31.413 The word you might use instead of submit here is subvert. 00:32:31.413 --> 00:32:38.474 The word subvert means to undermine, overturn and act in opposition to something that is established. 00:32:38.474 --> 00:32:47.698 Here's the difficulty Knowing when to Most of the time, submit. 00:32:47.698 --> 00:32:56.650 I mean, that's our general posture, but sometimes subversion must happen, why? 00:32:56.650 --> 00:33:08.243 Well, look at verse 17. 00:33:08.243 --> 00:33:10.134 Honor everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the emperor. 00:33:10.275 --> 00:33:13.705 Romans 13 says for rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. 00:33:13.705 --> 00:33:15.336 What do you have? 00:33:15.336 --> 00:33:17.183 No fear of the one who's in authority. 00:33:17.183 --> 00:33:22.965 So what about when the rulers are a terror to good conduct? 00:33:22.965 --> 00:33:29.862 And what about when obedience to God leads us to fear the one who is in authority and not to submit to them? 00:33:29.862 --> 00:33:36.724 Here's my answer Government has limits, because government is not God. 00:33:36.724 --> 00:33:46.568 Christians are called to subvert governmental authority when, and only when, obeying government means disobeying God. 00:33:46.568 --> 00:34:03.499 Here's the answer on the screen Obeying God before man is necessary. 00:34:03.499 --> 00:34:12.188 Now think about that very, very carefully, because the government does not always treat you right. 00:34:14.139 --> 00:34:17.606 Consider Peter in the garden. 00:34:17.606 --> 00:34:26.306 When Judas kissed Jesus to give him away for pieces of silver, peter had a sword on him. 00:34:26.306 --> 00:34:39.148 He pulled it out, he aimed for the head of the guard and he sliced off the ear, probably because he shifted. 00:34:39.148 --> 00:34:44.391 And Jesus says no, not time for that. 00:34:44.391 --> 00:34:56.728 Time for that. 00:34:56.728 --> 00:34:57.451 Most times you do not. 00:34:57.451 --> 00:34:58.737 You don't bear arms every time they do wrong. 00:34:58.737 --> 00:35:05.030 Most times you honor, but maybe there is ungodly situations where they're calling ungodly things to take place. 00:35:05.072 --> 00:35:09.646 Sometimes you run Peter's written writing to Christians in the diaspora, the Christians that have spread abroad because of persecution. 00:35:09.646 --> 00:35:10.389 Sometimes you run. 00:35:10.389 --> 00:35:11.672 That's right, running's right. 00:35:11.672 --> 00:35:17.005 Sometimes you disobey, like Peter and John in Jerusalem. 00:35:17.005 --> 00:35:20.994 You speak about Jesus, but always you pray. 00:35:20.994 --> 00:35:22.916 Always. 00:35:22.916 --> 00:35:26.603 Stephen prayed for those who were killing him in Acts, chapter 7. 00:35:26.603 --> 00:35:31.389 Jesus prayed for those who were killing him in Acts, chapter 7. 00:35:31.389 --> 00:35:33.952 Jesus prayed for those who were killing him on the cross. 00:35:33.952 --> 00:35:36.056 Peter and John prayed for Nero before he would kill him. 00:35:38.981 --> 00:35:42.210 Now you may ask all right, we're 35 minutes into a message. 00:35:42.210 --> 00:35:44.643 How do I think about this? 00:35:44.643 --> 00:35:46.666 Just as practically as possible? 00:35:46.666 --> 00:35:49.152 Well, I reserve that for right now. 00:35:49.152 --> 00:35:55.166 When, what, where, why and how. 00:35:55.166 --> 00:35:57.909 This calls for wisdom. 00:35:57.909 --> 00:36:10.472 When is the moment or what is the rule that I should consider not submitting, which is my role, but rather subverting? 00:36:10.472 --> 00:36:30.512 I want to give you four considerations as Christians in a world that could one time just shift to help you think through disobeying your leaders that have been put there by God. 00:36:30.512 --> 00:36:43.364 Four considerations, and I should just say that good and godly church leaders may disagree on when it is time and for what. 00:36:43.364 --> 00:36:47.849 I'll give you an example Two Christian leaders that I've looked up to over the years. 00:36:47.849 --> 00:36:55.913 One pastored a church in California, the other pastors a church in Washington DC. 00:36:55.913 --> 00:37:03.070 Both, from my distance of perception, are godly men. 00:37:03.851 --> 00:37:13.485 During the time where there was the COVID-19 pandemic, there was lockdowns and there was questions to the severity of all of that and I'm not getting into all that. 00:37:13.485 --> 00:37:16.007 There was questions for what to do, what churches should do. 00:37:16.007 --> 00:37:35.574 John MacArthur at Grace Community Church decided, I think they went online for a very short time as they were considering what to do, but they never suspended services and they continued to meet and their argument was that the government has no right over the church. 00:37:35.574 --> 00:37:50.021 They were arguing for what is inherently a Baptist argument, the separation of church and state, which, for the record, has nothing to do with the church not influencing the state. 00:37:50.021 --> 00:37:53.307 It's to keep the state from interfering with the church. 00:37:53.307 --> 00:37:57.943 It was argued for by Thomas Helwes in England. 00:37:57.943 --> 00:38:09.547 It was carried over by Roger Williams, a Baptist preacher who helped found Rhode Island, and Thomas Jefferson stole Roger Williams' words in a good way and used those words to talk about the separation of church and state. 00:38:09.547 --> 00:38:13.929 And so he said, the church fear is not to be interfered with by the state. 00:38:13.929 --> 00:38:16.827 Therefore the church should not be shut down by the state. 00:38:16.827 --> 00:38:17.710 The government has no right. 00:38:20.500 --> 00:38:25.623 Another church pastor named Mark Dever in Washington DC I have a lot of respect for him argued differently. 00:38:25.623 --> 00:38:40.972 He said our church will for a time stop gathering because we think the church or the government is after the common good of the people of our city and our state and our country to shut down to make sure that we help stop the spread, etc. 00:38:40.972 --> 00:38:41.072 Etc. 00:38:41.072 --> 00:38:49.880 Well, soon after that there were certain protests that were mass gatherings and they were not taken care of by the government. 00:38:49.880 --> 00:38:55.141 The government was okay with that and so, just like the church in California wrote a letter to the mayor. 00:38:55.141 --> 00:39:02.344 So did the church in Washington DC, saying hey, this is unjust governmental practice. 00:39:02.344 --> 00:39:06.152 And so they did suspend for a time, met outside for a time. 00:39:06.152 --> 00:39:09.509 I say this just to give two examples of hey, this is subversion. 00:39:09.509 --> 00:39:13.005 And they didn't exactly see eye to eye on how they handled it. 00:39:13.005 --> 00:39:15.085 One said government has no right. 00:39:15.085 --> 00:39:19.925 Another one said you know, I think they're doing right for a time, and then they found out they weren't. 00:39:23.041 --> 00:39:27.485 So I want to give you four considerations you already see them on the screen before you choose to disobey. 00:39:27.485 --> 00:39:28.086 Here they are. 00:39:28.086 --> 00:39:39.134 Consider it very carefully, do not take it lightly. 00:39:39.134 --> 00:39:46.224 Romans 13 says two different phrases those who resist the authorities God has put in place, they will incur judgment. 00:39:46.224 --> 00:39:47.286 They will bear God's wrath. 00:39:47.286 --> 00:39:49.793 Be careful. 00:39:49.793 --> 00:39:56.608 Second, if it ever comes a time where you are not here at our church and you're considering okay, what do I do? 00:39:56.608 --> 00:39:59.682 Maybe I'm a missionary in East Asia. 00:39:59.682 --> 00:40:09.315 Is this law put in place over me, calling me to disobey God or keeping me from obeying God? 00:40:09.315 --> 00:40:11.005 That's a serious question. 00:40:11.005 --> 00:40:18.865 If so, you subvert, maybe ask another question, maybe think another consideration. 00:40:18.885 --> 00:40:22.086 Sorry, be careful listening to someone you don't know. 00:40:22.086 --> 00:40:23.972 Talk to your pastor. 00:40:23.972 --> 00:40:31.831 He will stand before God to give an account for how he leads you in this, and a good pastor hopefully recognizes that and takes great care with that. 00:40:31.831 --> 00:40:38.932 Be careful to listen to online influencers who are angry all the time or who are, I mean, frankly soft. 00:40:38.932 --> 00:40:44.190 Different categories and their context may be different. 00:40:46.000 --> 00:40:50.050 Number four be careful making a matter of conscience, a matter of orthodoxy. 00:40:50.050 --> 00:40:51.041 That goes for anything. 00:40:51.041 --> 00:40:57.014 So, for example, pastor Mark in Washington DC versus Pastor John. 00:40:57.014 --> 00:41:07.943 There were people from their quote-unquote tribes or tribes that formed to say, oh, this guy's giving in or this guy's too strong, and those guys were friends, calling each other on the phone weekly. 00:41:07.943 --> 00:41:20.072 Be careful, making a matter of conscience or differing decisions carefully thought through with biblical instruction, making them a matter of orthodoxy, like showing faithfulness or not. 00:41:21.059 --> 00:41:24.608 Again, is the law disobeying or keeping me from obeying God? 00:41:24.608 --> 00:41:25.952 We have to answer that question. 00:41:25.952 --> 00:41:35.208 So let me sum up this morning we are exiles here, but we are put under temporary governments that God has put in place. 00:41:35.208 --> 00:41:36.612 We are to obey them. 00:41:36.612 --> 00:41:43.411 Our primary posture is submitting to them, but we fear God above every other earthly king. 00:41:43.411 --> 00:41:45.221 His word comes first. 00:41:45.221 --> 00:41:59.373 So I say, with the apostle Peter, that we ought to honor everyone, love our church, family, fear God and honor our emperor, our president, our king. 00:41:59.373 --> 00:42:16.702 Here's what I desire for the exiles of Redeemer City Church as I close in the city of Knoxville that our witness would be one of love for others, that we would be known for honoring our leaders, that we don't put our faith in our government and, above all, we fear God. 00:42:17.264 --> 00:42:19.487 Let's pray, god. 00:42:19.487 --> 00:42:22.494 We do thank you for our time in your word this morning. 00:42:22.494 --> 00:42:32.434 We do pray that we would live in submission to your word, as we live in submission to those you have put in power in our world. 00:42:32.434 --> 00:42:40.554 We do not often understand why you have allowed some leaders to lead for periods of time. 00:42:40.554 --> 00:42:48.005