Submission To Government

Temple Baptist Church - 5-31-2017

1 Peter 2:13-16

Introduction:

A.  As we read these verses tonight, we need to once again consider them within the context in which they are written.

1.  We live in days of civil disobedience.  People in our day have a real problem with authority of any kind: in the home, in the schools, and to the governmental laws.

2.  These dispersed Jews (strangers-scattered) were being heavily persecuted the civil government.  Paul is writing to them to, despite the persecution, submit to the government they lived under.

B.  To many of these Jews, this must have seemed a “bitter pill” to swallow. 

Romans 13:1  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.  (Paul said to fear, obey, and honor those in authority.)

Titus 3:1  Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,  (Paul said here to be good citizens and not speak against or resist the powers that be.)

C.  God gave these persecuted Jews neither excuse or exemption in the realm or submission to the “powers that be.”  I have known preachers who gave excuses for disobedience to law.

Romans 13:1-2  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.  (2)  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

1.  Submission To Government is our Duty - Romans 13:1  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.

Titus 3:1  Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

Proverbs 24:21  My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

2.  Submission To Government does have a Condition - Acts 5:26-29  Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.  And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,  Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

3.  Submission To Government demands Submission - 1 Peter 2:13-17  Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;  Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.  As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.  Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Titus 3:1  Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,  (Magistrate - A public civil officer, invested with the executive government of some branch of it. In this sense, a king is the highest or first magistrate, as is the President of the United States.  But the word is more particularly applied to subordinate officers, as governors, intendants, prefects, mayors, justices of the peace, and the like.)

4.  Submission To Government pays Taxes - Matthew 22:17-22   Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?  But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?  Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.  And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?  They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.  When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

TRIB'UTE, n. 1.  An annual or stated sum of money or other valuable thing, paid by one prince or nation to another, either as an acknowledgment of submission, or as the price of peace and protection, or by virtue of some treaty.  The Romans made all their conquered countries pay tribute

5.  Submission To Government commands Respect - Exodus 22:28  Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Acts 23:5  Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

Ecclesiastes 10:20  Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

Jude 8-10  Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignity.es (An elevated office, civil or ecclesiastical, giving a high rank in society; advancement; preferment, or the rank attached to it)  Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation (to speak evil against or to condemn), but said, The Lord rebuke thee.  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

                                                                                            

6.  Submission To Government requires Supplication - 1 Timothy 2:1-2  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

7.  Submission To Government brings Results - 1 Peter 2:15  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: