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As Christians, how do we relate to government authorities
Romans 13
Happy Anniversary Mokuaikaua! 204
Mokuaikaua was part of the beginning of the greatest revival on the Hawaiian Islands .

I would like to continue with our series on the book of Romans.
This book is considered Paul’s masterpiece, a very well-constructed summary of Christian Theology.
Considered by many one of the most important books ever written on the Christian faith.
We are in Romans 13
Romans 13 is divided in three parts
1-7 How we are to relate to governing authorities
8-10 the believers and his fellow man our obligations
11-14 how the believers are to live in the last days.

Our obligations towards government authorities
1 submit to government,
believers are to be model citizens.

Rom 13:1 Let 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.

We need to submit and understand that there is no authority except established by God.

What is the purpose of Government
The US Government today is a little different then the Roman government, at the time Paul wrote to the Romans, Nero was in power.

Today We have a democracy

What is the purpose of the U.S. Government?
The purpose is expressed in the preamble to the Constitution:

‘‘We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.’’
A government that will work for you.

In Rome they had an Autocracy
Autocracy is a system of government in which absolute power is held by the ruler, known as an autocrat.
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus
He was born in 37 AD by the time he was 3 his father died, by the time he was 11 his mother married Claudius the emperor, when Claudius died, Nero with the help of his mother the Senate and the Praetorian Guard he became the emperor, he was 17 years old, in the beginning he had his mother and other tutors to advise and help him but as soon as he got tired of that, he got rid of them and arranged the murder of his mother, he wanted more independency.
Not a good son or person, he was well known for the persecution of Christians in his sports arena, and lightning Christians as candles for his garden and horse race track.
He could take a census and tax everyone living in occupied territory.
Caesars in Rome where considered a god.
Nero was a Tyrant. Responsible for Paul’s beheading in 58 in June 9 of 68 he committed suicide.

Yet Paul says
Governing Authorities good or bad are established by God. I don’t completely understand this, but I trust the word of God scripture, God allows them to rise to the place of authority.
Do you understand why is so important to pray for our leaders, only God can remove them from power, and evil people can be easily replaced Good leaders are the ones hard to find.

I remember when I was 18, a very young Christian, living in Rio de Janeiro, where I learned so many bad habits about driving.
Because of all the crime in the city the mayor and police encouraged you to not stop in a light, waiting for a red light to go green because someone could come and rob you, after 7 pm keep moving.

I was always driving too fast , only stop in some lights, stop signs was just a yield sign and the mind set was always be first so there was no yielding. The fear of being caught it was always there, because if I was ever pulled over, I would get a ticket for many different things, and on the other hand the corruption among the police officers was open and plenty, they would stop you for something you didn’t, do and the only way out was by pay them. You had to negotiate the amount.
It was a lawless city, God entrust us to submit and recognize Him.

Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, the one who order him to be killed and told him

Joh 19:10 "Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"

Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."

What Jesus said was, You only have power Pilate because my Father gave it to you.
All power and authority comes from God, was true to Pharo in Egypt, to different kings in the old testament who were very evil.

Government is part of God’s common grace
God commonly blesses everyone, through nature, the sun shines over the just and unjust, the rain, over the just and unjust, government is in that category of common grace.
Part of the way in how God restrains evil, in a fallen world , is through laws, police forces , judicial systems and armies, why army’s, because evil can be so irrational, that can only be detained by force.
They are Ordained by God but all of them imperfect, only during the Millennium we will see a perfect government.

2 We need to recognize that God establishes authority

Rom 13:2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Rebelling against them it will bring judgment, every country has rules and laws, you rebel against their law you will pay the consequences.

Rom 13:3 For 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.

Do what is right and you will have no fear of the one in authority, The police is out there to protect you, government is there to serve you

Rom 13:4 For 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.

Rom 13:5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

We have a dual citizenship we have an address here on earth and an address in Heaven
We serve a King and He is our final authority, He is the one who said my Kingdom is not of this world,

Php 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Even though we are not from here we are to submit to the governing authorities of this state and country.
We are members of two realms and we need to learn responsibility in both.
We can’t just say I’m in Christ Jesus and I will not obey the laws or rules of this country. As Christians we should be examples.

But you may say I’m Hawaiian and my Kingdom is under occupation, so it was half of the world, in the days of Paul.

3 Government should be supported and respected
Rom 13:6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing.

Pay your taxes, and you wont fear the IRS, through the years I have met different friends who are opposed to paying taxes, they explained to me why they shouldn’t pay how their many lawyers will protect me if I decide not to pay, they will defend me in court.
I don’t like paying taxes either, but that’s not what my bible says, yes there are some roads, buildings and projects that I don’t agree with, but I like when my road is worked on, when the trees are cut, the asphalt is fresh, when the trash is picked up, the abandoned cars are taken away and the lights work at night, in front of my house there is not a group of homeless or drunk people hanging out and I didn’t have to do one thing to help
Taxes are part of the law of the land, even if we don’t agree with everything. When you get to Heaven you only need to submit to Jesus.

Rom 13:7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

The majority of our leaders are trying to do their best to take care of the Island and the people, we don’t agree with all they do or believe but Paul says respect them and honor them for their service.
Pray for our leaders.

During Paul’s time, taxation was very oppressive system, Rome would evaluate an area and determine how much taxes they would receive from that area, the tax collector could collect twice as much, they didn’t care, as long as they receive the amount they determine, they could pocket the rest. That’s why tax collectors were hated by all.
It was called the poll tax
There were four primary kinds of taxation in ancient Rome: a cattle tax, a land tax, customs, and a tax on the profits of any profession.

Pharisees, Sadducees zealot’s hated the roman taxes the Herodians were ok with it, but they hated each other.
One time they try to get Jesus in the middle of it by asking him

Luk 20:22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

Luk 20:23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them,

Luk 20:24 "Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?" "Caesar's," they replied.

Luk 20:25 He said to them, "Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

Luk 20:26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

Jesus didn’t come to create a social movement, he came to save the lost, when people get save their lives change their families change eventually their community change. Yes there were many issues that Jesus could get behind, and create a revolution, slavery was a big thing, they were occupied, unjustly taxed. Jesus never pick up any issue, salvation and introducing them to His Heavenly Father was His mission.
4 Civil disobedience
Is there ever a time for civil disobedience? Glad you asked me this question ?
Yes, What about when government opposes God’s laws.

My grandmother the lady who adopt my mother not my real grandma she died giving birth to my mom. The only grandma I knew she lived until she was 105 years old, she was born in 1860’ the end of slavery in Brazil was May 13 1888 the family had money so she grew up having dozens of slaves, but when they were freed many of them asked her if they could stay with her, she had loved them and treat them like people, with respect, even when she was old they would come to visit her, some with call her mom.
Before the government recognize them she did.
As Christians we are called to love one another, to lead them to Christ
We submit to the government up to the point that the government disobeys God’s commandments. We don’t need to do something evil just because everyone else does it.
Jesus is our final authority, the day government orders you not to preach anymore, you will need to choose who will you obey, are you going to be obedient to God?
The day they tell its okay to abort your child if disrupts your life style, choose God.
The day they tell you to mutilate yourself because you are confused about your sexuality, choose God.

As Christians How do we relate to government authority?

1 we submit to it
2we acknowledge that God established all power and authority
3We support and respect the government
4 We disobey when they go against God’s commands.

Have you asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life?

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Joh 3:16

To receive Him we need to accept Him as God’s son, repent from our sins and a life of selfishness, asking Him to be your Lord and savior, not that you deserve it, but is a gift from God.
If this is your desire today, please repeat this prayer after me?
Heavenly Father I’m sinner, I’m sorry for my sins, I’m willing to turn away from my sins.
I receive Christ as my savior,
I confess him as Lord
from this moment on I want to follow and serve him,
in the fellowship of his church,
In Jesus name. Amen!
1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;

1Co 11:24 and when He had given thanks, He broke itand said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

1Co 11:25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

1Co 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

1Co 11:27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks thiscup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

Heb 9:14 dead works, acts, sins

E mau aku ka loko maika’i o ka Haku, Iesu Kristo; me ke aloha a ke Akua, a me ka launa pu ‘ana mai o ka Uhane Hemolele ia ‘olua, a me makou apau. Amene.
Amazing Love

As Christians, how do we relate to government authorities

1 submit to government,

2 We need to recognize that God establishes authority

3 Government should be supported and respected

4 Civil disobedience