Geoff Hohneck
Romans 13:1-7
CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP
UNDER HUMAN GOVERNMENT
20 October 2013
The burning issue is in the text today, and even in general, is something we don’t spend enough time thinking about – Do we respond in a Christian manner to our governing authorities?
As Christians we often have the tendency to compartmentalise our lives where we submit to God in some things but rely on our own wisdom for other things. But that needs to change. Every area of our lives ought to be lived in full submission to God. And in this passage Paul explains what full submission to God looks like in the context of human authority and government. The clear teaching of this chapter is that we are to demonstrate submission to the Lord by submitting to earthly authorities. And it doesn't just apply to Christians but humanity in general.
May our surrender to Christ never come in the way of showing respect to our civil leaders.
Sermon Outline
1. Human government is
God's idea (vs 1,2)
2. Christian common
sense and the government (vs 3,4)
3. Christian response
to government (vs 5-7)