Romans 13
Be a Good Citizen
What is the law code?
Everything in the law
don't sleep with another person's spouse,
don't take someone's life,
don't take what isn't yours,
don't always be wanting what you don't have,
and any other "don't" you can think of
The code of all these “Don’ts” adds up to one thing, love
When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love. Romans 13:10
I am so glad I know godly police officers
I am also glad to see them in uniform at our church
Serving just like they do for the other businesses and neighborhoods
Let’s show our love outside the church walls
Let’s help and support our communities and authorities by
Promoting the governments that are under God by
Promoting Righteousness, Peace and Joy
Which defines the Kingdom of God
When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along.
Be a Good Citizen
The first 20 some years of my life
I grew up on the King James Bible.
Although I was introduced to the Message Bible
before the New International Bible…
I
It was the New International Bible that helped
me understand much of the Bible
I had read and memorized in my first 20 years.
I know the strong convictions some have
that the King James Bible is the only Bible.
I know the strong persecution of the
Message Bible from those who do not
accept a paraphrased version of the Bible.
I have come to appreciate the many
translations and paraphrased versions of
the true Bible written in Hebrew and Greek.
Even though Hebrew and Greek
are hard for me to read…
If a preacher tries to explain scripture,
he or she is paraphrasing the Bible.
We need to understand the “word for word”
translation from Hebrew and Greek…
And the “thought for thought” paraphrases
from the original Hebrew and Greek.
Both are helpful in understanding God’s Word.
I greatly appreciate Romans 13 in the Message Bible.
As Paul takes the believer outside the church walls
and into the community…
The Message Bible makes it clear in today’s language.
Be a good citizen. All governments are under God.
Insofar as there is peace and order, it's God's order.
So live responsibly as a citizen.
Romans 13:1
All governments are under God
That is a hard saying for many.
I have watched enough movies
to know there are bad cops.
I am afraid to go to Louisiana for fear
some cop will pull me over and break
my tail lights…
And when I get upset, he will arrest me and
make me work on a chain gang the rest of my life.
WOW! The power of Hollywood.
I know there are those who don’t trust
police or governing authorities and want
to go as far as defunding and removing them.
I know there are police just like me
trying to do right…
But the pressures of the job and life
interfere with their judgments and actions.
You are not perfect.
I am not perfect.
The police are not perfect.
So, is this a good reason to say all
governments are not under God? No!
God is all about “order”.
That order is to bring peace.
All families are under God…
But does that mean all parents are perfect
or all children are angels? No!
So, what does is mean…
“All authority are under God”?
It means it is better to work with authorities
to see God’s intention of peace and order
than to work against it.
We start by being good citizens.
We live as responsible citizens.
Just like in the four walls of the church…
We should support the leadership
of the church outside the walls.
We should support the governing authorities.
We have a responsibility
outside the church…
As well as, inside the church.
And if we are going to see our prays
for God’s Kingdom to come and
His will to be done as it is in heaven…
We will need to pay our respect and taxes,
OUCH!
That hurts me!
Look at Romans 13:8-10 in the Message Bible.
Romans 13:8-10…
Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. 9 The law code — don't sleep with another person's spouse, don't take someone's life, don't take what isn't yours, don't always be wanting what you don't have, and any other "don't" you can think of — finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. 10 You can't go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.
Verse 9 What is the law code?
Everything in the law…
don't sleep with another person's spouse,
don't take someone's life,
don't take what isn't yours,
don't always be wanting what you don't have,
and any other "don't" you can think of
The code of all these “Don’ts”
adds up to one thing…
Love
When you add up everything in the law code,
the sum total is love.
Romans 13:10
I am so glad I know godly police officers.
I am also glad to see them in uniform at our church
serving just like they do
for the other businesses and neighborhoods.
Let’s show our love outside the church walls.
Let’s help and support our communities
and authorities by…
Promoting the governments that are under God by
promoting Righteousness, Peace and Joy…
Which defines the Kingdom of God.
When you love others,
you complete what the law has been after all along.
Scripture Reading
Romans 13:1-10 MSG
Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it's God's order. So live responsibly as a citizen. 2 If you're irresponsible to the state, then you're irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. 3 Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you're trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear.
Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you'll get on just fine, 4 the government working to your advantage. But if you're breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren't there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. 5 That's why you must live responsibly — not just to avoid punishment but also because it's the right way to live.
6 That's also why you pay taxes — so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. 7 Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.
8 Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. 9 The law code — don't sleep with another person's spouse, don't take someone's life, don't take what isn't yours, don't always be wanting what you don't have, and any other "don't" you can think of — finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. 10 You can't go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.
No comments:
Post a Comment