Godly Submission

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but too bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 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, honor to whom honor is owed.

Prayer: Father God! Thank you for another moment that you allow us to gather as your church, as we read and teach scripture transform our hearts that will transform our lives for your glory in Jesus' name amen.

“Let God have your life; He can do more with it than you can.”- DL Moody Submission...

“This attitude of complete submission and complete trust is of course the key to working out our own salvation in fear and trembling and is the mark of a truly spiritual Christian.”- John F. Walvoord

Submission: The action or fact of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person

“Because of the gospel we are to reflect or display Godly submission in society”- Cedric Lauchner

So, in the text Paul calls the church into focusing on their character demonstrating the morale faculties of being a Christian in society

Today we as believers should also be demonstrating our morals that is empowered by the gospel and His spirit.
It is a known fact that we do not naturally submit to authority. Our flesh is constantly at war with our spirit. Battles of right and wrong but let me encourage you to walk in the righteousness of God, walk in the spirit, and live a life totally submitted to God.

Living a life of complete submission is demonstrated inwardly and lived outwardly. Allowing us to define and make application of the scriptures and the text written by Paul to the Romans...

Point 1- Authority Starts with God

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

God is in control. Just as He was in the beginning of the world God is still the manufacturer of everything... things that we love and things that we hate, people we love and people we dislike, laws that we like and laws that we dislike, Leaders that we like and dislike, Presidents, Congressman, Senators, House Representatives, Mayors, Sheriffs we like and dislike, whether we like or dislike, we must accept the fact that authority starts with God...

So, as a believer living on mission within society, we must understand the definition of submission to authority.

Titus.3:1 ESV

Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.

Point 2- Do what is good

3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but too bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

Reading the text today challenges me because of the many injustices that are served in today's world when it comes to authority. There is nothing worse than abusive authority. But because God’s word is infallible 2 Timothy reminds us:

“There is nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.”

1 Peter.2:13-15 AMP

13 Submit yourselves to [the authority of] every human institution for the sake of the Lord [to honor His name], whether it is to a king as one in a position of power, 14 or to governors as sent by him to bring punishment to those who do wrong, and to praise and encourage those who do right. 15 For it is the will of God that by doing right you may silence (muzzle, gag) the [culpable] ignorance andirresponsible criticisms of foolish people.

Do what is good.

Point 3- Know what is right before God

5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

There is an awareness that is manifested through your actions.

Paul challenges the church to live out righteousness. Do not live a life of avoiding wrath, that is tough to do. For example, living the same life publicly that you live privately...

Are you living the same publicly that you are living privately?

Your conscience is the pulse monitor of your soul...

Living a life of humility is the foundation of belief (Jesus on the cross).

1 Peter.2:19 ESV

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

When you know what is right before God, your actions will follow.

Point 4- Pay your dues

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 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, honor to whom honor is owed.

Here is the practicality in righteousness written in scripture, to pay all what is owed... we want to find loopholes in life to manipulate people and scripture. God's word calls us to walk and live in truth by the righteousness imputed for us on the cross of Christ. Jesus made it clear in Mark.12:17 ESV, 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.

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, honor to whom honor is owed.

Pay your dues…