Rev. David Holwick W Book of Romans series
First Baptist Church FATHER'S DAY
West Lafayette, Ohio
June 18, 1989
Romans 13
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I. Society is rejecting Authority.
A. Government.
1) 1960's - campus sit-ins.
2) Draft dodgers flee to Canada.
3) Schools: teacher assaulted, won't press charges if there
are no witness. Their testimony has equal weight.
4) Red China: reason old-timers are so upset at students?
B. Parents.
1) Less respect, especially fathers.
2) Proof from TV research:
a) Kids run the family.
b) Fathers are bumbling fools.
1> Family plays along with him.
3) Rodney Dangerfield: We don't get no respect.
II. Principles of Authority.
A. Authority still necessary, even if despised.
1) Never really get away from it.
2) Someone must set the agenda.
B. Bible says all authority is grounded in God.
1) He has ultimate power, say.
2) He delegates (passes down) his authority among people.
3) Authority is necessary because of sin.
a) We do not know enough, by ourselves, to be complete.
b) Our tendency is to selfishness, sin.
c) Someone must hold back this tendency.
III. Romans 13 and Authority.
A. Primary focus is on government.
1) By extension, it also applies to fathers.
B. Their authority has a spiritual status.
1) "God's ministers." 13:4,6
a) They serve God, just like a preacher.
b) Emphasis should be on "minister-servant" rather than "God".
2) "Ordained of God." 13:1
a) He gives them the authority.
3) Tribute, custom, fear, honor: owed them. 13:7
a) Similar to what we owe God.
4) To reject human authority, is to reject God. 13:2
C. Their authority has a physical aspect.
1) Taxes.
2) "Sword" of punishment. 13:4
a) ("damnation" is judgment, not hellfire) 13:2
b) Spankings of fathers.
1> With Daniel Holwick, an "evil eye" is sufficient.
D. Authority deserves obedience.
1) Submission. 13:1
a) Different than obedience.
b) Accept consequences of disobedience.
Even when disobeying, Christians must be submissive
to the extent that,
if their convictions do not permit compliance,
they will accept the consequences of their refusal.
(Face the music)
2) Motivation.
a) Obey out of conscience, not fear. 13:5
IV. Limitations of Authority.
A. Tyranny.
1) Many evil governments have wrapped themselves in religion.
a) Ayotollah Khomeni.
b) Hitler finished his talks with "as heaven enables us."
1> Is he blessed of God?
2> Should Christians blindly obey him?
2) Evil fathers also exist.
a) Abuse.
b) Neglect.
B. Paul looks at ideal.
1) What government is supposed to do.
2) Justice: punish evil, reward good, be motivated by compassion.
C. All human authority has limits.
1) Jesus: "Render to Caesar only what is Caesar's." Matt 22:21
2) Daniel disobeyed order not to pray.
3) Peter disobeyed order not to preach.
a) "We should obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29
b) Marilyn Louise Harrell quoted this verse. (Abusive)
Ripped off $5 million from gov't to give to poor.
"Robin HUD"
4) Antichristian government of Book of Revelation.
D. Even when disobeying, respect is necessary.
V. Obligations of Authority.
A. Must act as God's agent. 13:1
1) You give your children an image of God.
2) Will it be a good one, or a warped one?
B. Punish evil. 13:3
1) Don't let mom always be the "bad guy."
2) Children need a firm hand.
a) They want limits.
C. Reward good. 13:3
1) Many fathers are weak here.
2) Rewards are more important than punishment.
D. Love is ultimate attribute. 13:8
1) Authority is more than being strong.
2) Tenderness and weakness are equally necessary.
**************************** NOTES ***************************
Romans 13 Sermon Research
Briscoe
I. Principles of Authority.
A. God is authoritative.
1) He has ultimate authority.
2) He delegates authority.
B. Identity of authorities in Rom 13.
1) Heavenly beings?
a) No, taxes, etc, point to human figures.
2) Human governments.
a) Also parents, employers, elders, husbands.
C. Status of authorities.
1) "Appointed" 13:3
a) Same word used of Paul in Acts 22:10.
2) "Minister" 13:4
a) Used to describe Phoebe.
3) "God's minister" 13:6
a) Used of priestly service.
II. The Problems of Authority.
A. Historical context.
1) Jews were troublesome to Rome, but still protected.
2) Paul overly positive?
a) Later Christians were much more negative.
b) However, even then they were exhorted to respect authority.
B. Conflict with God's authority.
1) Render to Caesar what is Caesar's - Jesus. Matt 22:21
a) Normal position for believers.
b) Demonstrate renewed lives by responsible behavior.
2) Obey God rather than men. Acts 4:19, 5:29
a) Civil disobedience must be a careful matter of conscience.
III. The Purpose of Authority.
A. Community requires responsible cooperation.
1) Citizenship in heaven does not negate earthly citizenship.
B. Role of authority.
1) Should allow individuals to live as free people.
2) Takes into account man's sinfulness.
a) Punish.
b) Reward.
3) Force is allowed. ("sword") 14:4
a) What is denied individuals is allowed governments.
b) They are instruments of God's wrath.
4) Rewards are also necessary.
5) Civil authority works out God's purposes in society.
C. Enforcement.
1) Fear. 13:5
2) Out of respect for God's institution. ("conscience") 13:5
Expositor's - Harrison
I. Relation to context.
A. Gov't helped the spread of the gospel, so it fits in with theme
of salvation.
B. Others see chapter as detached.
1) But contact is made with Christian service in 12:1-2.
2) But contact may be in warning about dangers of Jewish
revolutionaries.
a) Jewish Messianism may have been behind Claudius' edict
of expulsion.
1> Returnees may have been antagonistic to the state.
b) Therefore, Rom 13 may address a specific situation, not
a general theme.
II. Exposition.
A. Submission.
1) Weaker than "obey."
2) But even when disobeying, Christians must be submissive to the
extent that, if their convictions do not permit compliance,
they will accept the consequences of their refusal.
B. Authority.
1) Josephus uses this term of Romans who governed Palestine.
2) Even Satan is an "established authority" - Luke 4:6.
3) Citizenship in heaven (Phil 3:20) does not excuse from
submission to state.
a) Dual citizenship.
C. Rebellion.
1) It is against what God has ordained.
2) The "state" is not to be completely identified with the world.
3) "Damnation" (KJV) is too strong; better, they receive God's
disapproval. cf. Matt 26:52, live and die by sword.
D. The state as God's servant.
1) No regard for state as a tyranny?
a) Paul is presenting the norm or ideal here.
b) Or, God can bring good even out of tyrannical systems.
2) Limitations.
a) The state has common grace knowledge of good and evil.
b) God is still supreme, the state being at most a servant.
c) The state can err.
E. Relationship of believers.
1) Avoid sword - must refer to rebellion, not individual crimes.
***************************************************
I. Authority in Romans 13.
A. Focus.
1) Traditionally understood of government.
2) Broader application - fathers.
B. Controversial.
1) Cause of much bloodshed, injustice?
2) Others (like Calvin) find support for revolutions here.
II. What is authority?
A. Power over someone.
1) By brute force.
2) Moral example.
3) Law.
4) God-given.
a) Paul's argument.
b) Even even calls them "God's servants" (KJV - ministers)
B. *All* authority is ultimately from God.
1) Hitler, Stalin?
2) Abusive fathers?
III. Limits on authority.
A. Assumption that they are using authority for good.
1) Rewarding good-doers.
2) Punishing evil-doers.
a) No need for fear.
B. Role of servant.
1) Husbands compared to Jesus in Ephesians 5. 13:4
IV. What is submission?
A. Give in to others.
1) God.
2) Government.
3) Fathers/Husbands/Masters.
B. Do not rebel.
C. Obedience.
D. Cause of grief.
1) (Australian journalist illustration of captivity)
2) Quiet caving-in to domineering force?
3) Wives and children beaten to death.
V. Submission and obedience.
A. Different - even when we refuse to obey, we can submit to
consequences. (Expos)
VI. Historical context.
A. Local government usually protected Christians.
1) Or at least were indifferent.
2) "Peace of Rome" allowed Paul to travel widely.
B. Later emperors were evil.
1) Revelation 13 balances Romans 13.
VII. Authority beyond limits.
A. How to tell:
1) Punish good-doers.
a) Cause them fear.
2) Reward evil-doers.
3) Self-seeking, instead of serving.
B. What to do:
1) Rebellion allowed?
2) Take form of force?
VIII. Fathers.
A. Seek to be a servant-model.
B. Reflect God in your sense of justice.
C. Reward/punish.
1) Many fathers are absentee.
a) Try to be buddy, good-guy; don't punish.
b) Does not benefit children.
2) Ignoring does not help either.
IX. Children.
A. Obey fathers.
1) Benefit of experience.
2) They are motivated by love.
B. Tribute: whatever is owed. 13:7
1) Taxes, revenue. (Gov't)
2) Respect, honor. (Fathers)
a) Honor fathers.
1> Commandment with a promise (long life).
C. Love as capstone. 13:8
X. Problems in our society.
A. Individualism.
1) Sense of community, mutual commitment have declined.
2) Youth have equal rights.
B. Authority shunned.
1) Breakdown of law and order.
2) Sign of last times - 1 Tim 3, Rom 1.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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