1. Politicians. Where is their authority???
Change you nation 2 – Romans 13:1-7

4. But why should I Care…

5. …when there’s so much dishonour.
The original image has been removed due to copyright. It can be found on line with the link at the bottom of this slide.
Taken from The Daily Mail, online on 23 April Available at: (accessed 23 April 2015).

6. Our story starts in Rome

8. 1) All authority is from God (verse 1)
“13 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.”

9. 1) All authority is from God (verse 1)
We could think like this…

10. 1) All authority is from God (verse 1)
… but we should think like this!

11. 1) All authority is from God (verse 1)
But how can it be when governments are set up by people (either by election or force)???
Was it God’s plan for Jesus to go to the cross?
How did Jesus go to the cross?
“You would have no authority over me unless it had been given you from above.” (John 19:11)

12. 1) All authority is from God (verse 1)
But why would God establish anti-Christian governments (Communist Party, ISIS, etc)?
This relationship never excuses sin
“woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed? It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:24b

13. 2) Therefore obey the government in everything
that isn’t sinful (verses 2-3)
“there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement.”

14. 2) Therefore, obey the government in everything that isn’t sinful
Sometimes the government’s commands aren’t the same as God’s commands (come back in 2 weeks to hear Matt Elder on Daniel 4!)
But the rest of the time, to disobey the government is to disobey God

15. 2) Therefore, obey the government in everything that isn’t sinful

16. 2) Therefore, obey the government in everything that isn’t sinful
“but the police aren’t going to find out…”
“and those who resist will incur judgement 3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority?”
(verse 2-3a)
“Then do what is good, and you will receive his [the government’s] approval”.
(verse 3b)

17. 3) God has given government authority for His Will and Our Good (verses 4-7)
“4for he [the government/authorities] 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. 5Therefore one must be in subjection not only to avoid God’s wrath [Him punishing us for our evil or for our disobedience to the government He has given authority] but also for the sake of conscience.”

18. 3) God has given government authority for His Will and Our Good (verses 4-7)
God uses government to punish evil
God provides government to do us good
“5Therefore once must be in subjection [obey the government] not only to avoid God’s wrath [Him punishing us for our evil or for our disobedience to the government He has given authority] but also for the sake of conscience. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7Pay 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, honour to whom honour is owed.”

19. 3) God has given government authority for His Will and Our Good (verses 4-7)
God uses government to punish evil
God provides government to do us good
“5Therefore once must be in subjection [obey the government] not only to avoid God’s wrath [Him punishing us for our evil or for our disobedience to the government He has given authority] but also for the sake of conscience. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7Pay 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, honour to whom honour is owed.”

20. Conclusion

21. Discussion
What is your attitude to the government of your home country?
How does Paul challenge that attitude?
How does your behaviour need to change?