I heard an amazing sermon last week on God and Government Authority.
Pastor Nathan Cothen is the Pastor for Calvary Baptist Church in Beaumont, TX - just a short one hour drive from where I live. I listen to him most afternoons on my way home, local station 100.7 FM. He preaches God's word, and in unapologetic about it. He is one of my favorite pastors to listen to these days.
If you are able, please listen to the sermon. Below are my notes that I took when I had a chance to re-listen.
Their Day in Court
Acts 4:13-22
Trouble: Government says "No" and we say "Yes" to GOD
What are believers to do when the laws of the state are in conflict with the laws of God?
Acts 4:13-22 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Threat and Release
13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.
14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.
15 But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another,
16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
17 But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.”
18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;
20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened;
22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
Guilty - Peter and John
- healing a cripple (a miracle)
- speaking truth
Charges not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
Jesus to Pilate, night before crucifixion - "You would have no authority over me if it were not given to you from above."
Natural Revelation - everyone deep in their heart knows there is a God (Romans 1).
Nobody who thinks he is a god wants to hear about sin.
Verdict - The Sanhedrin wanted to kill Peter and John but too many were watching. So for the time, told them to shut up.
PROBLEM - Sanhedrin told them to stop preaching about Jesus, and Jesus told them to preach Jesus no matter what!
Romans 13:1-7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Be Subject to Government
13 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;
4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.
5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.
7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
How do we deal with when God says one thing and man says another?
- Does God put in place irreligious governments? Yes. He uses even those who do not bow to Him, as agents of restraint and unregenerate men to keep some semblance of order in the world.
What ranks what place? Is the state above authority? No. GOD is!
3 Categories:
1.Agreement
When everyone agrees.
When everyone agrees.
Even in non-Christian societies, have some general guidelines (Hindu, Communist, etc) they all say on "paper" -
- murder is wrong
- rape is bad
- lying is an offense (sworn in at court)
Remember - all truth is God's truth.
John 14:6 - "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."
On the BIG stuff, there is generally agreement, no problem, all on the same page.
2. Aggravation
Not Morally or Biblically wrong, just irritate you.
- IRS - take your money and do not ask you waht should be done with it.
- we may disagree with them and their policies - it is not immoral or Biblically wrong - so we all pay our taxes
- Motor Cycle vs. Car
- in a motor cycle
no helmet
no doors
no seat belt
Perfectly Legal
- in a car - roughly 6,000 pounds can get a ticket for not wearing a seat-belt
3. Abomination
- God says one thing and government says another.
- 2 sub types
- Gov. says "yes" & we (Christians) say "No"
- i.e. 1973 ROE v. Wade
- Prior to this God and Gov. said no to abortion.
- If there is any good news, when evil people are allowed to do evil things, and we says no, they cannot flog us, put us in jail, or kill us.
- Gov says "no" and we say "yes to God.
- God said to do it, not only did He say to do it, but we are under compulsion to do it.
What then?
3 answers
- Obey God - Don't even need to pray it. When the two are in conflict, we are going to obey God.
- Accept what comes (man up!) (don't organize an army)
- Peter was in jail twice.
- 1 time freed
- 2nd time crucified
What do both of these have in common?
Glorifying God
- Enhance the reputation of Jesus Christ
- and we as believers in Jesus Christ signed on the dotted line that we no longer live but die to ourselves and live for Jesus Christ.
"I don't mind dying for Christ, its the flogging. Dying for Christ is relatively easy, being in prison for heat speech, which is three (3) things away from happening in this country. Me being in prison, for hate crimes ir right around the corner. Hate speech . If you have any grit, you too."
Do what the original disciples did - we suffer.
3. Watch
Do you know what did Saul in? Holy Spirit was bringing a number of things against him. But, at the end of Chapter 7 of Acts, "stoning Stephen, to death, in total innocence, they laid their clothing at the feet of the man named Saul, who had told them to do it.
You know what breaks people inside? Watching innocent people suffer, unless you are a total mental case, it will break you watching innocent people suffer, because of your corruption. It is what turned the Roman Empires into the Christian world order. He'll do it again, but He has to have people ready to man up, and do what He says, which is obey Him and accept whatever comes and watch because what God chooses to do with it - that is His business.
Romans 8:28 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
When we follow "obey, accept, watch & know" we may be delivered on this side or in heaven. His will, will be accomplished and we will hear....
Matthew 25:23 New King James Version (NKJV)
23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
And that is what it means to be a Christian.
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