WEBVTT

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 Romans 13, verse 1-7.

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 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.

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!

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 Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed,

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! and those who resist will incur judgment.

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 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.

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 Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority?

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 Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval.

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 For he is God's servant for your good.

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 But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain.

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 For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath.

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 On the wrongdoer.

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 Therefore, one must be in subjection.

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 Not only to avoid God's wrath, but also for the sake of conscience.

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 For because of this, you also pay taxes.

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 For the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.

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 Pay to all what is owed to them.

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 Taxes to whom taxes are owed.

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 Revenue to whom revenue is owed.

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 Respect to whom respect is owed.

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 Honour to whom honour is owed.

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 Good morning.

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 Lovely to have a few visitors among us this morning and familiar faces.

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 So, welcome to you guys and lovely to have you with us this morning.

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 My name's Sam.

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 I'm one of the elders here.

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 And, yeah, I'll be preaching this morning.

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 You may have noticed that we've skipped ahead to Romans 13.

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 We're coming back to Romans 12 next week.

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 So, you haven't missed a Sunday.

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 We've just skipped ahead.

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 So, how about I pray and then, yeah, we'll get into it.

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 Dear Father, we thank you for gathering us together this morning.

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 We thank you that we can hear from your word.

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 We pray that you would give us grace, me grace to speak, and grace to listen.

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 And we pray that this would bring glory to you.

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 Amen.

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 C.S. Lewis said,

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 A sick society must think much about politics,

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 as a sick man must think much about his digestion.

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 I reckon that's a pretty good quote to start us off.

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 We think a fair bit about government and politics in our society.

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 We have a sense that things aren't as they should be.

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 But we have differing versions of what should be.

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 Thinking about politics elicits all sorts of feelings for us.

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 Victory, despondency, anger, and anxiety.

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 We can get a bit lost in it all.

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 So, I'd like to put forward another question for us this morning.

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 A different frame of reference for thinking about civil government.

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 When are we?

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 In life, it's important to keep a sense of where we are.

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 Losing a sense of where we are means we get confused,

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 divided about which way to go, anxious and stressed.

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 But just as important, and particularly for the Christian,

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 is keeping a sense of when we are.

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 At what point in history are we living?

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 And so, our aim this morning is to think about God's purpose for civil government

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 in this age, at this present time.

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 I have a hunch that asking when we are will help us think through this issue of government.

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 So, if you want to keep your Bibles open to Romans 13,

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 it would help if you had your sermon outline too,

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 to follow along in your bulletin as a guide to what I'll be saying.

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 So, the first point there is, know the time.

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 And all of Paul's instructions in chapters 12 and 13

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 are enclosed by two references to when we are.

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 In chapter 12, verse 2, we scan back there, Paul writes,

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 Do not be conformed to this world.

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 Check your footnote, and world is the same word for age or era.

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 Do not be conformed to this present and passing age.

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 As he rounds out the section in chapter 13, verse 11,

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 he writes,

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 Besides this, you know the time.

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 Besides this, meaning on top of all the reasons I've given to heed my instructions,

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 you know the time.

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 So, go and follow my instructions.

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 Knowing the time will help us live well.

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 But what is this time we are living in?

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 Well, Jesus has come.

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 His kingdom has begun.

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 But we're waiting for him to come again

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 and complete what he started.

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 Romans chapter 13, verse 12,

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 The night is far gone.

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 The day is at hand.

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 So, with this background,

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 we're going to go through our passage in three sections.

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 Verse 1 and 2,

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 Be subject to governing authorities.

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 The reason to be subject.

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 Governments ordained duty.

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 A Christian response.

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 The best subjects, in verse 5 to 7.

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 And then I'll close with two points.

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 Governments and gospel witness.

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 In chapter 12, verse 9 to 21.

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 That's the passage we're going to look at next week,

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 but I'll touch on it this morning.

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 And then finishing with being engaged,

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 but also being detached in light of the times.

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 So, be subject.

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 Verse 1 and 2.

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 Notice first, in verse 1,

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 who is submitting to the ruling authorities?

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 Every person.

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 It's literally every soul.

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 And contrast this with the instruction,

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 back in chapter 12, verse 19.

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 Beloved, never avenge yourselves.

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 By beloved, Paul marks out just the Christians.

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 But in this instruction,

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 of chapter 13,

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 the scope is wider.

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 It's every person.

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 So, why does Paul address every person

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 when he's only writing to the Christians in Rome?

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 We've seen in Romans

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 that Paul is uniting Jew and Gentile

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 with the gospel all the way through.

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 And he's doing it now

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 in this instruction about government.

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 Jews hated Romans.

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 The Romans were in their promised land.

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 Now, they were being asked

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 to submit to Roman government.

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 On top of this,

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 Jews had years and years

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 of spiritual authority

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 and political authority overlapping.

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 Now, Paul was saying

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 their political authority

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 should be given to a pagan ruler.

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 Roman Christians needed to understand the times.

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 God's Messiah comes first to save.

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 Then he comes a second time

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 to perfect and complete what he started.

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 We're in the in-between.

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 We are subjects of King Jesus,

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 but we submit to civil governments

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 whom he's delegated responsibility,

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 as Tim explained to us in the kids' talk.

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 Every person, so all of you also.

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 Can Christians serve in government?

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 Can we submit to a non-Christian prime minister?

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 Yes.

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 Governments are part of God's common grace

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 in this age.

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 Well, if the words every person

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 were a shock to first century believers,

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 the word submit

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 probably causes the most shock to us.

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 When we hear the word submit or authority,

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 we might think it's something to be rid of.

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 And sadly, authority can be used poorly.

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 Abuse of authority inflicts damage.

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 Misuse of authority will be judged by God.

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 But authority used well,

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 as God designed, is good.

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 Think of homes with servant leadership,

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 gentleness and clear boundaries.

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 Think of homes without it.

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 Even before the fall, there was authority.

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 Adam was tasked with putting everything in subjection.

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 Authority is good, and it's from God.

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 But when we hear the word submit,

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 we might have another question.

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 Do we think of words like passive and silence

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 when we hear the word submit?

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 We'll skip down to verse 7 of chapter 13,

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 and what action does Paul put alongside submit?

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 What do we owe civil government?

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 Respect.

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 The action of respecting is put alongside submission.

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 And in Ephesians 5, you don't need to look this up,

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 but wives are called to submit to their husbands.

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 And when that command gets repeated,

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 he says,

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 let the wife see that she respects her husband.

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 Submission and respect go together.

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 But does submit mean being passive,

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 being silent in marriage?

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 No.

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 If the husband is leading the family into sin,

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 the Bible does not expect the wife to blindly follow along.

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 No.

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 No.

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 What we ought to be respecting

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 presupposes the function of civil government,

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 which is in verse 3 to 4.

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 So I won't get more specific,

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 but submit and respect is to place ourselves

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 under authority from God.

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 It's good, and we shouldn't do it,

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 but it's not necessarily passive or silent.

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 Ordained.

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 There have been Christians in history and today

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 who believe government is illegitimate or not needed.

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 Unless a command comes from Jesus' lips or the Bible,

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 no one can tell me what to do.

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 Well, Paul rules that out completely in verse 1

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 when he says,

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 for there is no authority except from God.

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 Civil governments are from God.

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 To resist is to resist what God has put in place.

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 But we might ask,

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 what about the bad ones, Paul?

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 Are they from God?

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 Well, some use this passage to support the idea

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 that God has put in place every person

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 who has filled the office of magistrate,

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 including the Stalins and the Pol Potts.

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 Romans 9.17 says of Pharaoh,

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 an evil ruler himself,

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 I've raised you up.

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 God has a permissive will,

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 and so I think that is true.

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 God does do that.

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 But I think the stress of this passage

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 is more on the office

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 than on the particular person holding office.

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 Paul is not thinking first of Emperor Nero.

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 He's thinking of the office of Emperor.

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 See what you think.

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 In verse 1,

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 for there is no authority except from God,

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 and those that exist have been instituted by God.

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 To institute means to arrange over for a purpose.

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 It's a bit of an unfamiliar word to us,

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 but Paul uses a similar word in verse 2,

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 which is more familiar to us.

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 Those that resist,

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 resist what God has appointed.

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 When we appoint people,

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 we appoint them to a specific task.

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 Some translations,

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 instead of appointed,

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 have ordained.

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 When we ordained Martin

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 earlier this year,

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 we set him aside to carry out

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 the divine task of elder among us.

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 We didn't appoint him

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 to mow the lawn.

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 He's free to do that, though.

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 We didn't appoint him

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 to tell us what to cook for dinner.

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 We appointed him

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 to shepherd us with God's word.

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 And you'll notice in verse 6,

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 if you scan down,

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 Paul uses the word minister

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 of a civil magistrate

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 to support the idea

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 of a God-ordained role

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 with a set of duties to follow.

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 Before we move on,

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 I just want you to notice the tense.

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 Those that exist

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 have been instituted by God.

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 This is something God

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 has completely set up

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 in the past,

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 and it has ongoing consequences.

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 So in case you're thinking

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 this just applied back in Paul's day,

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 it doesn't.

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 What Paul says

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 about submitting to governments,

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 governments' duty to us,

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 to all persons,

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 applies as long as this age endures.

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 One last little thing

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 before we move into

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 verse 3 to 4.

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 Most people

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 might be asking

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 if this passage

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 rules out resistance completely.

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 Is it wrong

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 for Iranian Christians

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 to participate

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 in the overthrow

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 of the Islamic Republic?

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 Was it wrong

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 for the United States

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 to fight a war

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 of independence

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 from Britain?

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 Well, just remember

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 this passage

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 is not balanced.

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 It's addressing a time

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 when private revolution

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 was very common.

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 What this passage

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 does say

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 is that civil government

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 is not a law

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 unto themselves.

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 They are accountable

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 to God.

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 They have a specific

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 set of duties

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 they must give account.

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 Unfortunately,

00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:51.059
 governments

00:15:51.059 --> 00:15:52.059
 that abdicate

00:15:52.059 --> 00:15:53.939
 their God-ordained role

00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:55.360
 perpetrate some

00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:55.980
 of the worst

00:15:55.980 --> 00:15:56.780
 atrocities

00:15:56.780 --> 00:15:58.380
 and not every

00:15:58.380 --> 00:15:59.660
 afflicted citizen

00:15:59.660 --> 00:16:00.560
 gets freedom.

00:16:00.680 --> 00:16:01.580
 But this passage

00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:03.320
 does show

00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:05.120
 that every government

00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:06.320
 will be held

00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:06.880
 accountable.

00:16:08.880 --> 00:16:10.180
 What are civil

00:16:10.180 --> 00:16:10.880
 government's duties?

00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:12.760
 That's next.

00:16:14.220 --> 00:16:14.940
 Government's

00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:15.180
 duty.

00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:19.719
 In our society

00:16:19.719 --> 00:16:20.819
 there's so many

00:16:20.819 --> 00:16:21.479
 functions

00:16:21.479 --> 00:16:22.599
 governments perform.

00:16:23.359 --> 00:16:24.259
 There's hardly

00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:25.479
 an area of life

00:16:25.479 --> 00:16:26.500
 in which our government

00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:27.439
 doesn't influence

00:16:27.439 --> 00:16:28.359
 or legislate.

00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:30.039
 Yet,

00:16:30.339 --> 00:16:31.399
 Paul's description

00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:32.279
 of what governments

00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:32.979
 do is just

00:16:32.979 --> 00:16:33.959
 two verses.

00:16:35.739 --> 00:16:36.079
 So,

00:16:36.219 --> 00:16:36.559
 I think

00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:37.879
 there are things

00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:38.399
 governments

00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:39.539
 must not do.

00:16:40.819 --> 00:16:41.879
 There are things

00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:42.399
 governments

00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:43.100
 can do.

00:16:44.939 --> 00:16:46.399
 And there are things

00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:46.860
 governments

00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:47.840
 must do.

00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:49.399
 And Paul

00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:50.360
 is writing about

00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:51.179
 things governments

00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:51.879
 must do.

00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:53.860
 I've got

00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:54.419
 three points

00:16:54.419 --> 00:16:56.179
 to make here.

00:16:56.919 --> 00:16:57.539
 They're not

00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:58.439
 on your bulletin

00:16:58.439 --> 00:16:59.919
 but they're

00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:00.720
 all words

00:17:00.720 --> 00:17:01.220
 that start

00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:01.679
 with P.

00:17:03.299 --> 00:17:04.019
 Punitive,

00:17:05.379 --> 00:17:05.859
 preserve

00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:07.200
 and provisional.

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:09.359
 And behind it

00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:09.839
 all is

00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:10.359
 God's

00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:11.180
 common grace.

00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:13.100
 Right in the

00:17:13.100 --> 00:17:14.019
 middle of

00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:15.140
 verse 3 to 4

00:17:15.140 --> 00:17:15.820
 Paul says,

00:17:16.340 --> 00:17:16.759
 For he

00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:17.560
 is God's

00:17:17.560 --> 00:17:17.860
 servant

00:17:17.860 --> 00:17:18.620
 for your

00:17:18.620 --> 00:17:18.920
 good.

00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:22.039
 For every

00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:22.560
 person's

00:17:22.560 --> 00:17:22.779
 good.

00:17:23.840 --> 00:17:24.560
 Common grace,

00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:25.060
 what's that?

00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:25.960
 Well,

00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:26.580
 remember when

00:17:26.580 --> 00:17:27.340
 Adam and Eve

00:17:27.340 --> 00:17:28.539
 sinned in the

00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:28.880
 garden?

00:17:29.880 --> 00:17:30.440
 The consequence

00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:31.380
 was if you

00:17:31.380 --> 00:17:31.900
 eat of it

00:17:31.900 --> 00:17:32.320
 you shall

00:17:32.320 --> 00:17:33.180
 surely die.

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.060
 But did

00:17:35.060 --> 00:17:35.480
 they die

00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.060
 straight away?

00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:38.240
 No.

00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:40.380
 God allowed

00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:41.200
 life to

00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:41.660
 continue

00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:42.480
 outside the

00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:42.819
 garden.

00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:44.599
 Farming and

00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:45.500
 food production

00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:46.220
 albeit with

00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:46.819
 thorns and

00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:47.180
 thistles.

00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:48.200
 Families and

00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:48.819
 raising of

00:17:48.819 --> 00:17:49.740
 children albeit

00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:50.420
 with pain.

00:17:51.120 --> 00:17:51.579
 Government

00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:52.380
 for everyone

00:17:52.380 --> 00:17:53.079
 preserving a

00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:53.500
 measure of

00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:53.980
 peace and

00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:54.240
 order.

00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:56.000
 Common grace

00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:57.539
 on everyone

00:17:57.539 --> 00:17:58.980
 so that his

00:17:58.980 --> 00:17:59.759
 plan of

00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.319
 salvation

00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:01.039
 based on

00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:02.000
 special grace

00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:02.859
 could run

00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:03.440
 its course

00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.259
 until perfect

00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:04.920
 and complete.

00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:06.800
 So for

00:18:06.800 --> 00:18:07.220
 your good

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:07.580
 governments

00:18:07.580 --> 00:18:08.120
 for your

00:18:08.120 --> 00:18:08.519
 good but

00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:08.840
 how?

00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:10.120
 So three

00:18:10.120 --> 00:18:10.500
 Ps.

00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:11.820
 The first

00:18:11.820 --> 00:18:12.539
 is punitive.

00:18:13.380 --> 00:18:13.519
 Their

00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:13.980
 essential

00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:15.019
 task is to

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:15.620
 carry out

00:18:15.620 --> 00:18:16.259
 punitive

00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:16.900
 justice.

00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:18.600
 Punitive

00:18:18.600 --> 00:18:19.720
 means punishment

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:21.940
 and remember

00:18:21.940 --> 00:18:22.420
 from our

00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:23.200
 justice and

00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:23.960
 mercy series

00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:25.080
 there's

00:18:25.080 --> 00:18:26.259
 different types

00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:26.820
 of justice

00:18:26.820 --> 00:18:27.580
 there's

00:18:27.580 --> 00:18:28.259
 retributive

00:18:28.259 --> 00:18:28.920
 justice which

00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:29.340
 is sort of

00:18:29.340 --> 00:18:29.840
 what we think

00:18:29.840 --> 00:18:30.460
 of the most

00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:31.400
 then there's

00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:32.080
 restorative

00:18:32.080 --> 00:18:32.500
 justice

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.740
 and there's

00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.500
 also positive

00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:35.420
 justice so

00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:35.880
 you know

00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:36.480
 things as

00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:36.859
 they should

00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:37.180
 be.

00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:38.640
 Governments

00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:40.200
 must carry

00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:41.079
 out retributive

00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:42.180
 justice but

00:18:42.180 --> 00:18:42.740
 particularly

00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:43.579
 punitive

00:18:43.579 --> 00:18:44.180
 justice.

00:18:45.380 --> 00:18:45.859
 Verse 4

00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:47.359
 For he is

00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:48.059
 God's servant

00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:48.539
 for your

00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:50.019
 good but

00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:50.500
 if you do

00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:51.240
 wrong be

00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:51.980
 afraid for

00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:52.579
 he does not

00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:53.079
 bear the

00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:53.579
 sword in

00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:54.799
 vain for

00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.539
 he is the

00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:56.019
 servant of

00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:56.599
 God and

00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:57.799
 avenger who

00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:58.980
 carries out

00:18:58.980 --> 00:18:59.680
 God's wrath

00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:00.059
 on the

00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:00.539
 wrongdoer.

00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:02.960
 Do you

00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:04.160
 bristle a

00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:04.519
 bit with

00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.019
 that you

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:05.480
 know shuffle

00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:05.960
 around in

00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:06.460
 your seats

00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:07.840
 sounds a

00:19:07.840 --> 00:19:08.360
 bit backward

00:19:08.360 --> 00:19:10.460
 surely we've

00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:11.240
 progressed past

00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:14.220
 this but

00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:14.820
 when Paul

00:19:14.820 --> 00:19:15.540
 talks about

00:19:15.540 --> 00:19:16.880
 this age in

00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:18.080
 Galatians he

00:19:18.080 --> 00:19:19.160
 refers to it as

00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:20.340
 this evil age.

00:19:21.620 --> 00:19:22.620
 This is the

00:19:22.620 --> 00:19:23.200
 age that

00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:23.880
 started in

00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:24.759
 Genesis 4

00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:25.800
 with Cain

00:19:25.800 --> 00:19:26.960
 killing Abel.

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:30.540
 Yet God

00:19:30.540 --> 00:19:31.519
 values human

00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.420
 life enough

00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:33.259
 to delegate

00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:33.960
 governments

00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:35.240
 with punitive

00:19:35.240 --> 00:19:36.700
 justice and

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.440
 this is a

00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:37.940
 good thing.

00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.220
 An

00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:40.740
 implication

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:42.539
 before we

00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:42.980
 move on to

00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:43.279
 the next

00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:43.500
 P.

00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:44.720
 Christians

00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:45.519
 can't

00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:46.160
 exercise

00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:46.639
 punitive

00:19:46.639 --> 00:19:47.200
 justice.

00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:48.559
 Churches

00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:48.980
 can't

00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:49.519
 exercise

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.019
 punitive

00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:50.420
 justice.

00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:50.960
 That would

00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.500
 be bad.

00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:52.940
 But in

00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:53.480
 this age

00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:54.180
 it's good

00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:54.920
 that government

00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:56.200
 does and

00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:57.200
 we can and

00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:57.960
 should support

00:19:57.960 --> 00:19:58.779
 government to

00:19:58.779 --> 00:19:59.900
 exercise this

00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:00.380
 capacity.

00:20:01.540 --> 00:20:02.100
 There are

00:20:02.100 --> 00:20:02.560
 limits.

00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:03.880
 Governments

00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:04.420
 carry out

00:20:04.420 --> 00:20:04.840
 God's

00:20:04.840 --> 00:20:06.280
 wrath on

00:20:06.280 --> 00:20:07.160
 the wrongdoer

00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:07.880
 not

00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:08.700
 indiscriminately

00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.120
 on the

00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:09.580
 wrongdoer.

00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:11.200
 It's a

00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:11.620
 good thing.

00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:13.340
 The next

00:20:13.340 --> 00:20:14.500
 P is

00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.180
 preserve.

00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:17.040
 As

00:20:17.040 --> 00:20:17.880
 governments

00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:18.580
 carry out

00:20:18.580 --> 00:20:19.100
 punitive

00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:19.620
 justice

00:20:19.620 --> 00:20:20.019
 they

00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:22.400
 aren't a

00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:22.840
 terror to

00:20:22.840 --> 00:20:23.620
 good conduct.

00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:24.980
 It would

00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:25.460
 be a

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:25.780
 foolish

00:20:25.780 --> 00:20:26.240
 government

00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:27.120
 that objected

00:20:27.120 --> 00:20:27.759
 to citizens

00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.280
 starting

00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:28.859
 businesses

00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:30.079
 that employed

00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:30.559
 people

00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:32.220
 or citizens

00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:32.740
 that looked

00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:33.200
 after the

00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:33.700
 weakest and

00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:34.079
 poorest.

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:35.399
 No,

00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:36.160
 verse 3,

00:20:37.139 --> 00:20:37.539
 they're not

00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.039
 a terror to

00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:38.660
 good conduct

00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:39.220
 they're a

00:20:39.220 --> 00:20:39.700
 terror to

00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:40.180
 bad.

00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:42.500
 Would you

00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.079
 have no

00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:43.799
 fear of

00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:44.180
 the one

00:20:44.180 --> 00:20:44.639
 who is in

00:20:44.639 --> 00:20:45.139
 authority?

00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:46.539
 Then do

00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:47.180
 good and

00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:47.399
 you will

00:20:47.399 --> 00:20:47.960
 receive his

00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:48.359
 approval.

00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:50.119
 By

00:20:50.119 --> 00:20:50.960
 holding the

00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:52.279
 sword they

00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:53.000
 promote the

00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:53.240
 good.

00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:57.640
 I think

00:20:57.640 --> 00:20:58.039
 this is

00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:58.720
 something that

00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.099
 we sort

00:20:59.099 --> 00:20:59.799
 of squirm a

00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.099
 little bit

00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:01.380
 at but

00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:02.299
 unfortunately

00:21:02.299 --> 00:21:03.079
 that's how

00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:03.759
 things work

00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.140
 in this

00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:04.519
 age.

00:21:05.120 --> 00:21:05.359
 Good

00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:05.900
 behaviour

00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.740
 comes by

00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.359
 coercion.

00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:09.299
 When

00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:09.779
 governments

00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:10.480
 don't use

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.000
 the sword

00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:11.779
 the restraints

00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:12.180
 weaken.

00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:13.579
 Evil gets

00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:14.180
 a foothold.

00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:16.839
 My

00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:18.059
 parents were

00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:18.539
 at the

00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:18.960
 Sydney Opera

00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:19.500
 House on

00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:20.259
 the 11th

00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:21.019
 of October

00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:21.680
 2023

00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:23.180
 attending a

00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:23.539
 concert.

00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:25.100
 And that

00:21:25.100 --> 00:21:26.480
 night people

00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.080
 were gathering

00:21:27.080 --> 00:21:27.840
 to mourn the

00:21:27.840 --> 00:21:28.440
 massacre and

00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:29.420
 kidnapping of

00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:30.060
 Jews at a

00:21:30.060 --> 00:21:30.799
 music festival.

00:21:31.900 --> 00:21:32.320
 Another

00:21:32.320 --> 00:21:33.180
 crowd had

00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:33.660
 gathered at

00:21:33.660 --> 00:21:34.019
 the Opera

00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:35.500
 House that

00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:35.980
 night to

00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:36.240
 chant

00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:36.860
 where's the

00:21:36.860 --> 00:21:37.180
 Jews?

00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:39.180
 My mum and

00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:39.620
 dad didn't

00:21:39.620 --> 00:21:40.519
 feel safe and

00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:41.200
 nobody else

00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:41.420
 did.

00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:43.180
 It could

00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:43.519
 have been

00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:44.460
 stopped but

00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.000
 it wasn't.

00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:47.860
 Chris

00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:48.340
 Minns,

00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.480
 the Premier,

00:21:50.360 --> 00:21:50.820
 had the

00:21:50.820 --> 00:21:51.539
 fortitude to

00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:52.039
 later say

00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:52.559
 something to

00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:53.000
 the effect

00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:54.240
 of something

00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:54.879
 should have

00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:55.379
 been done

00:21:55.379 --> 00:21:55.940
 that night

00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:56.460
 to prevent

00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:57.700
 evil conduct

00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.180
 getting a

00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:59.319
 foothold but

00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:00.259
 it wasn't.

00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.240
 Governments

00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:01.619
 have an

00:22:01.619 --> 00:22:02.399
 important job

00:22:02.399 --> 00:22:02.759
 and we

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:03.079
 ought to be

00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:03.819
 thankful for

00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.440
 when they

00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:04.759
 get it

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.000
 right.

00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:07.420
 The last

00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:08.799
 P is

00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.420
 provisional.

00:22:12.420 --> 00:22:13.059
 Civil

00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:13.859
 government is

00:22:13.859 --> 00:22:14.339
 a stop

00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.659
 gap for a

00:22:15.659 --> 00:22:16.079
 period of

00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:16.399
 time.

00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:19.180
 when we

00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:20.680
 get Laura

00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:24.580
 to come

00:22:24.580 --> 00:22:25.720
 and babysit

00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:25.960
 for

00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:26.340
 Geordie

00:22:26.340 --> 00:22:27.540
 or Carol

00:22:27.540 --> 00:22:27.860
 to come

00:22:27.860 --> 00:22:28.440
 and babysit

00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:29.000
 for Geordie

00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:30.140
 their job

00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:30.900
 is to keep

00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:31.680
 Geordie fed

00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:32.280
 and alive

00:22:32.280 --> 00:22:32.759
 until we

00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:33.280
 come home.

00:22:34.320 --> 00:22:34.740
 If they

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.680
 start renovating

00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:36.259
 and knocking

00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:36.880
 walls down

00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:37.440
 in our house

00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:37.860
 they're not

00:22:37.860 --> 00:22:38.460
 babysitting.

00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:39.620
 They're making

00:22:39.620 --> 00:22:40.080
 themselves

00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:40.540
 permanent.

00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:42.920
 and a

00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:43.700
 babysitter can

00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:44.059
 do an

00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.759
 enormous amount

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.299
 of damage

00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:46.119
 if they

00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:46.879
 start home

00:22:46.879 --> 00:22:47.539
 renovations.

00:22:48.379 --> 00:22:48.899
 It's never

00:22:48.899 --> 00:22:49.379
 happened by

00:22:49.379 --> 00:22:49.639
 the way.

00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:52.299
 The point

00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:53.379
 is that there

00:22:53.379 --> 00:22:53.980
 are limits

00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:55.460
 on the good

00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.639
 government can

00:22:56.639 --> 00:22:57.139
 achieve.

00:22:58.339 --> 00:22:58.779
 There are

00:22:58.779 --> 00:22:59.259
 stopgap.

00:23:00.940 --> 00:23:02.099
 And we

00:23:02.099 --> 00:23:02.539
 should be

00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.839
 thankful for

00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:04.460
 the benefits

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:05.319
 and welfare

00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.019
 governments

00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:06.599
 provide.

00:23:07.420 --> 00:23:08.180
 Our family

00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:09.740
 receives a

00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.039
 lot of

00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:10.460
 benefits.

00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:11.740
 from government

00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.200
 that we're

00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:12.899
 extremely

00:23:12.899 --> 00:23:13.639
 thankful of.

00:23:14.599 --> 00:23:15.059
 But these

00:23:15.059 --> 00:23:16.379
 goods are

00:23:16.379 --> 00:23:18.319
 genuine but

00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:19.399
 they're penultimate

00:23:19.399 --> 00:23:20.599
 not ultimate.

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.599
 And whenever

00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.420
 governments try

00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:23.940
 to achieve

00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:24.940
 ultimate goods

00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:25.920
 heaven on

00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:26.200
 earth,

00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:26.759
 utopia,

00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:27.899
 it always

00:23:27.899 --> 00:23:28.740
 leads to

00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.159
 enormous

00:23:29.159 --> 00:23:29.740
 damage.

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:31.980
 Where do

00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.539
 we see this

00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:32.779
 in the

00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:33.000
 passage?

00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:34.779
 Well notice

00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.519
 the distinct

00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:36.299
 lack of

00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:37.079
 gospel language

00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:37.639
 compared to

00:23:37.639 --> 00:23:38.440
 adjacent passages.

00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:40.200
 There's no

00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:41.000
 forgiveness of

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:41.319
 sin,

00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:43.420
 no reconciliation,

00:23:44.360 --> 00:23:45.799
 no mention

00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.180
 of new

00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:46.600
 creation.

00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:48.640
 The focus

00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.120
 is on

00:23:49.120 --> 00:23:49.900
 retributive

00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:51.340
 justice,

00:23:51.580 --> 00:23:52.519
 not restorative

00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:53.080
 or positive

00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:53.660
 forms of

00:23:53.660 --> 00:23:54.100
 justice.

00:23:55.340 --> 00:23:55.700
 Civil

00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.059
 government

00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:56.900
 only has a

00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:57.440
 coercive

00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:58.220
 instrument that

00:23:58.220 --> 00:23:59.539
 can't change

00:23:59.539 --> 00:23:59.960
 hearts.

00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:03.559
 So something

00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.299
 to think about

00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:05.039
 an implication,

00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:07.200
 governments win

00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:08.019
 elections by

00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:08.840
 making promises,

00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.400
 don't they?

00:24:10.620 --> 00:24:11.000
 And for

00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:11.360
 Christians,

00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:12.620
 again, we

00:24:12.620 --> 00:24:12.940
 ought to be

00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:13.500
 thankful for

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:13.920
 the goods

00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:14.539
 they provide

00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.220
 to society

00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:16.160
 but we

00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:16.759
 can be

00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.559
 discerning

00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.400
 about the

00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:19.539
 goods that

00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:20.039
 are promised.

00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:21.940
 Governments

00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:23.259
 can't provide

00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:25.579
 everything that

00:24:25.579 --> 00:24:26.240
 is good.

00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:28.240
 Christians,

00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:29.079
 the best

00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:29.599
 subjects,

00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:30.299
 verse 5

00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:30.740
 to 7.

00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:34.420
 So verse

00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:35.059
 5 to 7

00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:35.960
 concludes the

00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:36.440
 instruction.

00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:38.299
 It starts

00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:38.759
 by giving

00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:39.559
 two reasons

00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:40.279
 to be in

00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:41.359
 subjection to

00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:41.839
 civil

00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.359
 authorities.

00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:43.099
 Verse 5,

00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:43.920
 be in

00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:44.880
 subjection not

00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:45.339
 only to

00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:46.200
 avoid God's

00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:46.519
 wrath.

00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:48.920
 Pause

00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:49.160
 there.

00:24:49.160 --> 00:24:49.940
 As teachers

00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:50.279
 know,

00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:51.799
 fear of

00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:52.200
 negative

00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:52.779
 consequence

00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:53.819
 is a useful

00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:54.420
 tool in

00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:55.019
 the classroom

00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:56.259
 but it

00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:56.859
 has this

00:24:56.859 --> 00:24:57.700
 one drawback.

00:24:58.720 --> 00:24:59.099
 What

00:24:59.099 --> 00:24:59.779
 happens when

00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:00.259
 the teacher

00:25:00.259 --> 00:25:00.779
 isn't

00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.079
 looking?

00:25:04.059 --> 00:25:05.000
 Paul gives

00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:05.399
 a second

00:25:05.399 --> 00:25:06.660
 reason and

00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.240
 this I think

00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:07.859
 is unique

00:25:07.859 --> 00:25:08.180
 to the

00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:08.559
 Christian.

00:25:09.899 --> 00:25:10.500
 Be in

00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:11.680
 subjection not

00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.220
 only to

00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:13.139
 avoid God's

00:25:13.139 --> 00:25:13.639
 wrath but

00:25:13.639 --> 00:25:14.440
 also for

00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:15.099
 the sake of

00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:15.599
 conscience.

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:16.799
 Whose

00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:17.339
 conscience?

00:25:18.180 --> 00:25:18.799
 Verse 6,

00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.039
 for because

00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:21.160
 of this you

00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:22.079
 also pay

00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:22.579
 taxes.

00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.240
 It's the

00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:24.559
 Christian

00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.180
 conscience

00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:26.119
 who knows

00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:27.019
 all authority

00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:27.579
 is from

00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:27.899
 God.

00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:29.319
 And so

00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:30.220
 Christians are

00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:30.619
 the best

00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:31.240
 subjects

00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:32.559
 because when

00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:33.279
 no one is

00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:33.619
 looking,

00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:34.899
 he still

00:25:34.899 --> 00:25:35.339
 pays.

00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:36.480
 When no

00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:36.899
 one is

00:25:36.899 --> 00:25:37.240
 looking,

00:25:37.379 --> 00:25:37.740
 he still

00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:39.019
 works because

00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:39.779
 his praise

00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:40.259
 is from

00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:40.619
 God,

00:25:40.899 --> 00:25:41.480
 not man.

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.180
 Taxes.

00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:46.920
 Can we

00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:47.720
 pay taxes

00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:48.160
 gladly?

00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:49.839
 We don't

00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:50.480
 normally pay

00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.200
 taxes gladly.

00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:54.340
 We pay

00:25:54.340 --> 00:25:55.019
 our ministers,

00:25:55.220 --> 00:25:55.620
 David and

00:25:55.620 --> 00:25:55.860
 Martin.

00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:57.720
 As a result,

00:25:58.039 --> 00:25:58.860
 they attend

00:25:58.860 --> 00:25:59.299
 to their

00:25:59.299 --> 00:25:59.779
 God-given

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.160
 duty.

00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.860
 With taxes,

00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:03.700
 we pay our

00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.319
 civil government

00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:04.960
 to attend

00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.319
 to their

00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:05.660
 duty,

00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:07.420
 the upholding

00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:07.880
 of peace

00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:08.279
 and order.

00:26:09.620 --> 00:26:10.420
 As a result,

00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:11.460
 we can travel

00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:12.299
 outside our

00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:13.640
 homes without

00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.519
 fear of being

00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:14.840
 robbed.

00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:14.899
 God.

00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:16.459
 We can

00:26:16.459 --> 00:26:16.839
 go to

00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:17.259
 work and

00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:17.819
 expect a

00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:18.480
 fair wage.

00:26:19.179 --> 00:26:19.699
 We can

00:26:19.699 --> 00:26:20.279
 live in

00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:20.859
 homes that

00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:21.220
 have been

00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.720
 built to

00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:22.079
 code.

00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.480
 Even if we

00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:24.019
 don't completely

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.659
 understand what

00:26:24.659 --> 00:26:25.279
 that code is,

00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:25.839
 we can be

00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:26.559
 assured that

00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:27.399
 our roofs

00:26:27.399 --> 00:26:27.879
 won't fall

00:26:27.879 --> 00:26:28.279
 on top of

00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:28.579
 us.

00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:31.220
 Verse 6,

00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:32.559
 for because

00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:33.039
 of this,

00:26:33.159 --> 00:26:33.720
 you also

00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:34.539
 pay taxes,

00:26:34.939 --> 00:26:35.179
 for the

00:26:35.179 --> 00:26:35.759
 authorities

00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.579
 are ministers

00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:37.199
 of God

00:26:37.199 --> 00:26:37.740
 attending

00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.759
 to this

00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.299
 very thing.

00:26:40.399 --> 00:26:40.740
 Someone

00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:42.079
 said that

00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:43.220
 with taxes

00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:44.000
 I buy

00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.899
 civilisation.

00:26:46.439 --> 00:26:47.159
 Honour

00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:47.899
 and respect.

00:26:49.699 --> 00:26:50.399
 Paul has

00:26:50.399 --> 00:26:51.159
 explained the

00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:51.819
 good purposes

00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.619
 of civil

00:26:52.619 --> 00:26:53.240
 government for

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:54.000
 this age and

00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.919
 now expects

00:26:54.919 --> 00:26:55.639
 Christians with

00:26:55.639 --> 00:26:56.119
 a renewed

00:26:56.119 --> 00:26:57.159
 mind to

00:26:57.159 --> 00:26:58.779
 discern to

00:26:58.779 --> 00:26:59.599
 whom payment

00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.179
 is due,

00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:00.639
 then give

00:27:00.639 --> 00:27:00.779
 it.

00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:03.859
 We have a

00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:04.439
 pretty low

00:27:04.439 --> 00:27:04.859
 view of

00:27:04.859 --> 00:27:05.559
 politicians in

00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:05.899
 Australia,

00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:06.359
 don't we?

00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:07.059
 It's a

00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:07.939
 national sport

00:27:07.939 --> 00:27:08.519
 to poke

00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:08.899
 fun,

00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.279
 slander and

00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:10.659
 belittle.

00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:13.240
 Take note

00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:13.759
 again of

00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.779
 the titles

00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.460
 God uses

00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:17.540
 of government,

00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:18.320
 God's

00:27:18.320 --> 00:27:18.800
 deacons,

00:27:19.320 --> 00:27:19.620
 God's

00:27:19.620 --> 00:27:20.000
 ministers.

00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:21.240
 And

00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:21.840
 verse 7,

00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:24.140
 respect to

00:27:24.140 --> 00:27:24.740
 whom respect

00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:25.279
 is owed,

00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:26.140
 honour to

00:27:26.140 --> 00:27:26.620
 whom honour

00:27:26.620 --> 00:27:27.040
 is owed.

00:27:28.360 --> 00:27:29.180
 It's not a

00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:29.940
 blanket statement

00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.240
 though.

00:27:31.340 --> 00:27:31.759
 When our

00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.940
 PM makes

00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:33.640
 lewd jokes

00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:34.259
 about women,

00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.680
 Paul says

00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:37.320
 respect to

00:27:37.320 --> 00:27:37.840
 whom respect

00:27:37.840 --> 00:27:38.380
 is owed,

00:27:38.800 --> 00:27:39.540
 honour to

00:27:39.540 --> 00:27:39.940
 whom honour

00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.340
 is owed.

00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:42.880
 But when

00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:43.420
 the trains

00:27:43.420 --> 00:27:43.820
 run on

00:27:43.820 --> 00:27:44.140
 time,

00:27:44.580 --> 00:27:44.960
 when we

00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:45.380
 can travel

00:27:45.380 --> 00:27:45.860
 freely,

00:27:46.580 --> 00:27:47.180
 provide for

00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:47.880
 our families,

00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:48.680
 raise our

00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.180
 families,

00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:49.880
 meet here

00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:50.960
 on a Sunday,

00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.160
 enjoy a

00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:52.620
 charitable

00:27:52.620 --> 00:27:54.060
 financial status,

00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:55.840
 respect to

00:27:55.840 --> 00:27:56.420
 whom respect

00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:56.880
 is owed,

00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.120
 honour to

00:27:58.120 --> 00:27:58.560
 whom honour

00:27:58.560 --> 00:27:58.960
 is owed.

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.340
 Governments

00:28:02.340 --> 00:28:03.100
 and gospel

00:28:03.100 --> 00:28:03.600
 witness.

00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:06.220
 Before I

00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:06.620
 conclude,

00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:07.040
 I want to

00:28:07.040 --> 00:28:07.860
 make a

00:28:07.860 --> 00:28:08.640
 quick observation

00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:09.320
 about next

00:28:09.320 --> 00:28:09.640
 week's

00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:10.040
 passage.

00:28:11.080 --> 00:28:11.259
 It

00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:11.800
 shed some

00:28:11.800 --> 00:28:12.240
 further

00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:12.780
 insight

00:28:12.780 --> 00:28:13.900
 into God's

00:28:13.900 --> 00:28:14.620
 purpose for

00:28:14.620 --> 00:28:14.840
 civil

00:28:14.840 --> 00:28:15.240
 government.

00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:18.240
 Romans 12,

00:28:18.340 --> 00:28:19.000
 9 to 21,

00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.680
 next week,

00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:20.940
 contains

00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:21.980
 instructions for

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.620
 Christians to

00:28:22.620 --> 00:28:23.200
 outsiders.

00:28:25.280 --> 00:28:26.200
 It's about

00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:27.360
 gospel witness to

00:28:27.360 --> 00:28:27.860
 the outside

00:28:27.860 --> 00:28:28.280
 world.

00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:30.640
 If you could

00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:31.200
 put your

00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:32.000
 finger on

00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.880
 verse 19.

00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:37.040
 What's

00:28:37.040 --> 00:28:38.220
 interesting is

00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:38.780
 that what

00:28:38.780 --> 00:28:39.740
 God forbids

00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.320
 a Christian

00:28:40.320 --> 00:28:40.820
 to do,

00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:42.280
 he authorises

00:28:42.280 --> 00:28:43.000
 government to

00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:43.220
 do.

00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:45.520
 Verse 19,

00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:46.500
 Christians are

00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.020
 never to

00:28:47.020 --> 00:28:47.440
 avenge

00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:48.000
 themselves.

00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.320
 Yet this is

00:28:50.320 --> 00:28:50.980
 the very thing

00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:51.800
 governments do.

00:28:53.120 --> 00:28:53.640
 And the

00:28:53.640 --> 00:28:54.520
 obvious point

00:28:54.520 --> 00:28:55.780
 is that the

00:28:55.780 --> 00:28:56.840
 church is not

00:28:56.840 --> 00:28:57.400
 meant to

00:28:57.400 --> 00:28:57.820
 bear the

00:28:57.820 --> 00:28:58.140
 sword.

00:28:59.260 --> 00:28:59.780
 That's the

00:28:59.780 --> 00:29:00.360
 state's job.

00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:01.740
 But there's

00:29:01.740 --> 00:29:02.620
 another implication.

00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:04.140
 Think about

00:29:04.140 --> 00:29:04.520
 this.

00:29:05.520 --> 00:29:05.940
 If the

00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:06.800
 state fails

00:29:06.800 --> 00:29:07.180
 in their

00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:08.240
 duty to

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.020
 punish evil,

00:29:09.660 --> 00:29:10.280
 protect its

00:29:10.280 --> 00:29:10.720
 citizens,

00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:11.700
 preserve peace,

00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:12.300
 will that make

00:29:12.300 --> 00:29:13.360
 it easier or

00:29:13.360 --> 00:29:14.520
 harder for

00:29:14.520 --> 00:29:15.300
 gospel witness?

00:29:17.300 --> 00:29:17.980
 Humanly

00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:18.580
 speaking, it

00:29:18.580 --> 00:29:19.180
 gets harder,

00:29:19.280 --> 00:29:19.700
 doesn't it?

00:29:20.260 --> 00:29:21.200
 Churches have

00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:21.980
 to go underground.

00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:24.540
 Government

00:29:24.540 --> 00:29:25.400
 doing their

00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:26.360
 job provides

00:29:26.360 --> 00:29:27.500
 a stage like

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:29.720
 this for the

00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.420
 gospel to go

00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:30.680
 out.

00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:33.880
 God's

00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:34.340
 love.

00:29:34.340 --> 00:29:35.000
 So we

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.460
 should keep

00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:36.480
 praying as

00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.140
 Paul does

00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:37.680
 in 1

00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:38.360
 Timothy 2.

00:29:39.360 --> 00:29:39.760
 In our

00:29:39.760 --> 00:29:40.560
 country and

00:29:40.560 --> 00:29:41.280
 all nations,

00:29:42.280 --> 00:29:43.840
 for kings and

00:29:43.840 --> 00:29:44.740
 all who are in

00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.600
 high positions,

00:29:46.020 --> 00:29:46.680
 that we may

00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.620
 lead a peaceful

00:29:47.620 --> 00:29:48.700
 and quiet life,

00:29:48.840 --> 00:29:49.340
 godly and

00:29:49.340 --> 00:29:50.100
 dignified in

00:29:50.100 --> 00:29:50.760
 every way.

00:29:51.600 --> 00:29:52.300
 This is good

00:29:52.300 --> 00:29:52.840
 and it is

00:29:52.840 --> 00:29:53.720
 pleasing in the

00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.420
 sight of God,

00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.540
 who desires

00:29:55.540 --> 00:29:57.140
 all people to

00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:57.880
 be saved and

00:29:57.880 --> 00:29:58.620
 to come to the

00:29:58.620 --> 00:29:59.200
 knowledge of the

00:29:59.200 --> 00:29:59.500
 truth.

00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:03.460
 engaged and

00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:03.880
 detached.

00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:05.900
 I'll finish

00:30:05.900 --> 00:30:06.380
 on this.

00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.500
 All of us

00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.460
 long for good

00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:09.819
 government.

00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:11.839
 It's why we

00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.660
 complain so

00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:13.019
 much.

00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.759
 We're acutely

00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.720
 aware of how

00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.599
 far, how

00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:19.000
 short rulers

00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:20.019
 fall from the

00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:21.039
 ideal that's in

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:21.599
 our hearts.

00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:24.039
 There's a

00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:25.039
 sickness, as

00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:25.400
 C.S.

00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:25.980
 Lewis said.

00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:28.740
 But if we

00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.779
 keep reflecting,

00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.660
 we might

00:30:31.660 --> 00:30:32.400
 realise that

00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:33.599
 it's not

00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:34.519
 just government's

00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.920
 problem, it's

00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:36.559
 ours too.

00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.660
 If you're

00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:40.839
 new to the

00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:41.500
 Bible and

00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:42.039
 this Christian

00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:42.779
 stuff, can I

00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.400
 talk to you?

00:30:44.900 --> 00:30:45.740
 There's a

00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.880
 king who we've

00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:48.019
 sung about this

00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:48.599
 morning, a

00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:49.240
 king who came

00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:49.720
 from another

00:30:49.720 --> 00:30:50.120
 country.

00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:51.700
 He lived

00:30:51.700 --> 00:30:52.339
 among us for

00:30:52.339 --> 00:30:53.099
 a short time.

00:30:54.140 --> 00:30:54.720
 He showed

00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:55.620
 glimpses of

00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:56.619
 perfect justice.

00:30:57.139 --> 00:30:57.459
 He put

00:30:57.459 --> 00:30:58.059
 wrongs to

00:30:58.059 --> 00:30:58.359
 right.

00:30:59.019 --> 00:30:59.819
 He led for

00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:00.439
 others, not

00:31:00.439 --> 00:31:00.879
 himself.

00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:02.719
 Then he died

00:31:02.719 --> 00:31:04.259
 and came back

00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:04.859
 to life and

00:31:04.859 --> 00:31:05.319
 went away.

00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:07.439
 He's returning.

00:31:08.439 --> 00:31:08.959
 And when he

00:31:08.959 --> 00:31:09.479
 does, there

00:31:09.479 --> 00:31:10.159
 won't just be

00:31:10.159 --> 00:31:11.079
 glimpses of

00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:11.739
 justice, but

00:31:11.739 --> 00:31:12.559
 the whole world

00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:13.399
 will be filled

00:31:13.399 --> 00:31:14.579
 with perfect

00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:15.399
 justice and

00:31:15.399 --> 00:31:16.159
 every wrong

00:31:16.159 --> 00:31:16.659
 put to

00:31:16.659 --> 00:31:16.919
 right.

00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.399
 Psalm 72

00:31:19.399 --> 00:31:22.099
 says about

00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:22.599
 this king,

00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:23.679
 may he be

00:31:23.679 --> 00:31:24.519
 like rain

00:31:24.519 --> 00:31:25.679
 that falls

00:31:25.679 --> 00:31:26.179
 on the

00:31:26.179 --> 00:31:27.039
 mown grass,

00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.839
 like showers

00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:29.659
 that water

00:31:29.659 --> 00:31:30.439
 the earth.

00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:32.299
 May his

00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:33.019
 rule spread

00:31:33.019 --> 00:31:33.439
 everywhere.

00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:37.359
 That psalm

00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:38.019
 goes on to

00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:38.819
 talk about

00:31:38.819 --> 00:31:40.339
 prosperity

00:31:40.339 --> 00:31:41.980
 that spreads

00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:42.519
 across the

00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:43.179
 whole world.

00:31:44.139 --> 00:31:44.539
 Crops

00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:45.240
 growing on

00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:45.959
 mountaintops

00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:51.720
 and no

00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.819
 neediness,

00:31:53.120 --> 00:31:53.680
 no poor.

00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.340
 Would you

00:31:56.340 --> 00:31:56.920
 like to live

00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:57.340
 under that

00:31:57.340 --> 00:31:57.579
 king?

00:31:59.259 --> 00:32:00.460
 I do, and

00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:01.259
 I hope you

00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:01.480
 do.

00:32:02.940 --> 00:32:03.539
 But what

00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:03.960
 about the

00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.519
 wrong we've

00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:04.779
 done?

00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.420
 The evil in

00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:06.980
 this age

00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:07.579
 that's in

00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.340
 us as

00:32:08.340 --> 00:32:08.600
 well.

00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:10.539
 When this

00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.579
 king came

00:32:11.579 --> 00:32:12.079
 the first

00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:12.819
 time, and

00:32:12.819 --> 00:32:13.460
 like government

00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:13.900
 we've read

00:32:13.900 --> 00:32:14.420
 about today,

00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.079
 he didn't

00:32:15.079 --> 00:32:15.779
 avenge the

00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.259
 wrongdoer.

00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:17.899
 He took

00:32:17.899 --> 00:32:18.539
 the punishment

00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:19.079
 of the

00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:19.899
 wrongdoer on

00:32:19.899 --> 00:32:20.359
 himself.

00:32:21.559 --> 00:32:22.359
 He drank

00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:23.159
 the cup of

00:32:23.159 --> 00:32:24.119
 punitive justice

00:32:24.119 --> 00:32:25.000
 on himself.

00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:26.639
 He died and

00:32:26.639 --> 00:32:27.460
 he buried that

00:32:27.460 --> 00:32:28.439
 debt, and

00:32:28.439 --> 00:32:29.059
 he did that

00:32:29.059 --> 00:32:30.079
 for us.

00:32:31.859 --> 00:32:32.839
 When he came

00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:33.500
 back to life,

00:32:33.579 --> 00:32:34.259
 he went away

00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:35.119
 preparing this

00:32:35.119 --> 00:32:35.740
 place we've

00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.199
 read about.

00:32:36.839 --> 00:32:37.599
 He's patiently

00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:38.500
 waiting so that

00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:39.259
 all who call

00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:40.419
 on him can

00:32:40.419 --> 00:32:41.319
 live with him

00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:42.159
 as their king

00:32:42.159 --> 00:32:43.960
 in this next

00:32:43.960 --> 00:32:44.379
 stage.

00:32:45.079 --> 00:32:47.879
 So call

00:32:47.879 --> 00:32:48.339
 on him

00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:49.759
 before he

00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:50.299
 returns.

00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:51.919
 Don't wait

00:32:51.919 --> 00:32:52.619
 till he comes

00:32:52.619 --> 00:32:53.279
 back because

00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:54.019
 that will be

00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:54.619
 too late.

00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:58.659
 For

00:32:58.659 --> 00:32:59.159
 Christians,

00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:01.099
 brothers and

00:33:01.099 --> 00:33:01.460
 sisters,

00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:04.460
 be engaged

00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:04.980
 as your

00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:05.699
 circumstances

00:33:05.699 --> 00:33:06.119
 permit.

00:33:07.299 --> 00:33:07.740
 It's an

00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:08.460
 act of love

00:33:08.460 --> 00:33:08.879
 for our

00:33:08.879 --> 00:33:10.039
 neighbour as

00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:10.619
 we petition

00:33:10.619 --> 00:33:11.899
 government for

00:33:11.899 --> 00:33:12.379
 the common

00:33:12.379 --> 00:33:12.679
 good.

00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:14.820
 keep

00:33:14.820 --> 00:33:15.299
 government

00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:16.160
 accountable for

00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:16.440
 what is

00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.140
 wrong and

00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:17.440
 what is

00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:17.700
 good.

00:33:18.960 --> 00:33:19.340
 Vote

00:33:19.340 --> 00:33:19.900
 wisely,

00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.019
 knowing that

00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:22.799
 not all that

00:33:22.799 --> 00:33:23.500
 is good can

00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:24.100
 be achieved

00:33:24.100 --> 00:33:24.740
 by government

00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:25.160
 in this

00:33:25.160 --> 00:33:25.539
 age.

00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:28.960
 Hopefully

00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:29.500
 you've picked

00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:30.160
 up that

00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:31.680
 the vision

00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:32.920
 Paul has

00:33:32.920 --> 00:33:33.440
 of civil

00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:33.840
 government

00:33:33.840 --> 00:33:35.180
 is chastened.

00:33:35.840 --> 00:33:37.039
 It's a bit

00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:37.420
 sober.

00:33:38.060 --> 00:33:38.680
 It's minimal.

00:33:38.680 --> 00:33:40.940
 what governments

00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:41.820
 must do is

00:33:41.820 --> 00:33:42.940
 important but

00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:43.360
 limited.

00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:44.980
 Therefore

00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:46.279
 our good but

00:33:46.279 --> 00:33:47.180
 penultimate goods

00:33:47.180 --> 00:33:47.759
 not ultimate

00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:48.180
 goods.

00:33:49.140 --> 00:33:50.100
 So I want to

00:33:50.100 --> 00:33:51.779
 urge us to

00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:52.799
 be engaged

00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:53.680
 but also

00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:54.320
 detached

00:33:54.320 --> 00:33:56.820
 because our

00:33:56.820 --> 00:33:57.860
 hope is for a

00:33:57.860 --> 00:33:58.440
 better country.

00:33:59.799 --> 00:34:00.600
 This country

00:34:00.600 --> 00:34:01.299
 is real.

00:34:01.299 --> 00:34:03.180
 C.S.

00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:03.799
 Lewis in his

00:34:03.799 --> 00:34:04.440
 book The Great

00:34:04.440 --> 00:34:05.200
 Divorce about

00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:05.899
 heaven and

00:34:05.899 --> 00:34:06.859
 hell provocatively

00:34:06.859 --> 00:34:08.259
 writes that

00:34:08.259 --> 00:34:09.039
 the grass in

00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:09.679
 heaven hurts

00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:10.199
 your feet.

00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:11.259
 It's that

00:34:11.259 --> 00:34:11.599
 real.

00:34:13.259 --> 00:34:13.920
 It's beyond

00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:14.860
 all comparison

00:34:14.860 --> 00:34:15.500
 to what we

00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.539
 experience now

00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:17.860
 says Paul in

00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:18.380
 2 Corinthians

00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:19.340
 4.17.

00:34:20.199 --> 00:34:21.159
 Yes it's

00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:21.579
 difficult.

00:34:22.259 --> 00:34:23.199
 It's unseen.

00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:24.539
 We can only

00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.219
 see this

00:34:25.219 --> 00:34:26.279
 country with

00:34:26.279 --> 00:34:27.000
 the eyes of

00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:27.679
 our hearts.

00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:28.900
 Ephesians

00:34:28.900 --> 00:34:29.539
 1.18.

00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:32.179
 So to

00:34:32.179 --> 00:34:33.139
 which country

00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:33.840
 is your

00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:34.539
 hope fixed?

00:34:35.900 --> 00:34:36.179
 Which

00:34:36.179 --> 00:34:36.719
 country

00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:37.579
 occupies

00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:38.199
 your thoughts?

00:34:41.719 --> 00:34:42.279
 Hebrews

00:34:42.279 --> 00:34:44.679
 11 says

00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:45.179
 this about

00:34:45.179 --> 00:34:45.739
 Abraham and

00:34:45.739 --> 00:34:46.019
 I want to

00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:46.699
 say to

00:34:46.699 --> 00:34:47.420
 us be like

00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:47.920
 Abraham.

00:34:48.860 --> 00:34:50.000
 By faith

00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:50.559
 Abraham

00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:51.380
 obeyed when

00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:51.699
 he was

00:34:51.699 --> 00:34:52.300
 called to

00:34:52.300 --> 00:34:52.920
 go out to

00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:53.460
 a place

00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:54.440
 that he

00:34:54.440 --> 00:34:54.779
 was to

00:34:54.779 --> 00:34:55.679
 receive as

00:34:55.679 --> 00:34:56.259
 an inheritance

00:34:56.259 --> 00:34:57.559
 and he

00:34:57.559 --> 00:34:58.119
 went out

00:34:58.119 --> 00:34:59.460
 not knowing

00:34:59.460 --> 00:34:59.940
 where he

00:34:59.940 --> 00:35:00.500
 was going.

00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:02.099
 By faith

00:35:02.099 --> 00:35:02.420
 he went

00:35:02.420 --> 00:35:02.800
 to live

00:35:02.800 --> 00:35:03.079
 in the

00:35:03.079 --> 00:35:03.539
 land of

00:35:03.539 --> 00:35:03.960
 promise

00:35:03.960 --> 00:35:05.059
 as in

00:35:05.059 --> 00:35:05.500
 a foreign

00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:05.900
 land

00:35:05.900 --> 00:35:06.720
 living in

00:35:06.720 --> 00:35:07.280
 tents with

00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:07.980
 Isaac and

00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:08.720
 Jacob heirs

00:35:08.720 --> 00:35:09.099
 with him

00:35:09.099 --> 00:35:09.400
 of the

00:35:09.400 --> 00:35:09.639
 same

00:35:09.639 --> 00:35:10.059
 promise.

00:35:11.320 --> 00:35:11.800
 Abraham

00:35:11.800 --> 00:35:13.119
 was in

00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:13.599
 the promised

00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:14.300
 land but

00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:14.659
 he still

00:35:14.659 --> 00:35:15.139
 considered

00:35:15.139 --> 00:35:16.500
 it a

00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:16.860
 foreign

00:35:16.860 --> 00:35:18.440
 land and

00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:18.900
 that wasn't

00:35:18.900 --> 00:35:19.400
 just because

00:35:19.400 --> 00:35:19.980
 King David

00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:20.280
 wasn't

00:35:20.280 --> 00:35:20.619
 reigning.

00:35:20.619 --> 00:35:26.019
 for he

00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:26.559
 was looking

00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:27.299
 forward to

00:35:27.299 --> 00:35:27.819
 the city

00:35:27.819 --> 00:35:28.159
 whose

00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:28.900
 foundations

00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:29.339
 whose

00:35:29.339 --> 00:35:29.900
 designer

00:35:29.900 --> 00:35:30.359
 and

00:35:30.359 --> 00:35:30.659
 builder

00:35:30.659 --> 00:35:31.359
 is God.

00:35:33.359 --> 00:35:34.000
 Verse

00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:34.519
 13

00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:36.539
 these

00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.280
 all died

00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:38.840
 Abraham

00:35:38.840 --> 00:35:40.280
 Isaac

00:35:40.280 --> 00:35:40.739
 Jacob

00:35:40.739 --> 00:35:41.119
 in

00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:41.519
 faith

00:35:41.519 --> 00:35:42.539
 not

00:35:42.539 --> 00:35:42.860
 having

00:35:42.860 --> 00:35:43.400
 received

00:35:43.400 --> 00:35:43.579
 the

00:35:43.579 --> 00:35:43.800
 things

00:35:43.800 --> 00:35:44.159
 promised

00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:44.539
 but

00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:44.860
 having

00:35:44.860 --> 00:35:45.300
 seen

00:35:45.300 --> 00:35:45.599
 them

00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:46.659
 with

00:35:46.659 --> 00:35:46.820
 the

00:35:46.820 --> 00:35:47.099
 eyes

00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:47.219
 of

00:35:47.219 --> 00:35:47.380
 their

00:35:47.380 --> 00:35:47.699
 heart

00:35:47.699 --> 00:35:48.579
 and

00:35:48.579 --> 00:35:48.920
 greeted

00:35:48.920 --> 00:35:49.239
 them

00:35:49.239 --> 00:35:49.460
 from

00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:49.900
 afar

00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:50.820
 and

00:35:50.820 --> 00:35:51.059
 having

00:35:51.059 --> 00:35:51.840
 acknowledged

00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:52.300
 that they

00:35:52.300 --> 00:35:52.460
 were

00:35:52.460 --> 00:35:52.920
 strangers

00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:53.139
 and

00:35:53.139 --> 00:35:53.519
 exiles

00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:53.739
 on

00:35:53.739 --> 00:35:53.880
 the

00:35:53.880 --> 00:35:54.239
 earth

00:35:54.239 --> 00:35:55.500
 for

00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:55.639
 the

00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:55.960
 people

00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:56.179
 who

00:35:56.179 --> 00:35:56.500
 speak

00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:56.780
 thus

00:35:56.780 --> 00:35:57.059
 make

00:35:57.059 --> 00:35:57.199
 it

00:35:57.199 --> 00:35:57.400
 clear

00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:57.579
 that

00:35:57.579 --> 00:35:57.759
 they

00:35:57.759 --> 00:35:57.920
 are

00:35:57.920 --> 00:35:58.239
 seeking

00:35:58.239 --> 00:35:58.460
 a

00:35:58.460 --> 00:35:58.780
 homeland

00:35:58.780 --> 00:36:00.280
 if

00:36:00.280 --> 00:36:00.500
 they

00:36:00.500 --> 00:36:00.719
 had

00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:00.920
 been

00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:01.259
 thinking

00:36:01.259 --> 00:36:01.500
 of

00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:01.719
 that

00:36:01.719 --> 00:36:02.019
 land

00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:02.219
 from

00:36:02.219 --> 00:36:02.440
 which

00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:02.599
 they

00:36:02.599 --> 00:36:02.739
 had

00:36:02.739 --> 00:36:02.960
 gone

00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:03.199
 out

00:36:03.199 --> 00:36:03.399
 they

00:36:03.399 --> 00:36:03.559
 would

00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:03.659
 have

00:36:03.659 --> 00:36:03.819
 had

00:36:03.819 --> 00:36:04.460
 opportunity

00:36:04.460 --> 00:36:05.619
 to

00:36:05.619 --> 00:36:06.099
 return

00:36:06.099 --> 00:36:07.519
 but

00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:07.819
 as

00:36:07.819 --> 00:36:07.960
 it

00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:08.279
 is

00:36:08.279 --> 00:36:09.899
 they

00:36:09.899 --> 00:36:10.399
 desire

00:36:10.399 --> 00:36:10.819
 a

00:36:10.819 --> 00:36:11.000
 better

00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:11.439
 country

00:36:11.439 --> 00:36:12.239
 a

00:36:12.239 --> 00:36:12.539
 heavenly

00:36:12.539 --> 00:36:12.960
 one

00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:14.519
 therefore

00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:15.179
 God

00:36:15.179 --> 00:36:15.599
 is not

00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:15.980
 ashamed

00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:16.359
 to be

00:36:16.359 --> 00:36:16.639
 called

00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:16.879
 their

00:36:16.879 --> 00:36:17.199
 God

00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:18.239
 for

00:36:18.239 --> 00:36:18.480
 he

00:36:18.480 --> 00:36:18.739
 has

00:36:18.739 --> 00:36:19.139
 prepared

00:36:19.139 --> 00:36:19.359
 for

00:36:19.359 --> 00:36:19.599
 them

00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:19.879
 a

00:36:19.879 --> 00:36:20.119
 city

00:36:20.119 --> 00:36:22.639
 see

00:36:22.639 --> 00:36:23.899
 rejoice

00:36:23.899 --> 00:36:24.419
 with the

00:36:24.419 --> 00:36:24.819
 eyes

00:36:24.819 --> 00:36:25.179
 of your

00:36:25.179 --> 00:36:25.539
 heart

00:36:25.539 --> 00:36:26.559
 the

00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:26.939
 city

00:36:26.939 --> 00:36:27.719
 our

00:36:27.719 --> 00:36:28.319
 homeland

00:36:28.319 --> 00:36:29.139
 God

00:36:29.139 --> 00:36:29.319
 is

00:36:29.319 --> 00:36:29.739
 preparing

00:36:29.739 --> 00:36:31.659
 acknowledge

00:36:31.659 --> 00:36:31.939
 your

00:36:31.939 --> 00:36:32.439
 status

00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:32.940
 as

00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:33.679
 stranger

00:36:33.679 --> 00:36:33.920
 in

00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:34.360
 exile

00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:36.940
 desire

00:36:36.940 --> 00:36:37.179
 a

00:36:37.179 --> 00:36:37.320
 better

00:36:37.320 --> 00:36:37.780
 country

00:36:37.780 --> 00:36:39.519
 as

00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:39.700
 we

00:36:39.700 --> 00:36:40.300
 engage

00:36:40.300 --> 00:36:40.579
 we

00:36:40.579 --> 00:36:40.880
 might

00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:41.320
 feel

00:36:41.320 --> 00:36:42.619
 increasingly

00:36:42.619 --> 00:36:43.360
 displaced

00:36:43.360 --> 00:36:44.800
 like we

00:36:44.800 --> 00:36:45.019
 don't

00:36:45.019 --> 00:36:45.400
 belong

00:36:45.400 --> 00:36:47.679
 God

00:36:47.679 --> 00:36:48.820
 won't

00:36:48.820 --> 00:36:49.420
 be ashamed

00:36:49.420 --> 00:36:49.980
 to call

00:36:49.980 --> 00:36:50.159
 you

00:36:50.159 --> 00:36:50.420
 his

00:36:50.420 --> 00:36:50.720
 God

00:36:50.720 --> 00:36:52.360
 in

00:36:52.360 --> 00:36:52.539
 this

00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:53.599
 age

00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:54.480
 be

00:36:54.480 --> 00:36:55.159
 engaged

00:36:55.159 --> 00:36:55.579
 and

00:36:55.579 --> 00:36:56.019
 attached

00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:57.780
 may

00:36:57.780 --> 00:36:57.980
 he

00:36:57.980 --> 00:36:58.260
 help

00:36:58.260 --> 00:36:58.500
 us

00:36:58.500 --> 00:36:58.659
 to

00:36:58.659 --> 00:36:58.820
 live

00:36:58.820 --> 00:36:59.159
 well

00:36:59.159 --> 00:36:59.360
 in

00:36:59.360 --> 00:36:59.539
 this

00:36:59.539 --> 00:36:59.860
 age

00:36:59.860 --> 00:37:00.059
 while

00:37:00.059 --> 00:37:00.220
 we

00:37:00.220 --> 00:37:00.480
 wait

00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:00.659
 for

00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:00.820
 his

00:37:00.820 --> 00:37:01.200
 return

00:37:01.200 --> 00:37:02.139
 Amen

00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:08.359
 may

00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


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00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359


00:37:08.359 --> 00:37:08.359