So please keep your Bible open to chapter 13.
Chapter 12 and 13 can be treated as one unit.
But you can also go from 12 to all the way to the end of Romans.
But whichever way you look at it,
chapter 13, 1 to 7 seems a bit out of place
to talk about being a good citizen
while Paul talks about in light of God's mercy
we are to love others sincerely in our new identity.
However, as both James and Steve point out last two Sundays
looking at chapter 12,
being a follower of Jesus, living in the realm of salvation
is meant to affect every part of our life.
It should also affect how we live as a good godly citizen.
So I look up the requirement of becoming an Australian citizen
as I prepare this talk.
And I come across the citizen pledge and its explanation.
It says all Australian citizens must understand
our prosperity and privileges
and what it means to be a citizen,
whether we are Australian by birth or by choice.
When you pledge, you are making a public commitment to Australia
and accepting the responsibility and privilege of a citizen.
And the pledge goes,
From this time forward, under God,
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,
whose democratic beliefs I share,
whose rights and liberties I respect,
and whose laws I will uphold and obey.
If you are Australian by birth,
you may not have been through an Australian citizenship ceremony
and make such a pledge.
Still, your privilege of being born to be an Australian citizen
comes with responsibilities.
I remember pledging around the late 80s, 30s, 90s
with my family at the Australian citizenship ceremony
at the Grand Recton Hall.
It was much easier to become an Australian citizen back then.
Nowadays, you also have to pass the citizens to test.
So how about we go through some questions
to see whether you'll pass,
especially if you were born in Australia.
There are 20 questions you have to answer,
but five of them you have to get correctly to pass the test.
There are questions about Australian values
to demonstrate that you understand your responsibility
and privilege as an Australian citizen.
So I'll put the question up,
think of the answer,
don't tell anyone,
don't share with anyone,
especially if you have done the test recently.
The answer will come up very soon,
and I will go through the five questions.
So,
did anyone make any mistakes in these five questions?
If you did, sorry.
You are not fit to be a citizen yet.
You can't call yourself an Australian
if you don't understand and uphold Australian values.
If becoming a citizen of one of the countries on earth
required tests and privileges,
it would not make sense to expect less
to be a citizen of the kingdom of God,
whose king is the creator of everything in this world,
everything,
including those parts,
that doesn't seem very Christian.
Think about that.
Comparing all that God has accomplished
to transform us from our hopeless, sinful realm
into a new realm of salvation in Christ,
submitting to authority
and loving others wholeheartedly
seems a minimal requirement.
And the good news we have seen
from the Book of Romans so far
is that even though
we have failed in all the tests
to prove that we are a worthy citizen,
God still accepts us
as part of his kingdom
based on the merit of the Lord Jesus.
This is so wonderful.
In the Christian life,
doctrine and duty
always goes together.
Doctrine is a teaching that you live by
and duty is your action
in fulfilling your responsibility.
What we believe
helps to determine how we behave.
It's not enough for us
to understand Paul's teaching
from chapter 1 to 11.
We must translate our learning
into living
and show our daily life
as we trust God,
trust in God's word,
which is the aim
of the rest of the Book of Romans.
And one thing very important
to remember today
is in chapter 13,
we need to remember
that Paul is not giving us
a discussion
on church and state relations,
but is giving
individual Christian instruction
about personal citizenship
based on a new relationship
with the state
and a new relationship
with the world.
And that are my two main points
for today.
A new relationship
with the state
and new relationship
with the world
in your personal citizenship.
So Romans 13,
starting in verse 1,
let everyone be subject
to the governing authority,
for there is no authority
except that which God
has established.
The authorities that exist
have been established by God.
Consequently,
whoever rebels
against the authority
is rebelling against
what God has instituted,
and those who do so
will bring judgment
on themselves.
God infects people
with authority.
But as Paul said,
as Paul pointed out earlier
in chapter 3,
all human
are sinful,
which means
those God
invested
his authority with
will not exercise
the authority
as God intended.
Even though
we cannot always
respect the man
or woman
in the office,
we must respect
the office
established by God
because he
institutes
every government.
If we believe
that God
is sovereign,
then disbelief
requires that
we respect
those in authority
over us.
Our passage today
says,
we must fear
if we resist them
because we also
resist God.
Paul's rationale
for obedience
has nothing to do
with the ruler's
godliness,
competence,
or any other
qualification.
Instead,
his call
for submission
to their authority
is grounded
in God's
authority.
It is
between you
and God
that you submit.
The only authority
that exists
are the ones
whom God
has placed
there
according
to his
sovereign plan.
So do you think
there's any
excuse
or any
valid reason
for you
not to submit
to God's
authority?
Can you read
justify your choice?
It goes on to say,
for rulers
hold no terror
for those
who do right,
for those
who do wrong.
Do you want
to be free
from fear
of the one
in authority?
Then do what
is right
and you
will be
commanded.
For the one
in authority
is God's servant
for your good.
But if you do
wrong,
be afraid.
For rulers
do not bear
the sword
for no reason.
They are God's
servant,
agents of wrath
to bring punishment
on the wrongdoers.
Paul tells us
about the government's
function
by highlighting
the core
of our problems,
the human heart.
Because man's
heart is sinful,
God established
a government
to legislate
and enforce
the law.
But laws
cannot
change
the heart.
man's heart
is still
selfish
and can
only be
changed
by the
grace of
God.
The problem
of our world
is not what
kind of government
is in charge.
Neither
democracy
nor authoritarian
to fix
the world's
problem
is not to
change the
government
but to deal
with each
of our
sinful hearts.
Do you want
to be free
from the
one in
authority?
Do you
want to be
free from
fear of
the one
in authority?
Then do
what is
right
and you
will be
commanded.
Many people
take freedom
as living
independently
or living
in a free
country
but there
will be
a big
mistake.
True
freedom
is not
fun in
doing
whatever
you want
whenever
you want.
True
freedom
is never
fun in
putting
yourself
in the
middle
of
your
world
and
making
it
all
about
you.
True
freedom
is never
fun in
writing
your
moral
code
or
finally
getting
your
way.
True
freedom
is only
come from
submission
to God's
authority.
There are
all levels
of human
authority
that God
put on
earth
to make
his
invisible
authority
visible.
Personal
freedom
is not
fun in
resisting
human
authority
because
freedom
and
authority
are not
enemies.
Unfortunately,
among
Christians,
there seems
to be
an increasing
appeal
to the
example
of
civil
disobedience
in the
scripture
without
a balancing
commitment
to the
clear and
repeated
commands
in scripture
to submit
to authority.
You
cannot
cling
to one
principle
without
denying
the other.
civil
disobedience
and
civil
rebellion
are not
the same
thing.
Living
under
Rome's
suppressive,
abusive,
immoral
authority,
Jesus never
calls his
followers to
rebel
against
authority.
In a
country of
democratic
government,
it is
easy to
mistake
government
for serving
our
enjoyment.
government.
We get
easily
upset when
our government
tells us what
we can or
cannot do.
But no
matter what
kind of
authority you
are living
under,
God set up
authority for
Christians to
demonstrate how
to be godly
citizens through
their respectful,
active
participation for
his glory.
Let me say
that again.
God set up
authority for
Christians to
demonstrate how
to be godly
citizens through
their respectful,
active participation
for his
glory.
So Paul
goes on,
therefore,
it is necessary
to submit to
the authority,
not only because
of possible
punishment,
but also as
a matter of
conscience.
This is also
why you pay
taxes for
the authority
of God's
servant,
who give
their full
time to
governing,
give to
everyone what
you owe
them,
if you owe
taxes,
pay taxes,
if revenue,
then revenue,
if respect,
then respect,
if honour,
then honour.
Christian
citizens ought
to be the
best citizen.
Christians may
not always
agree on
politics or
parties,
but we
can all
agree,
but they
can all
agree on
their attitude
towards human
government.
Whether we
like or
respect a
leader and
vote for them
or not,
our response
should be
the same.
How do
you respond
to authority,
especially ones
you don't like
or respect,
or ones that
are abusive
or autocratic?
In our
modern democracy,
where we have a
say in who
governs us,
we might feel
entitled to
speak disrespectfully
about our
government
officials.
And that
normally happens
a lot while
in private
settings.
It's much
easier to
jump on the
bandwagon and
follow the
latest social
media trend.
Over the last
few years,
there have been
many opportunities
to speak
disrespectfully or
to voice our
disapproval of
government actions,
our government
actions, in
handling various
difficult crises.
in a not very
peaceful or
even passive
aggressive way.
But Jesus
said in Luke
6.45 that
from the
overthrow of
our hearts,
your mouths
speak.
There's no
hiding what's
happening in
each one of
our sinful
hearts.
Are you
known as
someone who
often speaks
disrespectfully
and loves to
call others
names?
Or are you
a willing
submitting kind
of person?
Do you
actively do
all that you
can to
honor those
in authority
above you?
Or do you
keep looking
for faults
and encouraging
others to
push out
for the
government?
Paul makes
no hint
of merely
going along
with something
grudgingly
or under
duress.
The obedience
that he
described is
respectful and
complete.
he calls
for active
action to
save our
conscience
in verse
5 to 7
by paying
our due,
giving everyone
what we owe
them,
taxes,
revenue,
respect,
or honor.
We have
been called
to a new
relationship
with our
government
because of
God's
mercy.
Christians are
to be the
salt and
light of
this world.
A
responsible
citizen is
willing to
uphold the
authority God
gave their
human government
with respect
and not
begrudgingly.
Ruling
submission is
so counter
cultural because
we live as if
we are our
king,
but we have a
new king,
and he calls
us to have a
new relationship
with the
authority and
with the
world.
So continuing
from the
payment theme
in verse
6 to 7,
Paul uses
the analogy
of debt
to describe
how we
should live
in our
new
relationship
with the
world.
Verse 8,
let no
debt remain
an outstanding
except a
continued debt
to love
one another,
for whoever
loves others
has fulfilled
the law.
Paul acts
love as
another kind
of thing
that we
owe others.
Tax,
duty,
honor,
respect can
be paid
in full,
but love
is a debt
and ongoing
obligation
that we
will never
be able
to pay
out fully.
We should
not expect
that the
need for us
to love
others will
ever be
fulfilled.
It would
be ridiculous
to say,
I've loved
someone enough,
I do not
need to love
them anymore.
You only need
to reverse
that sentence
and consider
someone saying
that they
have loved
you enough
that they
don't have
to love
you anymore
to realize
how ridiculous
even to
contemplate
the idea.
God
warned us
to never
stop loving
by letting
our priority
fall out of
sync with
God.
It's very
easy.
We easily
focus on
the wrong
things as
we interact
with others.
there seems
to be a
list in
our mind
that we
always check,
especially
regarding
God's
command.
The
commandments,
you should
not commit
adultery,
you should
not murder,
you should
not steal,
you should
not comfort,
and whatever
other commandments
there may
be, are
sum up in
this one
command,
love your
neighbors as
yourself.
Love does
no harm to
our neighbor,
therefore love
is a fulfillment
of the law.
according to
Paul's
credential,
a Pharisee
devoted to
observing every
law,
a cellist
Christian
persecutor
considered
himself
faultless
regarding
righteousness
based on
the law.
It would
be very
out of
character
to give
such a
summary
about how
to fulfill
the law
if Paul
did not
meet
Jesus.
But his
encounter
with Jesus
while on
the way
ready to
persecute
Christians
by executing
them,
make him
realize how
far he was
from God's
priority.
By promoting
loving one
another and
loving God
as the highest
calling for
Christian,
Paul reminds
us that
following this
particular command
of love
enables
everything to
function in
God's
order.
Love is
positive,
active,
and I can
even say
it's
proactive.
Love will
fulfill the
law because
even looking
at it
negatively,
you will
not harm
your neighbor
when you
love.
You may
be driven
to be
successful
at any
cost.
You may
consider other
people as
a stepping
stone towards
a fulfilling
life.
you might
think setting
aside a
relationship
to enable
you to get
to where
you want
is acceptable
and unavoidable.
Those extra
hours staying
at work or
networking
seems more
necessary than
spending time
with your
spouse,
kids,
or other
fellow believers.
It all
reflects how
much you
love yourself
and how
much we
love ourselves.
We are so
familiar with
loving ourselves
that it
should be
easy to
understand how
to apply the
command,
love your
neighbors as
yourself.
You should
love and
attitude towards
others,
have the same
depth of
concern for
yourself.
Our
relationship
with the
world builds
on our
renewed
relationship
with God.
It calls
to some
things in
an upside
down way,
to prioritize
relationship
with God
and others.
You may
think or
feel that
up to this
point,
all I have
said is
easy,
said,
than done.
Let me
help you by
looking at
our final
session of
the three
contrasts and
the secret
of success.
We are
living in an
exciting and
challenging
time.
You may feel
like your
life is
constantly on
the go
without any
breathing space.
You might
have chosen
to deal
with all
that is
happening
around you
with nostalgia
and reminiscing
the good
old days,
or slumbering,
trying to
slip them
off.
But Paul
says,
and do
this,
understanding
the present
time.
The hour
has already
come for
you to
wake up
from your
slumber,
because our
salvation is
nearer now
than when
you first
believed.
The night
is nearer,
nearly over,
and the day
is almost
here.
Paul calls
all Christians
to do
three pairs
of contrasting
action in
our current
already and
not yet
states.
The mercy
of God
through the
self-sacrifice
of Jesus
on the cross
saved us
from all
our sin,
but we
still sin
and live
in a
sin-broken
world.
But this
tension is
almost over.
We have
been made
new,
and the
promised new
world is
almost here.
So now
is not
time to
hit the
snooze
button.
Let's
get into
some
actions.
So let's
put aside
the deeds
of darkness
and put
on the
armor of
light.
Let's
behave decently
as in the
daytime,
not in
carousing
and drunkenness,
not in
sexual immorality
and debauchery,
not in
dissension and
jealousy.
Rather,
quote yourself
with the
Lord Jesus
Christ,
and do
not think
about how
to gratify
the desire
of the
fresh.
There
seems to
be three
contrasting
actions from
this final
session of
tests,
but they
are very
closely related
and can
be studied
as one
action
group.
Firstly,
Paul calls
us to
put aside
or put
off our
nighties
and put
on our
day clothes.
As much
as our
nighties,
our pajamas
are comfortable
and help
us to
sleep.
They are
inappropriate
for how
we should
live or
want to
live our
life during
the day.
Dressing
right,
dressing for
the right
occasion,
help us
to perform
better on
most
occasions.
The
pajamas,
the nighties
we are
putting aside
are the
deeds of
darkness.
We're
putting off
what is
harmful to
us,
and we
are to
put on
the armor
of light
that will
protect us
and save
us.
No one
in their
right mind
will go
into a
battle
naked.
However,
if you only
think about
what you
have to
put aside
or give
up,
not thinking
about the
armor God
prepared for
you,
you'll be
fearful and
worried,
like going
into a
battle
naked.
Secondly,
let's not
only dress
right,
but behave
right and
decent.
Like
Paul's
time,
we also
live in
a dark
time.
Nothing
is hunky
dory,
but we
can behave
decently
as if in
the daytime
by not
giving in
to dark,
sinful
behavior.
And even
if you
fail,
the third
thing is
our comeback
and our
secret to
success.
We can
complete the
first two
pairs of
action because
Jesus has
gone before
us and
nailed the
desires of
his flesh
on the
cross.
And he
became the
armor of
light we
are to
put on.
Jesus took
off his
armor,
allowing the
arrows of
our sins
to peace
his body.
He was
treated with
the worst
indecency on
the cross,
stripped
naked,
hung dead,
so we
know what
behaving
decently
looked like
in a
proper
relationship
with God
and others
as we
live out as
a living
sacrifice for
God in
our daily
relationship.
If you
only think
about how
unsatisfied
your body
will be
because you
have to
deal with
all your
sins and
love those
you deem
not worthy
of your
love,
in that
case,
you'll find
all the
instructions
from Roman
12 to
the end
of the
book,
or even
the whole
Bible
is teaching
challenging
and difficult.
But
cove
yourself
with the
Lord Jesus
Christ.
Wrap
your thoughts
around him.
Think of
Jesus as
your armor.
Let him
cover you
and comfort
you.
Let him
embrace you
and be
your protection
as you
love and
serve in
your new
relationship
with others.
Think about
how you
can glorify
God and
glorify Jesus
as your
salvation,
the good
news of
the gospel.
You will
not pass
the test
if you
focus on
yourself
and what
you need
to do.
You will
only succeed
if you
focus on
God's
mercy
shown to
you
through
Jesus.
We are
all
citizens of
God's
kingdom
not because
we have
passed
any test.
It was
due to
the merit
of Jesus.
We are
called to
be the
best
citizens on
this earth
but we
will fail
because we
are sinful.
But even
if we fail,
you are
covered by
Jesus.
Jesus
He is
your armor
of light.
He is
steadfast
love
through
and
drew
forever
and He
will
never
come
of
you.
Jesus
guaranteed
your
loyalty
to
God
by
His
life
as you
live as
a citizen
of God
in this
world.
Clothe
yourself
with Him
daily
as a
true and
proper
worship
to our
majestic
God.
Let
your mind
be filled
with God's
mercy,
the Lord
Jesus
Christ.