Peter Barnes | Romans 13:1-4
SERMON NOTES
JUSTICE IN THE CIVIL SPHERE
(Romans 13:1-4)
– see Matt.22:15-21; can become a serious issue e.g. Acts 5:63-37; 17:6-7
1. Authorities are from God.
– 13:1; see Ps.75:7; Prov.8:15-16; Dan.4:17, 25, 32; John 19:11
– the state is not the world (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17); note that Joseph and Daniel both served in pagan states.
2. Christians are generally to be subject to these authorities.
– 13:2-3; Tit.3:1; 1 Pet.2:13-17; Blaise Pascal said that the worst of civil calamities was a situation of civil war.
– exceptions e.g. Ahab trying to kill Elijah
– Acts 5:29; see Ex. 1; Dan. 1, 3, 6
3. Overcome evil with good.
– 13:4; 1 Pet.2:14; the state’s main task is justice, not corrective services or mercy. It is not there to ‘cure’ but to operate so that the punishment fits the crime.
– Gen.9:6