December 10, 2023
Evening Service

Chapter 12 of Romans is a classic with enough material in it for several sermons.  My Bible has two headings over the chapter.  I mention these in our review because they continue into chapter 13.

1.      Responsibilities towards God: Verse 1-2

a.      Here Paul stressed the importance of us “presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable towards God which is our reasonable service.”

b.     We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and conform to the things of this world.

2.     Responsibilities towards society: 3-21

a.      He stressed our unity with the body of Christ and the importance of using our gifts to the fullest of our abilities for the glory of God and the aid of others around us.

b.     He stressed to “love be without hypocrisy.”

c.      Makes a list of attitudes we are to display starting with brotherly love, being diligent and fervent in serving, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, steadfast in prayer, giving, hospitable, blessing those who persecute us, along with celebrating and mourning with those around us.

d.     He also commands us against seeking revenge, but instead to “overcome evil with good.”

We need to give ourselves totally to the service of God, as our act of worship towards Him.  He commands us to walk in unity with the people God has placed around us; doing what we can for each other.  We start Chapter 13 with the heading of “Responsibilities towards higher powers.”

 Rom 13:1-3 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.  (2)  Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.  (3)  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

            Paul makes this very clear to us that to be a faithful Jesus follower, we must be a good citizen of the land where we live.  Regardless of what government we are under the authority of, Paul commands us to be subject to them.  His reasoning is sound as he states ultimately every government is in place because God has placed it there.  With that fact proven, he then states that any resistance we give towards that authority ultimately is directed towards God.  Rebel against the worldly authority and you are rebelling against God.  He tells us the government is in place to keep the peace and if we follow the rules we should not fear them.  A good citizen is recognized and praised not persecuted.  He continues with the opposite approach.

Rom 13:4-7For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.  (5)  Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.  (6)  For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.  (7)  Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

            Our government and those with authority over us are tools in God’s hands to punish us if we do what is wrong.  John tells us in I John 3:4 that “sin is lawlessness.”  If we break the laws of the land, you are sinning against God and should expect the governments’ punishment.  Therefore, be a law abiding citizen and pay your taxes to the government also granting them your respect and honor.  Respect and honor are areas that we are heading for trouble in, not as a church but with the culture of our society today.  Recent events of legal protesting have escalated to levels not seen since the 60’s.  The younger generation is not being taught to respect authority, but to rebel against it.  Our police officers are being targeted with abuse that they do not deserve and with no punishment for it.  This creates a terrible precedence that will be hard to overcome in the future as this generation grows into places of authority themselves.  All part of this world winding closer and closer to the end.

            Is this an area in your life you need to work on?  A Jesus follower must be a good citizen and subject to the laws of the land.  Don’t cheat on your taxes because you can get away with it.  Don’t break laws because everyone else is doing it.  Be a person of integrity doing the right thing even when no one is watching!  In doing that you bring glory to God.

  The rest of the chapter is under the heading of “responsibilities towards neighbors.” 

 

Rom 13:8-10 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.  (9)  For the commandments, "YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," "YOU SHALL NOT MURDER," "YOU SHALL NOT STEAL," "YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS," "YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."  (10)  Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.

          Jesus agreed with Paul here as when asked about the greatest commandments said this:

 

Mat 22:37-40 Jesus said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'  (38)  This is the first and great commandment.  (39)  And the second is like it: 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'  (40)  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

            These two commands sufficiently fulfill the Law.  “Love is the fulfillment of the law.”  We must believe that God is and love him with our entire being.  We are to love those around us just as we love ourselves.  This command is supported throughout all the scriptures.  Treat others as you would like them to treat you fulfilling the “Golden Rule of Matthew 7:12. You want people to treat you honestly and fairly, treat others that way yourself.   Jesus evened raised the bar for us when He said this in John 15:

 

Joh 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

            Think of how Jesus loves us and ask yourself am I loving others in that manner?  We cannot be true Jesus followers without love; the two must walk hand in hand.

Without love we are nothing, no matter what works we do or sacrifices we make Paul tells us in I Cor. 13 “without love I am nothing.”  We as a church, a family of believers, have a responsibility to love those around us.  That is our job.  We are not called to condemn or judge, but to “love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love never fails!

            Paul now changes his tone a bit as he completes this chapter with a “Wake up!” call to us as the church.

 

 

Romans 13:11-14 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now, our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  (12)  The night is far spent; the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  (13)  Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.  (14)  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

            Wake up church!  It is time to be about the Lord’s business.  Time is short, so use it wisely.  Get your life in order “casting off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light.”  Make sure you are prepared and ready to do His bidding.  Quit playing around with the things of the world and move on to your full pursuit of what God has for you!

            What in your life needs adjusting?  Are there things of the world that you continue to hold on to that you need to release and move on?  Now is the time.  I will close with the charge from the Hebrew writer to get our priorities in order so we can finish the race of life strong.

 

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  (3)  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

 

Heavenly Father open our eyes to the areas in our lives that we are not fulfilling Your commands and lead us into a place of humble obedience.  Open our eyes to the fact that time is short and give us the wakeup call we need to be about our Father’s business.