Last week, we looked at some of the implications of presenting our bodies as living sacrifices acceptable to God. We pointed out several things about our relationships with one another. We need true love, free of pretense; we need to be peacemakers and experience victory over evil.
Today, as we look at Romans 13, we analyze these words to see how Christians can live out our commitment to present ourselves to God as living sacrifices acceptable in our world.
- Submit to authority (Romans 13:1-7)
- Government is divinely appointed
- To disobey is wrong
- To disobey is to dishonor God
- Government is a minister of God
- The judicial system serves the cause of Christ by punishing evil
- Government is worthy of our support
- Pay taxes
- Show respect
- Give honor
- Government is divinely appointed
- Submit to love (Romans 13:8-10)
- The inclusiveness of Romans 13:8
- Often stated, “owe no man anything” is an argument for always paying cash
- Irresponsible use of money can reproach the name of Christ, but this is not saying we can never be financially obligated
- Often stated, “owe no man anything” is an argument for always paying cash
- The exclusiveness of Romans 13:9-10
- Violations against our neighbor
- Adultery
- Murder
- Theft
- Covetousness
- Transgressions or violations against our neighbor are to be excluded
- Violations against our neighbor
- The inclusiveness of Romans 13:8
- Secure salvation
- The call that we are presented in the concluding part of the chapter is a call to preparation for Christ’s return
- We are to wake up
- Get alert and get active
- Clean up
- Cast off deeds of darkness
- Put on
- Adopt Jesus’ ways, attitudes, and actions
- Make no provision for the ways of disobedience
- We are to wake up
- The call that we are presented in the concluding part of the chapter is a call to preparation for Christ’s return
Planned Temptation
Some people fall into temptation, but many others plan for disaster in advance.
“Son,” a father instructed, “don’t swim in that canal.”
“Okay, Dad,” the boy replied.
That evening, the son came home wearing a wet bathing suit.
“Where have you been?” the father demanded.
“Swimming in the canal,” the boy answered.
“Didn’t I tell you not to swim there?” the father asked.
“Yes, sir,” the boy replied.
“Why did you do it?” the father inquired.
“Well, Dad,” the boy explained, “I had my bathing suit with me, and I couldn’t resist temptation.”
“Why did you bring your bathing suit?” the father couldn’t help but ask.
“So I’d be prepared to swim in case I was tempted,” the boy responded.
Too many of us expect to sin and excite sin. The remedy for such dangerous action is found in Romans 13:14. Whenever we play with temptation, it is easy to drift into greater danger.
God calls us to strategically avoid temptation. It doesn’t mean we won’t be tempted. Galatians 5:16 advises, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Romans 12:2 challenges, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
