Tonight's lesson on Romans. If you can use is in any way, feel free.
Romans 13: Submission to the Authorities and Debt to Each Other
A Christian has the duty to respect authority, no matter whether they agree with it or not. This passage was written in the first century in the time of the Emperor Nero, one of the most viciously anti-Christian rulers ever. If Paul meant it then, he means it now.
The 1960’s and 1970’s saw a surge in resisting authority, along with badmouthing and demeaning those in power. When we do that, we resist what God put in place to make our stay here on earth better.
We have to remember that the Christian will do what is right automatically. He doesn’t need a policeman to tell him. He does it out of respect for God. Those who need a policeman to be around are those who are outside of God. The police, the judges, the president – all are there to keep our society ordered and peaceful.
As long as the authority does not tell you to do something that is against your belief in God and his grace, that you cannot do ethically, you have the responsibility to obey. After all, you are God’s representative here on earth and as such, are examples to other. If you are disobedient to authority, you malign the name of Jesus.
QUESTIONS:
1. What if you do not like the person in power, and do not agree with their way of governing?
2. Does a Christian have the right to campaign and vote against the president?
3. Where does the campaigning and political discussion stop and disrespect set in?
4. How can God establish bad people (Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, Kim Il Sung in N Korea)?
5. What about bad policemen? What do you do about them? Is it wrong to turn a bad policeman in?
6. In paying taxes, is it wrong to use any loophole you have?
7. What do you owe that you do not give?
8. V8 seems rather plain. A lot of people use it to say that a Christian cannot be in debt. Is that what it means? If not, what?
9. The apostle Paul sums up a lot of the ten commandments into one rule. Is the Old Testament really that easily summed up? There are a lot of rules and regulations in there.
10. What does it mean in v11: wake up from your slumber? How do we sleep?
11. How does a Christian behave indecently?
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