THE CHRISTIAN AND CIVIL GOVERNMENT
(Love fulfills the Law)
Romans 13: 1-10

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 13, verses 1 through 10, particularly these words: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established…Let no debt remain out standing except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. Therefore love in the fulfillment of the law.” This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul follows a very logical argument from beginning to end. He begins by showing that the person who believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will be a changed person — no longer ruled by sin — but ruled by faith in the grace and love of God. Two Sundays ago, Paul’s words in our text told us that Christians should present their lives as “Living sacrifices dedicated to God.” WHY?? Because of the many mercies that God had given to us. Paul, in chapter 12, reminds us Christians, that we are to use the gifts that God has given to us, for the common good of the family of God — the body of Christ — His church.

Today’s text takes us beyond the church — beyond God’s family – to another of God’s gifts to us – the gift of authority or government. Today we deal with how the Christian relates to the world around him — his government, his fellow countrymen — his non-Christian friends and neighbors. The Gospel is that this authority is God’s gift to us – not a means of grace, but still a gift. And, The Law is “how do we relate to it?”

Paul himself was a citizen of Rome. Paul was writing to Christians living in the city of Rome. The Roman government of Paul’s day was not very receptive of the Christian faith — because they accepted and worshiped only one God — not many. It was heresy to think that there was only one God! Rome supported a religion of many God’s and even worshiped their own ruler – Caesar, as a God.

Even under these circumstances and with a heathen Government, Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” Paul says it three times in our text for today — Governing authority is established by God. Paul makes no distinction between Good governments and bad governments — he just states that all governing authorities come from God.

When we study the 4th commandment, we learn that we not only are to honor our parents — but we are also to “obey those who have the rule over us,” which includes our government. Jesus himself said that we are to “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.”

Government comes to us from God. Why? Why does God put ruler’s and Presidents, and Kings, and senators, and judges over nations — after all, it seems at times that all they do is make war, build bombs, collect taxes, and argue among themselves. But when you look at the situation at close hand, Governments do play an important role in our lives. If it were not for governments and state departments, there would be even more wars than there already are. If it were not for police departments and fire departments, we would live like animals in a jungle, with survival of the strongest among us. If it were not for highway rules, everyone would drive at their own speed, in any lane or in any direction they might choose, and every intersection would be hazardous to your health with no traffic lights, signals or signs.

Can you imagine the condition of our roads if it were up to each individual landowner to care for the road in front of his own house? Can you imagine parents trying to give their children a college education at home? Our Government does so many things for us that we sometimes forget the good that they do, while we complain about what we consider to be bad things they do. But Paul reminds us that Government is a gift of God — given to us so that we can live peaceable with one another. Since government is made up of sinful people, it will never be perfect — but it is still far better than rule or control by mob and terror.

Government is from God — that is Paul’s first point — and the second point is — God wants us to obey our government and follow the rules. Paul said in our text, “Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” Paul says that God has given to government, the power and the right to punish those who break the law. Paul said in the text that “the government does not bear the sword for nothing.” (And the Greek word for sword here refers to a short sword — one that was used in carrying out the death penalty — capital punishment as we know it today.)

Obeying the laws of the land is important. What good is God’s gift to us, if no one obeys the guidelines? How can God’s gift of government help us lead peaceful and useful lives, if everyone makes up his own rules as he goes along? For government to work — we must all live within the guidelines. That is why Paul says in the text, “Give everyone what you owe him; If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.”

Paul’s third point in today’s text tells us just how we can go about fulfilling the law of the land and God. He says, “The commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet;, and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

That’s the only rule that we really need — In all our relationships with fellow Christians, with friends and neighbors, even with our enemies — “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Every year the Congress of the Unity States — and the legislatures of all 50 states — and the county courts of every county — and every city council of every city — passes thousands upon thousands of laws just to enforce this one rule — “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

This is necessary because we ourselves are sinful, and sometimes people around us are not very lovable — they run red lights, they charge high prices for cheep products, they don’t do the work they promised to do, they file law suits over extremely frivolous matters, and the list could go on — But Jesus says, “Love one another as I have loved you.” And Jesus loved us when we were unlovable. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!”
By God’s Grace, and with the strength that he gives to us in Word and Sacrament — may we love others — as He has loved us.

Government is God’s gift to us! We are to submit to the rules of our government! Love is the fulfilling of God’s law.

That really does end today’s sermon — but here is one application of this passage. This is an election year. The conventions are now over and we are down to the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate for each party. I don’t care if you are a republican, a democrat, or an independent — you need to register so that you can vote — and when the time comes, you need to vote. Christians must be involved in the running of our nations, or else it will be run by non-believers who do not care what God’s will and direction might be. Listen to the candidates, study the issues, and vote wisely as God’s people. Our nation, and our lives will be better for it, because it is God’s gift to us.

To God be the glory now and always. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.