Romans Chapter 13 

THE PUBLIC LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN

        vv1-7         : Responsibility to civil authority

        vv8-10       : Relationship with other citizens

        vv11-14     : Rehearsal [Example] before other citizens

1. Responsibility to civil authority

Examples:

        •       Parents of Jesus (Lk 2:1-6)

              Nazareth-Bethlehem-Fulfilment of Prophecy (Mic 5:2)

        •        Pharisees and Jesus (Mt 22:15-22)

        •        Peter and Jesus (Mt 17:24-27)

Guidelines:

        a) Recognise God's authority behind the Civil Government. vv 1,2

             Prov 21:1

        b) Realise that disloyalty or transgression leads to fear. vv 3,4

            Gen 3:9-11

        c) Refuse to sacrifice good conscience for silly benefits. vv 5-7

             Acts 24:16   Income tax, etc

Corrupt Government :

          •        Fret not! (Psa 37:1-3)

          •        Wait for New Heaven & New Earth! (2 Pet 3:13)

2. Relationship with other citizens

        a)  Owe no man! (v 8)

                    Learn to live within your income.

                    Buy what you need, not what you want.

                    Beware of  "Buy-now-pay-later" schemes!

                    Plan your budget and expenses.

                    Honour God with His portion (Mal 3:8-12)

          b)  Avoid coming under obligations but be looking for opportunities to give.

                 Acts 20:33-35

          c)  Do not what you would not want others to do to you (v 9).

                e.g. false witness. (We are so sensitive when accused falsely.

                                             How do we report matters about others?)

3. Rehearsal before other citizens

        "Walk properly" (v 13)

        Why?

                a) Name of God (Rom 2:23,24)

                 b) Salvation nearer (vv 11,12)

        In what? (v 13)

                 a)  Merrymaking (Pleasures of this world) 

                      "Revelry and drunkenness"

                 b)  Morality 

                      "Licentiousness and lewdness"

                 c)  Mannerism

                      "Stife and envy"

Conclusion

        •    Peter who moved so closely with Jesus in His earthly life

              reflects His mind in his epistle:

                            1 Pet 2:9   "We are kings"

                                       :11,12    Purity in life -    Rehearsal (3)

                                        :13-17   Loyalty to Government -  Responsibility (1)

                                        :19-21   Love to others -  Relationship (2)

         •   The Lord's prayer

              3 long petitions:

                            1) Your will on Earth AS in Heaven - Government

                            2) Forgive us AS we forgive others - Love

                            3) Lead us not ... BUT deliver from ... - Purity

             "FOR Yours is the Kingdom....Glory!"