It is interesting to me that in today’s church two oppisit things are generally taught. One one hand, they seem to think that God’s Laws have been done away with, nailed to the cross. On the other hand, they will state “Romans 13, brother. Romans 13.” You must obey the law and the men who make it. It would seem that while doing away with God’s Law, they preach blindly obeying man’s law.
I recently made a statement that sin is a violation of God’s law, not man’s law. This is the response I received. (I left the name out)
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Leonard this is ______ and I'm sorry buddy but you need to read Romans 13,
"1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2. Consequntly, he who rebels against the authority iws rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3. For rulers hold no terrorfor those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authoority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4. For he is God’s servant to do you good. 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 to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5. Therefore it is necessary,to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.”
It is a sin to break the law.
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I am not sure what translation she is using, so I’ll show those verses in the KJV, so that we are all on the same page. Her response is exactly what you can expect to hear in the average Judeo-Christian church. I love her as a sister in Christ, so please do not think that I am picking on her. How much of a brother in Christ would I be if I just let her continue to believe a lie. Perhaps, I may have offended her by my statement, but that was not my purpose or intent.
First the scripture.
Romans Chapter 13 (KJV)
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
The Bible is the best commontary on the Bible. It explains itself. Romans 13 quailifies exactually what type of leaders we are to follow or obey. Otherwise it would be a blank check and there should not have been the American revelotion, we should have obeyed England. Hitler should be obeyed. And I guess Peter was wrong, when He said: "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29 KJV) Maybe it is because he didn't have romans 13 then, or is it he understood the principle better than most Christians do today.
Romans 13 is not an instruction for us to obey just anyone in power. Romans 13 discribes the only ones we are to obey. It does not say that all rulers / leaders are like that.
First of all, the scripture speaks of “the higher powers”. This country is was set up to be, for the people and by the people. Those in office are “Public Servants” and NOT rulers. I understand that much to often our “Public Servant” act like rulers, but that is because we have not been doing our job and have let them. We have been bombarded with lies, like “You can’t fight City Hall”. It is your City Hall and they are suppose to be working for you. You don’t have to fight City Hall, if the people you have elected do not want to carry out your wishes, put someone in office that will. The point is that they are not rulers, but Public Servants.
Even if a person wants to think that these verses apply to our Public Servants, it still has to been within the context of what Romans 13 is saying.
“3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:”
Have there been any rulers, leaders, or Public servants that have been a terror to good works? We all know there have been and are people in posistions of power that are a terror to good works. Are they a terror to evil instead? Have good people ever been afraid of their ruler, leader, or public servant? Have our rulers, leaders, or public servants been giving us praise for our good works? I guess if we are to obey any ruler, leader, or public servant and their laws, we should just ignore verse 3 and 4.
Romans Chapter 13 verse 4 continue the thought: “4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”
Have all rulers, leaders, or public servants been, acted as, the minister of God? We have had many that pretended to be Christians to get our vote and then went on to do all kinds of ungodly things and passed many ungodly laws.
In 1st John 3:4, it defines sin and it is talking about God's law. " Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4 KJV) But if a person believes that God’s Laws have been done away with, then this would have to mean, man’s laws. I am sure the scripture is not referring to man’s laws.
Even Moses could not have been saved from death if man’s laws had been obeyed. It would have been sin. The disciples of Christ broke the laws of the Pharises, was that sin? I think not. Daniel broke the Kings law and continued to pray as he always had, was that sin? I think not. There are many other examples.
God’s Laws remain the same. Man’s laws are always changing. With God, what was wrong yesterday will still be wrong tomarrow. With man’s laws, what was wrong yesterday may be just fine tomarrow. With man’s laws, going to church might be premitted today, but outlawed tomarrow. Man is not perfect, God is. Man’s laws are not perfect, God’s are.
This is why we are to follow and obey God and not man. Man will always let us down, God never does.
Am I saying that we should brake all of man’s laws because they are not God’s laws, of course not. Scripture tells us to live at peace with our fellow man, in as much as is possible. If we can follow man’s laws without breaking God’s laws or bringing shame to His name, by what we do, then follow man’s laws. But do not try to envolve God into making people obey men, by calling it sin to disobey. #
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