HOW TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, PART 3 - ROMANS 3:6-10

Pay Taxes

13:6-7

As further obedience to the civil authorities, we are to pay taxes imposed on us by them. Paul repeats that even the taxing authorities are ministers of God. 

Jesus taught the same thing. When asked if the Jews should pay taxes to Caesar, Jesus said to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s”. (Matthew 22:15-22)

Jesus showed that God has delegated authority to governments over some areas. But, in the things of religion and worship, God has not given authority to the government to interfere or control. 

In addition to the payment of taxes, we are to show respect and honor to those to whom it is due. We do not do this well in America. It has become common to disrespect those in authority of all types. 

Love Fulfills The Law

13:8-10

Paul instructs us not to owe anything to anyone. This may be a general instruction to avoid debt. However, it is likely an instruction to pay what you owe. Thus, it reflects verse 7 (Pay to all what is owed to them). This is particularly true of government authorities that imposes taxes and fees. 

The exception to this command is love. Paul casts our duty to love in terms of debt. We owe a debt of love to each other. This is a reflection of the command in Leviticus 19:18: “…you shall love your neighbor as yourself…”. 

This is not a command to love yourself, by the way. It is assumed that you do. But we are to love others at least as well as we love ourselves and act toward them accordingly. 

Not only is love a debt we owe to each other, it is a fulfillment of the law. (8) Look back at the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20) You will see that the  first set of commandments concern our relationship to God. (Exodus 20:1-11) We are to worship only him, not make or worship idols, not take his name in vain, and observe his Sabbath. 

But the second group of commandments, the second “table”, concern our relationships to others. We must honor our parents. We must not murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness, or covet. (Exodus 20:12-17) Obeying these commandments is an expression of love for each other. It is a fulfillment of the law in that it is the full measure of what it requires. (8)

Paul lists them as examples as well: do not commit adultery, murder, or theft. Do not covet. And then he threw in a general statement: “or any other commandment”. (9) If you love someone, you do not wrong them. (10)

Some consideration should also be given here to gossip. Gossip is the spreading of rumors. Most often, the rumor is false or partly false. It is often speculation, based on assumptions made by the one starting the rumor. As such, it certainly violates the command to refrain from bearing false witness. Regards of truth or falsity, the Bible condemns gossip (Romans 1:29, 2 Corinthians 2:20, 1 Timothy 5:13). 

So, don’t do it! It harms others and it harms the church. 

An extreme (and incorrect) interpretation of Paul’s statement that love fulfills the law is that Christians do not have to obey any of the commandments. All we have to do is have affection for others. These interpreters also cite Jesus’ statement that he came to fulfill the law. (Matthew 5:17)

The theological term for this position is antinomianism. The word antinomianism comes from two Greek words: anti, meaning "against"; and nomos, meaning "law." Literally, Antinomianism means “against the law.” 

Clearly, Paul was not an antinomian. He gives many lists of commands we must obey, including this passage. 

Jesus also said: “if you love me, you will keep my commandments”. (John 14:15) 

The apostle John reiterated Christ’s command twice. First, he wrote: 

“Whoever says ‘I know him’, but does not keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.” (1 John 2:3-6)

Second, John wrote: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments”. (1 John 5:3) 

So, we see the moral law as forever binding and instructional for living a holy life that is pleasing to God. This is the historical and traditional view of Protestants. It is the traditional view of Baptists. 

Chapter 19 of the 1689 London Baptist Confession maintains this view. Subsequent Baptist confessions have held this position, including the Philadelphia Confession of 1742, New Hampshire Confession of 1833, The Baptist Faith & Message 1925-2000. 

Therefore, we obey God’s commandments, not for salvation, which is by faith, but for holy living as God commanded. (1 Peter 1:15 - you also be holy in all your conduct) Our obedience is driven by love for God and people. 

It seems to be difficult for many people to find a correct perspective of the law. The extremes are legalism, where one is bound by rules and not grace, and antinomianism. 

We should avoid both extremes. 

 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:16–17).

HOW TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (PART 2) - ROMANS 12:14-13:7

 

We show hospitality. We are welcoming. We make people part of the group and fellowship with them. 

Dealing With People

12:14-21

Every Christian who lives boldly for Christ will have adversaries. (14) We do not do evil even to those who do it to us. We do not seek vengeance. (19) We leave that to God. (19) Here, Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:35. This passage is part of the last words of Moses to Israel before he dies. 

Vengeance is God’s because God is just. He will judge people for their sins and, especially, for their persecution of God’s people. He promises to vindicate his people. (Deuteronomy 32:36) 

In fact, not only do we not take revenge on our enemies or opponents, we meet their needs where we can. We overcome evil with good. We bless them rather than curse them. (14) Doing so, heaps burning coals on them. (20) That means our honorable acting toward them may prick their conscience and lead them to repent of their actions. And, if not, their judgment will be greater because they persisted despite your benevolence toward them. 

We seek to live in harmony with all people. (16) They might not let us, but we will do so for our part. We have empathy, rejoicing and weeping with them as they do. We do not rejoice when others experience calamity. 

We do not discriminate against the lowly, but associate with them as much as anyone else. (16) James tells us that showing partiality to the rich over the poor we are committing a sin. (James 2:9) 

We are not loving our neighbors as we love ourselves, part of the greatest commandment according to Jesus: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

Instead of looking down on those in need, we come along side and help them. We can benefit from the example of the first Christians. “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common…There was not a needy person among them.” (Acts 4:32)

Subject to Government Authorities

13:1-5

Before we get into these verses, let’s remember the circumstances under which Paul wrote. He lived in the Roman Empire. He was a citizen of Rome as well. 

Paul was subject to several layers of governmental authority. There was an emperor. There were regional governors. There were city authorities. There were magistrates who were city judges. And, if things got out of hand, there were centurions with armies to back them up. 

Paul did not get to vote for any of these authorities. Many of them were hostile to Christianity. 

Yet, Paul instructs us to be subject to the governing authorities. (1) The reason is the Lord has given these people authority and instituted them. Paul is not the only one who said this. 

Peter also said: 

“Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.” (1 Peter 2:13) 

Jesus told Pilate he only had the authority given him by God. (John 19:11)

Daniel 2:21 says God removes and sets up kings.

God, in his sovereignty, appoints rulers. 

Therefore, those who resist the authorities resist God and the structures he has ordained. (2) Those who resist will incur judgment. Certainly, you may be judged by the authorities themselves. But, the implication is judgment from God. 

If you want to stay on the good side of the authorities, do what is good. God instituted government to restrict evil and punish wrongdoers as agents of God. (4) They can be agents of God without knowing they are.

The church has always recognized an exception to this command. Christians will not obey the government if it requires them to worship someone other than God or tries to prevent the worship of God.

An example of this occurs in Acts 4:19. The Sanhedrin instructed Peter and John to stop preaching in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John responded that they would listen to God rather than the Sanhedrin. 

Chapter 17 of the Baptist Faith & Message states: “Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God.”

Pay Taxes

13:6-7

As further obedience to the civil authorities, we are to pay taxes imposed on us by them. Paul repeats that even the taxing authorities are ministers of God. 

Jesus taught the same thing. When asked if the Jews should pay taxes to Caesar, Jesus said to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s”. (Matthew 22:15-22)

Takeaways

God’s standards often counter humanity’s natural desires and motivations.

God’s standards are high (because he is perfect) and often difficult to maintain.

Only those who have been changed by Christ and indwelt with the Holy Spirit can do so.

No matter how difficult, it is our duty to God to live as he prescribed.

 

And it will be a great witness to his glory and righteousness. 

Love One Another

 "Do everything, anything, however menial, measuring it not by hours or by dollars, but by love."

Amy Carmichael, missionary to China. 

THE TRANSFORMED CHRISTIAN, PART 2 - ROMANS 12:9-13

 

The Traits of the Christian Life

12:9-13

In this passage, Paul lists behaviors and attitudes that should be present in a Christian’s life. These are instructions and commandments.

First, we should love with genuine love. We do not fake it. We love even the unloveable. We love those with whom we disagree. We love those who struggle. 

Paul describes this love for us in detail in 1 Corinthians 13. And he tells us that, of the faith, hope, and love that abide, love is the greatest. It is mandatory. Jesus commanded it: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another”. (John 13:34) 

It is important. That is why Paul lists it first in this passage and devotes 1 Corinthians 13 to it. Love is also the first fruit of the Spirit listed by Paul. (Galatians 5:22)

Our churches and our denominations need more of it. It is vital to our witness. Jesus said: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”. (John 13:35) 

In addition to love, we are to abhor (hate or be disgusted by) evil and hold on to what is good. Our culture, and then the church, are constantly confronted by evil things and told to accept them. Generally, over time, many become accustomed to these things and gradually come to accept 

them.

We must guard ourselves against this. God does not change. In Malachi 3:6, God said “I, the LORD, do not change”. Hebrews 13:8 says: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”. This is part of the doctrine of divine immutability. 

We are to show honor to each other. (10) In fact, rather than seeking more honor for ourselves, we are to outdo each other in showing honor to others. We do not ridicule others or “put them down”. We do not discriminate based on wealth or appearance.

We are to serve the Lord with zeal. J. C. Ryle, a 19th century evangelical Anglican bishop, described zeal this way:

“Zeal in Christianity is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way. It is a desire, which is not natural to men or women. It is a desire which the Spirit puts in the heart of every believer when they are converted to Christ…This desire is so strong, when it really reigns in a person, that it impels them to make any sacrifice-to go through any trouble-to deny themselves anything-to suffer, to work, to labor, to toil, to spend themselves and be spent, and even to die-if only they can please God and honor Christ.”

The next three are connected. We are to rejoice in the hope of eternal life (12), to be patient in tribulation, and to pray constantly. No matter how difficult the problems of this life are, the believer has hope. Biblical hope is a confident expectation and desire for something good in the future. A Christian believes in the blessing and bliss of eternal life. Even in struggles, that hope gives us the ability to rejoice. 

That also helps us to be patient in tribulation. If you are a believer, you will experience tribulation. Do not be fooled by the prosperity gospel’s teaching that you can avoid suffering by faith. Jesus said it plainly: in this world you will have tribulation. (John 16:33) Paul taught it to Timothy: “…all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”. 

But, tribulation is temporary as this life is temporary. The older you get, the more you understand the shortness of this earthly life. But we can be patient because we know what comes next. Walt Harrah captured this thought in his song, “No More Night”:

No more night. No more pain. 

No more tears. Never crying 

again. And praises to the great "I 

AM." We will live in the light of 

the risen Lamb.

The last of this triad is the instruction to be constant in prayer. (12) It is prayer by which God supplies grace that is sufficient to for every trial and tribulation.

Paul experienced this first hand. God gave him a “thorn in the flesh”. He did not tell us what this was specifically, but it was painful enough that he prayed three times for God to remove it. God did not remove it, but gave him sufficient grace to endure it. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)  

We are also to contribute to the needs of our fellow believers (13). We treat their needs as our needs. Paul demonstrated this when he took up a collection from the Gentile European churches and delivered it to the church in Jerusalem. Likewise, he received support from various churches while he was in prison. We are to help each other during hardships.

We show hospitality. We are welcoming. We make people part of the group and fellowship with them.