- God is the ultimate authority. Ephesians 1:18-23
- All other authority is under Him. Colossians 2:8-10
- To defy authority is to defy Him. II Peter 2:9-10
- God has ordained governments. Romans 13:1-7
- For a purpose (vs 4)
- With the right to sustain themselves (taxation) vs 6)
- His expectation is for us to submit to their rule (vs 1)
- God has supremacy over governments
- God and government don’t always agree
- Government sometimes usurps God’s authority
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3)
- Daniel (Daniel 6)
- Peter (Acts 4)
- God uses governments for His purposes
- Pharaoh (Exodus 10:1-2)
- Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28-45:3; 46:8-11)
- God’s people have served in governments in times past
- Joseph served government officials and was himself a government official
- The head of Pharaoh’s bodyguard (Genesis 39:1-4)
- Special assistant to the head jailer (Genesis 39:20-23)
- Pharaoh’s “prime minister” (Genesis 41:41-44)
- Daniel served kings as a top administrator
- To Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:48-49)
- To Belshazzar (Daniel 5:29)
- To Darius (Daniel 6:1-2)
- To Cyrus (Daniel 6:28)
- Joseph served government officials and was himself a government official
- We should maintain respect for government authority
- King Saul was a government official
- King David was a government official
- Saul was king
- Saul had sinned and his throne was rejected by God (I Samuel 15:24-28)
- David had been anointed to take his place (I Samuel 16:13)
- David still held Saul in reverence (I Samuel 24:1-6)
- Festus was a Roman official
- Corrupt and evil government
- Treated with respect by an Apostle of Christ (Acts 24:25-27; 26:24-25)
- It is okay to disagree with government
- Speaking out against an official’s misdeeds is not wrong
- John the Baptist did so (Matthew 14:1-4)
- It is our duty to reveal evil for what it is (Ephesians 5:11-13)
- It is wrong to do so unkindly or with disrespect (II Peter 2:10)
- We should maintain our respect for authority
- Recognize its place and be subject to it
- Be ready to stand for what is right, but with respect and propriety
- Appeal to its guarantees of safety and protection
- Serve it with diligence and Godliness if and when called upon
- Defer to the Greater Power when usurped by earthly authority
For further study, see also:
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