Christian Conduct Part 2

Our Dual Citizenship - Romans 13:1-7

NIV CHRISTIAN CONDUCT PART 2 Let everyone be subject 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 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Romans 13:1-7

NIV CHRISTIAN CONDUCT PART 2 Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to  the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. Romans 13:1-7

NIV CHRISTIAN CONDUCT PART 2 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Romans 13:1-7

Is America a Christian nation?

The nature of civil government: The State is a Divine Institution. v. 1-3a

The duty of Government: The State is to Maintain Order

Your duty to government: Submit.

War! Romans 13:4

NIV CHRISTIAN CONDUCT PART 2  4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.  Romans 13:4

War is a terrible evil.

Is pacifism biblical?

Just war

What should Christians do in times of war? Be good citizens.

The Debt of Love. Romans 13:8-10

NIV CHRISTIAN CONDUCT PART 2 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:8-10

Pay your debts. v. 8

Love fulfills God’s law. v. 8b, 9, 10

Show your love by keeping God’s law. v. 9a

Wake Up! Romans 13:11-14

NIV CHRISTIAN CONDUCT PART 2 11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Romans 13:11-14

NIV CHRISTIAN CONDUCT PART 2 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,  and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:11-14

Do you realize what time it is? Get up! v. 11-12a

Get dressed, and get moving! v. 12b-14

Wake Up! Romans 13:11-14

Christian Liberty (Conscience). Romans 14:1-12

NIV CHRISTIAN CONDUCT PART 2 1Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Romans 14:1-12

NIV CHRISTIAN CONDUCT PART 2 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. 5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever Romans 14:1-12

NIV CHRISTIAN CONDUCT PART 2 abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with Romans 14:1-12

NIV CHRISTIAN CONDUCT PART 2 contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me;     every tongue will acknowledge God.’” 12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Romans 14:1-12

Real Christians differ on many issues of conscience. v. 1-2, 5a

Four principles dealing with matters of conscience. v. 1-5 Warmly welcome one another without qualification The strong should not despise the weak. v. 3a The weak should not judge the strong. Each should be fully convinced in his own conscience how he can best serve God. v. 5b

Four reasons to accept one-another. v. 3b-4,6-12 God has accepted your brother. v. 3b Your brother is accountable to God who sustains him. Your brother thinks and acts as He does for the Lord’s sake. v. 6-9 You too are accountable to God. v. 10-12

Liberty and Love. Romans 14:13-23

NIV CHRISTIAN CONDUCT PART 2 13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.  Romans 14:1-13-23

NIV CHRISTIAN CONDUCT PART 2 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christian this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. 19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Romans 14:1-13-23

NIV CHRISTIAN CONDUCT PART 2 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. 22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. Romans 14:1-13-23

NIV CHRISTIAN CONDUCT PART 2  23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. Romans 14:1-13-23

Liberty is not absolute. v. 13a

Don’t use your liberty to harm your brother. v. 13b-15a

Love demands that you not harm your weaker brother. v. 15b-18

Do whatever it takes to build up God’s people.

Christian Liberty (Conscience). Romans 14:1-12

Making Biblical Moral Choices 1.Your conscience is not infallible 2.It is always sinful to go against your conscience. 3. Is this clearly forbidden by Scripture? Don’t do it

4. Would this tempt you to sin? Don’t do it 5. Are you unsure whether Scripture allows this? Don’t do it.

6. Would your exercise of Christian liberty tempt your weaker brother to follow you against his conscience? Forego your liberty for the sake of love. 7. Enjoy your freedom.

A NEW LIFE