Welcome to the Adult Two Couples Class Immanuel Baptist Church

Question of the Day Have you ever met a high ranking government official?

Announcements –January thru March fellowship  February 11 th at Gartons  April 22 nd by the Floyds  You too can be a host –Benevolence fund –Outreach

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Question of the Day Have you ever met a high ranking government official?

Context The first eight chapters of Paul’s letter to the church at Rome explains the need for salvation by faith through grace. He ended by giving a loud and clear testimony about the assurance of God’s plan for the lives of those whom are called by His name. Paul now continues with his instruction for living out the Christian walk and how such a walk is expressed in daily living. One of those aspects is how the life of a one following Jesus interacts with the rule of human government and laws.

Overview Be a Good Citizen Be a Good Citizen Be a Good Neighbor Be a Good Neighbor Be a Person of Righteousness Be a Person of Righteousness

Key Truth Obeying Christ makes us a good citizen, a good neighbor and morally righteous in our lifestyle.

Romans 13 : Be a Good Citizen

Submit to the authority of government Submit to the authority of government –The Christians in Rome were encouraged to be “subject” to Roman law  Subject - a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden –The authority of government is derived from God –Gov’ts rise and fall based on will and direction of God –Therefore, resisting the authority of government puts us in opposition to God

Be a Good Citizen A good citizen is a happy citizen A good citizen is a happy citizen –The basic role of government is to keep us on our best behavior –Living in submission to the law is essential to living in peace –Living outside the law guarantees misery and anxiety  Brings the wrath of government  Brings the guilt of lawlessness Support your local sheriff Support your local sheriff –The assurance of peace comes at a price

Romans 13 : Be a Good Neighbor

Pay your bills on time Pay your bills on time –This is not a prohibition against debt of all kinds –Short term debt is often a way of life –Don’t make a habit being late in paying bills  Be a good neighbor to those we do business with –Don’t take on debt for non-essentials –If we must have optional debt, make it a debt of love to our neighbor  Love is a debt that we should never feel is “paid up”

Be a Good Neighbor Being a good neighbor makes the law work Being a good neighbor makes the law work –Loving our neighbor is half the battle  First half of Ten Commandments deals with relationship to God Have no other gods before Me Have no other gods before Me Make no graven images Make no graven images Don’t take the name of God in vain Don’t take the name of God in vain Remember the Sabbath Remember the Sabbath  The second half deals with relationship to each other Honor father and mother Honor father and mother Don’t murder Don’t murder Don’t commit adultery Don’t commit adultery Don’t steal Don’t steal Don’t lie Don’t lie Don’t covet Don’t covet

Be a Good Neighbor Jesus summed all this up Jesus summed all this up –Love God with all your heart, soul and mind –Love your neighbor as yourself It is virtually impossible to be in violation of human law while expressing love to another It is virtually impossible to be in violation of human law while expressing love to another –Galatians 5:22

Romans 13 : Be a Person of Righteousness

Be determined to live a life of righteousness today Be determined to live a life of righteousness today –Don’t get stuck in the habits of the old flesh –There should be a sense of urgency in doing good for the Christian –Live a life that reflects good works done boldly in the daylight Live in the sunshine, not in the darkness Live in the sunshine, not in the darkness –There should be a practical expression of our spiritual nature –“…put on the Lord Jesus…” –It’s all about Jesus  Heart  Mind  Body  Actions –Make no provision (no allowances) for the old flesh  We make provision for the flesh when we feed it with things that put a priority on the physical rather than the spiritual

Be a Person of Righteousness As Christians, we are called to be in compliance with the governing authority by living a life that helps to sustain law and order, rather than degrade it As Christians, we are called to be in compliance with the governing authority by living a life that helps to sustain law and order, rather than degrade it The founding fathers were keenly aware of this essential of successful self government The founding fathers were keenly aware of this essential of successful self government

Be a Person of Righteousness "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams October 11, 1798

Overview Be a Good Citizen Be a Good Citizen Be a Good Neighbor Be a Good Neighbor Be a Person of Righteousness Be a Person of Righteousness

Adult Two Couples Class