Living Under Authority: Obeying God & Honoring Others

GOD’S ROLE:
1 . To be the

The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all. —Psalm 103:19

6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. —1 Samuel 8:6-7

The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. —Zechariah 14:9

2 . To

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. —Romans 13:1

• Why does government exist?

…to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. —1 Peter 2:14

OUR ROLE:

11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. —1 Peter 2:11-12

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. —1 Peter 2:13-14

… Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? —Acts 4:19-20
… We must obey God rather than human beings! —Acts 5:28-29

• Why would God allow corrupt authority?

15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. —1 Peter 2:15-16

17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. —1 Peter 2:17

13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. —Matthew 5:13

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. —Matthew 5:14-16

18 …many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ —Philippians 3:18-20

13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. —Colossians 1:13-14