Albert Mohler - Romans 13:1-7

[@inchristfaithfulandtruewitness]

Amen

[@brianb4390]

Only @26:29 but have to get ready for Sunday School and church wonderful message as always from Dr. Mohler can't wait to finish. God clearly tells us to respect and obey authority even as slaves to our masters. Yet when obeying causes us to sin against God we must refuse/resist yet willingly take our punishment from man and count it all joy. Romans 8:18 Hmm well gotta run thank the Lord publicly for all He has done for me and us and mostly for sending Christ and The Spirit. Can't wait to finish !!!!

[@robbolastname6799]

figuring out the boundary is difficult? What an odd thing to say, what a sad conclusion to the message. We are told not to care for anything on Earth, if the govt wants all we possess then give it to them. What good are our earthly things? God knows what we need, so he'll provide (to his plan). Can't take it with us anyway, give them the lot. Jesus himself said when he comes: don't even bother to get your coat or your wallet or your keys (Luke 17:31) ... we are told much better things await us in heaven - but for those that think earthly possessions are more important - that's unbelief (read this line again) our worship, our belief, our love of God, our faith in Jesus - that we never surrender. That is doing right, once more: *those who do right have nothing to fear.* Hanania, Mishael, and Azaria (called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego by King Nebuchadnezzar, yes they even gave up their names to the authority) faced the penalty (the fire pit) if they disobeyed - well they disobeyed and *were* thrown in the fire... "For rulers hold no terror for those who do right". "do right" is in God's eyes, not the rulers, not the government, not the soldier, IRS, .... It's true many Christians are/were killed, even Paul himself. *He had no terror, said so himself more than once.* Was Paul saved by a miracle? Nope; instead guess what: He got something even better. He was saved - saved by Jesus and will be in heaven. Winner! So where do we draw the line: our belief, our worship, our Trust in God (and to trust him you have to obey everything written). What was so difficult about that? (For the long version: read the book of Job. ...yes he even lost his family to the evil authority)

[@SemoneSimmons]

@ robbo lastname Thank you. God bless you for this clear statement. I pray Pastors can preached more clearly on this and for those who have, I pray they can live it and encourage their flock to as well. God help us. We are certainly being tested as the church.

[@stewartmcdonald4121]

So why do though forget the seventh day No excuse apart from the love the world

[@bobbycain4560]

In this country, the Constitution is our governing authority. The governement set up under that authority is one of a servant and not a master. We the people are masters of the government not the the other way around. Let's not forget this country was founded by people who refused to be subject to the governing authorities.

[@Berean_with_a_BTh]

All too often I encounter people excusing themselves from submission to government authority or honoring and praying for elected officials (per Matthew 22:17-21; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-3; 1 Peter 2:13-17, etc.) on the basis that, in a democracy, the government is subject to the people & exists to serve the people, and that they object to the policies of the party in power. The argument is specious. God has news for you. Even in a democracy, you don't get to choose the government - He does. Read 1 Samuel 2:7-8; Job 12:18-19; Psalm 75:6-7; Isaiah 10:5-8; 45:1; Daniel 2:21; 4:17, 32. In a democracy, God gives you the opportunity through voting (or not) to reveal _your_ heart, just as He does for everyone else. Moreover, Scripture provides no excuse for disobeying or dishonouring governments and elected officials just because we don't like them or what they’re doing. Does anyone suppose the governments under which Jesus and the apostles lived and which took their lives were beacons of righteousness? Or that they were somehow less tolerant of the evils that so many professing Christians today rail against? Instead of politicising the church and compromising the Gospel in the process, Christians in democracies would do better taking time to consider why God chooses the leaders He installs over them, honouring and obeying those leaders (provided they don't _require_ people to disobey His laws) and praying _for_ them.

[@helenal3956]

But this is Paul. He was a human. Did Jesus say this anywhere?

[@helenal3956]

Jane Marsee why would all scripture need to be questioned? Did the prophets tell about Paul as well? What need to be questioned is the way the church fathers choose which letters to include.

[@PrideofIpplepen]

Helena L so, do you only accept Old Testament scriptures if Jesus quoted them in the New Testament or spoke them during an Old Testament Christophany? I also assume that you adhere to all the Old Testament dietary rules.

[@helenal3956]

PrideofIpplepen if i was in perfect state i would.

[@helenal3956]

PrideofIpplepen if it is possible for *you* to claim autonomy from God’s will, why is it not possible for persons with power and authority to have done that? Getting power from others who also have done this.

[@dfischer1709]

all scripture is God Breathed...2tim 3:16-17

[@TonyHepp]

Over the last 24 years, I’ve heard many sermons on this passage. This one is doubtless the worst. Since I earned my M.Div. from SBTS in 2007, my opinion of and respect for Brother Mohler has decreased. Sad. Preaching of the word of God should be clear, pointed, substantive, and cogent. None of these marks describe this message. As usual, it is sesquipedal and inconclusive on virtually every point. And, unusually, the flow of thought is simply muddled at times. Not good for the leader of a seminary. That this sermon received even one like simply reflects the gross ignorance of those giving the grade. Over against this poor sermon, I commend to you James Willson's most-excellent The Establishment and Limits of Civil Government: An Exposition of Romans 13:1-7; John Weaver’s The Christian and Civil Government; Matthew Trewhella’s The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates: A Proper Resistance to Tyranny and a Repudiation of Unlimited Obedience to Civil Government; and Gordan Runyan’s Resistance to Tyrants: Romans 13 and the Christian Duty to Oppose Wicked Rulers. As John Calvin rightly said, “For earthly princes lay aside their power when they rise up against God, and are unworthy to be reckoned among the number of mankind. We ought, rather, to spit upon their heads than to obey them.” Therefore, the church of Jesus Christ ought to spit upon the head of virtually every self-proclaimed local, state, and federal civil magistrate in Amerika. May God give us the courage to do so!

[@chrisputnam6227]

Writing off a preacher for a poorly done sermon is nonsense! I notice in your response you reckoned John Calvin very highly, or so it would appear. Would you write him off for a poorly expressed idea? He was apparently complicit, if not directly involved in, the execution (burning at the stake) of a heretic. Maybe we ought to write him off. Or maybe John Calvin was just obeying the laws or directives of the "powers that be"of his day.

[@TonyHepp]

@@chrisputnam6227 Your reply is too dumb to warrant a rejoinder. Please reread my comment and throttle your fingers. 🤦‍♂️

[@chrisputnam6227]

I wrote what I wrote because your comment was unreasonable.