Our Duty Toward Personal Enemies

Never Return Evil for Evil (12:17A)

Always Respect What is Right (12:17B)

Live in Peace with Everyone (12:18)

Never Avenge Yourself (12:19)

Overcome Evil with Good (12:20–21)

The Christian’s Response to Government—Part 1: Submitting to Government

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The Standard: Be Subject to Civil Authority

The Purpose: God’s Reasons For Our Submitting To Human Authority

Government is by Divine Decree

Resistance to Government is Rebellion Against God

Those Who Resist Government Will Be Punished

Government Serves to Restrain Evil

Government Serves to Promote Good

Rulers are Empowered by God to Inflict Punishment for Disobedience

Government Should Be Submitted to for Conscience’s Sake

The Christian’s Response to Government—Part 2: Paying Taxes

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The Principle - For because of this you also pay taxes, (13:6a)

The Purpose - for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. (13:6b)

The Particulars - Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. (13:7)

 

MacArthur, J. 1996, c1991, c1994. Romans. Moody Press: Chicago