07/21/2024 – Day 049 – Romans – Chapter 13 – 14 / 13: 1 – A continuing example in this reading of “Let scripture testify to scripture!” / Conclusion for discussion: “Any submission to the authorities must pass through the filter of God’s will and call upon a believer’s life.” Thoughts? Reflections?
Last cycle – Our post 04/17/22 brought in John Gill’s commentary brought out that we must distinguish between a magistrate that is rightfully discharging his duties under the law and a magistrate that puts himself or herself above the law.
Here is the commentary from “The Apologetics Study Bible”:
“13.1 – Paul urged Christians to be submissive and model citizens because God has installed the governing authorities to keep the civil order and punish wrongdoers. Peter gave similar instructions about submission (1 Peter 2: 13-14, 17). However submission to authorities is not absolute. Both Jesus and the writer of Acts established this central Christian principle. Jesus said, ‘Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s (Matthew 22:21). Peter and the apostles declared that they must obey God rather than human beings (Acts 5:29). Any submission to the authorities must pass through the filter of God’s will and call upon a believer’s life.
The difficulty. here involves discerning God’s will and call in those areas to which Scripture does not speak, which requires determining and applying biblical principles rather than explicit biblical statements. This is the Christian’s crucial duty, for a failure to discern carefully God’s will risks disobeying God and incurring His displeasure. Of course, obeying God against the government may result in incurring the government’s anger – as the New Testament and subsequent church history well attest – but this puts a Christian in good company (Matthew 5: 10-12).”
Here again are questions for fellowship generators amongst our group:
- What does the text reveal about God’s character?
- How has this reading generated prayer for you and/or us?
- What themes stand out to you in this bible study?
- How does our reading fit into the bigger picture (creation, the fall, restoration, etc.)?
- What verse(s) jumped out at you like never before? Is it explainable at this point?
- Do you have any questions you would like to put before the group as to how to interpret any particular verse(s) in our reading. Let scripture testify to scripture: Share with us where you sense contradiction between passages elsewhere.
- What did you find convicting and inspiring at the same time? Share with us how the Spirit of God is and outside of our fellowship group.
- Share with the group how our study is calling or confirming to you a new mission to glorify God in our times.
- Soli Deo Gloria!