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Singing to the Lord

January 4, 2022 By LMW

A Psalm for the New Year

Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him. Psalm 98:1 NIV

The psalmist called for a new song to celebrate God's salvation of His people. God had done a wonderful work on their behalf by victoriously delivering them. His fresh blessings deserved a fresh expression of their praise.

Through His incomparable power, God gained the victory for His people and saved them. God's right hand and His arm are both symbols of His mighty power. If the occasion for this psalm was the people's return from Babylonian captivity, holy, would speak of God's righteousness in fulfilling His promise to deliver His people after seventy years (Je.25:9-12:29:10).

God's deliverance of His people was a compelling witness to unbelievers of His salvation and righteousness. The Gentile nations observed God's righteousness in that He did not overlook His people's disobedience. But they also saw His salvation in that He came to their aid and rescued them from their oppressors.

The psalmist called for fresh praise to the Lord because of His mercy and truth. Mercy (hesed) is God's unfailing, covenant love. Truth (emunah) is His faithfulness. The Lord had remembered His covenant promises to Israel and graciously delivered the people from captivity, proving that He will love and be faithful to His people. As a result, His salvation was witnessed to the ends of the earth- all throughout the world.

Happy New Year! May you go into it singing of God's salvation!

Submitting to Authority

December 7, 2021 By LMW

The Christian and Civil Government

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 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 NIV

Submit to national and local officials. This is a hard pill to swallow when one is being persecuted and has lost much because of the persecution. But note: the word submit is an imperative; it is a strong command. God expects believers to submit themselves to the laws of government.

Without law and the keeping of the law, there can be no society and no community, no life together, no bond to tie people together. Law, rulers, and their authority are an utter necessity to keep people from becoming wild beasts in a jungle of unrestrained selfishness and lawlessness.

Chaos is not God's will for the world; law and order are God's will. God's will is that we would live in a world of love, joy, and peace- a world of perfect law and order. God has ordained that the family exist as the means by which family members share together, and that the office of parents rule within the family.

God has ordained that the church exist as the means by which people share with God, and that the office of church leaders exercise authority within the church.
God has ordained that the government exist as the means by which citizens relate to each other, and that the office of government officials exercise authority within the state.

Civil authorities execute justice for God. They rule to execute punishment for evil-doers and to reward those who do well and work good throughout the state. Rulers are not ordained by God to be a restraint upon good works, but upon evil. Civil authorities and laws exist to restrain evil; therefore, any believer who breaks the law can expect to be punished by the state.

Taxes…

November 30, 2021 By LMW

The Christian and Civil Government

For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.

Romans 13:3-6 NIV

The government is ordained to provide benefits through taxes. Note three points:

1) The government provides justice, protection, and services for its citizens. It is the agreement between the law and the people to live by the law that keeps the strong from dominating the weak. It is also the state that often provides services such as roads, public transportation, and electricity.
2) The government keeps the world from diving into chaos. Whatever peace is known within a country, it is known through the government that exists. It is not perfect peace, but usually within its boundaries there is a semblance of peace.
b. The believer is, therefore, to pay taxes. Every citizen is obligated to the government for the benefits which he receives from the state. Certain benefits come from the cooperative effort of people within a state. A man could not receive these benefits acting as an individual. These benefits and privileges are his because the government has brought them about. Therefore, the man is obligated to the state to pay his share.
c. The believer is not only to pay taxes, but he is to pay whatever is due to every person. The word pay (teleō) means to fulfill or to complete. The believer is to fulfill his obligations no matter what they are.
⇒ If a nation is due tribute (taxes), he is to pay his tribute.
⇒ If a civil authority is due customs (taxes), he is to pay his custom.
⇒ If an authority or person is due fear, he is to reverence the authority or person.
⇒ If an authority or person is due honor, he is to honor the authority or person.
Very simply, the believer is to live above reproach before all people, and this includes being a good citizen of his government.

The Believer and Civil Government

November 18, 2021 By LMW

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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. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Romans 13:1-2 NIV

For most of human history, believers have been able to control little about how the authorities in government conduct their affairs, but believers can do a great deal about their behavior as citizens within the state. Keep in mind that the infamous Nero was ruling as the emperor when God led Paul to give these instructions.

1) Christianity must not become confused with a political movement nor with a national government.

2) There is one exception to resisting government that is allowed the believer. When rulers begin to exercise personal and immoral mastery over human life, then the believer is to obey God and not man. The believer is always to follow after righteousness, that is, morality and justice. However, note a crucial point: the morality and justice pursued must be the morality and justice of Scripture and not of man's making.

3) World leaders are in the hands of God and are playing their part under His sovereign administration. God holds the world in His hands. He is taking the failure and evil of nations and leaders and working "all things out for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).a. Rulers are not ordained to be a restraint upon good works, but upon evil. Civil authorities and laws exist to restrain evil; therefore, any believer who breaks the law can expect to be punished by the state.

November 18, 2021 By LMW

The Believer and Civil Government

Our new series-- What the Bible Says about Civil Authority, begins with this clear text from Romans 13.

What is the relationship between the believer and the state? The question has been debated down through the centuries. Simply stated, God expects the genuine believer to have a testimony of doing what is right while a citizen of this earth. We will begin with two points:
1. Government is to be submitted to (v.1).
2. Government is established by God (vv.1-2).

Believers are to be subject to civil authorities. It does not matter how the civil authorities were appointed or by whom. It may have been by a senate, an army, or the people. The authority, whether just or unjust, whether legitimate or illegitimate, is to be obeyed.

However, the sphere of authority is to be noted. The government has authority only within the civil realm. For example, when Paul commands wives to obey their husbands, they are required to obey them as husbands, not as masters or as kings. Children are to obey their parents as parents, not as sovereigns. So it is in the case of government leaders.

When the laws of civil government conflict with the explicit commandments of God, then Christians must say, "We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).

When a ruler claims divine rights, Christian believers must answer "no," for the ruler is going beyond the civil authority delegated to him by God. But the Christian believer is to say "yes" to all civil matters not conflicting with the commandments of God. Because, government is ordained by God; that is, the existence, the authority, the position, the offices of government are ordained by God. It is God's will that government exists and that persons have the authority to rule within the state. There are three institutions ordained by God: the family, the church, and the government.

The institutions and their authority are ordained by God, and humans are responsible for how they carry out their functions. Each of the three institutions has leaders who are faithful and do an excellent job, and each has leaders who are totally disobedient to God and do a terrible job. The fact to remember is that government is ordained by God, and rulers are answerable to Him.

Next week we will continue looking at Romans 13.

https://lmw.org/4796-2/

Stay Close to the Lord and Those Who Serve Him

November 4, 2021 By LMW

“I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back-not to mention that you owe me your very self.I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings.And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”
 Philemon 1:20-25 NIV

We continue the theme from the last lesson: the six people mentioned at the end of Philemon.

Aristarchus, was a faithful companion, one who was always there when needed. He is always seen with Paul and other believers, joining them in their great trials and sufferings. Here are five things we know about Aristarchus:

He was a member of the Thessalonian church
He was one of the believers attacked by the violent mob in Ephesus.
He went with Paul to minister in Asia
He is seen traveling with Paul to Rome after Paul had been arrested and was being transferred to Rome as a prisoner.
He is seen as a fellow prisoner with Paul in Rome while Paul was awaiting trial on the charge of treason. Apparently, he too was being charged with the same crime.

The point is that he was a real companion, a companion who stood by the side of his fellow believers through thick and thin. He would never think of deserting his dear friends or the Lord, no matter how difficult the task or terrible the trial. He would face imprisonment and suffer death before he would be a turncoat. He was a good man to have around when facing trials, for he would stand by the side of his friend even if it meant imprisonment and death.

Demas is a sad story. He turned away from Christ back to the world. His life is written in tragedy- a life that serves as a warning to other believers- a life that shows the utter necessity of walking in Christ daily. At first, he is seen as a fellow laborer. Later he is just a name, with no comment at all-perhaps suggesting the detection of some loss of spirit and energy in the work for the Lord. Finally, in second Timothy, he is Demas who “loved this present world” and forsook the Lord’s work.

Luke gave all to follow Christ-all that the world had to offer. He was the physician who was beloved by Paul and the church. Apparently, his medical treatment of believers was diligent, compassionate, warm, and personal. He had an effective ministry for Christ among the believers.

We close this series on Philemon with an encouragement to read it and know God’s Word for yourself. Our next series will be What the Bible Says about Civil Authority.