I Was Wondering? What if man’s law conflicts with God’s Word?

Date
August 21, 2022
Speaker
Pastor Ryan Flunker
Topic
Discipleship, God's Word, Lordship, Spiritual Growth
Series
I Was Wondering?
Book
1 Peter, Isaiah, Romans

There is a natural rebellious bent to the human spirit; we often resist authority, and fail in our understanding of submission. Even for the Christian, the residue of subversion often remains, and requires God’s Word to teach and instruct us how we are to submit to our governing authorities. But what should be the Christian’s response when our government conflicts with God’s Word? How has Jesus modeled THAT kind of submission for us to follow?

Observations: Preliminary Corrections –

There is no such thing as a division of sacred and secular
Government does not establish anything, it protects what God establishes
The center of social government is not the state but the family
The ruler is not free to rule arbitrarily: If there is no God above the state – the state becomes God
Man’s legality does not equal morality
Caesar is not Lord, Jesus is Lord
You will not simply answer to the state, you will answer to God, therefore conscience, the erosion of a societal-conscience, and the reform of the Christian conscience after the will of God must be of highest concern

Conclusions:

God has established government
therefore the Christian must not be insurgent
because God is the highest authority
even if the authorities are wicked
The government is God’s servant
therefore the Christian must do what is right
because God is the moral authority
even if that means suffering
The government has been granted the sword of judgment
therefore the Christian must submit
because of God’s judicial authority
even if submission means judgment
The government is due what belongs to it
therefore the Christian must give what is owed
because God is our conscience’s authority
even if the government is not conscious of God

Application: So what do I do if man’s law conflicts with God’s Word?

You better know God’s Word
Get involved – According to your conscience, be active in exercising political reform by voting for those policies, representatives, and presidents who model service to God
Do what is right – no matter what
In your submission as a Christian be willing to suffer the consequences of civil disobedience in Jesus’ name

Isaiah 9:6-7

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

1 Peter 2:18-23

“Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

1 Peter 4:12-19

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

Isaiah 11:1-4

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.”

Esther 4:16

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

Daniel 6:7-10

“The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” So King Darius put the decree in writing. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

Proverbs 24:21-22

“Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with rebellious officials, for those two will send sudden destruction on them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?”

Luke 20:22-25

“Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Daniel 3:16-18

“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”