How to Be a Radical Christian

1. How to Be a Radical Christian Romans 13 Page 966 in Pew Bibles

2. Romans 13Page 966 in Pew Bibles Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God.

3. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do good and you will have its approval.

4. For government is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of your conscience.

5. And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s public servants, continually attending to these tasks. Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.

6. Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,

7. and if there is any other commandment—all are summed up by this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law. Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

8. The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.

9. But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.

10. How to be a Radical Christian Romans 13 Page 966 in Pew Bibles

11. Radical: Miriam Webster 3. a. Marked by a considerable departure from the usual or traditional: extreme b: tending or disposed to make extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions, or institutions c: of, relating to, or constituting a political group associated with views, practices, and policies of extreme change d: advocating extreme measures to retain or restore a political state of affairs <the radical right> Introduction >

12. A Radical Commitment • 12:1-2 “Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformedby the renewing of your mind…” Introduction >

13. So what kind of radicals are we?How do we relate to the government?How do we relate to the world around us? Introduction . >

14. How Christians Should Relate to Government • As Divinely Instituted by God • Vs. 1 “Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God.” I. >

15. Without Rebellion • Vs. 2 “So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.” I. >

16. Recognizing Government is Sanctioned by God to Use Lethal Force • Vs. 4 “For government is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason…” I. >

17. Recognizing Government is Authorized to Punish, Not Just “Rehabilitate” • Vs. 4 “…For government is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.” I. >

18. Paying Your Taxes • Vs. 7 “Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls...” I. >

19. Showing Appropriate Respect for its Officers • Vs. 6 “… the authorities are God’s public servants, continually attending to these tasks.” • Vs. 7 “Pay your obligations to everyone: …respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.” I. >

20. An Additional Factor… In a Democratic Republic, There is a Sense in Which We Are the Government • Vs. 6 “… the authorities are God’s public servants, continually attending to these tasks.” • Yes! The individual Christian should take Biblical values into the voting booth. I. . >

21. Our Attitude Toward the World Around Us • Vs. 8 “Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another…” II. >

22. II. > Vs. 8-9 “For the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and if there is any other commandment—all are summed up by this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

23. II. . > Vs. 10 “Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.”

24. The Late Hour Calls Us to a Radical Life • Vs. 11 “Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” III. >

25. The Late Time Calls Us to a Radically Holy Life • Vs. 12-13 “The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy.” III. >

26. We Have to Be Careful Not to Set Ourselves Up for a Fall • Vs. 14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.” • ESV “…make no provision for the flesh…” III. >