SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
THEME: GOD IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF MAN (II)
(KINGDOM OF GOD FAMILY)
DIVISION II.
June 6, 2021
II. SUSTAINS SECULAR GOVERNMENTS (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17)
God establishes and sustains secular government as branches of His rulership in the universe and affairs of man. God would not come down in person to appear physically and govern man. Hence, He does so through human vessels whom He appoints as religious, community, political, social, and economic leaders.
A. COMMANDS ALL TO RESPECT THEM (Rom. 13:1-7)
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God (Rom. 13:1).
i. v. 1: God spoke through Apostle Paul, establishing that the governing authority must not only be recognized but also obeyed and respected as authority put in place by God Himself. Since God will not respected as authority put in place by God Himself. Since God will not come down in person to govern the affairs of man, He has put men in positions of authority to do so on His behalf (1 Tim. 2:1-7).
ii. v. 2: Disobeying or resisting those in authority is directly equivalent to disobeying and resisting God Himself who put them there, and obeying them is also obeying God. How then can we claim to love God when we resist, or disobey constituted authorities (1 Jn. 4:20)?
iii. v. 3: God-given authority is to regulate human activities and ensure peaceful co-existence among citizens, be it local, state or federal government of a nation, parents to children (Eph. 6:1-3), masters to servants (Tit. 2:9; 1 Pet. 2:18), or husbands to wives (1 Pet. 3:1).
iv. v 4: God-given or constituted authorities are equipped with swords (i.e legal rights to deal with offenders). Offenders are seen as rebellion against the authority and against God. Therefore, the authority can discipline such people for such acts. It is a mild warning to always obey authority's rules and regulations. Leaders who abuse their powers would be handled by God.
v. vv. 5-6: Obedience and loyalty to authority should not be our of fear, but genuine patriotism and righteousness unto God. Taxes and dues should also be paid as and when due.
vi. v 7: As honourable citizens, all civic responsibilities should be rightly performed, such as payment of dues, obedience to stipulated rules and regulations, all eligible citizens participating in periodic free and fair elections, honouring those in positions of authority, etc.
vii. Respecting, obeying and honouring constituted authorities are a direct test for every child of God. Failing this test might incur grievous consequences supervised by the Governor of all nations.
B. CONDEMNS REBELLING AGAINST THEM (Rom. 13:2-4; 1 Pet. 2:13-17)
Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves (Rom. 13:2).
i. 1 Pet. 2:15: Apostle Peter contends that submission to constituted authorities is the will of God. He puts the authority backing this command for civil obedience as the Sovereign God of the universe, the Governor over all citizens and governments, whether Christian of non-Christian.
ii. Rom. 13:2,3: God regards anyone who rebels against authority as rebelling against Himself, because both spiritual (Church) and physical (State) authorities are God-instituted. Such people automatically bring divine judgment upon themselves for going against God's ordinance. God expects all Christians to be patriotic as well as responsible.
iii. vv. 3,4: God has made rulers a terror to... evil, i.e. they have been made God's instrument of dealing with rebels, to execute wrath on him who practices evil (v. 4).
iv. Peter, while writing under inspiration to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (1 Pet 1:1), warned that every ordinance of man is sent by God for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good (v. 14).
v. 1 Pet. 2:15-17: God condemns rebellion against authorities, so that by being obedient, we may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men (v. 15), i.e our actions would made our accusers speechless.
vi. One who live by swords always dies by the sword. He who plans a coup and successfully takes a leader's place will also, sooner or later, be taken down by coup. God doesn't encourage rebellion against leaders at any level. Either they do it right or wrong, your responsibility as a Christian follower is to obey, follow, respect, honour, and pray for them, in line with the dictates of the Holy Scripture. Leave the rest to God.
LESSON DERIVED
1. God used even pagan kings and gentile nations to fulfil His own purpose. God can use anything and anyone.
2. God is not limited by human endowments or human limitations. He can use anything and anyone to fulfil His eternal purpose.
QUESTIONS
1. God requires total submission to all constitutes authority. Discuss.
2. God frowns at rebellion against leaders. How can this be curbed in the Church today?
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
ANSWERS TO QUESTION 1:
i. This is because any constituted authority is the direct representation of God's divine authority regardless of whether they are Christian or not. Disobedience to them is seen by God as direct rebellion against Him.
ii. Constituted authority! Who constituted it? God, of course! A Yoruba adage translates, "A leaf will never drop from a tree without God's foreknowledge." No leader is appointed except by God, making use of people, situations and circumstances to ensure it (cf. Amos 3:6; Jn. 3:27).
iii. Anyone who disobeys constituted authority risks being severely punished by same (Rom. 13:4). Apart from God punishing such offender. Therefore, offenders risk the possibility of being punished from two sources: God and the leaders.
iv. God is not asking us to submit to authority because they are the smartest, most reliable, or perfect individuals around. God only provides us with an authority test. A good and obedient follower is a potential great leader.
v. Before anyone would ever become a leader of integrity, he/she must learn to follow other leaders first, regardless of their human differences and flaws. When we refuse to demand our own way and instead submit to leaders, our hearts are right with God. This is when God can trust us to lead others.
ANSWERS TO QUESTION 2:
i. Yes. God frowns at at rebellion against leaders because it is an indirect rebellion against Him. This can be curbed in the church today by reaching the Church the benefits of total submission to constituted authority.
ii. The dangers of rebellion should also be emphasised on a regular basis, and church members be severely warned to desist from such.
iii. It should also be emphasised repeatedly that rebels are direct enemies of God.
iv. Discern those with the rebellious tendency pray for the wisdom of God to approach and counsel them, and approach them regularly with the Word of God.
v. Church leaders should punish rebels so as to serve as deterrent to other potential rebels (1 Tim. 5:20). The Church should have zero-tolerance for rebellion and not condone it in any way, because God Himself sternly frowns at it. Rebellion condoned today is a potential destroyer of the church tomorrow.
LIFE APPLICATION
God is the Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end. All that is between the beginning and the end are given to man. Anyone who does not acknowledge Him as the Alpha cannot go far, and anyone who does not acknowledge Him as the Omega cannot end well. Even the "in-between" given to man is still subject to God's permission and direction. We must therefore understand and acknowledge the fact that whatever we were, or are now, and that we will become later, are all as a result of His permission. In Him, we live, move, and have our being (Acts 17:28). And without Him, we can do nothing (Jn. 15:5).
CONCLUSION
God is the Chief Administrator of both the heaven and the earth. As the Creator and Owner, He does whatever pleases Him. However, He has appointed and selected, by grace, leaders who should represent Him in religious, social, political and other forms of delegated and privileged representatives of the Most High, and not a right (Heb. 5:4), as this attitude would guide their actions and motives. The disciples should also not forget that leaders are God's representatives, and therefore must be honoured, obeyed, and respected, as unto God Himself.
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK TWO
Mon. May 31: Christ Appears Before A Roman Governor (Jn. 18:28)
Tue. Jun. 1: Christ, Sent To Another Roman Official (Lk. 23:7)
Wed. Jun. 2: Christ Stands Before Pilate Again (Lk. 23:11-12)
Thur. Jun. 3: Christ Finds Guitless By Pilate (Lk. 23:13-14)
Fri. Jun. 4: Christ Finds Guiltless By Herod (Lk. 23:15)
Sat. Jun. 5: Christ is Chastened And Condemned (Lk. 23:16,22-24)