Servants of God: Those who Bear the Sword and Trust in the Lord!

1. Servants of God: Those who Bear the SwordandTrust in the Lord! Romans 12:19-13:7

2. Romans 12:19 Leave Room His Wrath • Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, • but rather give place unto wrath:

3. Romans 12:19 Is there a difference between vengeance and justice? • for it is written, Vengeance is mine; • Quoted from Deut 32:25 • I will repay, saith the Lord.

4. Vengeance I can’t retaliate without sinning. I am not talking about self-defense or projecting your family. • punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense

5. To the Contrary Look at 12:20-21 How can I do that?

6. Matthew 5:39 • But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: • but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

7. Romans 13:1-3 Governing authorities are God’s instruments of good and wrath.

8. This is a trust issue: Can I trust God to avenge? Can I trust God is in charge of the governing authorities?

9. Israel Can’t Trust God to be their King 1 Samuel 8:1-22 God knows the issues with civil government.

10. Romans 13:4 God’s Intent for Civil Govt. is first a positive intent. • For he is the minister of God to thee for good.

11. Romans 13:4 Or the citation, handcuffs, stun gun, prison cell and death penalty in vain. • But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain:

12. Romans 13:4 God uses governing authorities; but not all governing authorities execute God’s wrath • for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

13. Separation of Church & State Sometimes Christians are agents of the state, but the sword is never used to convert people to the faith.

14. Law Enforcement • Christian law enforcement officers are ministers of God given a certain degree of authority by the state but they are also governed by a higher moral code of conduct.

15. Even Christian Soldiers Can Be Ministers of God, revengers, executing God’s wrath under the orders of a legitimate governing authority.

16. Two Reason to Obey Any Punishment from the State • Romans 13:5 • Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only [because of] for wrath,

17. Two Reason to Obey Let’s talk about the conscience. • Romans 13:5 • Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, • but also for conscience sake.

18. Conscience Q: Is God ok with everyone having a different moral standard? • Self-awareness that judges whether or not an act one has carried out or plans to carry out is in harmony with one’s moral standards. Tyndale Bible Dictionary

19. Acts 23:1 “Good” according to? • And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, • Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

20. The God Behind the Conscience • The Christian knows that behind the conscience is a God who is personal, ethical, self-revealing, and the Creator, Sustainer, and moral Governor of the universe. Tyndale Bible Dictionary

21. Romans 2:14-15 • For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: • Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

22. The One True God As the moral Governor of the universe, He establishes good and evil—not the governing authorities.

23. People of God Have always struggled with disobeying those whom God establishes as king.

24. David Trust’s in the Lord 1 Samuel 24:1-12

25. What Guides God’s People Tough Decisions Written Revelation (the Law; the Bible) Conscience God the Holy Spirit Wisdom from other believers

26. Tough Decisions Will I always pursue justice? Will I always obey a governing authority?

27. Martin Luther-1521 His reply is very instructional to us today. • In 1521 Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire ordered Martin Luther to recant his writings about indulgences and other abuses of the church in Europe at the Diet of Worms. • H

28. Martin Luther-1521 • “Unless I can be instructed and convinced with evidence from the Holy Scriptures or with open, clear, and distinct grounds of reasoning … then I cannot and will not recant, because it is neither safe nor wise to act against conscience.” Then he added, “Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me! Amen.”

29. “God help me! Amen.” What an expression of the need to trust in God!

30. William Tyndale-1523 The Bishop of England forbid Tyndale from translating the Bible into English? What about this?

31. Peter and John Acts 4:1-21

32. Acts 4:2 • Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

33. Acts 4:4 • Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

34. Acts 4:10 • Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead,even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

35. Acts 4:12 • Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

36. Conclusion • Acts 4:19–20 • But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. • For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.