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The River ChurchSermons

Romans 9-16

Applying Righteousness: Towards Others/Government

Josh Combs · Sunday, 9 November 2025 · Romans 13:1-10 · 31:57 · 4,256 words

Romans S29 · 13:1-10 Goodrich

There is no public page for this message yet — the transcript below is the whole of it.

The sermon explains Romans 13’s teaching that every Christian is called to submit to governing authorities because God appoints them and holds them accountable. It emphasizes obedience to laws, paying taxes, honoring officials, and praying for them, illustrating the point with King Nebuchadnezzar’s surrender to God’s sovereignty. The message also notes the one exception—when a government commands sin, believers must follow God’s command instead of human authority. Ultimately, it calls listeners to trust Christ’s redemptive work, turn from rebellion, and receive transformation through faith in Jesus.

What this sermon is about

Ranked by keyness against every other sermon in the corpus. Each one is a word this sermon actually said — nothing here was written by a model.

government 39 tax 17 official 12 honor 20 nebuchadnezzar 8 st 8 owed 11 caesar 9 authority 14 sword 8 submissive 5 pay 13

Topics

Government & Authority 19 Obedience 3 Prayer 2 Conscience 2 Faith 2 Atonement & Sacrifice 1 Judgment 1 Sanctification 1 The Law 1

Scripture referenced 49

Verified against the transcript. A reference the recording does not support is never listed here.

Romans 13 3:49 Romans 13 4:08 Romans 13 5:01 Romans 13:1 5:09 Romans 12 5:20 Romans 12 5:35 Romans 13 5:53 Romans 13:1 5:53 Romans 3 6:24 Romans 13:1 6:24 Romans 13:1 6:57 Romans 13:1 7:47 Romans 13:2 7:58 Romans 13:1 8:43 Romans 13:2 9:07 Romans 13:2 10:12 Romans 13:3 10:30 Romans 13:4 10:42 Romans 4 11:59 Romans 4:17 12:00 Romans 4:25 12:16 Romans 4:25 12:33 Romans 13 13:40 Romans 13 14:40 Romans 13:4 14:44 Romans 12:19 15:18 Romans 13 15:43 Romans 13:5 17:27 Romans 13:5 18:39 Proverbs 28:4 18:44 Proverbs 28:6 18:56 Matthew 22 20:40 Romans 13 22:04 1 Timothy 2 22:24 1 Timothy 2 22:34 1 Timothy 2 22:42 1 Timothy 2:1 22:42 1 Peter 2 23:20 1 Peter 2 23:22 Romans 13 23:42 1 Peter 2:13 23:45 1 Peter 2:13 23:47 Romans 13 26:11 Romans 13:1 26:27 Acts 5 26:52 Acts 5:29 27:06 Philippians 3 28:04 Philippians 3:20 28:09 Romans 10:9 30:40

Transcript

Every word, as spoken, with the second it was said. Each word links to its own entry in the index.

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We hope you're blessed by today's message.

Several months ago, I sat with our elders and I said,

what if we invite some of our government officials?

Not knowing if they would be able to come or if they would come.

We're thankful we have many of them here with us today across all locations.

There'll be well over 50, it seems like, government officials and folks that will be part of our gatherings.

We want to make sure we're modeling what the Scripture says here as we look at it.

We want to introduce some of them to you today.

First of all, my friend, Representative Phil Green is here.

Phil, if you'd stand just so we can applaud you and thank you for being our guest with us today.

We want to welcome the Atlas Township Fire Chief, Ed Klimek, and the department.

Guys, if you'd be so kind to stand for us, we're honored that you're here.

Thank you for what you do.

I know we met on the way in, but third guy in, what's your name again?

Matt has the most fantastic firefighter mustache, if you'd like to just stop by.

So thank you guys for coming.

Thank you for coming today, and especially you, Matt, and your mustache.

I appreciate it.

Thank you, guys.

You can have a seat.

I just saw it when you came in, and a guy who can't grow one is like, dang, that's really sharp.

Anyways, we want to welcome Atlas Township Supervisor Jim Bush is here.

Jim, if you'd stand, we want to honor you.

Thank you for being here.

I found out that Jim is my youth pastor's brother-in-law growing up, so small world there, so thankful for that.

We also have with us today, Genesee County Treasurer Samuel Muma is here.

Honored to have you here, sir.

Thank you.

Thank you for being here.

And then we are blessed to have Judge Brian Piquel is here.

Judge, if you'd stand, we'd love to honor you.

Thank you for being here.

A little back story.

I was writing each of them just a little note before, and I realized I had never written a note to a judge before.

So I'm like, what do you call the judge?

That sounds a little harsh.

So I went with your honor.

So if that's too formal, I just didn't know what to do.

I just pictured myself at the bench in trouble.

So anyway, that is that.

Romans chapter 13.

Let's go there together.

And to the fire department, I know if something were to happen outside of the building, you have to leave.

So don't feel shy.

The fastest way out is right through those curtains there, okay?

Now, if the Bible's convicting you, don't run out.

But if there's a call, you know, feel free to do that.

Romans chapter 13.

We're going to pick up in verse number one in just a moment.

I think as we approach this passage of Scripture, we need to keep it within the order and the context of the book of Romans.

It is a letter from the Apostle Paul, from St. Paul, to the Christians in the city of Rome, somewhere around the middle of the first century.

The man on the throne, the Caesar at the time, the emperor, his name was Nero.

If you know anything about him.

In history, Nero was, at least towards the end of his reign, a madman.

He was incredibly cruel, deceptive, manipulative, and history has laid that out.

So when we approach Romans 13 and the commands of the Word of God, and we think about it within that context, it's quite shocking.

So let's begin in verse one.

The Bible says,

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.

Now, before we dive into that, go back to Romans.

Romans chapter 12 and verse number two.

Paul says,

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

For the rest of chapter 12 into 13 and forward into the book of Romans, Paul is going to illustrate what the transformed mind looks like.

What the Christian mind looks like.

How the Christian mind is supposed to look like.

What the redeemed mind thinks like.

So in Romans chapter 13 verse one.

That redeemed mind.

That transformed mind.

That person who's been transformed by the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Bible says that person will be subject to the governing authorities.

One author said,

Subjection or subject means a recognition of the place that God has given to government in the ordering of his world.

Later on in the New Testament, the book of Titus chapter three verse one.

Paul would say,

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities.

To be obedient.

To be ready for every good work.

So the command of the scripture is to let a person be obedient and submissive to government.

Every person, but especially Christians.

Called by God to obey the government.

Here's why.

Verse one continues.

For there is no authority except from God.

And those that exist have been instituted.

By God.

God puts every government official.

Every government authority in place.

They're not there by accident.

They're not there by chance.

Now humanly speaking on the surface.

Here in the U.S.

We might think that it's a vote.

Or an appointment.

In other countries.

Or in other contexts.

Or other moments in history.

It might be family or hereditary.

Things that put a person on the throne.

Or in a position of power.

Or someone might say it's by force.

Or by war.

Or by a political coup.

That's the human element of it.

But what the scripture is saying here in Romans 13.1.

Is that God is fundamentally the source.

That is placing every person in the position of authority.

Verse two even articulates this.

It uses the phrase.

What has been appointed.

What God.

What God has appointed.

Now this changes the Christian dynamic.

And relationship to government.

I think we're often.

And this one's going to get me in trouble.

So I'll just give you the preface of that.

I think sometimes we want to look at government officials.

And say they work for us.

They work for me.

We might even be bold enough to say that to one of them.

When in actuality.

As Christians we realize they don't work for us.

They work for God.

They report to God.

Our responsibility verse one says.

Is to be submissive to the government.

First and foremost because God has put them.

Each of them in place.

And if we are transformed.

We will be submissive to God.

What does that mean?

That means we'll be submissive to the structures.

The folks he has put in place.

Therefore whoever resists the authorities.

Resists what God has appointed.

And those who resist.

Will incur judgment.

Person who decides they're going to go to war.

Or battle against the government.

Whether that's local or state.

Whatever it might be.

Just a heads up.

You're in a fight with God.

Somebody who is in a constant battle with the government.

Won't submit.

Won't obey.

And we're talking small things.

Like you're just constantly like.

You know what?

I'm not wearing my seatbelt.

I'm going to speed.

I'm going to break every township ordinance.

Because this is my land.

The Bible is saying to you.

You're in a fight with the Lord.

And it uses a word here.

That I think ought to calm us down.

And sober us up a little bit.

It says those who resist.

Will incur judgment.

The question there.

The conviction is.

Does a real Christian rebel against the government?

And the answer is no.

The answer is no.

The warning is.

You will incur judgment.

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct.

But to bad.

Would you have no fear of the one who's in authority.

Then do what is good.

And you will receive his approval.

Here's why.

He is God's servant for your good.

Let's hold our spot in Romans.

And I want you to go back to the Old Testament.

To the book of Daniel.

Daniel chapter number four.

Daniel chapter number four.

It was a great king in the Old Testament.

His name was King Nebuchadnezzar.

Now by great I don't mean moral.

Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler of the kingdom of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar was a bit of an egomaniac.

To say the least.

And God warns him about that.

Nebuchadnezzar seems to go and observe his nation.

What he had.

What he had built.

And he seems to just be in awe of not what has been built.

But himself.

And several times here in the passage.

God has to remind him.

Daniel chapter four.

God says the sentence is by decree of the watchers.

The decision by the word of the holy ones.

To the end that the living may know.

That the most high rules the kingdoms of men.

And gives it to whom he will.

Look over at verse 25.

The sentence he's going to turn.

Nebuchadnezzar into this beast of a man.

He's going to lose his mind for a season.

So that God can teach him this lesson.

Till you know that the most high rules the kingdom of men.

And gives it to whom he will.

Down in verse number 32.

Until you know that the most high rules the kingdoms of men.

Nebuchadnezzar's mind, body, throne is restored.

And this is what this great king.

Who had been so filled with pride.

Says at the end of the day.

I Nebuchadnezzar lifted my eyes to heaven.

My reason returned to me.

And I blessed the most high.

And praised and honored him who lives forever.

Here's what Nebuchadnezzar says.

For his dominion is an everlasting dominion.

His kingdom endures from generation to generation.

All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing.

And he does according to his will.

Among the host of heaven.

And among the inhabitants of the earth.

And none.

None can stay his hand or say to him.

What have you done?

Nebuchadnezzar realized God is sovereign.

God is in control.

And he puts people in power.

And he takes them out of power.

That's why Paul says in Romans 13.

That all government officials are put there by God.

But every government official.

And I would say this as kindly and as boldly to each of you as I could.

That you answer to God for the way that you use the power.

That he has entrusted to each of you.

In the pasties Solomon the great king says.

For the high official is watched by a higher.

And there are yet higher ones over them.

So every government official will answer to God.

For how they have used or are using their position.

The Bible warns against being bribed.

Or being unfair.

Or a judge using false scales.

Because every government official as every pastor.

Will answer to God.

For the position they have been put in.

Now let's go back to Romans 13.

For he is God's servant for your good.

So government serves.

The intention is by God for the good of its people.

But if you do wrong.

For he does not bear.

Meaning he the government does not bear the sword in vain.

For he is.

Here it is again.

The servant of God.

An avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.

Now go back to Romans chapter 12 verse 19.

Here's the transformed mind when it comes to vengeance.

God says beloved.

Never avenge yourself.

But leave it to the wrath of God.

For it is written.

Vengeance is mine.

Says the Lord.

So one of the functions we see here.

In verse number 4 of chapter 13.

One of the functions of government is to serve.

As the avenger of God.

The one who brings justice.

The Bible says here.

That he does not bear the sword.

He does not bear the sword in vain.

Government has a power.

Meaning if I choose to speed.

Government has a sword.

Where they can write me a ticket.

And I have to pay that money.

That's a bit of a sword.

Some of you are looking down the aisle.

Because some of you got a ticket this week apparently.

That's what I'm seeing.

Sorry people are pointing.

I'm like wow this got real serious real quick.

Sorry about that.

Bad illustration.

The government bears the sword.

It's been entrusted with that power.

By God.

The church does not bear the sword.

It's not the church's authority or responsibility.

That's not our lane of authority.

But the government does.

That's why police officers carry a firearm.

They carry a weapon.

They've been entrusted by God with that.

A very serious sober responsibility.

To protect life.

But also in extreme cases to take life.

Government at the highest levels.

Responsibility to declare war.

There's the sword.

And then in some cases.

Even the death penalty.

The Bible says I want you to understand.

God is saying I want you to understand.

I've given government this.

They're going to answer to me for how they use that.

But you need to trust that I have given them that responsibility.

Therefore one must be in subjection.

Not only to avoid God's wrath.

There's God's judgment.

But also for the sake of conscience.

For the sake of your own soul.

The judgment of God.

But also your conscience.

Many of us have grown so angry at the government.

And there's certainly things to be irritated about.

Or upset about.

As we see justice not happen.

Or something wrong.

Or something immoral.

But we can trust that they will answer to God.

Every government official.

But our own conscience.

Some of us rage against the government.

Day in and day out.

And look for ways to quietly.

Secretly rebel against God's authority.

And it is searing our conscience.

I need you to understand.

You only get one conscience.

And when we sear it this way.

And then go to God and say.

God I want to hear from you.

Our conscience has been seared.

There's a lack of sensitivity to the voice of God.

What does it mean to be in subjection?

Again the Bible says it here in verse 5.

It means to obey the law.

Proverbs 28.4 says.

Those who forsake the law.

Praise the wicked.

And those who keep the law.

Strive against them.

So we obey the law.

For because of this.

You also pay taxes.

For the authorities are ministers.

Ministers meaning servants.

Servants of God.

So there's the third time the Bible is going to say this.

According to this very thing.

Pay to all what is owed to them.

Taxes to whom taxes are owed.

Revenue to whom revenue is owed.

What does the Bible say to the Christian?

Pay your taxes.

Don't cheat on your taxes.

Pay your taxes.

Now one comment.

The commentator points out some context here that I think is interesting.

The Roman historian.

Refers to resistance against the payment of indirect taxes in the middle 50s.

Not the 1950s.

Obviously the first century 50s.

And it culminated in a tax revolt in AD 58.

If Paul knew of these tendencies.

His purpose would be to counsel the Roman Christians.

To demonstrate.

To demonstrate their loyalty to the Roman government.

By paying both the indirect and direct.

Pay your taxes.

Well why do we pay our taxes?

Because the Bible tells us to.

And explicitly Jesus said to.

The religious leaders came to him one day.

Matthew chapter 22.

And said to Jesus.

Should we pay our taxes?

It was kind of a trap.

It was a trick.

Because Caesar presented himself as being God.

He was a false God.

But he presented himself as a God.

And all of these.

Great coliseums were built around the Greco-Roman world.

And that was the center.

The uniting cultural center for Greco-Roman life.

But it was there that Caesar worshipped.

That Caesar was worshipped.

So Jesus says give me a coin.

And he says whose inscription is this?

Essentially whose picture is on the coin?

And they said Caesar.

Jesus said just give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar.

And to God the things that are God's.

Now Jesus' answer is incredibly profound and wonderful.

Because Caesar could pretend that that coin.

Belonged to him.

But the very gold or material that it was made out of.

God had created out of nothing.

So what's Jesus saying?

Give to Caesar the things that he thinks are his.

Right?

Pay your taxes.

But just know that it's all God's at the end anyways.

So we pay our taxes.

Let's look at Romans 13.

Verse number 7.

So taxes to whom taxes are owed.

Revenue to whom revenue is owed.

Respect to whom respect is owed.

Honor to whom honor is owed.

Let's go to the right to it.

A couple passages here.

First of all go to the right to the book of 1st Timothy 2.

Yeah 1st Timothy chapter 2.

1st Timothy chapter 2 and verse 1.

Bible says first of all then I urge that supplications.

And thanksgivings be made for all people.

For kings and all who are in high positions.

Go a little further to the right.

Go to the book of 1st Peter.

1st Peter chapter 2.

1st Peter chapter 2.

The apostle Peter is going to give a similar conversation.

Similar teaching to what Paul has said back in Romans chapter 13.

So 1st Peter 2.13.

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution.

Whether it be to the emperor as supreme.

Or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil.

To praise those who do good.

This is the will of God.

That by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Live as people who are free.

Not using your freedom as a cover-up.

But living as servants of God.

Doulas is literally the Greek word.

It means slave.

Honor everyone.

Love the brotherhood.

Here's Peter.

A man from a Jewish background saying honor the emperor.

Honor the emperor.

So what does the Bible tell us to do?

Respect to whom respect is owed.

Honor to whom honor is owed.

And to pray for our government officials.

I just want to say on behalf of our church to each of you that are here as our government officials.

Thank you.

Thank you for what you do.

We hope that you came here and felt welcomed and cared for and loved.

And I just want to pause right now and pray for you.

Pray that God will bless you with great wisdom.

Guys as you serve our community.

As you rescue folks.

As you care for folks.

Praying that you will be safe.

Both in body and in mind.

For those of you that are serving in Atlas and in our state and the county.

I just want to pray for you.

So guys let's do that.

I'm going to pray and I'm going to ask you just in your rows to pray.

Pray for these folks.

Let's pray together.

God we want to not just talk about.

Your word.

We want to actually do what the Bible says.

So thank you for each of these folks that serve you in government capacity that are here today.

I pray your blessing on them.

I pray God that you would impart to them great wisdom.

That you would protect them.

And I pray that we as a church would beyond just today be in prayer for them.

And care for them.

Because we want to honor you Lord.

We're in submission to you.

This is the will of God.

We don't just want to talk about being Christians.

We want to actually be Christians.

We want to be Christ followers.

We want to do what you say.

So we just pause for this moment in the middle of the sermon to say thank you.

And to ask your blessing on them.

Let's go back to Romans 13.

So respect to whom respect is owed.

Honor to whom honor is owed.

The Bible says at the very beginning of verse 1.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.

Now is there an exception?

Because I know if you're like me you're always looking for the exception to the rules.

And here is the one and only exception.

In Acts chapter 5 the government tells Peter and John to stop preaching the Bible.

Stop preaching Jesus.

So in Acts chapter 5 verse 29 Peter and the apostles answered we must obey God rather than man.

So here's the exception.

If the government tells you that you can't do something that God has told you you must do.

Then you obey God.

Or if the government tells you that you can't do something that God has told you you must do.

If the government tells you you must do something that God says you can't do.

Then you obey God.

But the blessing of what we get to deal with for the most part is just obey the government.

Whether you agree.

Whether you like it.

By doing so you are honoring God.

We are honoring the Lord.

And here's how we are able to do this.

Philippians chapter 3.

And you don't have to turn there.

I'll turn there and just read it for you.

But Philippians chapter 3 verse 20 says this of Christians.

Our citizenship is in heaven.

And from it we await.

The Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus our Savior.

Was born at a time where his country.

The nation of Israel.

Taxed into poverty.

By the Roman Empire.

And Jesus says pay your taxes.

Paul comes along in that same system.

Would be martyred under Nero.

And he would say give honor to whom honor is due.

Around the same time as the Apostle Paul would be martyred.

He would be taken to.

And he would say church history would tell us this.

He would say I'm not worthy to be crucified in the same way that my Savior was.

So they would turn Peter upside down to kill him.

Could Jesus do that?

How could Peter and Paul do that?

How could the other apostles do that?

It's because they knew that God was in control.

They knew that they were citizens first and foremost of heaven.

It's what it means to be transformed.

The question is have you been transformed?

The way to be changed.

The way to be transformed is to come to faith in Jesus.

Because the message of Jesus is to come to faith in Jesus.

The message we get to proclaim is that our king did not just sit distantly on a throne.

He descended into earth.

And our king went to the cross for us.

I don't know if that moves you but it moves me.

To think that the one who created the universe.

The sun.

The moon.

The stars.

And holds them all together.

Stepped off his throne and came to earth.

And lived a perfect life.

The life you and I could not live.

And Jesus Christ went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

And Jesus died.

But Jesus didn't stay dead.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul all say it.

Jesus rose from the dead.

And it is through what Jesus did that we can be transformed.

We can be changed.

We can be rescued.

Our sins can be forgiven.

And we can receive the gift of eternal life.

The Bible says in Romans chapter 10 verse 9.

If you confess with your mouth.

And you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead.

You'll be saved.

That's what changes us.

That's what transforms us.

Maybe you're here today and you don't know the Lord.

Maybe you thought Christianity was about just keeping some rules.

Trying your best.

Going to church.

Christianity is about coming to faith in Jesus.

And saying Jesus I can't do it.

I can't live right.

I can't not sin.

I break your laws.

And it's coming to faith in Jesus.

And confessing him as Lord of your life.

And believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead.

That's the way to be saved.

That's the way to be rescued.

That's the way to be born again.

That's the way to be truly transformed.

And my hope is here if you're a guest.

If you're young, old, man or woman.

Whatever your story is.

That today will be the day that you come to faith in Jesus.