Sermon Outline 7.20.25

Title: When Caesar Crosses the Line: Living Faithfully Under a Corrupt State
Text: Romans 13:1–7
Big Idea: God ordains government to reward good and restrain evil. But when it rewards evil and punishes good, the Church must obey God, not man.

Introduction

I. God Ordains Governments, But Not Godless Tyranny (v. 1)

• What does SUBMIT mean? Lk 2:51; Eph 5:24; Rom 8:7
• Two affirmations in v. 1b:
  • First, no authority exists apart from God’s permission
  • Second, the authorities that exist are determined by God
• This shows two things: (1) governing authorities are under God's authority and accountable to Him, and (2) their legitimacy comes from divine delegation, not human autonomy.

II. Resistance to Tyranny Is Obedience to God (v. 2)

• Verse 2 warns that resisting governing authority brings judgment from civil penalties.
• Here are six categories where resistance is biblically sanctioned:
  • When innocent life is at stake: Ex. 1:15–21, Matt. 2:13–15, Heb. 11:23
  • When the means of protecting or sustaining life is at stake: Luke 22:35–38, 1 Sam. 16:18, Deut. 20:5–9
  • When the state oversteps the family’s jurisdiction: 1 Kgs 21
  • When the state oversteps the church’s jurisdiction: 2 Chron. 26:16–23
  • When worship is forbidden: Acts 5:29, Dan. 6:5–10
  • When evil is mandated: 1 Sam. 22:17

III. Governments Exist to Reward Good, Punish Evil (vv. 3–4)

• Paul sketches a moral contrast
• If the state rewards evil & punishes good, it’s no longer acting as God's servant (διάκονος) but as a rogue power.
• Ordered Government is an avenger (ἔκδικος) carrying out God’s wrath on evil—not righteousness.

IV. Obedience Must Be Conscience-Driven, Not Fear-Based (v. 5)

• Verse 5 serves as a summary of Paul’s argument in vv. 1–4. 
• Submission is again commanded, but this time with two motivations:
  • To avoid God’s wrath mediated through civil punishment (v. 4)
  • For the sake of conscience

V. Render to Caesar What Is Caesar’s…And No More (vv. 6–7)

• These final verses apply everything Paul’s said so far. “For because of this” (διὰ τοῦτο) refers back to the preceding reasoning
• The phrase “pay to all what is owed” (v. 7) echoes Jesus' words in Matthew 22:21.

VI. Courageous Citizenship: Living Romans 13 with Discernment and Integrity
A. Obey Just Laws with a God-Centered Conscience
B. Resist When Mandates Violate God’s Law
C. Engage in Informed Civic Discernment
D. Courageous Citizenship
E. Cautions for Christian Resistance

1. Stay Peaceful
2. Discern Clearly
3. Resist Together
4. Know the Law

CONCLUSION