Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. We've been set free. Even though we may be under unjust laws and ungodly rulers, we as the people of God are free. Living a life of submission is not inconsistent with being free. Freedom?
fulfillment and joy come from living for the glory of God. Welcome to the verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe, senior pastor of Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. In today's politically charged climate, how should followers of Christ react to government? Today, John begins unpacking what biblical Christian citizenship looks like. We'll learn that submission and freedom aren't contradictory.
Here's Pastor John Monroe with a timely message titled Subject but Free. Jesus said that his followers are in the world but not of it. That is, we live in this world, but our permanent home is in the world which is to come.
Soon all of the redeemed will be forever with the Lord. Meantime, God has placed us where we are to shine with the beauty of our Lord Jesus. But how are followers of Jesus Christ to relate to an unbelieving world? What are we to do when the rulers and the government are ungodly? The Apostle Peter, writing 2,000 years ago, gives very helpful advice as we live as citizens in a secular society.
Peter is writing to people in ancient Rome. living under a corrupt and pagan emperor. We may not always like our politicians or employers, but as we will learn, we all have to submit. How are Christians to relate? In the unbelieving world, Peter has described us as a couple of times as sojourners.
and exiles. Her home is in heaven.
So, in a sense, as we live in this world, we're homeless. Jesus says, You're in the world, but you're not of it.
Now in the passage we're going to read together Peter gives three commands. which will help us to live as citizens in a secular society.
Society.
So Let's stand. And read the scriptures. as is found in 1 Peter. Chapter 2. Verses thirteen through Now this is the word of God.
to us. Let's read it. 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. and to praise those who do good. For 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 for evil. but living as servants of God. Honour everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.
Honor the emperor. Thank you. Please be seated.
Well, let's look at the first command, which is found in verses 13 through 15. If you have your Bibles, please open them. 1 Peter chapter 2. And in verses 13 through 15, Peter is telling us to submit. to secular governments.
In fact, submission is to be the lifestyle of the Christian. We live in an anti-authority age. Postmodernism rejects authority and is hostile to it. No one is going to tell me what to do is the theme of today. That may be the mood of society, but it's not the mandate of Scripture.
Now none of us likes to submit. Peter And these readers, let me remind you, lived in a very difficult world where it was not easy to submit. But the Christian, the follower of Jesus Christ, is not to be characterized by power seeking. or pleasure-seeking, but rather by a gracious and humble submission to serve others. That's the spirit of Christ.
Remember Paul says in Romans 15, for even Christ did not please himself.
Now this word That we see in verse 13, be subject to the Lord, is a key word in this section. Verse 13, be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution. Verse 18: Servants be subjects, same word, to your master with all respect. We'll think of that next week, Lord willing. Chapter 3, verse 1.
Likewise, likewise, wives be subject to your own. Husbands, a repetition of the same Greek word. It is a command. Submission is part of the lifestyle of the Christian. Paul says in Ephesians 5 that those who are filled with the Spirit.
Will be characterized by this: submitting to one another out of reverence. For Christ. You want to be filled with the Spirit? Submit. To others out of a reverence for Christ.
This is God's will. First of all, of course, when we think of this subject of submission or subjection, we must submit first to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Do you acknowledge the authority of Christ in your life? Matthew 28, he says, All power, all authority is given to me in heaven and on earth. There's no one higher.
He is supreme. He is Lord. He's not only Jesus, he is the Lord Jesus Christ. And we who are his followers must submit to his will and his word.
So the question I ask you today Do you? Acknowledge The Lord Jesus. Absolute. Rule over your life. Have you surrendered everything you are and everything you have?
to the Lord Jesus. You say, John, that that that's Quite a claim, isn't it? Yes, it is. All I have All I am is yours, Lord. You are the Lord of my life.
I have to submit to You. We must submit to him and obey him. That's what it means to be an authentic Christian.
So I ask you. Is that true? In your life. That's where submission starts.
So, first, we must submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Secondly, we are to submit in our families. We see that in chapter 3 and following. Wives are to submit to their husbands. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church.
Children, You're listening, children, students. You are to submit to your parents and obey them. Ephesians 6, verses 1 and 2. Submission. In the family.
We might transform families. If we Submit it. to one another. If men led their families, if children submitted, If husbands cared for their wives and loved them as Christ loved the church. First, submission to the Lordship of Christ.
Secondly, submit in your families. Third, we are to submit in the church. It is the Holy Spirit who raises up overseers in the church of God. We are to submit to the leaders of the church. Listen to the writer of Hebrews.
Hebrews 13 verse 17. Obey. Your leaders and submit to them. For they are keeping watch over your souls. as those who will give will have to give an account Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
As you submit to your leaders, there is joy. If you don't do, there's a lot of groaning, a lot of division. A lot of carnality, but we are to submit to the leaders in the church. God raises them up, God calls us to that position. You say, well I'm not sure about that.
I understand that.
Sometimes you think you are wiser than they are. And sometimes that may be the case.
Sometimes you may do things a little differently. But you are humbly. To submit to those that the Holy Spirit raises in the church.
Next week we'll learn that we are to submit to our employers and their supervisors. But now As we look at verses 13 through 15, Peter is saying, We are to submit To all levels of the secular government's authority. Be subject, verse 13, 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 and to praise those who do good.
For this is the will of God. That by doing good, you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Dear the ass. We are to submit to the secular government as it is ordained and established by God. That's what Paul says in Romans chapter 13, verses 1 and 2.
To resist the governing authority then is to resist God. Emperors They had the emperor at the time. Really, the word is for the king. We might say the president, those who are the highest in the government. And governors as sent by him, we are to submit to them for the well-being of society.
We're to submit. to the king. We don't have a king. We're to submit as it then to the president and the governors, to those in high authority, is the point.
Now, at this time, First century readers reading this. The emperor was either Claudius or Nero. They were the Roman emperor at the time, nasty kind of individuals. Nero blamed the Christians for the fire in Rome, you may recall. He dressed Christians with skins of wild beasts, and then they were ravaged to death.
by wild dogs. Think of that. Others were crucified and their bodies torched to light up the night sky. Not easy. Being a Christian in the first century.
And now Peter is saying you are to submit. to the emperor. We here. Living in the 21st century, have it much easier, don't we? We must be good.
Citizens, we must submit to all levels of authority, federal, state, and local. We are sojourners and aliens. Chapter two, verse eleven. But Our key motivation, did you notice verse 13? We do this for the Lord's sake.
Verse 15 This, for this is the will of God. God is pleased. when we have submissive attitudes authority. You ever been stopped by a state trooper for speeding? With God's grace, I haven't.
What are you to do? You don't like it? You are to submit. Follow his instructions. He may decide not to write your ticket.
A slight chance. But submit. Police officer gives instructions. Follow them. Obey them.
God has put them in a position of authority. dislike of and disagreement with the government are not reasons for disobedience. We as good citizens You listening? Pay your taxes. Obey government regulations.
Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, our Savior says, and to God the things that are God's. You say, I enjoy giving money to the Lord. I don't love paying my taxes. I understand that.
But as a good citizen For the Lord's sake, this is the will of God. Don't cheat on your taxes. That's a form of theft, the eighth commandment, thou shall not steal. You're getting ready to do your taxes? Yeah.
Honest. The IRS Is that there? As a governing authority, we are ordained by God. We are to submit to the secular laws. I remember a client of mine He had caught a magnificent salmon.
But the size. As you told the story, it was that size. What is about this size? Beautiful. Fish.
But as I talked to him, it was obvious. He had poached. The salmon. There are regulations about catching salmons, and he had breached them. And he was quite proud that he had got this salmon.
And I said to him, You know, the eighth commandment says, thou shalt not steal. You have stolen that salmon. He said, well, I go by the 11th commandment. They shalt not get caught. Funny, but not what we should do.
Submission to the secular government. is a good Christian testimony. Students? Comply with all of the rules at your school. You may think they are petty.
You may want to rebel. You are to submit. to them. I remember when I was a senior at high school, 18 years old, we think we're a man, and we had to wear school uniform. And one day I decided, instead of wearing the school tie, to wear my own tie.
I love ties.
Some of you think I go to bed with my tie on, but I do take it off.
So I like ties. And uh the principal Under the head of the school. Who was a woman of great authority and passion? She saw me. Monroe.
She put her little finger. Yes, ma'am. What kind of tie is this? I said, it's my tie. Wear the school tie.
Next day. I had the school tie on. I also had a little button, Jesus Saves. Good to put on a little button, Jesus saves. But obey.
the regulations of the school. We may think they're silly, we may think they're bureaucratic. Such submission submission, says uh Peter. will silence the ignorance of foolish people. Instead of being a rabble-rouser, Instead of being a rebel, We are to do Good.
Are you known for doing good? I ask you. What about your speech? Is it a hateful speech? Rhetoric.
I said last week About the rhetoric even coming from Christians, slander, nasty comments on social media. The Christian is not to be like that. It's one thing to shout against an abortion, and we are against abortion. It's another thing to adopt or foster an unwanted child. That's doing good.
One thing to say I oppose abortion, it's another thing to volunteer at the pregnancy center. It's one thing to say, these children in the womb are created by God. That's true. But it's another thing to teach children. and the good news clubs.
That's doing Good. Christians must not r resort to violence. Abuse, name-calling. when they disagree with the law. Unbelievers.
are closely watching you. Let's do good. We saw that last week. Chapter 2 verse 12, keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable.
so that when they speak against you as evildoers they may see your good deeds. and glorify God on the day of his visitation. Verse 15, for this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Are you know? And again I ask you that I think this is so important and often ignored.
By authentic Christians, are you doing? Good.
Now Peter who's writing these Verses also said in Acts 5, verse 29: We must obey God rather than man. That's true. There's a time when we disobey the law. Civil disobedience is appropriate. When the government passes a law in direct opposition to a specific command, from God.
We are to disobey it. We are to obey God rather than man. But in civil disobedience, the weapons of our warfare are not the flesh. But they're divinely powerful. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10, verse 4: We are to be exemplary citizens, not rebels, not disrespectful of our rulers.
We are to be known. for doing Good. Command, submit to secular. Governments. Do you find that oppressive?
Well, here's the second. Command. Use your freedom. responsibly. Verse 16.
Live as people who are free. Not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Peter is saying, and the Holy Spirit is saying to us, live as free people. Remember Paul in Galatians 5? For freedom Christ has set us free.
We are redeemed. We are ransomed, Peter said in chapter 1. We are redeemed from the bondage of sin and death by the blood of the Lamb. We've been set free. Even though we may be under unjust laws and ungodly rulers, we as the people of God are free.
Living a life of submission is not inconsistent with being free. While we do submit to the secular government, That government is never our master. The Lord Jesus Christ. is our Supreme Master. He owns my total obedience.
We are free. But notice what Peter says in verse 15, but you live as servants of God. In fact, the word is slaves. How can I be a slave? and free.
Here it is. In doing God's will. You are truly Free. I want you to understand that. In doing the will of God, we are truly free.
And we are to use our freedom that we have. To serve God and Others. Peter says, verse 16, don't use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. like my friend who caught the the fish. No He's the things I'm free.
God made the fish. Who is the government to tell me what I can't and can't do? No, don't use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. Don't use it as an excuse for submitting to secular laws or causing trouble. Don't use your freedom for self-indulgence, but use it to serve.
Others. Paul says the same thing in Galatians 5. Verse 13, For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only don't use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. But through love Serve One another No.
We're not free to live any way we want as Christians. We are free to please God and serve others. Here's one of the paradoxes of the Christian life. We are slaves of God, but we're free. A fish is free as long as it's in water.
It swims about take that fish out of water. Put it in a different environment, and it's going to die. Our environment that we live in is a Christian life. Jesus put it this way. Whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospels, We'll save it.
Try to live your own way. And you lose it. Freedom? fulfillment And joy come. And some of you know this.
Come. from living for the glory of God. God is our Creator. God knows what makes us joyful and sad. I'm to follow him.
I'm to obey him. My obedience to Christ produces great freedom. disobedience Brings Bondage. and spiritual slavery. You're in bondage.
Bondage to your fears. in bondage to your sin and your guilt and your shame. Christ wants us to be free. Free in Christ, you've been set free. From the chains of your sin.
I'm a slave of God, but I'm free and my greatest joy is in obeying and pleasing my Savior. This is the verdict with Pastor John Monroe and the first part of a message titled Subject But Free. John will be back in just a moment with closing remarks. But first, let me tell you about a special resource we're offering our listeners. In today's politically charged environment, Christians sometimes struggle to balance our responsibilities as earthly citizens with the priorities of heaven.
To help deepen your perspective, we're offering John's booklet for the time is near: lessons from Revelation. Understanding God's prophetic timeline gives believers a broader view of current events and strengthens our faith in challenging times. The booklet unpacks key themes from Revelation, including Christ's sovereignty, God's prophetic calendar, and our ultimate citizenship in His eternal kingdom. Request your free copy today by visiting our website at theverdict.org. If you found today's teaching helpful, would you consider partnering with us to share these biblical messages with others?
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Now, here's Pastor John Monroe with his closing remarks.
Well, what's your verdict? Do you find it difficult to submit to the secular government? How about submitting to your boss at work? What about submitting to the elders of your church? Even in a hostile society, followers of Christ are to be known to do good.
Clearly, we must always follow the Word of God. Are you rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesar's? and to God the things that are God's? Be a good citizen. Join me next time as we continue to think of the subjects of submission and freedom.
Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies. Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
