Biblical Civics | Romans 13:1-7 | 6-28-26 | Sunday AM

**Pastor Andrew Montoro** (0:00)
Well, let's find our places in Romans chapter 13
So we are, we're not in a regular series on Sunday mornings yet, be in prayer. The plan is to begin a series through the book of 1 John, here in the next couple of weeks. And so I'm excited to get into that. It's going to be a very, very good, all scripture is good, all scripture is profitable. 1 John really deals with a lot of the heart of the matter and having the relationship with God and serving God. But as we're not in a series, and this is July 4th weekend, and some of that just the Lord put into my heart, I'm just praying about what to preach. And we're just going to spend some time this week and Lord willing next week. And if I run out of time and have more notes than time, we might have to add a couple more weeks. However, it works out, just dealing with, as Christians, how are we to serve God in America? What is our responsibilities? How can we help our country? And so we're going to begin reading in verse number one. We're just going to cover some of the different biblical passages. We're going to deal with this passage, but also be a little bit more topical in hitting some of the other passages. Traditionally, I would say just in one text, but we're going to kind of be hitting some others this morning and looking at, okay, as Americans, how do we serve God as Americans in our country? What is our political responsibilities as Christians? We're going to be looking at that through the Word of God. What God has to say about that, not just the opinions that are floating through this world. So verse number one of Romans chapter 13
Very clearly, the Bible says this, Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God, and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good. And thou shalt have praise of the same. For he is the minister of God to thee for good, but if thou do that which is evil, be afraid. For he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore, ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
For for this cause, pay ye tribute also. For they are God's ministers, tending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. And so the title this morning is this, Biblical Civics, Biblical Civics, the responsibilities of a Christian to the current and future government. So let's pray, ask the Lord's help, dear Heavenly Father, Lord, I do come before you, Lord, I just pray that you would give clarity of thought, simplicity. Lord, I pray as we live in a very charged time, I pray that you would help us to hear your words, to understand it, to submit to it, Lord. Help us to be salt and light in the world in which we live, Lord, that we would be faithful to you and to the responsibilities you have given us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
I want to start today by saying I love America. And I am so thankful that the Lord has given me, gave me the gift of being born an American citizen.
I thank God for that.
I believe with all of my heart that America is the greatest nation in the history of the world. America is still the freest nation in the world. America has done more for the good of humanity than any other people or nation in the history of the world.
There are some people who want to debate that, but if you study history, that is evidently clear. Okay, America is not a perfect nation. Show me a perfect nation.
Okay, it's full of human beings. Human beings are sinners. All right. But there is not a nation that has done more good for humanity, for freedom, for others than the United States of America in the 250 years that has existed. It is pretty revealing how people from all over the world who've traveled to America for the World Cup are more amazed and thankful for America than many American citizens. How many have seen the videos of some of the people from the World Cup and they are who have traveled here and they're just like, this is incredible. We don't know this plenty. We don't know this that we can just get a car and drive wherever we want. Like, we can't do that where we're from. And these people are from civilized, okay, or from established countries. They're not, you know, European countries. They're like, this is amazing. This is incredible. They're stunned at the freedom and abundance. The plenty and comforts that we take for granted are unknown in the majority of the world. Even that which would be considered old world countries are established. They don't know the abundance and the freedom, the comforts, just the plenty that we have here.