Faith and Authority: Navigating the Relationship Between Christians and Government (Luke 20:19-26) - 10/20/24

INTRO

• Questions from the religious leaders.

• Testing… questioning Jesus

• The dialogue deals with the temporal verse the eternal

• Rendering to Caesar.

• Our role and responsibility in politics and with the govt.

• What is biblical submission?

• Who is our ultimate Lord?

• Where do we place our hope?
  

The Motives of the Scribes and Chief Priests

• Opposed to Christ

• Feared the people

  • Court of public opinion

• Watching Jesus

  • Seeking to find

  • Jealous

• Life of hypocrisy

  • Pretending to be sincere

• Questioning Jesus

  • His authority

  • His actions

• Denying truth
  

Their Question

• Trying to set Jesus up for failure

• Is it lawful to give to Caesar

  • Yes… denying God’s rule.

  • No… God is supreme. Rebelling against earthly authority

• They knew it was a no-win situation.
  

Jesus’ Response

• Give to Caesar what is his

• Give to God what is His
  

The What Now

Submitting to God as we “render” to our earthly rulers

Remember our mission (Our purpose in life)

• Glorifying God

• Submitting to His Lordship

• As We Make Disciples

  • Matthew 28:18-20

  • All authority is given to Me…GO

Submit to God’s providence

• Those He ordains to lead His people

• Church – Believers

  • Hebrews 13:17

• Household – Family

  • Ephesians 5:23

  • 1 Corinthians 11:3

• Government – Citizens

  • Romans 13:1-7

• KEEP TEMPORAL AND ETERNAL IN PERSPECTIVE

Stand, proclaim, and defend the Gospel

• Acts 5:27–29

• 1 Timothy 3:15

  • Biblical Truth

  • Moral Truth

  • Absolute Truth

• NO COMPROMISE… not an inch.

Putting it all into perspective – 1 Peter 2:9–17