A Historical Anthology of Great Historical Figures

Figure #3: Lesser Lights

The Christian Citizen (Part 3)

I. Duty #1: His Duty to Regulate Himself (2:13-15)

A. The Nature of His Duty: Submission (2:13a1-2)

B. The Direction of His Duty: Human Government (2:13a7-10) (a)

C. The Motivation of His Duty: God (2:13a3-6)

D. The Direction of His Duty: Human Government (2:13b-14) (b)

E. The Purpose of His Duty: Testimony (2:15)

II. Duty #2: His Duty to Represent God (2:16)

A. The Believer’s Identity (2:16a)

B. The Believer’s Genuineness (2:16b)

C. The Believer’s Responsibility (2:16c)

III. Duty #3: His Duty to Respect (2:17)

A. Respecting All Mankind (2:17a)

● honor price paid, value

B. Loving the Church (2:17b)

● brotherhood physical brotherhood; spiritual brotherhood

● love an affection which values its object and expresses itself in self-sacrificial action

C. Reverencing God (2:17c)

● fear to flee, intense concern over danger; reverence, awe, or respect

D. Respecting the Government (2:17d)

Important points of Application:

1) Think biblically rather than politically

2) Trust the gospel rather than mankind

3) God expects your obedience, He does not need your protection

4) Submitting to your government, does not mean you are to agree with your government

5) If you choose to protest do so biblically, rather than perversely

● Do not violate a specific command of God

● Obey all directives given by the government and its representatives when protesting

● Do not covenant with anti-Christian, anti-biblical groups 2

● Do not join in or engage with protesting that breaks the law

● Place your hope in the gospel and not activism and protesting