Human Government

The Doctrine of the Week for this Sunday is human government. In Genesis 9, verse 6, we see that it was

God who ordained human government. When he said, whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed.

So in this simple command, we see that the purpose of government is to punish evildoers.

God then gave his law to Israel and explained what the penalties would be for breaking that law.

So government, understand this, government is ordained by God.

And while people like to say, and you've probably heard this, that government is a necessary evil, really government is necessary because of evil.

So God's desire is that governments would glorify him and promote that which is good and act as a restraint against wickedness.

This is the purpose of human government as ordained by God. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 13, let every soul be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

And that rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil, for they are

God's servants to you for good. And you understand that's a general statement.

And there have been exceptions to that throughout history. So basically a simplistic understanding for Christians is that we obey the human rulers ruling over us unless they tell us to sin,

Acts 4, 19 and 20. And notice I use the word simplistic. That's a simplistic understanding.

So every informed Christian would agree with that. However, it is essential that we understand, especially in the day and age we live in, it is essential that we understand there is a limit to their authority.

There is a limit. Just because a person is in a position of authority does not mean they can make any demand and you automatically have to follow it.

Only God has that kind of authority. And we must never allow government to replace

God. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 28, 18, Jesus said, all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.