Romans 13 and James Coates

Hello ladies and gentlemen, my name is Justin Peters. I hope that you and your family are doing well today

I want to thank you very much for watching this video By now most if not, all of you have heard of the arrest of Pastor James Coates James is the pastor of Grace Life Church in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada And James was arrested this past Tuesday as of this recording

But this past Tuesday, February the 16th of 2021 and he was arrested simply for the high crime of Leading his church in doing what the church is supposed to do what the church is commanded to do by her head

Jesus Christ and that is to gather together as a local body of believers gather together

For the purpose of worshiping God and having fellowship with one another and for for that crime

James has been arrested and To as to my best understanding.

He is even in a maximum security prison if you can believe that Just a little bit of background story here in early 2020

Grace Life Church of Edmonton or just outside of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Closed its doors.

They closed their doors as did the vast majority of Churches around the world because at that point there was a lot of uncertainty about just how serious

COVID -19 was going to be and all the health officials and the in the local state and federal government

Had told all the churches that you've got to close and and initially it was for just about all businesses that were not deemed essential, of course church is essential, but we'll get to that in a minute, but Grace Life Church shut down as did nearly all the churches

But then as the weeks and months went on it became pretty obvious pretty quickly that COVID -19 was really not

Going to be all that serious for the vast majority of people it it had and still does have a survival rate of upwards of 98 %

In fact, I would surmise that the survival rate is actually far higher than that because I think the vast majority

Great majority anyway of people who have had COVID -19 their cases have not even been reported

I think there's been a lot more people and just never went to the hospital. But anyway, that's it. That's another discussion but safe to say that the great great great majority of people survive

COVID -19 Granted it can be Fatal. In fact just a few days ago

As of this recording a few days ago Fred Price one of the more well -known word of faith preachers faith healers

Prosperity preachers died of COVID -19, but he was he was 89 years old and And he died from it.

So yes, it can End up in a fatality for people who are who are very advanced in years and they have some other underlying health issues

Yes, it can be serious. But the for the vast majority of people it really doesn't seem to be

Much if any more dangerous than than the common flu that we have Every single year so as as time went on this became pretty obvious and In fact what we were seeing is that the effects of a lockdown

Were turning out to be far more serious than the effects of the virus itself and so Grace Life Church beginning in June of 2020 did exactly what they should do and What other churches began to do they began to reopen open back up and meet together

And so they did this and they began to meet together again for corporate worship fellowship with one another

But in December Alberta's chief medical officer issued a mandate that for all of the churches in Alberta Canada all of them had to restrict the size of their worship gatherings on Sunday to 15 % capacity 15 % you know assuming a church has

Just about a full sanctuary. Of course. What about the other 85 % of people? What about them?

They're apparently gonna be excluded from doing what Christ has commanded them to do

And so you've got just 15 % or so of your of your body there and and so that's not real worship, this is this is a restriction on the churches and Grace Life Church just continued to do church the way they had been doing it since June well, this got the the powers that be really upset and so health officials were beginning to come to the services there at Grace Life and take notes they came with Pen and paper or smart device or whatever and they were basically spying on the church looking around seeing

Seeing who had masks on how many people had masks how many didn't because the

Restrictions were not only just the 15 % but everybody had to have a mask and you had to do social distancing

You had to be at least six feet apart from the next worshiper

Suppose family groups could could sit together, but they had to be separated and and so I've seen this

I've seen this and a lot of churches myself and so That's what was going on.

They were spying on the they were spying on the church and so they they were taking back their reports and reported it to the

Health Department and on December the 17th. I believe it was the report was submitted and on January 29th the the local government there or provincial government

Issued a mandate that Grace Life Church had to close had to close completely

This despite there not having been a single COVID case in that congregation for at least half a year

But the church met anyway and on February the 7th Sunday, February the 7th police officers came to Grace Life Church to arrest

Pastor James and James explained to the police officers why he was doing what he was doing.

He has a command from Scripture this is religious freedom after all, but he had a command from Scripture to meet and to shepherd his flock and the police officers left apparently without even arresting him even though that was the

Purpose for which they had come but they left without arresting him Well Sundays tend to roll around pretty regularly and so the next

Sunday came Sunday, February 14th the church meets again and James preaches a fantastic sermon from Romans chapter 13

Talking about being in submission to the governing authorities He preached that sermon and I'm about to play that sermon for you because you really

Really need to hear this message He preached that sermon knowing full well

That it was going to mean his arrest. They had already come for him the

Sunday before and for whatever reason they decided to to not arrest him, but But he knew if he had church again, they undoubtedly would do it the next time and and so And so they did

I think my best understanding he preached that Sunday knowing that he was going to be arrested for what he was

Doing and yet he did it anyway Because this is what a faithful shepherd does.

He shepherds his flock He preached the Word of God on Sunday, February 14th

Cared for his flock and then two days later Tuesday the 16th According to the report that I read online from a

Canadian news source He turned himself in he was the police didn't have to come and get him

He turned himself in and despite going to the police station himself turning himself in they still put him in handcuffs and leg shackles

Leg shackles are for people to prevent prisoners from Trying to escape if there is reason to suspect that they would do so if they had the opportunity

He obviously was not going to do that He turned himself in and yet they still put him in leg shackles and I have no doubt that that was to simply to make a statement and So in a prison cell

Pastor James sits as I understand it. He is actually in a maximum security prison now

Along with rapists and murderers, that's where he is this pastor this shepherd and He has been offered his freedom

The Canadian government has told him you can have your freedom if you will just promise not to step foot inside Grace Life Church again

But Pastor James cannot do that. He could be reunited right now with his wife

Erin and their two sons But Pastor James understands Luke 14 26 he understands what that really means he understands the gravity of the responsibility that has been given to him by God to shepherd that flock and So he must obey

God rather than man. And so in a prison cell he sits

I want to read to you some excerpts from From his wife Erin and some of the things that she has posted on social media and this was posted just the day after Her husband was arrested

Erin says this Saints, I can't even begin to express my gratitude for the outpouring of love

I've been flooded with messages and it pains me that I cannot respond to them all I want to know each one of you and how our dear

Lord has worked in your life Thank you for your kindness in our darkest hour. My heart is shattered yet rejoicing

We knew this could cost us and I would do it a thousand times over for our King in the hearts entrusted to us at Grace Life Church Her health and progress in the gospel is our top priority

Yesterday was the hardest day of my life. I want to address a secret part of my comment from yesterday

Our lawyer was zoomed in with James in Trial yesterday the courthouse and the officers were the ones who would not tell us where he was

The inhumanity of my husband in chains while I could not find or get to him broke me

To think he stood alone when we were trying to get to him was almost too much for me Until I remembered the one who loves him more than I ever could was standing with him.

I Must trust James life to him. He is only good to us I was able to speak with James yesterday again trying to get to him, but they wouldn't let us see each other

He is in quarantine in a medium security. I believe it's maximum security now.

I Cannot visit because of the virus restrictions. He will be isolated for two weeks or Lord willing his release

I do not know when I will speak to him next in God's goodness He has his Bible the sweetest treasure.

He knows he has been able to carry with him You all keep asking what can you do?

The Lord is so faithfully provided for our physical needs. Our lawyer is pro bono So if you desire to send a donation, please consider the

JCCF What is something tangible you can do open your churches?

Open your churches worship Christ Practice the one another's seeing your hearts out.

Let your pastor see your eyes as he preaches the Word of God to you Don't underestimate this task in your life

Obey Christ with all you have Proclaim his excellencies through this

Use this as conversations for those who do not know Christ and let the Spirit do a work we have never seen

Please keep praying for us. My children are broken yet resolved pray for James Isolation can break the strongest of men

Aaron if you happen to be watching this I Would say your husband is a very very strong man, and I know that he loves you and I know that he loves the boys your sons

I am so sorry. I am so sorry that this is happening to y 'all. My wife Kathy is just she just told me a few minutes ago that that You and your family are all she can think about right now and what you're going through We're so very sorry

But at the same time What an encouragement the witness of your husband

James is what an encouragement and what a rebuke to so many of us

I So admire him and so grateful for the witness that he is showing the world right now

Praise God for that So that was Aaron from a few days ago, and I want to read to you what she wrote just today again

This is Saturday, February the 20th. So Just today Aaron wrote this she says

I want to answer some questions. I'm getting to bring some clarity I'll do a few of these please understand that information is always moving and changing

Many people when they give me information have put it through their own grid I know now why the

Lord made James a man of precision and Dear friends. Let me tell you when when you hear a sermon here in just a little bit from Romans 13 precision

From this point on James will be my main source of information. I was able to speak to him last night

I'll try to be as transparent as I can with the information number one James condition

James could be a free man He could walk at any point all he would have to do is

Capitulate on what he believes is his duty before God and what love requires of him towards grace life

Church Just bend his conviction and override his conscience. That's it

James told me last night the crown said that he can walk if he agrees to not hold

Services as he has been doing if he does not The conditions currently in place prevent

James from preaching Leading worship and even setting foot inside grace life

Church until the time of his trial which is yet to be determined What is our public health order?

15 % capacity and she said this is about one -fifth to one -sixth of our congregation.

So, you know from all the other folks too bad She says we don't have a large building this would mean no visitors no outreach no being a light to this city

Mandatory masks social distancing. No singing. No conversing with anyone outside of your home

Livestream is available, but you are not allowed to have anyone into your home These restrictions hinder

James for being able to converse with the people of grace life Church on a Sunday as they Immediately have to leave the service

We are prohibited from practicing though one another's in the gathering or in person at all

These have been in place since early December Alberta has had two extreme lockdowns, but has but has had restrictions on the gathering for almost a year

He could not sign these conditions. I Love him for this

Amen Amen, this is This is a man of conviction

This is a man who actually believes That he will one day give an account

For the souls that he is shepherding He actually believes that all of us as ministers as Preachers pastors and I'm not a pastor.

I'm an evangelist but all of us in the ministry would would Say Intellectually.

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, we're gonna have to give an account for one day for all the people we've taught and you know

I really wonder a lot of times how many of us actually believe it James Coates does

Aaron continues was James chained James was hand and ankle cuffed at his hearing and Transferred to the

RCMP. I don't know if he was still chained when he was brought to the jail His words to me when he called me at the

RCMP were honey They shackled me is

James getting food and water and I think this is kind of humorous in parentheses She says

I'm guessing this question is coming from countries that have dungeons for prisons In the last video

I posted you can see the facility James is receiving food and water three meals a day

Portioned meals like all the others. This will be an adjustment for someone who has an athletic build and fast

Metabolism, he told me last night. He had lost some weight and was hungry again.

This is natural Is he still in chains? He is not in cuffs currently

He is in quarantine for two weeks and has about one hour out of his cell a day for exercise

One hour out of his cell, you know, he's basically he's in solitary confinement as I understand it one hour out of his cell with the murderers and the rapists and child molesters

Right where he belongs, right? She says you can't see him

She says I cannot visit him because of kovat After his quarantine, he is allowed video calls every two days for half an hour

He has one hour out of his cell where he can call me shower and do whatever else he needs to do how

Incredibly heartbreaking. I cannot imagine What this dear sister in the

Lord is going through I cannot imagine what James is going through I cannot imagine what their sons are going through.

I just can't How utterly Heartbreaking and yet how encouraging to see this man

Take a stand and and do what he knows He is mandated to do from God's Word a tremendous encouragement and the flip side sadly of that encouragement is that I have been greatly discouraged

By a lot of the comments that I have seen from a lot of professing Christians, you know this this whole this whole social justice issue has been quite revealing in the last several years because it is it is really

It's been a it's been quite the dividing line. And as I've watched this unfold in just the last week or so it really seems to whether you're supportive of Pastor James and what he has done or not supportive.

It really does seem pretty much to fall along which side of the social justice issue you have decided to plant your flag and I want to read to you just a couple of the comments that I've seen and one of them this is from Jacob Den Hollander and Jacob Den Hollander says this he says

I'm not saying I agree or disagree with Coates imprisonment

I Lean towards thinking it's quite excessive However, that's not the same thing is thinking this represents a troubling slide towards specific towards specifically religious persecution

So he says he leans towards thinking it's it's excessive But for him to for him to actually say

I I'm not saying I agree or disagree with his imprisonment what?

You can't say whether you agree or disagree with it my word

This is just I I don't understand that kind of thinking I really truly do not understand that kind of thinking and in his as discouraging as that was

I Probably the the one that takes the cake for me at least the ones

I've seen and I guess I should count myself blessed that I haven't seen nearly as much of this as I probably could have but Mike Hovland Was was an elder there at Grace Life Church the same church didn't pastor

James is pastoring He was an elder there and he he is now Pastoring kind of a like a church plant from this church and And I know some of the folks in that church

Actually, I preached this is in Lacrete, Alberta Canada and I preached in Lacrete and I know some of the some of these brothers and sisters that are in this church plant, but Anyway, Mike Hovland Said this he tweeted he said

John Bunyan was in prison for 12 years for not complying with the government regulations imposed on religious gatherings

He could have left at any time if he agreed to comply He said if you release me today,

I will preach tomorrow That's what John Bunyan said and and that's exactly

What the situation is with James Coates? I mean the the the nature of the persecution is is different granted at least the specific reasons

But nonetheless John Bunyan could have had his freedom if he would just Agree not to preach

Pastor James could have his freedom if he would just agree not to preach as we just read from from his wife's statements in Aaron Harding Aaron Harding is

Fully woke and Some of the things I've seen from her are just just appalling but she responded

To Mike Hovland and I want you to see what she said. She said just so we are clear

James Coates is literally not in jail for preaching He is allowed to preach

Everyone in the whole country has to follow health mandates. He isn't the special snowflake

Stop this false narrative Snowflake really snowflake, huh?

This is a man who is sitting in Solitary confinement in a maximum security prison because he must obey

God rather than man He is without he is apart from his family.

His wife is without her husband His sons are without their father

Honey they shackled me And you call him a snowflake shame on you shame on you

And shame on anyone who would disparage this brother in Christ Shame on you a little bit earlier tonight

I spoke with one of the brothers that I know up there in Lacrete, Alberta, Canada, and he's part of this

Church plant and that's his church and I was up in Lacrete, Alberta several years ago

Preaching and he's one of the one of the brothers that I met he and his family dear family, but anyway,

I called him up tonight to just discuss some of this and and Robin told me that some of the prisons there in Canada have actually released a number of prisoners

Because they had kovat and some of these were violent criminals, I mean criminals that have been arrested for some for some very violent things and they were released because they had kovat and here sits

Pastor James who does not have kovat no one in his church has kovat and hasn't had kovat for at least half a year or more and Here he sits in prison and Robin told me that the restaurants in Alberta, Canada I don't know about the entire country, but I know in Alberta the restaurants are at full capacity.

There there is no limit If a restaurant can fill every table They're allowed to do so right now

They're allowed to do so full capacity. Not 15 % capacity. No full capacity in the restaurants not with churches not with churches

You're gonna tell me that this isn't persecution, of course it is of course it's persecution

But Pastor James is just a snowflake Okay, this brings me to the sermon that Pastor James Coates preached on Sunday, February 14th from Romans chapter 13

And this is the text that deals with us as Christians being in submission to the governing authorities

Is there a limit to what the government can tell us that we can and cannot do

Within the confines of a worship service and the answer to that question is an unequivocal

Yes, there are limits and there is a time when we as believers are to practice

Civil disobedience to the governing authorities if the government oversteps its bounds

You see dear friends all authority belongs to God, right? I think we should all be able to agree upon that all authority belongs to God and so any authority that any other individual or any other institution exercises is

Authority that has been delegated to it by God and God is not going to delegate

Authority to any other person or any other institution that is in contradiction with his own

Decreed will and we know God's decreed will for us as Christians to worship because his word tells us

What his decree will is his decreed will for worship is that we are to do it. We are to gather together as Saints as brothers and sisters in Christ.

We're to gather together and we are to worship Christ We are to hear the Word of God preached.

We are to encourage one another have fellowship with one another This is what we do.

This is what the Bible tells us to do and so anytime the government Steps in to the realm of the church and says you can't do this.

You can you you must limit your gatherings to 15 % capacity and you cannot sing because of Covid the government has overstepped its bounds it is exercising authority that has not been given to it by God because God is not going to delegate authority that contradicts his word and That's just I'm I'm gonna leave it there and I want you to listen.

I Want you to listen to the sermon from James Coates on Romans 13 because a lot of Christians have a very unbalanced and very unhealthy and I would say a

Unbiblical view of Just what the government can and cannot do when it comes to Telling us what we can and cannot do when it comes to worship and the government has no jurisdiction in the church

It has no jurisdiction in the church. So please listen this sermon listen to it carefully listen to it

Repeatedly take notes. I encourage you to do that. It is a it's a superb Sermon and all the more meaningful knowing

That brother James was preaching this Knowing that it was going to be in all likelihood the last time he preached from that pulpit for who knows how long and so that it makes it all the more meaningful and What an encouragement this is going to be for you and what a rebuke that this will also be

To so many people who think that the government has a right to tell us

What we can and cannot do within the local body So without any further delay pastor

James Coates Well, thank you so much

Joe and team for leading us in song this morning. So faithfully and powerfully It is a rich rich joy and pleasure to bring to you the

Word of God this morning and obviously, we've been in John chapter 10 working through John's Gospel and there's a portion at the end of John 10 that we still haven't yet covered, but as I Anticipated this moment.

I I felt something else was needed and I wasn't entirely sure what that was but as the week progressed it began to kind of crystallize and Here we are so we're gonna be a little bit off the map today not in John and I've got a bit of an introduction here to kind of set the table a little bit.

I Think we can say this that this particular time in history has exposed some deficiencies in the broader evangelical church

For one it's exposed a deficient ecclesiology Ecclesiology is the study of the doctrines of the church and encompasses everything from what the church is to the essential elements of worship

And what's apparent at least to me is that the church today has a very low ecclesiology

Where a virtual church is not only fine. It's a wonderful evolution of things

And related to that is to a deficient approach to scripture

That unless scripture explicitly states certain things there's total freedom on how we fulfill its commands and so unless scripture states quote

Thou shalt meet on Sunday in one gathering in person

Ensuring that all interaction takes place within six feet of the other person without a mask and with some kind of physical expression of affection whether it be a hug or a handshake end quote we're off the hook and It typically goes like this scripture doesn't explicitly say and This is coming from pastors from the overseers of the corporate gathering scripture doesn't explicitly say and So the government isn't commanding us to sin and therefore we must obey

And what that reveals is a deficient approach to scripture and Ironically, it might even betray a legalistic approach to scripture that unless scripture

Explicitly says something I'm under no obligation to do it So, why is that deficient?

Because it fails to recognize that the God intended implications of a passage are binding it doesn't have to be explicitly said as Students of scripture were under obligation to heed its implications and that requires a much more careful and thoughtful reading of scripture

You see it's too much to ask that scripture would speak explicitly to our current situation

Now it does speak to our current situation both implicitly and explicitly

But given the unique setting we find ourselves in much is addressed by way of implication and that requires again an intensely careful and thoughtful reading of scripture third

I Believe our circumstances have exposed a deficient theology of persecution

We seem to have an incredibly narrow and historically ignorant view of what persecution actually is

We seem to think persecution is only persecution when it's directed exclusively at the church and That unless the church is being persecuted it must obey government

Now developing a robust theology of persecution is beyond the scope of what I intend to do today But I think we need to understand that persecution often results from doing what the state forbids

That obedience to Christ is the catalyst for persecution and So you don't wait to be persecuted to obey

Christ. It's your it's your obedience to Christ that results in persecution

You see some give the impression that if we were being persecuted that only then would it be right for us to gather?

Which is a strange position especially since all you need to do is is Obey the government comply with government to avoid persecution if you comply with the government you may never be persecuted and Really what that does to say that that only if we're being persecuted are we to gather as we currently are

You're basically saying that it's right to gather Implicitly you're saying it's right to gather

That that according to the Word of God if if Persecution were on the church, then we would have an obligation to gather.

So you're admitting that it's right to gather. I Think that's amazing

Because now if you say well, we're not going to gather because we're not being persecuted You're not doing that out of biblical conviction at this point in time.

You're doing that out of some kind of pragmatism To to uphold your your testimony in the world, which

I hope isn't Seeking the approval of men or avoiding the disapproval of men

But let me just say this Whether or not we're being persecuted makes

Absolutely, no difference to me I don't think that I could care any less about whether or not this meets the definition of persecution

That doesn't even factor into the equation for me. That's not the basis upon which I'm doing anything

I'm doing what I'm doing in obedience to Christ I am quite content to let the Lord Jesus Christ himself decide whether or not this is persecution

He promises that those who are persecuted for his namesake will be blessed He's the one that blesses and I'm content to leave that in his court.

My responsibility is to be is to obey Christ, correct? Amen Doesn't matter whether this is persecution or not, that's irrelevant

Irrelevant doesn't even factor into the equation and connected to this deficient

Theology of persecution I believe is a deficient knowledge of history both church and secular

We are awful historians myself included and That makes us incredibly susceptible to deception both theological and political

Why do you think they want to rewrite history Why do you think they want to change the curriculum in schools to make us stupid

To make us more gullible That will fail to see what's really happening fail to be able to see what's what's really taking place in this day and So we need to become better historians

You as a congregation Need to get into history. You need to start reading history one book at a time

Exposing yourself to what has taken place centuries past to equip yourself for the present

But the deficiency that I want to address today it relates to the role of government

The historical time we're in has revealed both a deficient and inaccurate theology of government and It's deficient for at least two reasons one.

We've simply had it so good for so long We've simply had it so good for so long and therefore haven't had to think deeply about this aspect of theology

It's a muscle. We just simply haven't worked and to as I've already said

We're ignorant of historical theology because theologians of the past thought deeply about these things and we haven't significantly enough and sufficiently enough exposed ourselves to their writings and So to begin a conversation today that seeks to address this deficiency.

I want to turn to Romans 13 Only I want to look at it from a different vantage point

You see instead of focusing primarily on our response to government

I want to focus on the government's God -given duty What is the God -ordained role of government and can't we even ask that question?

And so there's a sense in which this sermon is addressed to the government The government needs to be informed of its

God -ordained purpose And if we the church don't inform them who will we are the pillar and support of the truth we are the the priests of God to mediate his word to this earth this world and Therefore we have a responsibility of informing the government of their

God -given duty And so we'll certainly touch on aspects of our response to government

But the main goal is to highlight the God -ordained role of government. And so If you would open your

Bible to Romans 13 if you haven't already and let's go ahead and read Verses 1 to 7 we're gonna be only looking at verses 1 to 4, but let's read verses 1 to 7 every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities for there is no authority except from God and Those which exist are established by him therefore

Whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves

For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil Do you want to have no fear of authority?

Do what is good and you will have praise from the same for it is a minister of God to you for good

But if you do what is evil be afraid for does not bear the sword for nothing for it is a minister of God An avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil

Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection not only because of wrath but also for conscience sake

For because of this you also pay taxes for rulers are servants of God devoted themselves to this very thing

Render to all what is due them tax to whom taxes due custom to whom custom fear to whom fear honor to whom honor so the goal of our time is to further develop our theology of government to assist us in Navigating our ever -changing world and Lord willing to even inform the government of its

God -ordained rule and so if you're taking notes jot down first the source of governmental authority the source of governmental authority this comes out in verse 1

Look at it. Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities

Now, what does it mean to be in subjection just briefly? It means that we're to arrange ourselves under the governing authorities to be submissive to them

Now does submission demand obedience typically yes

But it's important to know Paul doesn't write every person must be obedient to the governing authorities there's certainly overlap between submissiveness and obedience but obedience almost demands more and obedience doesn't take into account that there are times when we simply cannot obey the government and Scripturally speaking we know there are times when we can't obey the government for example there's

Shadrach Meshach and Abednego Daniel 3 who refused to bow the knee to the golden image and We have the examples of the

Apostles that we just read about this morning who declared we must obey God rather than men And so then is it possible to be submissively or rather simultaneously

Submissive and disobedient to the government at the same time. Can you be Submissive to government while simultaneously practicing civil disobedience all at the same time and the answer is yes

We absolutely can we can practice civil disobedience while maintaining a submissive posture you say how by humbly

Subjecting ourselves to the consequences of our civil disobedience Look we recognize we're not the government

But we have a responsibility to Christ and when that responsibility leads us into conflict with the government

We have to bear up under that conflict Graciously humbly submissively, but nevertheless we have to bear up under it

They have the right before God to do whatever they believe is right They will be held accountable for that and when they act unjustly

God will settle the score at the end of the day But nevertheless we can absolutely Practice civil disobedience while maintaining a submissive posture

How do we do that by entrusting ourselves to him who judges righteously first Peter 2 23?

It's important to note that practicing civil disobedience in one area doesn't mean

Practicing civil disobedience in every area and so it's only at a particular point that civil disobedience would need to be practiced

So, how do we decide when civil disobedience is necessary How do we decide when civil disobedience is necessary well, let me give you three categories

These are helpful one when the government forbids what

God commands When the government forbids what God commands for example forbidding the preaching of his word

Can't comply with that To when the government commands what

God forbids When the government commands what God forbids for example commanding worship of a golden image can't comply with that and three

When the government commands what isn't theirs to command critical When the government commands what isn't theirs to command for example the terms of worship

For a local church Can't comply with that not their jurisdiction

They have no no jurisdiction at this juncture So we cannot comply with that three categories that call for civil disobedience

But all of that of course is geared toward our response to the government and we want to home in on the

God -ordained Role of government and so we're gonna do that in the next part of verse 1 where the reason

For being subject to the governing authorities is given look at it next part of verse 1 for there is no authority

Except from God and those which exist are Which exist are established by God?

So the reason we're to be subject to the governing authorities is because all authority is from God That means all authority originates with God Which means all authority is delegated authority and that means the governing authorities are accountable to who?

to God In other words the governing authorities have a stewardship from God for which they will be judged they are not autonomous

They are not sovereign They are servants of God verse 5 deacons of God and Servants are always accountable to their masters

So what must they do to faithfully discharge their duty? They must govern by the standard by which they will be judged

They must govern by the standard by which they will be judged, which is what? the Word of God They're going to be judged by the

Word of God They're accountable to God and therefore they must govern in accord with the

Word of God Now how many governments actually know they're accountable to God?

Do you think our government knows it's accountable to God? Not likely and if it does it is suppressing the truth in unrighteousness

Romans 118 and Whose role is it to inform them? I've already said it whose role is it to inform the government of its

God -given responsibility or to call them to repentance? It's the church

Why because we've been entrusted with the revelation that spells all this out In fact if the church refuses to fulfill this role and function then it's walking in negligence a

Negligence that's incredibly unloving Why because those who are walking in?

Governmental misconduct are actually storing up wrath for themselves for the

Day of Judgment By not informing the government of its God -ordained role and not

Pointing out when the government is at a step with that role and by not pointing out that they are actually governing unjustly

We are not loving the government These are individuals human beings who are accountable to God who need to be confronted with their sin in order to realize

They need to be reconciled to God through the Son Jesus Christ you see complying with unbiblical and Unjust government laws is neither faithful nor loving

Affirming the government has an authority it doesn't actually have is neither faithful nor loving

It doesn't demonstrate true love for those in authority. It doesn't demonstrate true love for our neighbor

It doesn't demonstrate true love for the church. It doesn't demonstrate true love primarily for the

Lord Jesus Christ The church of all institutions has this obligation to call the government to its

God -ordained duty Now, how do we do that? And this is where things get a little more difficult

Because there are many Benign ways to call government to its duty. You can write your

MLA You can write your premier Maybe a little less benign.

You can do an open letter that gets some visibility and There are more confrontational ways.

For example, you can take them to court and Enter into a legal dispute with them

But you can also do what we're doing By meeting we're testifying the government has no jurisdiction here not with regard to our worship and So by simply being open and by garnering the attention we have which is not our choice, but it has come

We're showing the government they've overstepped their authority Regardless of whether their excuse is a so -called pandemic or not

And so by obeying Christ in this way, the government is being forced to consider what their authority actually is and It's facilitating opportunities like this to testify against it

Now it's important to understand that as we look at what we're doing as a local church

It's obedience to Christ that's driving this. It's theology that's driving this. It's ecclesiology that's driving this.

Jesus is the head of the church He is the supreme authority over the church and he governs his church by his word and our

Responsibility is to ensure that his word governs the church But by doing what we're doing, we are also loving our neighbor and that too obeys

Christ and in addition we are loving our government because we are

Testifying that it's out of step with its God -given role and that too is obedience to Christ You see what this season really does and I think you'll see this as we keep going this morning is it broadens the picture you want to compartmentalize spiritual life and what it means to follow

Christ and Pull that back out of the public place the public sphere and live your personal walk with Jesus Christ all by yourself

You can't do that and be faithful This is our Father's world

We're here as salt and light where his Representatives on the earth just for the record, by the way, the media continues to talk about faith leaders

I haven't got the foggiest idea what a faith leader is Just please I am NOT a faith leader.

I am an ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ I'm a herald of the King of Kings.

I am here with a message from heaven I am NOT a faith leader, whatever that is.

I Didn't intend to say that but nevertheless So Listen it's theological in the context of ecclesiology.

It's theological in the context of loving our neighbor It's it's theological in the context of holding government accountable.

All of it is Bound up in the Word of God the whole thing

Now I have to admit that historically I haven't been very politically involved

I've voted I've certainly preached the word which has unavoidable political implications since the word addresses biblical morality

But that's about it. And So you might be going well James what's changed? I mean you seem to have changed your position on this whole matter of your involvement in quote -unquote politics well for one

I've got a Evaluate whether or not I've been negligent It's possible that I've been negligent

That I have not been fulfilling my God -given responsibility. I've got to evaluate that I've got to consider that But here's the fundamental difference

For the first time in my ministry the government is reaching into the life of the church

That's my domain That's the domain of the elders here at Grace Life Church. That's the

Lord Jesus Christ's domain Attempting to dictate to us the terms of worship is

Not the government's jurisdiction and I refuse to give the government what isn't theirs

Caesar has no jurisdiction here So by recognizing that God is the source of governmental authority things begin to open up a bit government is accountable to God and will be judged by him and will be judged in accordance with God's Word and Since we've been entrusted with his word we have a unique responsibility whereby we must call government to its

God -ordained duty and Doing so can not only be done while maintaining a submissive posture.

It's among the most loving things we can do that's the source of governmental authority second if you're taking notes jot this down the limits of governmental authority the limits of governmental authority look at verse 2 therefore whoever resists

Authority has opposed the ordinance of God and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves

So here's the logic verses 1 & 2 Everyone is to be in subjection to the governing authorities

This is due to the fact that government authority finds its source in God and therefore Everyone who resists this authority opposes the ordinance of God and will receive earthly condemnation from the government

But there are some questions that need to be asked at this point for example is All resistance to the governing authorities opposition to the ordinance of God Is all resistance to the governing authorities opposition to the ordinance of God we would have to say no

See the Apostles See Shadrach Meshach and Abednego. We understand that but how about this is

Every government law an ordinance of God is Every government law an ordinance of God We would have to say no otherwise when government orders an

Evil unjust law God would be ordering evil So no when the government orders an unjust law, it is not an ordinance of God God does not order unjust laws

Or in a similar way this Do all government laws come with the authority of God?

Do all government laws come with the authority of God again? We would have to say what no

Since their authority is delegated to them their laws must be consistent with the law of God right

Or how about this when the government says we can't meet as we always have does it come with the authority of God?

When the government says we can't meet as we always have does it come with the authority of God? Are we opposing the ordinance of God if you say we are then you're essentially pitting

God against God That God is currently contradicting himself, and I realize at that point you might say, but this is a pandemic

So these are extenuating Circumstances, and if you said that you would be wrong on two fronts one

It isn't a pandemic and two you have a deficient theology of government You don't understand the role and function of government, and I want to see if I can address that And this is gonna dovetail with what we'll see next and what we'll see next is the purpose of governmental authority

But the the limits and purpose of government authority go hand -in -hand the

God -ordained purpose of something limits it and Therefore we're gonna see in a moment the government has a particular lane

And to begin this discussion. I want you to turn to Genesis 1 Genesis chapter 1

Verses 26 and following This describes the overarching kingdom mandate given to mankind at creation and this transcends every

Legal document that governs a land so this is this is this transcends the

Charter and In fact, I would say this that the Constitution I think according to its founders thought to actually uphold what we're going to see right now

Genesis 1 verse 26 and following then God said familiar passage

Let us make man in our image according to our likeness and Let them note this rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and Over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth

God creates man to rule Over the creation Verse 27

God created man in his own image in the image of God. He created him male and female

He created them verse 28 God blessed them and God said to them be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and Rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth

So God gives to man the unique Responsibility to exercise dominion over the earth to rule and subdue the earth

What this is is an inalienable right given by God to man

It's an undeniable right and by right I mean authority God has given to man the authority to rule and subdue the earth and that comes with certain freedoms

The right to life that is the right to live the life that God has given to you up until he takes it away the right to work

Yes in giving to man the responsibility to Rule over the earth work is a fundamental inalienable, right?

man The Bible says you don't work. You don't eat Work is a right given to man by God the right to have a family

The right to be with your family the right to be with your family when they're dying

That is a God -given right an inalienable right the right to acquire property

To possess property to own that property That's part of ruling and and and subduing the earth.

It's part of exercising dominion over the earth now to do that effectively what is absolutely critical if man is going to rule over the earth and Exercise dominion and carry out his his his inalienable

God -given rights. What does he need? Especially in a fallen world He needs government

Why? Government is in place to protect those inalienable rights.

The purpose of government is to facilitate mankind exercising dominion over the earth

The government is fundamentally there to make sure that we can fulfill our mission to subdue the earth

To work to worship To be fruitful and multiply

The government is a God ordained institution Put in place to ensure law and order and to protect these

God -given rights or this God -given authority and So government is actually vital to man fulfilling this mission

Especially in a fallen world now one of the earliest times if not the earliest time that government is implied is in Genesis 9 so turn there and It's implied in relationship to murder

Genesis 9 6 The consequence for murder is put forth and that implies government because someone would need to enforce the consequence for committing murder

Genesis 9 6 whoever sheds man's blood By man, and we could assume by way of implication

Government his blood shall be shed for in the image of God. He made man

So as clearly or as early as as as Genesis 9 We have by way of implication a clear reference to government the death penalty is set forth in Genesis 9

Now Fundamentally, what is that protecting if? Government is to institute exercise implement the death penalty

Against someone who commits murder What does that protect? So you might be thinking well, it protects life.

Well, it does but not the one who was murdered The one who was murdered is already dead, so it's not protecting them but it does it does provide a law that is to prevent and restrain murder from taking place and So it's not primarily protecting life

What's it protecting? rights the right to live Another human being does not have the right to take the rights of another individual through murder

See, this is really critical If you believe government has the responsibility to protect life

Then you are like buttoning up a shirt with the you know, the wrong button and you're gonna get the whole thing wrong

Government's responsibility is to protect rights of which life is only one

But it's a package deal they have a responsibility of upholding all of the inalienable rights given to man by God again the death penalty

Functions to prevent murder which in turn protects a person's God -given right to life

At least until God takes it away So again, this is critical to understanding the limits and purpose of government man is made in God's image

God has given to man the authority to exercise dominion over the earth and this invests him with certain inalienable rights to accomplish that end

And to facilitate this God puts in place government and its responsibility is to protect these these inalienable rights

So that man can accomplish his mission in order that it would be a minister of God to you for your good

Romans 13 right if Government does its job to ensure that your

God -given rights are protected. Are you not going to delight in government if? government

Facilitates you fulfilling your mission in life in exercising dominion over the earth

Through through employment and and provision for your family and having a family and all the rest of it

Are you not going to love and delight in government? Of course you are Government doesn't grant these rights instead government is

Obligated by God to recognize these rights Government does not impart these things.

They're already ours by God government must recognize them

Now that sets clear limits on government authority Because when government begins to get in the way of man accomplishing his

God -given mission It is no longer functioning as God intended Instead of that it's facility instead of instead of instead of functioning that way

It's failing to facilitate the kingdom mandate that we have and is oppressing it And what that does is it sets the table for the purpose of government?

and really to critique whether or not Government lockdowns are consistent with the

God -ordained role and function of Government, so if you're taking notes jot down third the purpose of government the purpose of government

Look at verse 3 of Romans 13 back Romans 13 now Says therefore rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil

Do what? Do you want to have no fear of authority do what is good? And you will have praise from the same for it is not for it is a minister of God to you for good

But if you do what is evil be afraid for does not bear the sword for nothing for it is a minister of God an

Avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil So as we would expect the purpose of government based on what we just saw is to praise good behavior and avenge evil

What's the obvious question? Who gets to determine? What's good and what's evil whose prerogative is that who defines

Good and evil and the answer should be obvious both from Romans 13 1 and what we just saw in Genesis God does

God determines what is good and what is evil and he does that by his word You see even if you take the

Ten Commandments alone The second half of the Ten Commandments, it's easy to see how they relate to the kingdom mandate.

You shall not murder Which touches what the right to life You shall not commit adultery

Which touches what the right to family you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor which can expose them to Liabilities and even death you shall not steal

Which protects a person's property and possessions and That Paul has these things in mind is

Evident in verse 8 and following look at it Oh nothing that anyone except to love one another for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law

For this you shall not commit adultery. You should not murder. You should not steal You shall not covet and if there is any other commandment it is summed up in this saying you shall love your neighbor as yourself

As Paul is setting forth Romans 13 and the call to Submit to government and even dealing with the issue of good and evil.

He has the law of God in mind And so good and evil aren't defined by the ever -evolving whims of culture good and evil are defined by God and that Reinforces the obligation of government to govern in accord with God's will again an obligation for which they will be judged and So the limits and purpose of government are clear and unmistakable the role of government is to protect the

Undeniable rights given to man in the garden and it fulfills this purpose by upholding law and order

Punishing evil and getting out of the way Amen so with that let's place government lockdown measures under the microscope of God's Word question is

Is it the government's responsibility to protect us from a virus? Is it the government's responsibility to protect us from a virus many want to say yes

Believing it's their responsibility to protect life, but but that's not the government's responsibility

Especially given the fact that doing so actually infringes on undeniable God -given rights like the right to work

The right to worship Again the right to be with your family when they're dying in Some cases the right to life.

I would love to be wrong on this but with good credible information if an individual in the hospital right now undergoes a cardiac arrest a nurse

Must put on full PPE prior to administering CPR so someone is having a heart attack and They got to put on full

PPE before they minister CPR to that person In some cases the right to life and you might think but but what about war?

I mean isn't the government to protect life in the context of war and and if it is

Doesn't that make the protection of life fundamental to its responsibility but even then the government's responsibility in the context of war is to protect rights of Which life is one war ought to take place to protect inalienable rights see

World War two for example and So to this question is the government's responsibility to protect us from a virus.

No, we live in a fallen world Viruses are inevitable in a fallen world and it isn't the government's responsibility to protect us from a virus

What's their responsibility to protect our God -given rights? in fact

When you listen to our government as they talk about these lockdown measures

They talk about trying to balance the infringement on our civil liberties with the harms stemming from the lockdowns

That's pretty significant our government acknowledges publicly that there are harms

That are a result of the lockdown measures So let's stick in for a little bit

Now if they are trying to balance our Civil liberties

Against the the harms stemming from lockdown measures. They are out of their God -ordained lane

They are they are stepping into a lane that is not theirs in effect

They are seeking to play the role of God Why? because implicitly they're deciding who gets to suffer and What's its justification for doing so?

that our health system could could become stressed might become overwhelmed

Can't say will Because it hasn't happened yet, and there's no guarantee that it will could become overwhelmed might become stressed and Again what's amazing is that our government?

actually acknowledges the harms of Lockdown measures they recognize there are harms resulting from their actions, and I want you to feel a weight of this

Is the virus the government's fault? No to our knowledge our government has no responsibility

No culpability with regard to the presence of the virus and so if someone should die from kovat 19 is the government culpable

No We live in a fallen world Viruses and death are inevitable a virus is unleashed on the world

God is sovereign over that virus the effects of that virus are not the government's responsibility

They do not have the responsibility to protect us from the virus. There's no culpability when someone dies from kovat 19

But what if someone dies as a result of government lockdown measures is

Their culpability then before God I Would say there is why because they're out of their

God -ordained role they're no longer functioning in accordance with their God intended purpose and therefore the harms that result from their actions actually fall to them as their

Responsibility where they're gonna have to give an account for those harms to God that's significant

We're just talking about Alberta right now broadening it to the whole world where most of the governments of this world are in lockstep in the way, they're handling this so -called pandemic and So what should the government have done?

at the beginning Should have equipped

Albertans with the best information they have and protect their inalienable rights to work to worship

To be with family To live the risk of the virus falls to who?

the individual The individual Gets to assume their level of risk with regard to the virus not the government.

It's not their role It's not their function. It's not why God put them there You say well, what if the health care system ended up actually being overwhelmed well look that's

Incredibly difficult That that is no doubt a crisis That that is something surely to look at soberly and consider soberly but God is sovereign and Government needs to stay in its

God -ordained lane, and they're not gonna like this answer But you trust the Lord and you do everything you possibly can to meet the need when it arises

You take other steps to account for that possibility

While still protecting the the the God -given rights of mankind and And that might even require

Leaning on the general public To get involved in the health care system to serve their neighbors in the event that that things got stressed

Look, I'm willing to get in there if our hospitals are gonna go and burst the seams.

I'll get involved I'll serve our neighbors I'll put myself in the in the line of fire on that wouldn't you that is a much more humane honorable glorious Solution for mankind to really come together should we get to that point?

Instead of this false sentimentality where we're all in this together now now let's say you're the premier and Taking that approach is political suicide

What do you do? I mean you survey it If you are aware of your

God -ordained role and function and You go if I do that I'm gonna commit political suicide

What do you do? You die a political death you have a responsibility before God and to the people of Alberta who have elected you to put your foot down and stand and protect their

God -given rights That's what you need to do Now there are examples of this this kind of governance

You ever heard of governor Christy Noem, South Dakota She would be a breath of fresh air for you.

I Like to call her a rock star I'm saying Christy Noem for presidency 2024

Hey, if you can't find a man who's current courageous enough to take the helm Appropriately and rightly then

I'll take a woman. Give me Christy Noem. I'm gonna get myself in trouble here Now it's interesting our premier just recently wanted to talk about the death rate and how the death rate is greater in South Dakota Than it is in in Alberta Jason Kenney's responsibility isn't to govern the death rate

He's not responsible for the death rate That's not his responsibility. God is responsible for the death rate

He's responsible to protect our God -given God -ordained inalienable rights

And so what does this mean for government? our government needs to repent

Our government Needs to repent if there are believers in our government

They need to repent and they need to begin to stand up for what's right Believers everywhere need to start standing for righteousness and and calling the people above them to the right standard

Even calling them to repentance and those who don't know Christ in government. They need to turn from their sin and believe on him

They are storing up wrath for themselves for the Day of Judgment there is a judgment coming and it will be unleashed with the full fury of God's wrath and Those who are in government right now have a responsibility a heightened accountability

They have a God -ordained function They are a minister of God and they are going to be held accountable for the way they carry that out

And if they do not repent of the way that they are currently conducting themselves it is not going to go well for them and It's not too late

It's not too late put the politics aside Forget about what's happened to this point in time deal honestly with the situation.

I would just appeal to the government God is gracious and merciful slow to anger if you would just confess your sin

Acknowledge that you've come short of his glory look to his son the Lord Jesus Christ who went to the cross and suffered under the wrath of God for all who would ever believe on his name if they would just Understand that God is merciful that he says come let us reason together

That if they would understand that God is gracious and merciful that they would come unto Christ and be forgiven and cleansed and washed

The whole record of any guilt against them totally taken out of the way then they're given a new heart born from above and they have everything they need to stand for righteousness and begin to Appeal to those who are with them above them to do the right thing

What about law enforcement? Law enforcement needs to stand for righteousness

Law enforcement needs to say to their that the people above them. No, I'm not going to do that No, I'm not gonna write that ticket.

No, I'm not gonna arrest that pastor No, I'm not gonna put that person in jail

They have that responsibility. They need to do that. And by the way, they're out there We've been reached out to by RCMP and other provinces already

There are men that are willing to stand There are men that are in the RCMP that are trying to get their comrades to see things differently to wake up and smell the roses

We've got an Edmonton Police Service officer in the building right now in this congregation

Law enforcement needs to say no Needs to do the right thing

Needs to take a stand Well, I appreciate you sharing that for those of you tuning in online

We had a gentleman just stand and just express that at this point in time, though. He was once a peace officer he no longer is and that That officers at present are currently violating the law by doing some of the things they're doing.

Thank you for that. I appreciate that you know one of the challenges here is

Many of our neighbors, I mean we can see it online this past week. For example, many of our neighbors

Hate us, you know want us dead Want us locked up and I would just say this that I'm putting my life on the line and I'm doing that even for those who hate me there are people in our precious province who can't stand me and want me dead and I'm willing to put my neck on the line for them and I would hope that God might use that in some way to reach them for Christ because what

I'm doing here is is a miniscule Fraction of what

Christ did for me when he died for me while I yet hated him Well, I was yet a sinner while I was in hostility to him

And so I would just say this to the public of Alberta if you hate me That's okay

I'm gonna put my neck on the line believing that I'm doing the best thing I possibly can for you regardless of what you think about it and That's loving my neighbor, which is exactly what the

Word of God commands me to do. Amen Let's try and bring this home the source of government authority

It's from God The governing authorities are Accountable to God and God will hold them accountable in accordance with his word.

There are limits on government authority and that's because government authority has a

Particular purpose a role and function that goes all the way back to the garden where government is in place to uphold and protect our inalienable rights given to us by God and Therefore the government at present needs to cease with its attempt to mitigate the spread of the virus through lockdown measures and begin to protect the rights and freedoms of the people of this province and more importantly than that and What I would want even more than that is that they would come to a saving knowledge of the

Lord Jesus Christ in fact if you're here today, I need to proclaim to you the good news and The good news is only good news because there's bad news

The bad news is you were born in sin You came into this world dead in trespasses and sins your heart

Came into this world hostile to God hostile to his righteousness hostile to his son

Truth be told you hate God coming into this world And if you are outside of Christ, then you hate

God now you're indifference if that's where you're at is hatred toward God It's hostility toward God you are being indifferent to your

Creator the one who gives you right now life and breath And so what God did

Here's the good news. He sent his son to take upon himself human flesh

To live a life under The law of God the the law of his father and he obeyed that law in every respect

He was tempted in all things as we are yet without sin and in obedience to the

Father Not only did he live a perfect life He went to the cross to offer himself as a sacrifice for sin, but you need to understand it wasn't the crucifixion

It wasn't the the physical suffering that made atonement for sin. That wasn't the issue that was horrific enough

It was that the father Treated the son on the cross as though the son had committed the sin of all who would ever believe in his name the perfect eternal

Unblemished obedient son was treated on that cross as though he were guilty of the sin of everyone for whom he died

After accomplishing that he gave up his last breath on his own authority Went into the grave and on his own authority rose from the grave came to life and is now seated at the right hand of God and now

The proclamation the message of Christ given to you this day by an ambassador of Christ Is that if you would turn from your sin if you would turn from your sin and believe on the

Lord Jesus Christ If you would come to Christ if you would enter through the door

That is Christ if you would enter through the narrow gate You will be saved You will be imputed with the righteousness of Christ.

That means you will be clothed with his righteousness Given a perfect record of righteousness to stand before God holy and blameless

You'll be given eternal life Where you will begin even now to experience the life of God in your inner man as you're being

Transformed into the image of Christ and that life will just carry you into Eternity when you die in this and leave this body and enter life to come and you have hope everlasting joy

Everlasting you will be in the presence and glory of the Savior for all of eternity

Which by the way is not merely a a spiritual existence It is a physical reality new heavens new earth new glorified bodies fit for eternity where you're gonna get to work and And and have

Relationship and worship freely Exercising all of your God -given rights in honor and glory to him

And so if you don't know him Believe on him this day Receive the

Savior and be saved Let's pray Well father.

We just commit this all into your hands We thank you for the privilege of You've given to us to be here this day father.

We thank you for what you have given us by way of responsibility what you have given us by way of Obligation Even in calling the world to repentance our government to repentance and father we pray that if it be pleasing in your sight and if this proclamation

Be faithful to your word That you would allow it to go forth and bear fruit and accomplish a great work both in this province and this nation

So father we give you the glory We're here as willing servants We trust you and we entrust ourselves to you

For you are great, and there is none greater It's in Jesus name. We pray