FCF: We resist submission to authority and suffering because we doubt that God sees, cares, and will judge justly.

Big Idea: Because Jesus fully entrusted Himself to God's perfect justice, He submitted to human authority and unjust suffering, leaving us an example to follow.

1) Trusting God’s justice frees us to submit to authority. (13-17)

Q: How should Christians relate to government?

   A: there are 4 callings here for our relationship with politics:

  1. We are called to fear God above all else.

 2. We are called to be a stabilizing presence in culture, therefore we honor & obey.

  3. We are called to be a subversive presence in the culture, therefore we disobey when commanded to sin.

  4. We are called to integrity in all our relationships.

2 Pastoral Concern:

  1. political idolatry

  2. political passivity

2) Trusting God’s justice frees us to endure suffering for doing good. (18-20)

3) Jesus’ trust in God’s justice empowers us to follow His example. (21-25)

Prop: Trust God’s justice which frees you to submit and suffer like Jesus—because when you know God is in control, you don’t have to be.