Saturday, October 16, 2021

General Conference 1891 Study of Romans SERIES: 15

 GENERAL CONFERENCE.

BATTLE CREEK, MICH.,  1891.

BIBLE STUDY.

LETTER TO THE ROMANS

BY ELDER E. J.  WAGGONER
 
It will be necessary to skip from the eighth to the thirteenth chapter; not but that there are some of the most important truths in the Bible
contained in the intervening chapters, but the time allotted for this series of Bible study is too limited to admit of their perusal. So to-night we will take up the study of the 13th chapter, as it treats upon questions which are of vital importance to all believers in the third angel's message.
 
In this chapter the apostle Paul is speaking to professed Christians. As we have already stated, this is proved in the early part of the epistle where in the second chapter the apostle addresses those who rest in the law and make their boast of God. From that point forward the epistle is addressed to those that profess to know God. 
In the seventh chapter the apostle says, "For I speak to them that know the law." So instead of the thirteenth chapter being simply a treatise on civil government, showing its duties and limits, it is addressed to the church, showing how they should relate themselves to God, so as not to be in conflict with the powers that be. If this is borne in mind, it will be a great help in the solution of the many important questions which are considered in the chapter.
 
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive unto themselves damnation." Rom. 13:1, 2. These verses are not to be construed as teaching that Christians must obey every command that civil governments may impose upon them. We may recall the time in which this was written, and the people to whom it was addressed. 
---It was written at a time when the Roman Empire held sway over all the known world, and it was especially addressed to the church at Rome, the capital of this universal Empire. The emperor reigning at that time was Nero, and he was doubtless the most wicked, the most blood-thirsty, and abominable licentious monarch that ever sat upon the throne of any kingdom. I suppose there never was another man in the world that combined so much evil in himself as Nero the emperor of the Romans. He was a heathen, and a heathen of the heathens.
The laws which were enacted in Rome recognized the heathen religion, and were opposed to Christianity. In the reign of Nero occurred the most cruel persecution to the Christians that ever has been since the world began; and it was during this persecution that the apostle Paul lost his head. Therefore it is manifest that the apostle, when he says that we are to be subject to the powers that be, does not mean to convey the idea that we should do everything that the powers that be tell us to do. If the apostle Paul had done that, he never would have lost his head: but he suffered because the truth which he preached was opposed to the principles of the Roman government; and we cannot suppose that the apostle Paul would preach one thing and do another. 
 
---Then the question arises, What does he mean by exhorting us to be "subject unto the higher powers"?
Take the case negatively. We are not to resist the powers that be. Why? Because we are children of the Highest,—children of the heavenly kingdom, and the rule of that kingdom is peace. The ruler of the kingdom is the Prince of peace. Therefore since we have been delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of his Son, we are to allow the peace of God to rule in our hearts. Col. 3:15. For this reason we are to "follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Heb. 12:14.
 
In the 12th chapter of Romans we are instructed, "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." That does not mean that we are to live peaceably with all men just as long as we can endure their provocation, and when that gets unendurable, that we are at liberty to have it out with them in a regular quarrel. 
---But it does mean that "if it be possible, as much as lieth in you," you are to live at peace with all men. 
Q: How far now, is it possible for the Christian to live at peace with
all men? 
A: It is possible for him to be at peace with all men, as far as he himself is concerned, all the time. For, he is dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto Christ. Christ dwells in his heart by faith, and Christ is the Prince of peace
---Then there are no circumstances under which the Christian is justified in losing his temper and declaring war either against an individual or a government.
 
---Now how about being subject to the powers, yet not always obeying them? 
Take a familiar example. 
Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon, and his was certainly a government ordained of God, for God had given all the lands over which he ruled into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and all nations were to serve him, and his son and his son's son. 
Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold and commanded that when the music sounded, all the people were to bow down to it. It was told to the king that the three Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had not fallen down and worshiped the golden image. The king called them to him, and told them that although they had disobeyed him, he would overlook that offense, if when the music sounded again, they would worship the image. "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy god, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."  
---They did not resist the king. 
---He gave them an alternative. 
---They could do one of two things,—
bow down to the image
or be cast into the furnace
---They disobeyed the order to bow down to the image; but they did not resist the alternative to go into the furnace
 
In 1 Peter 2:13, we are told, "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing, you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." This is parallel with the statement in the 13th of Romans, as is seen by verse 7.
 
It is our duty to preach the gospel; to arise and let our light shine, and if we do that, God will hold the winds as long as they ought to be held. Brethren, the third angel's message is the greatest thing in all the earth. ... the time will come ....when the third angel's message will be the theme and topic of conversation in every mouth.