"For
rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no
fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he
is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he
does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer." Romans 13:3-5
The Bible teaches us that God makes a new creation spring forth within us through the water of Baptism. A new creation arises, one that is connected to the death and resurrection of Jesus. This new creation is perfect, guided by the Holy Spirit, and has the gift of eternal life in Jesus.
This new creation lives to do God's will perfectly. And I should mention that, if you have been baptized into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you have this new creation life within you. It lives to do God's will. It wants to live in line with how God created us to live. It doesn't engage in sin, but strives to be in line with living the way God designed us as His human creation to live.
The new creation does what is good and right in God's eyes. Therefore it has no need to fear, either to fear God and His wrath and condemnation at sin, nor to fear human authority, as it seeks to do good. For the new creation, things such as laws or rules carry no fear or terror, because the new creation does them. That's its nature. It does good, and perfectly loves God and our neighbor.
Part of our trouble in this world is that we possess this new creation, courtesy of God through the waters of baptism, but at the same time, we still inhabit the sinful nature that is ours courtesy of our first father and mother. Tomorrow I'll spend a little time talking about how that old nature looks at things like God's will and the laws of this world.
The Bible teaches us that God makes a new creation spring forth within us through the water of Baptism. A new creation arises, one that is connected to the death and resurrection of Jesus. This new creation is perfect, guided by the Holy Spirit, and has the gift of eternal life in Jesus.
This new creation lives to do God's will perfectly. And I should mention that, if you have been baptized into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you have this new creation life within you. It lives to do God's will. It wants to live in line with how God created us to live. It doesn't engage in sin, but strives to be in line with living the way God designed us as His human creation to live.
The new creation does what is good and right in God's eyes. Therefore it has no need to fear, either to fear God and His wrath and condemnation at sin, nor to fear human authority, as it seeks to do good. For the new creation, things such as laws or rules carry no fear or terror, because the new creation does them. That's its nature. It does good, and perfectly loves God and our neighbor.
Part of our trouble in this world is that we possess this new creation, courtesy of God through the waters of baptism, but at the same time, we still inhabit the sinful nature that is ours courtesy of our first father and mother. Tomorrow I'll spend a little time talking about how that old nature looks at things like God's will and the laws of this world.
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