Now, most of you will remember that we are dealing with the first seven verses in the 13th

chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Romans.

We spent the last Friday evening in going through and giving a detailed exegesis of

the seven verses.

We dealt with what I described as the mechanics, and you've got to do this.

You can't arrive at a knowledge of doctrine or teaching unless you are clear in your minds

as to what the apostle is saying exactly.

Well, now, having done that, we are in a position, as I said at the end last Friday,

to consider the teaching which the apostle gives us here. It is most important teaching,

and it is unique teaching, because here the Apostle deals with the whole question of the

relationship of the Christian to the state and to the laws of the country in which he happens

to live.

Now, this is a subject that is not dealt with frequently in the scriptures.

That is what makes this most important passage,

a kind of locust classicus with regard to this matter.

And that is why, from time to time in the long history of the church,

it has received such special attention. Now, as you read long history of the church, it has received such special attention.

Now, as you read the history of the church, you will find that God's people, when they are truly spiritual in their thinking and their outlook,

have often had to consider very carefully the teaching of this section, because they were involved in difficulties with regard to the states in which they live. Clearly the early Christians were, and this has been true of Christians at many other times in the history of the world.

And once more, this is becoming a very vital subject in this very century.

Christian people have been forced to consider this passage more frequently

than they have for several centuries, I mean because of fascism, Nazism, communism,

...