The following message is by pastor John Piper.

More information from Desiring God is available at

W.W. dot desiring God.org.

Tonight's sermon is found in the book of Romans, chapter 13.

And if you would like to follow along with me in your Pugh Bible,

it can be found, the passage can be found on page 948. Again it's Romans

chapter 13 verses 1 through 7. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Therefore, whoever resists the authorities that God has appointed

and those who resist will encourage judgment.

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.

Therefore, one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath, but also for the sake of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes.

For the authorities are ministers of God attending to this very thing. Pay to all what

is owed to them. taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom

revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my cries for mercy.

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,

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