The document outlines the principles of Christian life as articulated by Bill Fritz, emphasizing the importance of submission to governmental authority as ordained by God, barring conflict with divine laws. It highlights the commandment to love one's neighbor and the necessity of spiritual awakening to fulfill God's purpose, using Scripture from Romans as a foundational reference. Ultimately, believers are encouraged to put on the Lord Jesus and differentiate themselves from worldly behaviors.

1. DO’S AND DON’T OF CHRISTIAN LIFE
Produced by Bill Fritz for Adult Sunday School12/11/2019 1

2. Scripture Reading
Romans 13: 1 - 7
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“Render unto Caesars”

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God is sovereign, all that exists does so, by His
command, permission, appointment, and by His
authority.
Paul states this ideology in verse 1.
As the sovereign God, all those in authority are given that
authority by God.
In some cases, the appointment of authority is
reluctant.
For example, it was God who appointed Samuel to
anoint Saul as Israel’s first king (1 Sam 8:21-22
NKJV).
God was reluctant to give a man ruling power,
power up to this point, which was His.
The people’s desired to be like everyone else.
God was reluctant because He knew the outcome
of the peoples’ folly.
Appointment of authority is made to bring about
obedience to God and to recognize Him as the
supreme authority*.
Therefore considering the source of authority
appointments, who are we to not submit to that
authority?
The only exception to this would be when the
authority is in directed conflict with God’s laws.

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FOOTNOTES:
1. David S. Dockery (2013). Holman Concise Bible Commentary. (Broadman & Holman, 2013).
4
Verse 3 and 4 seem to be a contradiction to
what we have seen in history.
Paul was addressing the church in Rome. He most
likely wrote the letter to the Roman church while in
Corinth (Rom 16:1)1.
Paul may have heard reports of civil unrest or
disobedience in the Roman church.
The message is clear. In today’s vernacular Paul is
saying, keep your nose clean, and you have nothing
to fear from the authorities.
Those who disobey civil law will suffer the
consequences of civil authorities2.
However, those who obey civil laws have nothing to
fear from that authority3.
Evil governments, those who persecute the faithful,
are also permitted by God for His purpose.
David Dockery (2013) writes: “Government is God's
servant to discipline the disobedient and carry out His
righteous will1.”

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When Jesus was questioned as to whether
Jews should pay taxes to Rome, what was His
answer (Mat 22:21).
Jesus was being trapped by the Pharisees.
Had Jesus said paying taxes to Rome was wrong, He
would have been accused of sedition.
Had Jesus said that paying taxes to Rome was right,
then He would have been accused of being a traitor to
the oppressed Jewish people.
With divine wisdom, Jesus answered, “render unto
Cesar that which belongs to Cesar and unto God that
which belongs to God.
Paul addresses this subject in verses 5-7, giving the
logic behind Jesus’s answer.
Holman writes: “Since the civil government is ordained
by God and gives us certain benefits, we are to submit
to it. We are to pay taxes to support it, honor, and
respect it1.”
1. Holman Bible Editorial Staff (2018). The HCSB Study
Bible. (B&H Publishing Group, 2018).

6. Scripture Reading
Romans 13: 8-10
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Love Your Neighbor as You do Yourself

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To be indebted to an institution or another
person is a form of servitude (Pro 22:7 NKJV).
The only debt we owe is the love we owe to our
brethren.
Jesus has said, “a commandment I give you that you
should love one another (Jhn 15:12 NKJV).
Lev 19:18 states by law: “'You shall not take
vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children
of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as
yourself: I [am] the LORD.”
Therefore we are commanded by Jesus to love one
another as He has loved us.
Jesus loved us enough to die for us what greater love
has any man that he lay down his life for his brother
(Jhn 15:13NJKV).
The Israelites were commanded by law to love their
neighbors as themselves (Lev 19:18 NKJV).
Paul taught: "I urge that petitions, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for
everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority"
(1Tim 2:1-2 NKJV).

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In verse 9, Paul points out that if you truly love one
another, you will not sin against your brother.
Sins against your brother are the last five
commandments given to Moses.
Any sin is sufficient to condemn a person to eternal
death.
However, the sin of coveting lays the groundwork for
other sins: adultery, stealing, bearing false witness,
even murder.
As Christians, we must guard ourselves against a
feeling of coveting.
Do not covet the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
God is sovereign and gives gifts for the betterment of
the body, not to elevate anyone who receives them.
Therefore, be satisfied with the gift or gifts the Holy
Spirit has given you.
Paul closes this paragraph with the statement
found in verse 10: “ Love does no harm to a
neighbor; therefore love [is] the fulfillment of the
law (Rom 13:10 NKJV).”

9. Scripture Reading
Romans 13: 11-14
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Put on the Lord Jesus

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footnotes
1. William Vine. "Asleep, Sleep - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words." 10
The word sleep is used with more than one
application in Scripture; how is it being used
here?
WORD STUDY
To determine the meaning of the word sleep, we
must first look at its context.
Paul had been speaking of loving your neighbor as
yourself and to honor authority with your taxes.
Now, Paul tells his readers to do as he has instructed
because the time of the Lord draws closer.
G5258 hypnos Transliteration Asleep, Sleep:
is never used of death. In five places in the NT
it is used of physical "sleep;" in Rom 13:11,
metaphorically, of a slumbering state of soul,
i.e., of spiritual conformity to the world, out of
which believers are warned to awake1.
Paul is telling his readers it is time to wake up
to their spiritual reality.
Up to this point, they were unaware of their spiritual
side.
They were acquainted only with the works of the
law and the world in which they lived.

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Holman writes:
Christians live between the ages. The old age is passing,
and the new is dawning. We long for the new age to fully
come, and we recognize that our salvation will soon be
completed. We have been "rescued... from the domain of
darkness" (Col 1:13) and from the night of sin into a
new realm of light. We need to wake up from spiritual
lethargy.
As believers, we have been purchased out of the
darkness of ignorance through the blood of Jesus.
And we have been granted the light of Christ, to see
the new day that awaits us (v12).
Paul’s ministry marked the beginning of the church
age encompassing both Jew and Gentile.
Once the church age has reached its fulfillment, the
new age the age of Christs 1,000 year rule will
begin.

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Paul closes this chapter by exhorting the
church in Rome.
Paul tells them and us to put away the revelry of
the world, with its fleshly desires.
Instead, put on Christ Jesus. In other words, do not
follow the sinfulness of the world.
Instead, be set apart from the world and put on the
whole armor of God.
This advice is as relevant today as it was during
Paul’s age.
As Christians, we cannot expect the world to see us
as ambassadors of Christ if we are the same as the
world.
If the carnality of the world corrupts our moral
character and stature, and if by our demeanor, we
betray our love for our neighbor. How then can we
bear witness of our Lord?

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Credits and Bibliography
Dockery, David S. Holman Concise Bible Commentary. (Broadman & Holman, 2013).
Holman Bible Editorial Staff (2018). The HCSB Study Bible. (B&H Publishing Group, 2018).
Vine, William . "Asleep, Sleep - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words."
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