 Okay, good morning and welcome to class. Good to see some faces. Siddhaan, don't put off your phone. Oh, you're sitting on the teacher's table and chair. No problem. But good to see some faces. It really kind of brings some color on the screen, some life. It's really nice. Thank you. Okay, so let's begin. Can one of you please lead us in prayer, please? Anyone? Anyone can lead us in prayer? Yeah, sure, please. Thank you. Please be. Father, in the name of Jesus, we come before your throne of grace. Lord, we surrender everything to you. We surrender our life to your word of grace, that word which is able to build us. Let your word ignite us, build us like in Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Thank you. So today we're going to be looking at Romans chapter 13. In Romans chapter 13 Paul is basically talking about the believer and the government. Okay. It has to do with Romans chapter 13 is basically about civic authorities or government authorities. Other than 1 Peter chapter 2, this is the primary place in the New Testament where there is so much teaching on civic authorities or the government. So the only other place in the New Testament there's a little more in-depth teaching about the government and how we need to relate to the government is in 1 Peter chapter 2 and Romans chapter 13 is the only other place. And we know that Paul is writing to the believers in Rome and the Rome was ruled by the Roman emperor. And we know that the Roman emperors were not godly people. They were actually, sorry, but terrible people. And at this point when Paul was, the apostle Paul was writing the church at Rome, Nero was in power. And we've heard about the wickedness of Rome, of Nero especially towards the Christians. He was very harsh and cruel in his treatment towards the Christians. He even made Christians as torches to light up his garden. So Christians were put on poles and they were lit as torches to light his garden. They were also used as an entertainment. They were made a sport of, they would release these Christians into the open arena where there would be a wild animal or these warriors would come and they would beat them up or these Christians would run for their life from here to there and animals would run behind them. So it would be like a sporting event in the Roman world and people would enjoy it. And so they've made a sport of the Christians. And eventually we also know that one of the Roman generals around 8070 destroyed Jerusalem. So the Roman government were not kind and godly. They were not fair or just. So for Paul to write the words that he writes or what he's asking us to do and how he's asking us to attitude towards the Roman government or to the government is quite astounding because understanding the situation that the church at Rome were facing, the people, the believers, the Christians were facing and for Paul to write this is quite astounding, but we know that it's not Paul's own words but it's the words of God. It's the Holy Spirit imparting to Paul. And hence, you know, even as we read this in our context today, you know, we need to see how it applies to our day and time as well. Okay, so with this introduction, let's look at Romans chapter 13 verses one following. Can somebody read verses one to a seven please of Romans chapter 13. Romans chapter 13 verses one to seven. Let every person be addicted to running authorities for there is no authority except from God and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists what God has appointed and those who resist will be your judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is an 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 fear this word in vain. For he is a servant of God and an Avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrong day. Therefore, one must be subjection not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this, you also pay taxes for the authorities or ministers of God attending to this very thing. Pay to all who is owed to them. Taxes to whom taxes are owed. Prevent you to whom, prevent you is owed. Respect to whom, respect is owed. Honor to whom God, honor to whom. Thank you. Thank you, Asha. So, in verse one, we see that Paul is writing to the church and Droma, he's saying, be subject to the governing authorities. Okay, which means be submitted to the civic authorities, to the governing authorities, which means no questions asked. You know, what if they're a good, bad government? What if the wicked government and evil government should be submit to them? So, he's not qualifying which kind of government, he just says, be subject or submit to the governing authorities. And the view that Paul brings to us is that, you know, is that he's appointed by God, that, you know, the government authorities are appointed by God. He says there's no authority except from God and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Why is he saying that, you know, irrespective of what kind of government, whether they're a good government, fair, just government, or whether they're a wicked or cruel government, he says that we need to submit to the civic authorities, to the governing authorities. And the view that Paul brings here is because they are appointed by God. Who is that they, it's the government, the rulers, those in authority, they are appointed by God. They are in that place because God has allowed them, has permitted them. And hence, he says, you know, we need to submit to governing authorities. And in verse two, he says, you know, those who resist the authority, the governing authority, resist the ordinances of God. That means he's saying the ordinance here is meaning the institution of God. So he's basically saying that, you know, the authorities are part of the institution that God has instituted. God has instituted just like his instituted marriage is instituted the government. And whoever is part of this, who's ruling in this institution of God, you know, we need to submit to them. And in verse two, he says, don't resist them. Okay. So Paul mentions to us that the civic government in, in verse one, verse two, verse four, and verse six, he says, are appointed by God. They are an institution of God. And, you know, in verse six, he says they are God's ministers. If you look at verse six, it says, you know, he says, for because of this, you also pay taxes for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. So he refers to those in leadership in the government as somebody who was appointed by God. They are part of the institution of God, and they are God's ministers. Okay, so they are basically instruments in God's hand, regardless of the form of the government, whether it's a government, which is a monarchy or a democratic government or a dictatorship government or a socialist government, whatever it is. Paul does not mention any qualifiers here. And it's also wrong for us to put any qualifiers, but whatever form of the government and those in authority, we need to view them or we need to see government officials as according to what the Word of God says and what Paul is revealing here to us by the revelation or through the revelation of the Holy Spirit that they are appointed by God. They are an institution of God and they are God's ministers. So as believers, what must we do? In verse one, Paul says we need to be subject to governing authority. In verse two, he says don't resist them, don't oppose them, don't fight against them. Okay, in verse three, he says do what is good. And in verse seven, he says render, therefore all that is due. That means pay your taxes, you have to pay your money, you have to pay your taxes, you pay your taxes. I know many of them in our country, especially are very disappointed because we pay huge amount of taxes for in everything and everything, you know, whether we buy medicines or whether we buy clothes or shoes or even some bakery items. We go to eat in the restaurant, everything has tax, but also we're paying income tax, road tax, house tax. And the sad thing is people are saying, you know, but there is no good infrastructure, not even good quality roads that people can drive safely. You know, many of these roads are the ones that are causing so much of accidents and people lose their lives. Well, it's very sad, but Paul is saying irrespective of what kind of government, what they're doing with our taxes, you know, we need to give them our taxes. And also not only our taxes, our money, but also respect and honor, which is very, very difficult, right? For the government that is persecuting us, for the government that is not fair, that's not just, that is holding up, holding up all the wealth and the riches and, you know, people are in poverty. There is no infrastructure, there is no improvement whatsoever. You know, we far from come to a place where we can really respect or honor our government, but what does God's word teach us? God's word teaches us that we need to respect and honor them and not just only pay our taxes. Now, when we read this whole chapter where Paul is basically talking about the civic government, now there are many questions that come to our mind. There's several questions with regard to the governing authorities. So in today's lesson, I'm just going to follow the notes that are there that has been given to you so you can follow through with the notes. You know, in the notes, there are some questions that have been raised up. So today we will just look at those questions and then follow through with the notes for Romans chapter 13. Okay, so let's consider some questions that can be raised with regard to the governing authorities. In the first question that is given there in the notes is in what sense are governing authorities appointed by God, especially those who are, you know, when we look at wicked rulers, rulers who are evil, unjust rulers, rulers who persecute Christians, you know, we can raise up the question, are they appointed by God? Are they in a place where they're appointed by God? And now why are we raising up this question is because we just said that, you know, we just read. And what Paul writes is, you know, he says that, you know, governing authorities or civic rulers, authorities are appointed by God. They are part of the institution of God and they are God's ministers. So the possible question that can come up that we can raise up is, you know, are those who persecute Christians, unjust, wicked, evil rulers, those dictators, you know, are they also appointed by God? So let's look at what scripture tells us. We'll get an understanding about this from scripture. The first one, the first point that we can learn from scripture is God has instituted governmental authority. Okay. If you remember in your first year when you did, sorry, in your second year when you studied about a kingdom of God and kingdom building, you learned about kingdom government in from that publication, the kingdom of God. And we learned there that, you know, all authority flows from God and God has instituted authoritative structures and authority structures in the home, in the body of Christ, that is the local church, the church. God has instituted his authority structure in the workplace and also in the government. And I hope you remember, you know, learning these four things. And so God has, you know, instituted the authority structure at home in the family, but we know that in the sight of God, husband and wife are both equal, you know. Both of them are equal in the sight of God. Both of them, you know, can grow into Christ's likeness. Both of them can receive salvation. Both of them can flow in the gifts of the Spirit. Both of them can manifest the fruit of the Spirit. So there is no partiality. You know, there is no male, no female, June or Greek, you know, all are one in Christ Jesus. So even as their husband and wife are equal, but yet in God's authoritative structure or God's government at home, we know that man is the head of the whole. Okay. He's a head and he's responsible. He is supposed to be the prophet, priest and the provider. He's supposed to fulfill his responsibility. Okay. In the same way in the church, we know that all of us are a royal priest for the Holy nation. We're all part of the body of Christ. We're all saved by grace. We're all the heirs of God co-heirs with Christ Jesus. But yet we see in the body of Christ, in the church, in the local church, that we have leaders. We have pastors who are in charge. And so there is a government structure even in the church. Okay. In the workplace, we know there is leadership. We know there are team leads. There are managers. There are senior managers and then there are CEOs and all of that. So there is a leadership as well in the government. We know there is in the government, there is different levels of authority that we find in the government. So the Bible tells us that these authority structures are from God. They have God has permitted these and he has instituted them. And through these authoritative structures or these authority structures, God will bring about his plans and his purposes. The purposes of God will grow in and through these authority structures. But the ideal is that the head of the authority structure should submit themselves to Christ. Like we read in 1 Corinthians 11, verse 3, the head of a man is woman. So a woman must submit herself to husband out of her respect or her love for God. And also we see that the head of man is Christ. Okay. So the head of man is Christ. And the head of Christ is God. So even as man fulfills his responsibility towards his wife and his family, his children, he needs to know that he is under an authority and that is Christ. Okay. He's accountable to Christ. He's responsible for what he does and says and behaves and acts. He's responsible to Christ. And we see that even Christ, the head of Christ is God. Because when Jesus became man, he submitted his will. He submitted himself in obedience in every area to the will of the Father. So we see that the authority of Christ is God or the head of Christ is God. So this is the ideal that we have. And we know that the work of God flows through this authority structures. And the ideal would be that each one would submit themselves to God. But this is, in reality, this is not the practice. This may not be. We can find many homes where the husband or the man, the Father, is not in submission to Christ, is not walking according to the ways and the wills and the plan of God. A church, hopefully, there are pastors who are ministering, who are serving in their submission or their submission to Christ. At the workplace, we have many of them who are in leadership, who may not be in submission to Christ and also as well in the government. We have leaders who are not in submission to Christ. So though there is an ideal that all of these leaders submit themselves to Christ, then everything works in perfect harmony and unity and oneness. But why do we see so much of wickedness and discord and monarchy and dictatorship and all of that in different levels of leadership is because that ideal is missing, that they are not submitting themselves to Christ. There is no submission to Christ. So only the ideal is when everyone is in submission, and when everyone was in submission, the purposes of God can be fulfilled. The second thing is we need to recognize God's permission. We need to know that every leader is in leadership because God has permitted them. Without God's permission, they cannot be in that place of leadership. They cannot be in that place of authority. So there is providence or permission of God where He allows people to enter into that place of authority. They can enter into that place of authority, whether they deserve it or not, whether they have gained that place of responsibility lawfully or unlawfully. They are pointed by God in the sense that they have been permitted by God to be in that place of power and influence, but God's permission does not imply God's approval of all the wrong thing that is being said or done or all the wicked thing that is being said or done. And we see this throughout scripture that kings and rulers come into their place of leadership authority because God permits them to be in that place of leadership, of authority, of power in that particular time and in that particular place. But there are times when God sovereignly sets up one and we see in His own sovereignty, He puts up one, He raises up one and He brings down the other and God sovereignly steers up kings and rulers to carry out their own specific purposes. We just look at that in a little bit. We look at a few examples regarding this point. But if you look at Psalms chapter 75 that's given in your notes, Psalms chapter 75 verses 6 and 7. Can one of you please read that please? Psalms 75, 6 and 7. Not from the east but from the west. Not from the wilderness comes lifting up. But it is God who excuses judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. Thank you. So we see that God is a judge. He's the one who puts down a person and He exalts and other. If you look at Daniel chapter 2 verse 21, it reads like this. He removes kings and raises up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. In Daniel chapter 4 verse 17, he says most high rules, the most high rules in the kingdom of men. He gives it to whoever He will and sets over it the lowest of men. So here we see that God in His sovereignty sets up a ruler, sets up one in position. He can set up one person. He can bring down the other. And then He can also move their hearts to bring out His specific plans and purposes. Just for a few examples, we know that Pharaoh was in that place at that given time. And we see that God uses the Pharaoh to display His power, His science miracles and wonders. Even though we know that God permitted him to be in that place for that season, that time, even though Pharaoh was heart-hearted. But we see that irrespective of that, we just see that God displays His power. Saul and David, we know that King Saul was made king. God chose him as king, but when he disobeyed God, he lost the anointing and David was anointed as king. But we also read how Saul, the rest of his life, he acted out of jealousy and he wanted to use continually on the run to get David out of the way to kill him. And we see twice when David had the opportunity to kill King Saul, he did not because he recognized him as the Lord's anointed. He recognized King Saul as in the place of God given authority and position that God had instituted himself and put King Saul there himself. And King Nebuchadnezzar, we see God uses him to judge the people of Israel, to take them as captives, to destroy Israel. We also see that he's brought to a place where he recognizes God as the true God. After his dream, when he continues to live in pride, where he lives as an animal, like a wild animal in the forest and then comes to his senses. He acknowledges the power of the true and living God, then he's restored back to his position as king. And we also see King Cyrus, the Persian king, who God moved his heart to send back the Jews back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and the temple and to dwell in Jerusalem. So we see that God working out his purposes irrespective of who the king or the ruler or the government is. But we need to note that not everything these leaders say and not everything these leaders did was from God. In some way they were used by God to carry out his purposes, even though they were not perfect people or perfect leaders. Okay, let's look at an example about how Jesus spoke about Pontius Pilate, the Roman government, Roman governor over Judea when Jesus was brought before a pilot. In John chapter 19 verse 10 to 11, Jesus tells Pilate, then Pilate said to him, are you not speaking to me? Do you not know I have the power to crucify you and the power to release you? So this is what Pilate is telling Jesus. And Jesus answers in John chapter 19 verse 11, you have no power at all against me unless it has been given to you from above. So what Jesus is saying and Jesus is acknowledging that, you know, Pilate is there in his position in his leadership authority and leadership role at that time that season. It's because the father has permitted him to be there to do so. Okay, and he's telling Pilate that, you know, you are in this position because my father's allowed it, but you will be responsible for the decisions that you make. Okay, and he says that it's not only you who is going to be responsible for this decision that you're going to take regarding me, but it says therefore the one who deceived me to you has the greater sin. So here Jesus is not mentioning or referring to the father because the father cannot sin, but here he's talking about the Jewish leaders and Judas with whose help, you know, Jesus was arrested and brought before Pilate. So Jesus is saying, yes, you're here, you know, in this authority because only my father has permitted it, but whatever decision you're going to make, you know, you are going to be responsible for your choices for your decisions along with other Jewish leaders and Judas who made the wrong decision, who delivered, you know, Jesus to be arrested and then to be crucified. The third thing is, you know, government's responsibility, God's permission or a governing authority is, you know, appointed by God. It does not mean that, you know, the leaders, character, motives, decisions, actions are all, you know, led by God, it's God's will, it's approved by God. So we can't say all of the wrong actions, the wicked things that, you know, these rulers do, dictators do, is all led by God, directed by God, approved by God, because he has permitted them to be leaders, no, has permitted them to be in that leadership position, but, you know, all of their actions, their decisions, their choices, everything, they are going to be accountable for their own words and their own actions. Like we read in Proverbs chapter 17, verse 15, it says, he who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord. So each one of us will be judged, you know, for our decisions, the choices that we make. The fourth thing we learn about, you know, from scripture, even as we're trying to answer this first question, you know, is, so our governing authorities in this position, because they are appointed by God. So what about corrupt, unjust and wicked leaders? We're answering this question. And the fourth thing is, you know, the people of the land are responsible for the kind of government that is in leadership. So the choices and actions of the people of the land influences who comes in the place of authority over them. Okay, we learned about this again in when we, in your second year in the course of Kingdom Builders. Okay, you learned, I hope you remember that, you know, it says that a nation always receives the government it deserves. So if a nation is filled with people who are corrupt, who are unjust, who have no regard for godly moral values, then we will have a leader who does the same. Because, you know, after all, all of the leaders have grown up from the same community, from the same people that they live among. But if, you know, if people change, then the government will also change. So the government is an expression of the people it represents. So if you have a wicked government, it basically, or a government that is dictated, that is a dictator, or a government that there is no moral ethical values, or there is corruption. It's basically because these leaders have grown up in the society in the same nation in this among the same people, but they have learned the same things. So it's important that, you know, we teach the coming generations about, you know, right moral ethical values, godly values, kingdom lifestyle, kingdom values, kingdom principles. Because if we fail to teach our generation, then, you know, the nation that we live in will turn out to be far worse than it is in the present situation. So I hope you're all able to see the importance of ministering to children. You know, I've been in children's ministry for the last 22, almost 24, 25 years now. It's sad to see that many of them who graduate from Bible college don't want to minister to children. Basically, they feel that they can't relate to them, or they don't see the importance of, you know, inculcating godly values, but it's so important. And it's so important in the sight of God, because even God tells the people, the Israelites, you know, when you celebrate the fast or world or the festivals, tell your children, you know, enact the whole scene, what happened. Tell your children, so the generations, the generations to come will know the mighty acts, the mighty deeds of the Lord their God. And also, you know, you know, we see in the Old Testament repeated, you know, throughout, you know, teach the generations to come. We see Moses, you know, all of deutronomy, you know, deutronomy, the second law. It's not that, you know, the law was given the second time. It's basically Moses reiterating the laws to a new generation that had come up. But it's a sad thing to read. I think it's in the Book of Judges in the last few verses in the Book of Judges. It says, then a generation that grew up who neither knew the ways or the deeds of the Lord their God. Why? Because the previous generation had failed to teach the younger generation. And I think that's the same thing that's being repeated even now. You know, we fail to teach our children godly values and ethical moral values. And so C is so important for us to teach them, not only children in who come to church, you know, but also sometimes we see Sunday schools and churches, you know, they just tell them a story, the same old story, Jonah, Zacchus, you know, Jesus feeding the 5,000 and just leave it at that. So children know the story, but, you know, they don't know, they're not, they're growing up to, you know, to have a form of godliness but denying its power. You know, and we also know the importance of teaching children in schools. So, you know, at APC we have a school outreach ministry where we go and teach scripture to all children in schools. And I hope, you know, people are able to see the importance because here, you know, we are grumbling about our government leadership authorities and looking at governments and leaders who are coming, who are so, you know, dictators, who are so selfish and so corrupt. And, you know, our responsibility is that we train the younger generation. You know, others will have a generation that rises up to be even far worse than the generations that have preceded us and the generation that exists even today. Okay. So in Proverbs chapter 28 verse 2 says, because of the transgression of the land, many others couldn't says, but a man of understanding and knowledge right will be prolonged. So you see that, you know, if you, you know, speak wisdom and understanding into people in the land, we see that, you know, the right will prolong. That means the right ways, the right things will prolong, will grow, will have a lasting impact and in effect on the lives and the minds of people. The fifth thing in answer to the question is God can stir the leaders for the specific purpose. So God can change the heart of the king and a leader. We know this very familiar verse in Proverbs chapter 21 verse 1, the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord like a river, like the rivers of water. He turns it wherever he wishes. Okay. So we know that God can stir the heart of the government, the wicked ruler can change him. And so what do we need to do? All we can do is pray. The more the people pray for the land, for their government, for those in leadership and those in authority, you know, we can, we see that God can move their hearts to bring about his plans and his purposes. So in Romans chapter 13 verses 1 to 8, we just looked at the few questions that we answered. But basically in Romans chapter 13 verses 1 to 8 Paul is saying that we are to submit to government authorities, we have to give them honor. Give honor to whom honor is due. We need to recognize them in leadership, in authority, because they're part of the institution that God has put in place. Even if they're ungodly, even if they're corrupt or wicked, we recognize that God can still work out his plans and purposes even to them, just like he worked it out through Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, you know, Cyrus. But ultimately, God's is his final authority. So God can override and stop them. God can intervene. We can override the wrong, the intent to do. But that is in response to our prayers and from our side, we need to pray for the government of our land, for the for the leaders that rule us, future leaders that come into power. Okay. So scripture teaches us here that we need to respect those in government in authority. We need to honor them. We should not fight against what leaders are doing as long as it does not violate what God has said. So to what extent the next question that can rise up in our minds is to what extent can we submit to governing authorities? Okay. We submit to them to the extent as long as they do not contradict the laws of God. And when it comes to them contradicting the laws of God, in such cases, we obey God and not man. Okay. So let's look at an example here in Acts chapter four and continues on to act chapter five. You know, Peter and John are commanded not to preach or teach in the name of, sorry, Jesus. And what does Peter and John answer? You know, they say that, you know, you judge is telling the people in those in authority, whether it's right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God. So he's asking them to judge. Should we listen to man or we need to listen to God? And the same thing, you know, Acts chapter five versus 28 to 29, there is strictly commanded not to teach in his name. But they, you know, they say that, and they say that if you preach and teach, then, you know, if you are killed, you know, then the blood will not be on us, but will be on you because you've already warned you. But Peter and the other other apostles, the answer and say, we ought to obey God rather than men. So yes, you know, we're supposed to submit to government authorities, rulership that is there, the government that is there. But times when, you know, when they contradict the laws of God, if they come against the laws of God, we obey God rather than man. So for example, you know, the government of the land tells us we don't preach the gospel, we need to obey the law. But, you know, you know, do we obey the law of the land or we do obey the mandate of God? Yes, we must be careful not to, you know, go against government authorities, which means we don't use, you know, people's homes. We don't use our office spaces or we don't use public places just to preach and teach because we need to submit to the law of the land to government authorities. But at the same time, you know, we can preach or teach in our own homes, you know, we can preach and teach in churches, you know, in homes where, or in halls where people are gathered, where Christians are gathered, we can preach and teach. But at the same time, we obey the mandate that God has given to us and also be careful not to violate other people's personal space or the government's personal space or, you know, the law that they have put. So we don't use other people's homes or office spaces or other public areas to preach and teach. But we can, it's okay to use our own homes or, you know, the buildings that we have, the so-called churches to preach and teach. Okay. Another question that can rise up is, should we not raise up our voices to express our concern or stand for injustice or wickedness? Yes, while we submit to the government, while we honor them, it does not imply or does not mean that we don't raise up our voices. We don't use our so-called rights as citizens or our freedom as people to express our ideas, to raise our voices, our concerns against injustice and wickedness. But we don't do it in a way that is, you know, that is causing harm and danger to others. We do it in the right way where we can be heard, which will not cause about any turmoil or any curfew or any unwanted, you know, killing of people. But we can, yes, raise our voices against injustice and wickedness. We can speak it, but in the right way, in gentleness, in peace, in love, in patience and self-control. Okay. Proverbs chapter 25 verse 5 says, take away the wicked from before the king and a stone will be established in righteousness. So if we have to apply this words in our modern day context, it means, you know, if people raise their voice of righteousness before leadership, then they can help the government be established in righteousness. So sometimes when we raise up our voice to the truth against wickedness, injustice, when actually, you know, before leadership, we are actually helping the government to establish, you know, a government or a rule or a rule or to execute righteousness and justice. But yes, we need to open our mouths and plead the cause of the poor and needy as we read in Proverbs chapter 31 verses 8 and 9. I'm basically today just following the notes, so I'm just going through it and I'm just assuming all of you have your notes and you're following along with me. Okay. It's very interesting in this chapter in verse 7, you know, Paul refers to the governing authorities he calls them as God's ministers. Okay. Basically the word minister is similar to the English word for beacon. And it basically represents, you know, God's intent for governing authorities that what is God's intent or what is his ideal for governing authorities is that, you know, they be ministers of God in the way that they live in what they do. But many of them we know fail in this calling they fail in their practice in the way they living their lives. But as long as, you know, they are doing things in righteousness. And, you know, and when we speak against injustice, what we do is we do it in a framework of the rights and, you know, the freedom that we have, we know that we can raise up our voice against injustice and against unrighteousness. And we know when we do that, as the word says that we just read in Proverbs chapter 25 was five, the throne will be established in righteousness. That means the government can be helped to establish righteousness in the way they rule, the way they execute things here on. Okay. We just move on anyone has any questions so far. So basically in verses one to seven Paul has been talking about, or telling us to submit to obey the government authorities in verses three to five. He says we have to submit to governing authorities in verse five in verse three he says why should we submit to governing authorities so that we can receive that approval. In verses four to five, foreign verse five he says so that we can avoid punishment. So if you don't want to get punished, don't want to be put in the jail, then you submit to governing authorities. And then in verse five he says for your own conscience sake, you know, submit to government authorities and in verses six and seven says pay taxes, give honor, and what is due to the government. Okay, we'll move on to verses eight to verses 14. Can somebody read verses eight to 14, please. This is eight to 14. Thank you. Romans 13, eight says, Oh no one anything except to love one another for he who loves another has fulfilled the law for the commandment says you shall not commit adultery, we shall not murder, you shall not, you shall not steal, you shall not be your false witness, you shall not commit, and if there is any other commandments, all are summed up in the same name that you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does not love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore love is a fulfillment of the law. Thank you. So, in, you know, what's eight Paul says the key to, you know, submitting to governing authorities to obeying them, you know, to do everything that this is quite of us the key is love. Okay, we know it. He knows that it's difficult for the Christians to obey the government authorities, especially in Rome because of how the Christians are persecuted, but he says the key is love. You will do no harm to your neighbor. If you love God, then you will, you know, automatically keep his law. So basically when you love people, you will keep the law of God, you will love them in return, you will do all that is required. That is essential of you that is required of you. And he says loving people is essentially the fulfillment of the law, because when we walk in love, you know, we keep all other commandments and we know, you know, it's spoken about or explained to us in one John. So loving people is essentially the fulfillment of the law, which is the greatest commandment Jesus said love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. Okay, so that is the greatest commandment. So when we fulfill the law, you know, when we make love people, you know, it helps us to fulfill the law, because we walk in love and we, you know, we're able to keep all other commandments. We're able to keep all other commandments as well. So love must be the standard in which we look at things in which we do things and why the motive of why we're doing what we are doing versus 11 to 14 he talks about personal life as a believer and the way the believer needs to live. Okay, we'll stop here. It's time we look at versus 11 to 14 and the next class. Anyone has any questions? Any questions? Any questions about the assessment? Was it fine? Was it okay? Okay, no questions. Pastor, I have a question. Where do we draw a line between obeying leaders as the Bible command us? And when they cross the line where we say, okay, this is enough, we cannot obey you, we'll have to take Martin on hands or things. Where do we draw the line? Is there a line or we have to obey them all the way? Good question, Mangi. So I think when it comes to the law of God, you know, when it's asking us to go against the law of God, the standards of God, but he's asked us that time we choose to obey the law of God and we know that when we obey the law of God, we can be persecuted, we can suffer harm. But we are asked to obey God rather than man. Of course, God will take care of things. He will help us. At times when people were persecuted, even killed, murdered, died because of the obey God rather than obeying man. You know, like for example, she had raked my check and I bet me go. You know, so where did they draw the line? They had to make a stand. They made a stand. What about Daniel? You know, asked not to pray to the king the next 40 days or, you know, but he comes back to his house and he does the same thing that he does every day. So when it comes to God and man, like we looked at the example in Acts 4 and 5, Peter and John and the other person says we rather obey God rather than, we need to obey God rather than man. That is what is right for us to do. So yes, that is where we make the decision and we choose and we have to go by what God is asking us to do. That is where we draw the line. Does that help, Mangi? Yes, Pastor. Thank you. Thank you so much. Okay, there are no questions and we'll end class. Thank you, everyone. I'll meet you all again on Friday. Till then, have a blessed week. God bless. Thank you. Thank you, Pastor. Thank you, Prabhakar. Thank you, Abhishek. Thank you, Supersheet. Thank you, Pastor. Thank you. See you.