In Don Stubblefield's sermon 'Chapter 24, Section 3', the role of civil government as ordained by God for maintaining order and justice is explored, drawing from the New Geneva Study Bible. Civil government is one of several God-ordained institutions, alongside the Church and family, each with distinct authority. Referencing Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17, the sermon emphasizes that civil authorities are appointed for the public good, empowered by God with the authority to enforce laws and collect taxes, as illustrated in Matthew 22:15-21. However, if civil authorities contradict God's laws, Christians must prioritize divine commands, as shown in Acts 5:17-29. The Church's role is to comment on governmental morality based on God's Word, encouraging political action among Christians in their civic capacities. Christians should pray for and support civil authorities, urging them to fulfill their God-given roles. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 is referenced to clarify that salvation is not universal but available to people from every tribe and tongue, highlighting the importance of interpreting scripture holistically.

I'd like to read a quote from the New Geneva Study Bible on Christians and civil government, in which it is stated that civil government is a means ordained by God for ruling and maintaining order in communities. It is one of a number of such means including ministers in the church and parents in the home. Each has its own sphere of authority under Christ who now rules and sustains all creation, and the limits of each sphere are set by reference to the others. In our fallen world, these authorities are institutions of God's common grace, standing as a bulwark against anarchy and the dissolution of ordered society. With reference to Romans 13 1 through 7 and 1st Peter 2 13 through 17 the Westminster Confession explains the sphere of civil government as follows.

God the supreme Lord and King of all the earth hath ordained civil magistrates to be under him over the people for his own glory and the public good. To this end he hath armed them with the power of the sword for the defense and encouragement of them that are good and for the punishment of evildoers. Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of the word and sacraments or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven, chapter 23, articles 1 and 3 from the Westminster Confession. And because civil government exists for the welfare of the whole society, God gives it the power of the sword, the lawful use of force to administer just laws. Romans 13, 4.

Christians must acknowledge this as part of God's order. Romans 13, 1 and 2. A government may collect taxes. Taxes is the translation of the new King James, and the King James, its tribute, a reference to taxes for the services it renders. Matthew 22, 15 through 21 and Romans 13, 6 and 7.

Let us turn to the passage in Matthew 22, 15 through 21. Then went the Pharisees and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk, in Christ's talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God in truth. Neither carest thou for any man, for thou regardest not the person of man. Tell us therefore what thinkest thou?

Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's. When they heard these words, they marvelled and left Him and went their way. But if the civil government forbids what God requires or requires what God forbids, Christians cannot submit and some form of civil disobedience becomes inescapable. Let us turn to Acts chapter five, verses 17 through 29.

Then the high priest rose up and all they that were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees, and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors and brought them forth and said, go stand and speak in the temple to the people, all the words of this life. And when they heard that they entered into the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest came and they that were with them and called the council together and all the senate of the children of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came and found them not in the prison, they returned and told, saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors but when we had opened we found no man within Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would go.

Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the man whom ye put in prison, or standing in the temple, and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers and brought them without violence for they feared the people lest they should have been stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council, and the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straightly command you that you should not teach in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us." Of course the man Jesus' blood was already on them. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

To continue with the, from the New Geneva Study Bible, the church's sphere of authority relates to the civil government at the level of morality. The Church has the responsibility to comment on the morality of governments and their policies on the basis of God's Word, but should not appropriate to itself the power to set such policies. Whereas these assessments may foster political action among Christians, they should act in their capacity as citizens rather than as representatives of the Church. In this way, the gospel works through moral persuasion and the working of God's grace among citizens. Christians should urge governments to fulfill their proper role.

They are to pray for, obey, and yet watch over civil governments. In connection with that, let us turn to 1st Timothy 2, 1 through 4. I exhort therefore that first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. That all man is not an all-man universally.

It's man from every tribe, people, and tongue. And we're not to take verses like that and to build a whole theology on it, like the universalists that teach that everybody's going to be saved. The Word plainly teaches us that the word to heaven is narrow and few there be that enter, and the word to hell is wide and many there be that go therein. So we have to compare Scripture with Scripture. We cannot just take one verse and just build a whole theology on it.

So we're to watch over civil government and we are to remind them that God has ordained them to rule and protect and keep order. And they're not to take over the keys of the church. They're two different, entirely two different rules of authority.