HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

Lesson Nineteen

GOVERNMENT (1): WHY WE NEED GOVERNMENT

Burden to Impart:

God has established human government to restrict evil, to execute His wrath and judgment on evil doers and to make the earth a more peaceful place to live, so we can fulfill His purpose (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Tim. 2:1-2). Government is God's servant to us for our good.

Memory Verse: "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities" (Romans 13:1a).

Facts to Teach:

  1. Before man sinned he was ruled directly by God and lived under the authority of the word of God (Gen. 2:16-17).
  2. After Adam and Eve sinned and disobeyed God, sin entered into the world (Rom. 5:19). All of Adam's descendants have a fallen, sinful nature. Adam's son, Cain, killed his own brother, Abel. Sin increased and filled the earth. All kinds of unrighteous, unfair, and sinful things now come from man, so God had to establish some way to restrict man's evil doings, to judge the evil doers, and to reward those who do good. God Himself established human government, that is, that men should be under some form of rule and laws. Because man did not live under God's rule, God placed men under the rule and judgment of other men (Gen. 9:6), that is, under human government.
  3. God has established human government to rule over sinful and fallen mankind (Rom. 13:1-4). If there were no government, the entire earth would be in an absolute disorder and under complete lawlessness. Imagine what it would be like if there were no policemen. The strong and the wicked would devour the weak and the righteous like wolves do sheep. If there were no policemen to enforce traffic laws, would it be safe to drive? How would life be if there were no order? What if the nurses did not report to work in the hospitals? If the trash men didn't remove the trash?
  4. God has established human government to rule over man so that evil would be restricted and good would be rewarded (Rom. 13:3-4; 1 Pet. 2:14). Government is to protect man from total lawlessness and destruction, so we can live peacefully and serve God (1 Tim. 2:1-2).
  5. In order to carry out all the duties of the government there is the need of many officers and serving ones:
    1. Rulers: kings, presidents, governors, mayors, etc.
    2. Lawmakers
    3. Law enforcement officers: police, sheriff, FBI
    4. Judges
    5. Prisons
    6. Military forces
    7. Public services, etc.
  6. Those who live peacefully and obediently are neither afraid of nor resist the government. Those who do evil and are disobedient toward the government are actually sinning against God Himself, for it was God who established the government to rule over man lot Him.