Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus is King over everything.

“Therefore”

The proclamation of the Gospel inherently involves the call call to repent and believe the gospel, thus declaring Jesus “Lord” (Romans 10:9-10)

Denial of Christ before men is tantamount to apostasy (Matthew 10:33)

This is why the “pinch of incense” and the declaration of Caesar as lord was considered apostasy.

What is the “pinch of incense” of our day?

Spheres of authority under Christ

Fathers over homes (Eph 5, 1 Cor 11)

Elders over churches (Heb 13)

Magistrates over civil matters (Rom 13)

Romans 13

Magistrates are servants of God

Their role is to punish evil and promote good (defined in the Law)

Their role is not to provide food and healthcare (protection and provision of the home are the role of husbands/fathers, parents.

If they step outside their role, they don’t have authority

Acts 5:29

Obey God rather than men

Jewish leaders were leveraging the power of the state

Daniel 3,6,1

Exodus 1 (Hebrew midwives faithfully lie to the tyrants to save babies)

Rahab lies to protect the Hebrew spies (Joshua 2:1, 3; 6:17-25; Hebrews 11:31)

Tyrannicide

Ehud (Judges 3)

Jael (Judges 4:21-22)

Christian heritage of resistance:

French Huguenots

Magdeburg Confession

Puritan Patriots and the American Revolution