Good Citizens
Romans 13:1-7
Let every soul be subject unto the
higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the
ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not
be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of
the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that
which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the
minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for
conscience sake. 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s
ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues:
tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom
fear; honour to whom honour.
Jeremiah 29:1-7
Now these are the
words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the
residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and
to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive
from Jerusalem to Babylon; 2 (After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and
the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the
smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;) 3 By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan,
and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon
to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying, 4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the
God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to
be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; 5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the
fruit of them; 6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives
for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and
daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the
peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and
pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
Romans 12:1-21
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And
be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace
given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to
think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the
measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members
have not the same office: 5 So we, being many,
are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then
gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the
proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let
us wait on our ministering: or he
that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that
giveth, let him do it with
simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with
cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without
dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another
with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in
business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in
tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of
saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and
curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward
another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise
in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest
in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live
peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is
written, Vengeance is mine; I will
repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he
thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his
head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Titus 3:1-3
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers,
to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man,
to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing
all meekness unto all men. 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish,
disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and
envy, hateful, and hating one
another.
I Peter 2:11-16
Dearly beloved, I beseech you
as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against
the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas
they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of
visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake:
whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that
are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them
that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to
silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of
maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Matthew 22:15-22
Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might
entangle him in his talk. 16 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 men. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give
tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said,
Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19
Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith
unto them, Whose is this image and
superscription? 21 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. 22 When they had heard these
words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. [1]