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Sermon Notes

God-Ordained Human Government

Sunday 14 December 2025 Pastor Craig Ledbetter Genesis 9
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I. Introduction

A. We are in Genesis Chapter 9

B. Things have changed since the year-long worldwide flood of Genesis 6-8

  1. Climate has drastically changed - it is now raining! Genesis 2:5
  2. Animals have changed - diets are now carnivorous, afraid of humans, not getting as big, and not living as long as they did before the flood
  3. Mankind is living shorter and shorter lifespans
  4. And there are new expectations of all mankind
    • Refill the whole world with people - loads of children, marriages, families, towns, cities, nations
    • And… take responsibility for how people treat each other

C. We learned about the importance and the value of “covenants”

  1. God established a new relationship with all mankind - not just Jews, or Gentiles, but all men everywhere. Everyone was Gentile back then

  2. Covenants are a foundational part of society, especially a mature, stable society.

  3. We rely on covenants for important decisions

    • Like when getting married - the covenant of marriage - not just the act of it
    • Like when buying a house - you make a formal, binding ongoing agreement
    • Like when we decide to have an ongoing relationship with God instead of just a few religious experiences and prayers!

  4. God made a Covenant and a Promise with all mankind

    • God was through cursing the earth with a flood anymore (9:11; 8:21,22)
    • He will no more judge the world by a flood

“And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.” - Genesis 9:11

  • I like it when God makes promises - because He keeps them!
  1. God Gave a Reminder - A rainbow!
    • The most amazing reminder in the world!
    • Not of PRIDE, but of a Promise!
    • A symbol of God’s grace towards sinful men
    • A symbol of restraint - God is restraining Himself from judging this world with a flood again - even though he could!
    • A symbol of God’s faithfulness - commitment to ALL his promises!
    • The rainbow is a token or a sign of God’s covenant to all people all over the world of this promise. It’s just like an engagement ring is a token / symbol of love.

D. And this morning we will learn about the need for human government

  1. This is not Civics class - this is BIBLE!
  2. I find that many people have no higher authority than themselves
    • If they don’t agree with something, they constantly complain and argue and fight…
    • Never imagining what the word ‘rebellion’ actually means.
    • God has purposefully ordained authorities over us ALL
    • And of all people, the Christian is to submit to authorities and respect authorities and honour authorities and pray for authorities. WHY? Because they have GOD-given authority over us!

E. Genesis chapter 4, 5 and 6, prove we cannot just live as we please

  1. We CAN’T all just get along. We never have and never will until Jesus comes back
  2. Deep down, all of humanity is ruined, defective and depraved.
  3. See, Romans chapter 3.
  4. We are selfish, self-centred. We are liars, haters, thieves, cruel.
  5. We need limits. We need governing.

F. We need to take responsibility for how not only we act, but also how others act

G. And that begins with submitting to and influencing governments for good

II. Review

A. Mankind Now Has a New Responsibility (Genesis 9:5,6)

  1. “And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” - Genesis 9:5,6

  2. God says that people no longer are free to just treat other people as they please

  3. No longer live without laws and governments

  4. Take responsibility for how you treat each other

  5. That means…

  6. Create governing powers that will keep people from killing each other!

    • Kings, Governors, Rulers, Magistrates
    • Mayors, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Taoisigh’s, and Tanaiste’s
    • Judges and Courts

III. Conclusion

A. Human government is God’s idea, not man’s

B. We are accountable to God for how we treat others

C. Christians should be the best citizens and supporters of good government

D. Pray for those in authority over you

For more information, contact Bible Baptist Church of Ballincollig at www.biblebc.com

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