And because the powers which God has ordained, and the liberty which Christ has purchased, are not intended by God to destroy, but mutually to uphold and preserve one another, they who, upon pretence of Christian liberty, shall oppose any lawful power, or the lawful exercise of it, whether it be civil or ecclesiastical, resist the ordinance of God. And, for their publishing of such opinions, or maintaining of such practices, as are contrary to the light of nature, or to the known principles of Christianity (whether concerning faith, worship, or conversation), or to the power of godliness; or, such erroneous opinions or practices, as either in their own nature, or in the manner of publishing or maintaining them, are destructive to the external peace and order which Christ has established in the Church, they may lawfully be called to account.
Since God has both created the human conscience and establishes lawful authorities, they are intended to work together, not against one another. For example, the established authorities write laws against unrighteous acts (theft, murder, rape) and create incentives for right behavior. These are aids to conscience. Likewise, the conscience of lawmakers guides them in the creation of just laws.
When the Confession states that the Christian may not oppose lawful powers or their lawful exercise, the emphasis is upon "lawful." An authority that attempts to coerce a Christian against what God has said is not acting legitimately. It is right always to obey God rather than men (Acts 4:18-20, 5:27-29).
However, if church or state authorities make a legitimate demand upon an individual, that individual is duty-bound to obey. Failure to do so justly makes him subject to ecclesiastical or civil penalties.
Tomorrow: A summary on liberty.
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