The Word
1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.9 For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now tsalvation is nearer to us than when we believed.12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Romans 13:1-14 NASB
What is it saying?
- Be subject to the government
- - no authority except from God/established by God
- - resisting authority is opposing the ordinance of God
- Rules are not a cause for fear
- Government is a minister of God fur us and for our good
- - may also be a bringer of wrath
- Rulers are servants of God
- Only owe one another the debt of love
- Love your neighbor as yourself sums up the law
- - love is the fulfillment of the law
- Salvation is near, so live in light of this
- Put on the Lord Jesus and give no room for lusts of the flesh
What does it mean?
Government
- God has placed rulers over us for our own good
- They should realize that their authority is a gift and responsibility from God
Love
- Romans addresses a group of people trying to keep the Law, but the fulfillment of the Law is a lot simpler than they think
- Mark 12:30-31 – Jesus has already said this, but the Romans either have already forgotten or the never knew
What am I going to do with it?
- Are we, as a country, justified/authorized in deposing other governments?
- Dow love motivate my actions?
- - or am I still working off a checklist or scale system of righteousness?
Summary Thoughts
The first portion of the chapter reads like a call to practical living. In reality, Paul is masterfully relating our relationship with the physical government to our relationship with the Law.
- established by God
- for our good
- servant of God
- do what it asks
The second half of the chapter, then explores the motive that should propel us both in our submission to the Law/law and in all of life: Love. 1 John 4 tells us that love comes from God and that “the one who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8). So, we find that there is really only one way to live – from the foundation of Love.
ryan
jsegars
“Are we, as a country, justified/authorized in deposing other governments?”
That’s an interesting question. I guess you’re coming at it from the angle that both governments are given authority by God?
There’s definitely the angle of individuals trying to end an injustice that would be against God’s will and the fact that God in his sovereignty can choose to use one nation against another. Actually figuring out how that works in the present day is a little more challenging though.
Obviously, the sovereignty point makes the topic moot. God is just as much sovereign in the current government as he is in the previous or future government and in His use of some other entity to depose them.
I think, however, that this fact should give us pause – and, in fact, should make us question the concepts of inalienable rights, freedoms, and justice.
If God can send his people into captivity (Egypt and Babylon) and God is just, then it begs the question: do we truly have a human right to freedom?
I think that in a free country we are quick to say that God is choosing the leaders, but we are slower to say the same of other nations. It’s hypocritical, unbiblical and scary.
(Can you imagine the troubles I had being in seminary during an election year?!?)