June 11, 2023, Romans 13:1-7

Introduction

A. Attention-getter: Share a relevant story from recent news/events that highlight the struggle or importance of obedience to authority.

C. State the objective: Explore what Scripture teaches about our role in relation to authority and the practical implications for our daily lives.

When Paul wrote Romans 12:1

Romans 12:1 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

He wasn’t just writing about how we just live out our devotion generally. He was living in a very real world that often didn’t value human life.

In just the story of Jesus

Herod orders all the babies in Bethlehem and the surrounding area killed to take out the Messiah

Matthew 2:16–18 ESV

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Only a few decades later Herod’s son Antipas celebrates his birthday by beheading John the baptist

Mark 6:20 ESV

20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

Mark 6:25–28 ESV

25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

The ever-changing value of life in the Roman Empire and the looming threat of persecution.

Historical Context of Paul’s Message

Caligula (Reigned A.D. 37–41)

A. Discuss Caligula's reign and its impact on the nascent Christian community.

1. Highlight the volatile nature of his rule.

2. Discuss his erratic behavior and perceived insanity.

got sick, murdered relatives and declared himself a god among other things....was asssaniated

B. His assassination in A.D. 41.

1. Share the events leading to his assassination.

Claudius I (Reigned A.D. 41–54)

A. Overview of Claudius I's reign and the significant events under his rule.

1. Discuss the role of his wife Messalina and his niece, Agrippina the Younger.

Murdered his first wife and married Agrippina who was the one who murdered Claudius

2. Highlight the political intrigue and murders.

B. His treatment of Jews and the implications for the Christian community.

1. Explore the banishment of Jews from Rome.

Orginally tolerated the jews and then banashed them from Rome due to disturbances related to a Chrestus…Jewish unrest becuase of preaching the gospel of Christ.

2. Discuss the potential impact on the growth of Christianity.

Nero (Reigned A.D. 54–68)

A. Discuss Nero's rule as the ‘governing authority’ when Paul wrote Romans (around A.D. 57).

1. Share the actions of Nero against his own family.

murdered mother and wife

2. Highlight the instability of his reign.

B. Nero's atrocities towards Christians, including the infamous great fire of Rome.

1. Discuss the blaming of the fire on Christians and the subsequent persecution.

2. Share Nero's eventual downfall and suicide.

Nero was responsible for the deaths of man including Peter and Paul.

Nero was the government Paul referred to in this passage.

Understanding Romans 13: Submission to Authority

Persecution to Privilege - The Rise of Constantine (Reigned A.D. 306-337)

A. Discuss the shift under Constantine, his religious conversion, and the impact on Christianity.

1. Share the vision of the cross and its significance to his military victories.

2. Discuss his contributions to the Christian church.

B. Issue of the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313 granting religious freedom.

1. Explain the Edict's impact on the status of the Church within the Empire.

2. Discuss the restorations and funding granted to the Christian church.

C. Constantine's influence on Church structures, leading to discussions about church and state relations.

1. Discuss the formal and structured paradigms of imperial governance.

2. Discuss the implications of these structures for the contemporary church.

I share the messed up rulers and past leading up to this chapter and romance to ask the question how is it possible that murderous adulterous evil rulers are in place by the will of God? And what should the church do if another Constantine comes by and the church becomes part of state government? How do we live in relationship with the governing authorities over us whether the governing authorities are good or bad?

Paul's Message for Today's Church

**Point 6: Submission and Love in a Holding Pattern**

A. Discuss the relevance

The short version of Paul’s message for the church today is we are in a holding pattern. God has ordained governing authorities over us but not permanently we’ve got something far more permanent and good to inherent but for now we submit to authorities love one another and walk in God’s truth. Let’s unpack the passage today.

The Message!

The Establishment of Authority

Romans 13:1 ESV

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

A. Scripture Reading: Romans 13:1 - "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God."

Romans A. Understanding Leads to Submission to Civil Authority (13:1–7)

Because, in principle (though not always in specifics), to submit to the civil authority is to submit to God

Remember the prophet Daniel makes the point that God sets up kings and he takes them out. And if you read the book of Daniel you’ll see how God set up different kings and took them out both good and bad kings

Daniel 2:21 ESV

21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;

B. Explanation: Talk about the Divine origin of all authority.

Paul wants to believers in Rome and he wants us to day to remember that God is in control.

Psalm 75:6–7 ESV

6 For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, 7 but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.

Proverbs 21:1 ESV

1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

So Paul is calling us to submit to the governing authorities over us because God is in control and guides governing authorities and leaders.

But to kind of tangent over Paul is not contradicting himself here either. What am I talking about? In the book of Corinthians Paul said that we shouldn’t take are arguments with other believers in front of non believers or in other words into the legal court system. So is Paul saying we shouldn’t submit to legal authorities but we should submit to other governing authorities?

1 Corinthians 6:7–8 ESV

7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!

Romans A. Understanding Leads to Submission to Civil Authority (13:1–7)

To admit that, with God’s help, in the body of Christ we cannot solve our differences, is to admit defeat. It would be better to suffer the wrong than to admit to the world the inability to solve the dispute

In short Paul is calling us to honor those in authority over us because we see their authority as being derived from God in the end but he’s challenging us to take community so seriously that we never have need to solve a fight between believers by going to other authorities

Resistance to Authority

Romans 13:2 ESV

2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Ironically maybe you find as I do it’s easy to submit to God’s authority when a disaster happens that was clearly only something that God could have averted. And you say to yourself oh I’m submitting myself to God and I’m going to trust him. It’s easier to submit to God’s authority then than it is to submit to maybe getting pulled over for running a stop sign. Or speeding a little bit. And you think to yourself I really didn’t do that much wrong. And the police officer walks up to you and he’s clearly 10 years younger than you or 20 it’s kind of hard to submit to authority in that case. But Paul makes the point the authorities over us have the power to judge us if we resist them.

But the question is when do we not submit to the authorities when do we resist authorities? Peter and John in the Bible were told to not speak about Jesus and they push back against authorities. The Bible is full of examples of Christians pushing back against authorities for the sake of the gospel.

Romans A. Understanding Leads to Submission to Civil Authority (13:1–7)

When rulers put themselves in the place of God by legislating moral or spiritual positions (all acts have moral and spiritual roots) which are contrary to the revealed positions of God, resistance is warranted.

One way to determine whether to protest/resist governing authority.

Consider the example… really the only example where as a christian our faith calls us to resist authority. And that of course would be when the commands of authority human authority are at odds with what God tells us. Obviously as Christians we serve God first and foremost.

The church has historically asked the question

Is the state forcing us to act contrary to what God has revealed or simply allowing things contrary to God’s principles?

Romans A. Understanding Leads to Submission to Civil Authority (13:1–7)

If the position is commanded (such as Herod’s killing of male children two years old and younger, or Hitler’s decree that Jews and other minorities were to be eliminated, or the prohibition against religious activities on public property), then the injunction is to be resisted in all possible ways.

Romans A. Understanding Leads to Submission to Civil Authority (13:1–7)

If the position is allowed but not commanded (such as modern laws allowing abortion), then resistance is to be voiced by the church in an attempt to have immoral standards changed; to restore God’s standards to society.

I like how one commentator FF Bruce writes:

Romans A. Understanding Leads to Submission to Civil Authority (13:1–7)

“It is plain from the immediate context, as from the general context of the apostolic writings, that the state can rightly command obedience only within the limits of the purposes for which it has been divinely instituted—in particular, the state not only may but must be resisted when it demands the allegiance due to God alone”

Romans A. Understanding Leads to Submission to Civil Authority (13:1–7)

The moral and spiritual standards that God has instituted are to be upheld whenever the positions of the authority come in conflict with them

Paul’s point in this passage is not to raise questions of when we can resist the state government. His point is to say that insofar as it depends on us we should live peaceably with all men. Because the governing authorities God has placed over us have the capacity to judge us. And honestly when you look through the New Testament Christians fair the best when they live honoring authorities as much as they can.

The Purpose of Authority

Romans 13:3–4 ESV

3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

Paul reminds us here that there’s a difference between the authority and judgment and wrath that the government can bring versus what we are called to as individuals. In an ideal government and world the government is there to defend us and help us period to restrain evil.

B. Explanation: Explore how authorities serve a God-given purpose, including the promotion of good and punishment of evil.

C. Illustration/Object Lesson: Use a story about a traffic system. The traffic laws and signals (authority) are there to promote order and safety (good) and prevent accidents and chaos (evil).

Submitting to Authority

Romans 13:5 ESV

5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

A. Scripture Reading: Romans 13:5 - "Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience."

B. Explanation: Talk about the importance of submission, not out of fear, but because of our consciousness of God's ordination.

C. Illustration/Object Lesson: Use an example of team sports. Teams only win when each player respects the coach's authority and plays their assigned role. Likewise, submission to authority can lead to greater harmony and success in our society.

Romans A. Understanding Leads to Submission to Civil Authority (13:1–7)

Christians must pay their taxes, obey the speed limit, buy fishing and hunting licenses, wear their seat belts, and do a myriad of other things they would rather not do—and do them all in both the letter and spirit of the law. A conscience is not an infallible guide, as Paul said—“My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent” (1 Cor. 4:4)—but it is a place to start.

Responsibility towards Authority

Romans 13:6–7 ESV

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

A. Scripture Reading: Romans 13:6-7 - "For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God... Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed..."

B. Explanation: Discuss our responsibilities towards authorities, including paying taxes and respect.

Because the authority that our government has is derived from the reality that God has put them where they are in the first place we are paying taxes we are giving honor and respect to those in authority over us. Jesus Christ himself validated that we should pay taxes to the government in Matthew chapter 22. His point was that we should give to caesar what is caesars and to god what is gods. He held up a coin which had a picture of Caesar on it to communicate that we should pay taxes to government but the implication was we give of ourselves to God.

This means whether we like governing authorities or not we show respect for positions. We exercise our right to debate and discuss presidents and politicians but as Christians we always do it with honor and respect. And that includes what we post online y’all

C. Illustration/Object Lesson: Use currency notes or coins to illustrate. Just as the image on the currency signifies who it belongs to and who it is owed to, the image of God in us determines to whom we owe our lives and obedience.

Conclusion

OK as we wrap up here today we are reminded that governments throughout history have been much worse than what we are facing today. And yet Paul still calls us to honor those in authority over us because all governing authority originally comes from God because God is in control. And so as Christians as much as possible we are those who honor those in authority over us because we always live honoring the authority of God. But we must be wise in the world we live in. We must determine the difference between the bad things that the government allows and bad things that the government tells us we have to participate in and or have to do. There’s a difference and we have to remember it. We’re called to pray for those in authority over us to live in such a way that nothing gets in the way of the witness God has called us to live.

So as you go out from here and live and work and read the news pray for those in authority over you. Make sure you abide by laws even the annoying little licenses and regulations you’d rather not abide by. Track the income you receive pay your taxes. Be the kind of people that live under God’s authority and by proxy you’re willing to live under the authority of your government because you have so much confidence in your God.