Romans 13.1-7

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We have seen that in light of your union with Christ, how a Christian should act amongst believers and unbelievers alike. Now, Paul transitions into the believers responsibility to the government.

Revolutionary war into maybe?

13.1-2

There were two major shifts in the lives of the Jewish audience and those in the Christian community. The Jews, as you remember, in support of their desire to crucify Christ declared, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19.15). In the same way, Christians declared, we have no king but Christ. Therefore, it seems as though Paul is bridging the gap between recognizing the authority of civil magistrates and also recognizing the authority of Christ.

“God has established the church with its redemptive mission and the government for the well-being of everyone. Government might well be called a common-grace ministry” (Sproul, 440).

Submission in the Christian life is a virtue of one who has been saved. It is the mind set of Jesus Christ Himself in his state of humiliation. We see this laid out in the WSC, Q. 27. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?

“Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.”

The standard for our humility and submission even to government authorities is based upon Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:3–5“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”

To be in subjection.

Same use in the relation to God and His sovereignty over all things.

1 Corinthians 15:27“For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.”

Romans 8:20“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope”

Submission is mandated elsewhere.

Titus 3:1“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,”

1 Peter 2:13–17“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

To be in subjection is related to obedience. This is the same idea with the relationship that exists between a husband and wife.

1 Peter 3:5–6“For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.”

In contrast to those who are submissive, the ones who “despise authority” incur the judgment of God.

2 Peter 2:10–11“and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones, whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord.”

Jude 8 “Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.”

No one is freed from the subjection they owe to the government. Even the WCF 23.6 says, “Infidelity, or difference in religion, doth not make void the magistrate’s just and legal authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to him.”

The principle reason for why man is to be submissive is that God Himself is the one who has dictated authority and ordained authority.

Paul says “there is no authority except from God” and those institutions have been ordained by God.

Jesus Himself recognized the authority of the government. In Matthew 22:17 he was asked by the Pharisees in an attempt to trap him, “Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”” Jesus said give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. Even Christ saw a middle ground of mutual submission to both God and the government.

The result for disobedience against governing authorities is occuring the judgment of God. Why? Because God has sovereignly ordained that these rulers are put into place. In using “has appointed” Paul is specifically relating to the declaration of God in ordaining rulers to be set up.

Now certainly, this is nothing new. Nor should it come as a surprise to us. Even God raised up Pharaoh during the time of Moses to be the means of bringing his people out of the bonds of Egypt. In Jeremiah 27:5–8 we see the Lord raising up Nebuchadnezzar to be his own instrument to send Israel into exile. ““It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me. Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him. All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson, until the time of his own land comes. Then many nations and great kings shall make him their slave. “ ‘ “But if any nation or kingdom will not serve this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, declares the Lord, until I have consumed it by his hand.”

What about the issue of obedience to the government when they force upon Christians those acts which conflict with the Scriptures? Do Christians always have to obey? In short, no. This is seen clearly in Acts.

Acts 4:19“But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,”

Acts 5:29“But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

In Acts, we see the chief issue of the over-extension of governmental authority over the apostles. They are exercising their power in an unjust manner. In fact, they are not justly exercising their rule in accordance with the word of God. Therefore, if the government forces us to do that which is sinful, we must abstain.

13.3-4

Romans 13:3–4“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, 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.”

13.5-7