Servants With Swords

Instructions

Will you take your Bible and turn to Romans 13:1–7? Please search the Scriptures with us. Don’t be afraid to use your index.

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Capture

Today's text touches one of the rawest nerves in our culture—politics.

We live in an age of deep governmental distrust, and the church has absorbed that cynicism.

You've scrolled comments dripping with rage at leaders. Maybe you've joined in.

Significance

Here's the deal: How you respond to Romans 13 reveals whether you trust God's providence or only your own political party.

Context

Romans 12 closed with a hard command: "Do not avenge yourselves… Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord" (12:19). But that raises a question: If I don't punish evil, who does? Romans 13 gives the answer. Remember—Paul is writing under the iron fist of Nero's Rome, a pagan, brutal, and often unjust regime.

The Question

If I don't punish evil, who does?

Bible Verse

Romans 13:1–2 CSB

1 Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. 2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.

1. All Authority Comes from God (vv. 1-2)

The command is universal—let everyone submit. Not just those who voted for the current administration. Everyone.

Then Paul's sweeping declaration: "There is no authority except from God."

The authority of a president, governor, or police officer doesn't ultimately come from the ballot box—it comes from the throne of God.

Before you object, notice what Paul doesn't say.

He doesn't say every action of government is righteous. He doesn't say every law reflects God's will. He doesn't say every ruler is good.

John Calvin explained: "Though tyrannies and unjust exercise of power are full of disorder, yet the right of government is ordained by God for the wellbeing of mankind."

Paul is speaking about the institution of authority itself. Even wicked rulers operate within God's providential ordering.

When you resist legitimate authority, you're not just opposing a human ruler—you're opposing God's appointed order for the world.

Do you speak of rulers as God's ordinance—or as mere politicians?

To mock the office they hold is to mock the God who ordained it.

2. The Government's Duty Is to Restrain Evil and Promote Good (vv. 3-4)

Romans 13:3–4 CSB

3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. 4 For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.

Why did God ordain government? For your good.

The magistrate is God's servant (diakonos)—appointed to restrain wickedness and incentivize public good.

Government exists because we're fallen. Without restraint, the strong devour the weak.

Now notice the word "sword."

In Rome, the sword symbolized the magistrate's authority. Paul is affirming the state's power to punish, imprison, even execute.

Here's the connection to Romans 12:19.

Romans 12:19 CSB

19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.

God commanded you to surrender personal vengeance. But that doesn't mean evil goes unpunished.

The magistrate is called "God's servant" twice—an "avenger that brings wrath."

What the Christian is forbidden to do in Romans 12—avenge evil—God authorizes the state to do in His name.

Paul makes a crucial distinction elsewhere:

Christians are not to drag one another into secular courts over personal disputes (1 Cor. 6:1–7). Those belong to the church.

But when it comes to crimes or matters of civil law, the magistrate is God’s servant, entrusted with the sword.

The question is simple: Is this a private grievance between believers that the church can rightly judge, or a crime that falls under the state’s God-given jurisdiction?

If two church members have a bitter personal conflict, that’s a relational breach the church is called to address (1 Cor. 6).

If one member assaults another or abuses someone, that’s a crime. The magistrate bears the sword to punish and protect (Rom. 13).

This is why you support police, fund justice systems, and advocate for laws that punish evil—because God Himself has authorized the state to wield the sword.

So, what is the church’s mission?

The Church's Mission Is Quiet Gospel Work

Note what Paul says:

1 Timothy 2:1–2 CSB

1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

Christians pray for rulers to create a space of peace—conditions in which the church can freely preach the gospel.

In America, if rulers fail to restrain evil, we call them out and vote them out.

If rulers threaten the church, we preach anyway.

As the apostles declared:

Acts 5:29 CSB

29 Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people.

This raises another question: What is the relationship between church and state?

Church and State and the Two Swords

The Two Swords

Jesus told Peter:

John 18:11 CSB

11 At that, Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword away! Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given me?”

Jesus’ rebuke to Peter has been understood by the church through the centuries not as forbidding self-defense, but as forbidding the church from using violence to advance the kingdom.

The sword Peter surrendered, God placed in Caesar’s hand.

But Christ did not leave us weaponless.

Ephesians 6:17 CSB

17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.

Scripture is:

Hebrews 4:12 CSB

12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The state wields steel; the church wields Scripture.

Each sword belongs in the proper hand.

The Options

Confusion happens at the extremes.

Secular progressivism would strip the church of her rightful sword, silencing her prophetic voice and gospel witness in public life:

Isaiah 5:20 CSB

20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

On the other hand, some of the more radical forms of Christian nationalism are tempted to seize both swords—using state power to advance Christ’s kingdom.

In a 2024 Q&A, John MacArthur defined Christian nationalism as linking the church to political efforts to advance the kingdom of God.

Others may frame it differently, but broadly it is not theocracy—clerics seizing government power.

It is a political ideology that seeks to shape a nation’s identity and laws around “biblical values.” It functions as a political-cultural program.

The debate then is: whose interpretation of “biblical values” should prevail, and by what means? Should the church devise political strategy as a mode of advancing the gospel?

The Baptist Warning

Church history and Baptist theology both warn us: wherever church and state fuse, dissenters suffer.

Anabaptists, our Protestant ancestors known for practicing believer’s baptism, were drowned in Zürich.

John Smyth, the father of the English Baptists who fled England under threat of persecution, died in exile.

Thomas Helwys, the first Baptist pastor to return to England, died in prison for insisting that the conscience must be free.

That is why Baptists have consistently defended liberty of conscience—a free church in a free state.

The Garden and the Wilderness

Roger Williams, founder of the first Baptist church in America and the colony of Rhode Island, gave us a powerful image: “The hedge or wall of separation between the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world must be kept up.”

Progressivism tears down the wall so the wilderness can overrun the garden.

Christian Nationalism lowers the wall so the garden can overrun the wilderness.

But history proves that when the church attempts to purify the state, the state almost always ends up corrupting the church.

The question becomes: how high should the wall be?

Too high, and we retreat like monks—irrelevant to the world we're called to evangelize.

Too low, and the wilderness overtakes the garden.

The wall must be strong enough to preserve gospel purity, yet low enough for gospel witness.

The Kingdom of God

John MacArthur reminds us: "The kingdom of God is not of this world. Nothing that happens in any nation has anything to do with the advancement of the Kingdom of God."

The Gospel is not chained to political outcomes.

Christ's kingdom advances through preaching, not policy.

As MacArthur put it in Successful Christian Parenting: “Reform is no answer for a culture like ours. Redemption is what is needed, and that occurs at the individual, not societal level. The church needs to get back to the real task to which we are called: evangelizing the lost. Only when multitudes of individuals turn to Christ will society itself experience any transformation.”

The Kingdom does not come by political takeover but by Christ’s return.

Until then, the church preaches, suffers, and trusts God.

3. Submission Is Worship (vv. 5-7)

Romans 13:5 CSB

5 Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience.

We're not called to grudging compliance out of fear. You don't obey government merely to avoid punishment.

You obey because your conscience—informed by Scripture—tells you this is God's will.

Calvin explained: "We must not only obey because we cannot resist the powerful, but we ought to obey willingly, as conscience through God's word thus binds us."

Your submission to earthly authority is worship to heavenly authority.

You're not ultimately obeying the magistrate—you're obeying the God who appointed the magistrate.

Again Calvin wrote that a desire "to shake off or to remove from himself this yoke" of civil authority is often "an implied proof of an evil conscience... devising some mischief."

As a pastor, I often hear spiritual-sounding arguments for why Christians can disregard civic duties. "Why should I pay attention to the speed limit if the road is empty?" "Why do I need a marriage license—can't it just be between me and God?"

Calvin forces us to ask: Is our protest true obedience to God over man, or an excuse to serve ourselves?

Romans 13 leaves little wiggle room.

Unless the state commands what God forbids, Christians honor these structures—not out of fear, but out of reverence for the God who established them.

Two Practical Outworkings:

Paul goes on to say:

Romans 13:6 CSB

6 And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.

A. Pay Your Taxes

"For this reason you pay taxes." Not because you agree with the budget. Not because government is efficient. Because the authorities are "God's servants." Paul doesn't give an escape clause.

The sinless Son of God paid the temple tax (Matthew 17:24–27) and taught His followers to "render to Caesar" (Matthew 22:21). If He would not dodge what the Father required, why should we?

Then verse 7:

Romans 13:7 CSB

7 Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.

B. Render Respect

The last command cuts deepest: You owe governing authorities honor and respect.

Not agreement—honor. Not approval—respect.

You can disagree without being disagreeable. You can critique without contempt.

Parents: How do you speak about authority in front of your kids? Grumbling about taxes or mocking leaders teaches rebellion, not reverence.

Church members: Your attitude toward rulers is part of your witness.

Social Media: Before you rant or share that mocking meme, ask: Is this rendering respect to those in authority?

Pay your taxes without complaining. Teach your children to respect authority. Delete the contemptuous post.

A Critical Qualifier: The Limits of Submission

Submission is not absolute.

John Stott summarizes: "If the state commands what God forbids, or forbids what God commands, our plain duty is to resist."

But that line is not crossed every time you disagree with policy. It's crossed when the state demands what belongs to God alone.

Most of what you call "tyranny" is inconvenience. Most of what you call "persecution" is disagreement.

The line is real. But it's not where you think it is.

Right now, our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria are being killed for their faith—thousands murdered and kidnapped every year. Entire villages massacred for confessing Christ. Their faith costs them life, land, and freedom.

Contrast that with America. Just weeks ago, at Charlie Kirk’s national memorial service, broadcast to millions, pastors and government officials openly proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our country is far from perfect, but it is exceptional in this.

That should make us grateful—and bold to use the freedom God has given us.

Take-Home Truth

Christians can submit to earthly rulers because we serve the Ruler of rulers.

How is this counter-cultural submission even possible? It's possible because of the gospel.

Think of Jesus's trial before Pontius Pilate.

Pilate, full of arrogance, said:

John 19:10 CSB

10 So Pilate said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know that I have the authority to release you and the authority to crucify you?”

Jesus responded:

John 19:11 CSB

11 “You would have no authority over me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

Jesus, the King of Kings, submitted to a corrupt earthly authority, acknowledging that its power was delegated from His own Father.

He was unjustly condemned by God's "servant," and yet He submitted to carry out God's will for our salvation.

Christ declared after His resurrection:

Matthew 28:18 CSB

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

Every earthly throne is a footstool under His feet.

Hebrews 2:8 CSB

8 and subjected everything under his feet. For in subjecting everything to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. As it is, we do not yet see everything subjected to him.

We don’t yet see all things under Him, we apprehend it by faith.

His reign is absolute. His authority is a total reality. Nothing lies outside His dominion.

Because you've been saved by a King who submitted to unjust power to redeem you and is now ruling and reigning, you are now free from political panic, free from fear that the wrong person in office can thwart God's ultimate plan.

And one day, the true King of Israel will return:

Psalm 2:9 CSB

9 You will break them with an iron scepter; you will shatter them like pottery.”

Revelation 19:15 CSB

15 A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty.

Right now: God separates the “sword of the state” from the “sword of the Spirit.”

At the return of Christ: those swords are united perfectly in Him.

The sword from His mouth judges, destroys rebellion, and rules the nations.

That’s when the “wall of separation” between church and state is torn down.

Revelation 11:15 CSB

15 The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.

The garden will indeed overrun the wilderness — not by our efforts, but by His appearing.

One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Every president, every dictator, every judge will give account to Him.

This is our hope: you don't submit to government because it's always good, but because Christ is always Lord.

Repent, Believe, and Be Baptized

The gospel is that Jesus Christ, the only one who deserved to rule, submitted to the cross to pay for your rebellion. Repent. Bow to Christ today. Become a citizen of heaven, and He'll give you a new heart that delights to honor Him in every sphere—even in your earthly citizenship.

Spurgeon said: "Ungodly man, if thou art ever to be saved, thou must draw nigh to God in prayer. Go to him at this moment, just where thou art sitting, and confess all thy sin to him; there is no need for thee to utter a word that any of us can hear, for God can read the language of thy heart."

"Dear Jesus, I confess I'm a sinner deserving judgment. I've lived in rebellion against Your authority. I cannot save myself. But I believe You died for my sins and rose to give me eternal life. I place my soul in Your hands! Forgive me, come into my life, and grant everlasting life. Make me a citizen of Your kingdom. Help me live for You! Amen."

Baptism is a visible expression of faith and a public declaration of your commitment to follow Christ. To sign up for baptism, text BELIEVE to 706-525-5351 or visit www.mtcarmeldemorest.com/baptism.

A Prayer for Faithful Citizenship

Lord, we confess our cynicism and disrespect for leaders You have appointed. Forgive us for mocking those You've called Your servants. Teach us to submit not only to avoid wrath, but for conscience' sake. Give us grace to honor those in authority, to pay what we owe, and to live as peaceable citizens who point others to Christ, our King above all kings. In His name, amen.