Gods Authority

Romans 13:1-14.

Apostle Paul closed chapter 12 by encouraging his audience to be strong in their Christian faith.

Even in the face of rejection

From their non-believing Neighbors

Friends and relatives

Employers and co-workers

As well as others in the community around them.

In Chapter 13, Paul focuses on how Christians are to relate to the Secular Government, and the authority that extends from the government.

Paul emphasizes the need to submit the Governing authority

As it is an extension of Gods authority- When properly exercised.

The Apostle calls all followers of Christ to fulfill the law by caring for our neighbors as God cares for us.

We are to recognize and submit to God’s preset social structures, while promoting peace and order.

Inside that construct all Christians are to seek out ways to convey the love of God, with it’s life transforming power across all cross sections of society.

In doing so, we can assert God’s authority in every corner of our lives-

Leading to a true caring nature and sensitivity towards our neighbors.

Thus submitting to and obeying God’s Law.

We can do a self-checkup with the following questions:

In what ways can the example of Christ's submission encourage you to submit to earthly authorities?

How can you apply the principle of submitting to authority in your daily life today?

It is insightful to consider the scenario that believers in the first Century dealt with.

Political power came from Birthright, Connections, Wealth or Ruthlessness.

The common people had no power or position

And could never aspire to ever have any power.

There was no hope to expect a change of the status quo

They were best off, learning to live within the confines of the power structure- Including whatever protect it might afford them.

It was well understood that, as overbearing the Rule of Rome could be

It was the only thing keeping lawlessness and anarchy at bay.

The main thing from this teaching will be this:

When we recognize God’s authority over every part of our lives, we will grow in godly love for our neighbors, and in doing so, we will fulfill God’s law.

God’s authority, properly understood, always leads to love.

1- Submitted to the Sovereign

“Christians submit to government because God stands behind rightful authority.”

Romans 13:1–5 ESV

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. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 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. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

In simple terms, Paul is saying:

God stands behind every human authority. So as a rule, Christians should obey the government— not just to avoid punishment, but because obeying rightful authority is part of obeying God.

There has always been an uneasy balance between the things of God and the things of Man.

In the first century, ordinary people had no political voice. Power came from birth, money, connections, or violence.

Rome could be harsh, but it also held back total chaos. So when Paul calls Christians to submit, he is speaking into a world where rebellion usually meant death.

Paul’s main admonishment for his readers to tread carefully in their relations and dealings with governing authorities, is a model of how modern Followers of Christ should deal with the complexities of modern governance and politics.

Paul warned them that there would be enough persecution from the communities in general- They did not need the extra wrath of the government to be brought against them as well.

It is also important to note that Paul did not ascribe to either of the two possible extreme responses to Roman Authority

His call to submit and live peaceably as possible is in direct conflict with these two options.

He did not favor the idea of becoming like the Jewish Zealots of the day.

Who quite often took up arms and choose violence to find freedom from Rome.

Nor did Paul advocate for the Believers to move into the deserts, separate from the greater community and exclude themselves from any contact with the evils of the power structure.

Paul encouraged his Christian believers learn to live WITHIN the structure

It would be the only way they could ever hope to share the gospel message and transform their communities.

The most direct way of learning submission is to realize that there are examples all around us, set up for us to practice submission to some degree.

Family

School

Work

Sports

Civil government

All require a level of submission on our part on a daily basis.

Since God is the one who establishes authorities, submitting to those various levels of authority,

Should bring us better understanding of how we submit to outside influences, we are also submitting to God, at the same time.

This is made clear next, as we read, that,

There is no authority except that given by God.

Those that would rebel against the Rule of Law- Rebelled against God,

And did so at their own peril.

The Apostle Peter, in 1 Peter 2:13-17, emphasizes the importance of submitting to human authorities for the Lord's sake.

In a world riddled with chaos and rebellion, Peter's message resonates deeply. Submitting to authority can be viewed as a reflection of our trust in God’s sovereignty.

This serious commitment compels us to act in ways that honor God while navigating our interactions in society, ultimately testifying to our faith amidst a skeptical world.

The submission does not mean simple blind obedience.

So we submit to government as far as we can, but we never sin in order to obey it.

When the government commands what God forbids, or forbids what God commands, we must obey God rather than men.

History is replete with moments in time that the church has gone beyond submission and abdicated it’s role in society to the ruling authority.

This never worked out well for the church or the community at large.

We must never join in with an authority figure that willfully disregards God’s commandments.

Our Heavenly Father stands for everything that is proper and good for every facet of society.

He stands against every aspect of evil.

It is the responsibility of every Follower of Christ to stand with God against all forms of evil.

We are to pursue right and resist evil, at all costs.

Resisting properly place authority is akin to resisting God.

This directly impacts our own walk of faith.

2- Rendering What is Due

“Christians pay what they owe—money, respect, and honor—because it honors God.”

Romans 13:6–7 ESV

For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 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.

The same message that Jesus delivered to His Disciples in,

Matthew 22:21 and Mark 12:17,

Paul covers again. This is the only time in any of Apostle Paul’s letters that this topic is mentioned.

Submitting to our local authorities includes paying our taxes.

This was a hot button issue in Paul’s time, and remains so today.

Across the annuls of time, the abuse of taxation practices is well documented.

But Paul ties the act of “rendering unto Caesar” what is due to much more:

We are to Pay taxes where taxes are owed

Pay revenue where revenue is owed

Give respect where respect is due

Render honor to whom honor is due.

Once again, this has less to do with finances as it has to do with how we interact with society as a whole.

We are ambassadors of Christ and we eagerly render all respect and honor to Him.

What better way to represent Christ to our circle of influence than to render the same respect and honor to them, when it is warranted.

Think of Jesus paying the temple tax. He didn’t owe it, but He paid it anyway, so that He would not cause unnecessary offense.

Our submitting to earthly authority can also be a witness to our Submission to God’s over-arching authority.

3- The Debt of Love

“Love is the one debt we never stop paying.”

Romans 13:8–10 ESV

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Paul now makes it personal.

As the early church theologian, Irenaeus put it:

God didn’t create us because He needed us, but because He wanted to pour out His love on us.

And when He calls us to follow Him, it’s not because He needs our help, but because loving Him is what makes us whole.

The Apostle’s never-ending message was to live out their faith in every way possible.

But most importantly- Always keep in view the standard Christ set for us.

Mark 12:29–31 NLT

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

We can never grow tired of expressing God’s love for all humanity to all that will hear us.

He gave us His all, How could we possibly give anything less?

THE DEBT OF LOVE Why is love for others called a debt?

We are permanently in debt to Christ for the love he has lavished on us.

The only way we can even begin to repay this debt is by loving others.

Because Christ’s love will always be infinitely greater than ours, we will always have the obligation to love our neighbors.

All of the OT Law that deals with interpersonal relationships are summed up in one.

Leviticus 19:18 ESV

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Just as the Pharisee tried to trick Jesus, asking, “Who is my neighbor?”

His answer, through the Good Samaritan, was simple: Your neighbor is the person in front of you who needs mercy— whoever they are, wherever they’re from.

In this point, Jesus leaves us no loopholes or excuses.

For God so loved the world, we are to reflect that love to all we come in contact with.

How can you ensure that your love for others reflects God's love rather than societal norms?

What specific examples of showing love to your neighbor can you commit to this week?

A phone call to someone lonely.

A practical act of service for a neighbor.

Refusing to speak harshly about a political opponent.

4- A Sign of the Times

Because time is short, we must live awake, clean, and clothed with Christ.”

Romans 13:11–14 ESV

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

The first Christians expected Jesus to return in their lifetime. Two thousand years have passed, but the truth remains:

His return is nearer now than when we first believed. So we cannot afford spiritual drowsiness. Now is the time to be awake, pure, and faithful.

Waiting on God’s timing is not meant to be a passive activity.

We are all called to be about our Father’s business-

That of delivering the Gospel Message to a world dying to hear it.

We currently live in the night of this present age of evil and rampant sinfulness.

But that glorious day of Christ’s return is just around the corner.

Time is short- We must make every minute count.

To “put on Christ” means:

to think as He thinks,

to love as He loves,

to say what He would say,

and to refuse what He would refuse.

The Apostle encouraged his readers then, and all Followers of Christ, today-

“Cast off the works of darkness”

“Put on the Armor of Light” This is the armor of God that Paul lists in detail in Ephesians 6.

“Walk properly in the daylight” We must always be aware that even though the Light has come into the world, John 3:19, The world has rejected that Light because of the evil in their hearts.

We are still called to be the Light of Christ, in the darkness.

Our Saviour is coming back for a pure and spotless Bride.

We can only be presentable if He finds us “Clothed with the Lord Jesus Christ”

God’s authority, properly understood, always leads to love.

It is my prayer that He finds us ready to meet Him on His return.