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Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Verses 1-7
Everyone must submit to governing authorities.
Just because we have been called to liberty and we are citizens of the Kingdom of God does not mean that we can do whatever we want to do. Our liberty doesn’t mean that we are not subject to government authority. On the contrary, Paul is teaching the Galatian Church that as saints of God that we are to be subordinate to government authority. What we have seen to do is the opposite. I’m not against protesting, however when you begin to break the law, when you begin to threaten the well-being of other people, that is not Christ-like, this is not Christianity.
Freedom/Liberty:
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
Rebellion/Insurrection/Sedition
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
Evil people are eager for rebellion,
but they will be severely punished.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Yes Jesus came to liberate us.....but that is from sin and damnation. Your liberty does not intel sedition, rebellion, or any other sin that is against the will of God.
Reason: For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
As much as some dislike Trump, he was placed there by God. The same can be said by Biden, he was placed there by God. Let’s read that scripture again:
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
All authority come from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. This is what every believer must realize and remember....I know that we have a democracy.....I know that we go out and vote and after this I would encourage everyone to make sure you exercise your rights to vote. But when it is all over said and done with....God is still in control and God places people in power so that His will can be accomplished in the Earth.
YOU ARE MANDATED TO FOLLOW THE LAW:
As Christians, we are mandated to follow the law.....period. It doesn’t matter what the law is.....unless it causes us to sin.....you follow it. There has been so much rebellion in the past year.
If you rebel against the law, if you rebel against authority you are rebelling against God. Now I know that some theologians I have tried to say that this is only pertaining to those in spiritual positions (pastors, teachers, apostles, prophets, etc.) but this is not exactly true. Yes we do in fact and we should in fact follow spiritual authority. But this text is not limited to spiritual authority....it is governmental authority because in verse 6 Paul also says “Pay your taxes”. You pay your taxes to the government.
Essentially what was happening during Paul’s day was that some in the church felt like because they were saved and part of the kingdom of God that they were not subject to Roman rule. Because of this mind set and because of the actions of these groups of people Paul addresses the church to correct this mindset within the church @ Galatia.
Jesus himself said:
And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.
Certain Pharisees and Herodians were trying to trap Jesus into a political trap. They thought that if they could get Jesus to defend paying taxes to Caesar that it would incite the Jews or if they would get Jesus to defend not paying taxes to the Caesar that it would incur the wrath of the Roman government. Jesus being full of wisdom and the Holy Ghost was privy to what they were trying to accomplish and told them to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God. In other-words there has to be a balance there.
What I have witness today is something that has no balance whatsoever. I’ve witnessed people who are suppose to be professing Jesus edge on a government coup and rebellion where a young woman lost her life. I witnessed crimes and vandalism taking place, there is no balance here.
They are fighting against people who are trying to do the right thing. Believe it or not the same thing goes on in the church as well.
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
I wanted to quote this scripture in its entirety because often times we quote just the first part. Consider this, yes God is not the author of confusion, God is not a God of disorder, but a God of peace. So if God is not the author/originator of confusion…where does it come from? God is the author of peace, God brings us peace not confusion, God brings us love not strife. Then Paul says “as in all churches of the saints of God”. Upon first inspection of this text we will conclude that Paul is talking about a church meeting or gathering. Yes this is very true, however anytime a church member links up with another church member that can be considered a meeting. The true church of Christ isn’t a geographical location it is a spiritual establisment. When God baptizes us with His spirit we become members of his church. So when we are in fellowship with other church members there shouldn’t be confusion, there shouldn’t be disorder, there should be peace. Did we see peace today?
God is a God of Justice!
Does God twist justice?
Does the Almighty twist what is right?
The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just
than when we offer him sacrifices.
Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
