Romans 13:1-3
1Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
After talking about the way we use our bodies, the way we relate with one another as believers, and the way we relate with those, outside who might even persecute us for our faith, Paul then turns his attention to another important area of our lives – the governments in the cities and countries in which we live. God is concerned about the way we relate with those in government authority – our faith is not disconnected with our everyday lives, but rather, impacts every area of our being, and every area of our lives as well.
The first thing he does is, refers to every believer as a soul. That’s such a wonderful description of us as believers. In fact that’s exactly how Genesis 2:7 refers to the first man and woman, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Our souls exist in our bodies and that’s also why we should take care of our bodies as Paul just reminded us. Though our bodies fade and perish, our souls will live on for eternity, with a new body, in one of two places – heaven or hell.
Every believer is to be submissive to every governing authority. As believers, though we are children of God, saints, members of the body of Christ, living stones, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, and more, it does not negate the fact that as long as we live on the earth, we are to be subject to earthly governing authorities, and their rules and regulations.
Paul goes on to say that every earthly authority that is above us, has been placed there by God Himself. No matter how hard this may seem to accept, this is the fact and we need to submit to these authorities. Paul goes one step further to say that whoever resists the governing earthly authorities is actually resisting the ordinance, or law of God Himself, since He has placed these authorities above us. So any laws that govern us are ordained by God and therefore need to be adhered to. In other words, he’s saying that as believers we should not think or feel, that since God is our ultimate authority, we don’t need to submit to earthly authorities.
He goes on to warn the believers that those who resist the governing authorities will bring judgment on themselves. This means that when we resist the laws that are placed above us, we are bringing judgment upon ourselves. When a law is passed, it comes with consequences for breaking it, and so if we choose to break the law, then we are choosing it’s consequences as well, which means we are bringing judgment of the law of the land upon ourselves.
Paul then reminds us that those in authority above us do not strike fear in us for doing good, but rather, for when we disobey the law and do evil. So if we don’t want to be afraid of the authorities, we need to do what is good, and not evil. In fact, we may even be praised by the government for doing good. Sometimes the authorities are on the look-out for those doing extraordinary acts of kindness, and recognise these acts publicly, so as to encourage others to do the same.
Romans 13:4-7
4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour.
Paul once again reiterates that the governing authority is in position for the good of the people. He then tells us that if we do evil, then we need to be afraid and prepared to bear the consequences for our actions as per the law of the land. He seems to say that the authority to judge misconduct has been given them by God Himself and ‘the sword,’ in their hand, is not for no reason – it’s to be used against those who do evil.
He then adds that the governing authorities are actually God’s ministers, meaning that God is the ultimate King, and these are merely His ministers. Their job is that of an avenger, to punish those who do evil. After reading all of the above, it’s crystal clear that we as believers have a very clear mandate from the Lord Himself, to submit to all earthly authority, even as we submit to God’s ultimate authority over our lives.
Paul goes on to say that we must submit to the governing authorities, not only out of fear for them but for our own conscience’ sake, meaning that we are to do good and not evil, so we maintain a clear, clean conscience. It’s one thing to do good out of fear of consequences, but it’s quite a different thing to do good because we want to maintain a good conscience. However good evil-doing might seem, eventually it leaves one with a bad taste (feeling bad for our actions).
Paul goes on to talk about a very important aspect – paying taxes. Paul says that since the governing authorities are placed there by God Himself, since they are ministers of God, since they are there as avengers to exercise wrath on those who do evil, we are also to pay the taxes levied by them. It’s this tax money that the government uses to run itself and maintain the country in which we live. Paul goes on to give a reason for this – they are God’s ministers, and it’s their duty to collect taxes.
Paul then tells the believers to give to everyone what is due them, and he goes on to explain what he means. He tells us to give the government what is due. If taxes are levied, they are to be paid, if customs duty is levied, it is to be paid. Officials are to be feared when evil is done. Those in position need to be treated with honour and not disrespected. Sometimes, we as believers feel that since God is our ultimate authority, we don’t need to respect those in earthly authority, but that’s not how it’s supposed to be, and that’s in total contrast to what Paul is suggesting here. In fact, we need to respect earthly authority, as an expression of our submission to God’s authority, since He is the One who has placed them over us.
Romans 13:8-10
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Paul takes this thought of giving people what’s due them, to another level. He says that we are to owe no one anything. This means that we are not to borrow from people. This might seem like an impossibility for some, but it is possible, once a decision is taken to never borrow. It’s a very relieving lifestyle when we don’t live in debt. One of the world’s biggest problems at present is debt. There’s debt at every level, individual, corporate, national and global. Given the fact that people get into debt for almost any and every reason these days, the suggestion to live debt-free seems impossible.
The only thing that Paul says we owe one another is to love one another, and he goes on to say that the one who loves, has fulfilled the law of God. He seems to be saying that it is our responsibility as believers, to love one another and not to live in disharmony with one another. He then goes on to mention the last five of the Ten Commandments, and says that if we truly love one another, we will fulfil these 5 commandments, all of which have to do with loving one another. If we love people, we won’t take their life, we won’t take their wife, we won’t take their belongings, we won’t covet their belongings, we won’t speak lies against them – that’s the last 5 commandments, put differently.
Romans 13:11-12
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Paul then reminds us to do something - but before he tells us what to do, he reminds us to be aware of the times in which we live. He reminds those of us who take life too easy and live careless, selfish and worldly lives that it is high time to awake out of our sleep. It’s a wake-up call for us – in fact that’s what this global pandemic is for the global church. He then adds that we are closer to the Lord’s return (when our Salvation will be complete) today, than when we first came to faith in Christ.
He says that the times of darkness and evil-living are over, and the time of the Lord’s return is close at hand (which he refers to as The Day). We are to therefore repent, stop sinning, and get back to God, and to our purpose for living, to be clothed with the armour of light, meaning that we are to love God, and our neighbour, and to fulfil all that our Lord would have us be and do. We are to live as children of light and not children of darkness. We used to live as children of darkness before we came to know Christ, but we are now to live as children of light.
Romans 13:13-14
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
He reminds them to live properly, as one would live in the day, living lives that are pleasing to God, and not indulging in wild parties and drunkenness. We are to not think about, talk about, joke about obscene things, and not live lustful lives, where we crave any and every thing, and person we desire. We are to not live in strife with one another, envying one another. But instead, we are to clothe ourselves with the nature/character of Christ, and not give room for the fulfilment of any of our fleshly (sinful nature) desires.
