Romans 13:1-7

Rachel Workman: 13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Very hard to read right now. As a mother with 4 children in the military I want the best leader possible for them. But the authorities that exist in  our government have been established by God. Hard to believe isn't it? I believe it. I believe that we like to live our lives the way we want with no consequences. I think God's just about had enough. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. God's word has a way of putting me in my place.

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John Burnett:  ⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  These verses are wonderful but are seldom followed because we love ourselves more than others.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Not easy to do. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[a] Do not be conceited.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[b] says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”^[c]

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  It is also very important to remember that Jesus Christ paid for their sins if they repent and put their trust in Him.  When you repay evil for evil, you are basically saying that the punishment Jesus Christ took on the cross for that person was not sufficient to pay for that sin.  It is implied that you don’t think Jesus was enough because you want to add to what He took for them.   

Submission to Governing Authorities  There are no more important verses than these in this election season.

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

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Allen Michaels:  13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. We should never allow government to force us to disobey God. Jesus and his apostles never disobeyed the government for personal reasons; when they disobeyed, it was in order to follow their higher loyalty to God. Their disobedience was not cheap: they were threatened, beaten, thrown in jail, tortured, and executed for their convections. Like them, if we are compelled to disobey, we must be ready to accept the consequences.

  ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Notice, Romans 13 is not saying: “Submit to all in authority – no matter what!” Rather, it is saying: “Obey the law and those who are in authority who use their authority in a good and godly manner, so you can live peaceably.”

Romans 13 clearly “limits” the role of civil government. Those in authority are only given authority by God to do “good”: “For rulers are not (to be) a terror to good works, but to evil… for he is God’s minister.” Rulers are to also only given authority by God to judge justly and righteously:

The Bible is filled with godly individuals who defied authority when they were commanded to do acts of evil. Daniel disobeyed Darius and went to the lion’s den. Moses’ parents hid him from Pharaoh as a baby. Rahab lied to protect the Hebrew spies. Paul was constantly being jailed, beaten, and scourged because he would not stop preaching the Good News. Jesus himself also repeatedly defied the powerful political and religious leaders of his day. So much so, that Jesus finally got nailed to a Roman cross for it!

Once the government allows islam to finally establish a strong foothold in this country, and they start enforcing sharia law, we’ll find out just where we stand in our belief of Romans 13.

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Tomorrow’s reading for Romans 13:8-10

⁸ Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. ⁹ The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”^[a] and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[b] 10} Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.