Romans 13:1-7

Submission to the Authorities

RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY

Romans 13:1-7

I will be putting down two opinions. The life Application one and the one labeled ME.

Rom 13:1  Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

Life Application New Testament Commentary:

13:1 Paul says that believers are to obey the government. These were wise words to this small group of believers living within the massive structure of the Roman Empire. It wouldn’t take much for an imperial edict to fall on a group who might become known for causing unrest within the empire. Their quiet submission would not guarantee peace, but at least it might allow them to continue to spread the gospel freely for a time.

Paul does not recommend either of the two possible extreme responses to the presence of a hostile authority. He does not favor believers becoming like the Zealots, Jewish rebels who fought (often violently) for freedom from Rome; neither does he suggest that they withdraw to the desert to set up their own community far from the evil city. Instead, Paul explains how Christian should live within the structure. Only then would they be able to share the gospel and transform society.

Why should they do this? Because all governments have been placed in power by God. He allows all governments and leaders to function under his sovereign will. Government is ideally in place to protect and serve its citizens. When governments distort or betray this function, those who run them will answer to God. They are under God’s constraint and under his final judgment (see also Psalm 2; Dan_4:34-35).

ME

If you lived in Syria and you were ordered to bomb know Christian areas what would you do? This has happened I do not know if the pilots were Christian.

If our government becomes socialistic and the Christian religion is at best marginalized or made illegal as it is in China. What would you do? Even those ideas are extreme you need to put what the bible says in front of the law. You obey all normal laws but there have been a few that are immoral or worse. Those are the ones that are hard to swallow.

Rom 13:2  So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. Rom 13:3  For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. Rom 13:4  The authorities are God's servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.

Life Application New Testament Commentary:

13:2 Citizens of any government should respect their government and obey its laws. If they refuse to obey the laws of the land, they are ultimately refusing to obey God and can expect punishment. For hundreds of years, however, there have been at least three interpretations of how we are to do this.

1. Some Christians believe that the state is so corrupt that Christians should have as little to do with it as possible. Although they should be good citizens as long as they can do so without compromising their beliefs, they should not work for the government, vote in elections, or serve in the military.

2. Others believe that God has given the state authority in certain areas and the church authority in others. Christians can be loyal to both and can work for either. They should not, however, confuse the two. In this view, church and state are concerned with two totally different spheres—the spiritual and the physical—and thus complement each other but do not work together.

3. Still others believe that Christians have a responsibility to make the state better. They can do this politically, by electing Christian or other high-principled leaders. They can also do this morally, by serving as an influence for good in society. In this view, church and state ideally work together for the good of all.

None of these views advocates rebelling against or refusing to obey laws or regulations unless those laws clearly require a person to violate the moral standards revealed by God. Wherever we find ourselves, we must be responsible citizens, as well as responsible Christians.

Are there times when we should not submit to the government? Paul does not address this question here, but other passages of Scripture give guidelines and examples. The government can demand respect, obedience, taxes, and honor from its citizens inasmuch as God appoints governments to protect people. When a government demands allegiance that conflicts with a believer’s loyalty to God, Christians must respond in a different way. Believers should never allow the government to force them to disobey God. Jesus and his apostles never disobeyed the government for personal reasons; when they disobeyed, they were following their higher loyalty to God (Act_5:29). Their disobedience was not cheap; they were threatened, beaten, thrown into jail, tortured, and executed for their convictions. If we are compelled to disobey, we must be ready to accept the consequences (see 1Pe_2:13-14; 1Pe_4:15-16).

ME

There are areas in this world that the governing authorities are not doing God’s bidding. They may be in God’s plan since we are moving towards the end times but I doubt Stalin, Hitler, and on and on were doing God’s will.  Again I do not know God’s plans so I could be way off but those periods of time were horrific. With Isis cutting of heads and governments killing hundreds of thousands of their own people it appears we are returning to a time when Satan is ruling.

Rom 13:5  So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Rom 13:6  Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Rom 13:7  Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.