Romans 13:1-7
v 12:2 And do not be conformed to this
world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what
is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
v 13:1 Let
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.
Christians
must not live by the standards and morality of this world. The ruler of this
present age, the prince of darkness does not anymore have any governance over
us who were once his subjects. Now we are God’s and Jesus is our King, under Whose rule we are bound. The change of citizenship from that
of the Evil One to that of the Light also involves an inner change, a
transformation, a renewal, a recreation, a rebirth. For unless one is born anew
from the old filthiness, he cannot see God’s kingdom, much less enters it.
The
new creature, the Christian man, is aware of God and places himself in His
presence and under His sovereignty. Thereafter his manners and conducts are
that which are pleasurable to God; though the world may prosper or persecute,
his dealings are with God and he is conscious of this fact. Therefore, even in
the matters pertaining to the world, the Christian man is aware that he
ultimately deals with God. Take for example the blessed apostle Paul who though
bound by the chains of
v 2 Therefore
whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who
resist will bring judgment on themselves.
Since
civil authorities are set over us by God, it is His will that we submit
ourselves to them. If a king was raised to rule his people, the reason why he
was raised was so that the people may be ruled by him. If a council or a
parliament was formed to govern the state, the reason for its formation was so
that the state may be governed by it. Whoever then who resists or revolts
against the authorities who were set over us by the sovereign will of God, they
are in fact revolting against God’s direction.
The
unregenerated mind is always revolting. It seeks to
elevate itself above everything else, even God. It places itself first before
others and set itself ruler over all. Christians, however, are called to be like Christ, to in humility and
submission faithfully serve the God-ordained order of the Creation. If we are
called to submit to one another, to be subjected to and humble ourselves among
equal, how much more are we called to be subjected to those whose ordination is
presently above us, by God’s good pleasure. It is in the experience of
subjections and submissions that we learn and imitate Christ Who though in the
form of God, made Himself of not reputation, taking the form of a slave and
being humble and obedient to the point of death, even subjecting Himself to the
shameful death by crucifixion.
v 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.
v 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.
God
has appointed civil authorities to preserve harmony and peace. The authorities
are a threat to the wicked, they seek to suppress the
activities of evil in the society. As deacons who administer God’s providence
in the Church, so the authorities are God’s deacons to administer justice and
peace in the society. By the common grace of god, the King and the Parliament
are allowed and are enabled to enact constitutions and laws to regulate the
business of the people they rule over. And by these constitutions and laws, the
authorities prosecute and execute crimes and evils. So to the wicked, be exceedingly afraid and turn away from
your malicious ways, and to the good, to all Christians, be subject to the governing authorities.
They are like God’s representatives, indeed in the old days, they are called
“gods”, establishing his righteous rule on earth. God Who dispense His
blessings, Who sends forth the sun and rains to Christians and non-Christians
alike, also requires that his righteousness be complied to, by both Christians
and non-Christians alike. Therefore, in the society even, His righteousness is
reflected in the administration and rule of the authorities, especially in
their prosecution of evil practices.
v 5 Therefore
you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’s sake.
v 6 For
because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending
continually to this very thing.
If
the King and the Parliament is of God, who came forth by God’s sovereign will
and good pleasure, who are God’s servants/ministers to uphold justice and
peace, who are God’s representatives in the society to prosecute evil, we
therefore are obliged to be subjected to them. Not only because we are afraid
of the punishment inflicted on evil doers, but also because we know this; the
authorities are ordained by God to rule over our civil activities. Therefore as
Christians, we must obey civil authorities in obedience to God’s appointed
order. We know that the government is given the mandate and power to administer
certain thing, inter alia,
taxation, so we must on our part perform our duties to them.
v 7 Render
therefore to all their dues: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom
customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
The
apostle wrote in reminiscence of the Lord’s word which taught us to render to
Caesar the things owed to him and to God the things that are God’s. Each on has
their sphere of authorities, all the institutions of man are appointed by God
to exercise power over certain delegated matters and God is above all. So to those whom God has appointed over us, let us give to them
whatsoever allegiance owed. These are their dues and our reasonable services
while we are in the world. Again it has to be stressed that our failures to
comply with the duty expected of us towards the authorities constitute a
revolt, not only against the authorities, but also against God Who had set this
hierarchy of power for the running of human affairs. Finally, let us again be
reminded of the Lord’s words, “Render
therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are
God’s”. The King is above us, God is above all.
Lessons