Romans Chapter 13 Vs. 1

 

Submission to the Authorities

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. Rom 13:1

every soul be... Ten duties of citizens:

1. To be subject to civil government (Rom. 13:1; Titus 3:1; 1Pet. 2:13-17).

2. To be afraid to disobey civil rulers (Rom. 13:3; Pro. 24:21).

3. To do good (Rom. 13:4; Titus 3:1).

4. To pay taxes (Rom. 13:1-7; Mat. 22:17-21).

5. To render dues to all people (Rom. 13:7).

6. To honor civil rulers (Rom. 13:1-7; Exo. 22:28; Acts 23:5; 1Pet. 2:13-17).

7. To pray for civil rulers (1Tim. 2:1-2).

8. To obey civil laws (Rom. 13:1-7; Ezra 7:26).

9. To do not curse rulers (Ecc. 10:20).

10. To work for peace (Rom. 12:18).

the higher powers... Greek: huperecho, supreme powers. Here; Phlp. 2:3; 3:8; 4:7; 1Pet. 2:13. In this scripture, being subject to a “higher power” comes from a Greek word used of a soldier’s absolute obedience to his superior officer. Scripture makes one exception to this command: when obedience to civil authority would require disobedience to God’s Word.

Unto the higher powers speaks of every position of civil authority without regard to competence, morality, reasonableness, or any other caveat.

is no power... Since God alone is the sovereign ruler of the universe, He has instituted 4 authorities on earth:

1. The government over all citizens;

2. The church over all believers;

3. The parents over all children;

4. The masters over all employees.

God instituted human government to reward good and to restrain sin in an evil, fallen world.

Human Governments

Greek: exousia, delegated authority. All authorities are ordained (Greek: tasso, appointed or determined) of God. That is, in God’s plan He has determined that human governments shall exist to help Him carry on moral government and enforce moral laws. They are appointed by God, but He is not responsible for their acts. If they get out of line He will judge them, as He will gospel ministers. See Acts 13:48

Seven Facts About Human Governments:

1. They were instituted by God (Gen. 9:1-7; Rom. 13:1-6; 1Pet. 2:13-17).

2. Their purpose was to execute criminals and enforce law and order among people (Rom. 13:1-6; 1Pet. 2:13-17; Gen. 9:6; Isa. 11:4-9; 65:20; Dan. 2:21; 4:17-25; 5:21).

3. It is the duty of Christians and others to help establish and support human government for the preservation of society and promotion of the highest good of man (Rom. 13:1; 1Pet. 2:13-17).

4. Governments were instituted to govern by force and to punish, not only local and individual criminals, but also universal and national criminals. This includes execution of war to put down criminal nations as well as criminal individuals (Rom. 13:1-5; 1Pet. 2:13-17; Dan. 2:21; 4:17-25; 5:21).

5. Christians are not to leave popular government up to the ungodly. To neglect good government is to neglect the salvation of souls. Promotion of public and private good is one of the greatest means of saving souls (Rom. 13:1-6; 1Tim. 1:8-10). Christians should vote and enter public life to promote good government so that the gospel will not be hindered and stamped out. Both reason and experience, as well as the Bible make this obligatory upon all. Since government is necessary for the best good of all, it is the duty of every Christian to help bring about the best government to secure this end.

6. Human governments, therefore, are not founded upon the arbitrary will of God, but upon the needs of humanity in securing their highest good. If in a small family, law and penalties are needed, how much more are they needed in communities, states, and nations. If government needs reforming, then let the Christians bring about such reforms. If they require nothing contrary to God, moral obligation, and the conscience, and if they meet the needs of those governed, they should be perpetuated (Rom. 13:1-6).

7. Upon the grounds of the best public interest, it becomes the duty of human governments to use all necessary means to attain this end. It is absurd to believe that rulers have the right to govern and not the right to use the necessary means to carry on good government. Such error or belief causes many Christians to object to the right of capital punishment, the right to deal with mobs, to suppress rebellions, and to make wars on criminal nations. When a person sells himself to destroy the best good of others, it becomes necessary to take him from the society he seeks to destroy. In such cases it becomes necessary to deal with individuals, and nations to enforce law and order for the best good of all. It must be both the right and the duty of government and all its subjects to use every necessary and possible means to suppress rebellion and enforce respect for law and order. Rulers are God’s ministers to execute God’s wrath upon the ungodly and preserve moral law and government for the good of all (Rom. 13:1-6; 1Pet. 2:13-17).

In our society today, authority of every kind is being challenged. It begins in the home. In God’s plans, the daddy is the head of the house. Mother should be over the children, as well. Secular humanism has taught our children that they are the center of everything, and because of this, children are rebelling.

In most large schools in our country today, crime is very evident. A few years ago, this was not true, because everyone had respect for the teachers and principal. Even in the military, we saw a breakdown of authority. Many young men burned their draft cards and refused to go to war for their country. No earlier than World War 2 that would have been total disgrace.

These people have been looked on as if they were heroes. We have even lost respect for our government officials. Even employees are telling their boss that they will not do what they are asked to. It seems that the whole world has gone mad.

We can read of all this in 2 Timothy:

2Tim. 3:1-5 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” “Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,” “Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;” “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

1Pet. 2:13-16 “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;” “Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” “For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:” “As free, and not using [your] liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.”

If we question too strongly the person in authority, we need to first stop and think who gave him or her that authority. God gave them the authority, and if we are fighting against them, we are in a sense fighting God.

Rome was the imperial capital, the seat of the empire’s civil government. As residents in Rome, Paul’s initial readers were aware of both the glory and the shame of that city in the days of Nero, who reigned from a.d. 54 to 68. But they were also citizens of Christ’s kingdom (Phlp. 3:20; Col. 1:13). Appropriately, therefore, Paul discussed a Christian’s relationship to his government and civil rulers. Both in its length and specific details this discussion is the key New Testament passage on the subject (cf. 1Tim. 2:1-4; Titus 3:1; 1Pet. 2:13-17).

The apostle’s basic exhortation is, Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities (lit., “higher authorities”). The basic reason for such submission is that those authorities are established by God (cf. Dan. 4:17, 4:25, 4:34-35).