Romans 13-0 The Conduct of Christians (3) and Their Relationship with Authorities#
Romans 13-0 The Conduct of Christians (3)
- Relationship with Authorities
(JP Text Group - Organized by the Life of Eagles)
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you for leading us back to your word once again. We are willing to open our hearts to receive your truth. Please grant us the wisdom we need in our lives so that we may manifest your glory. Let us reveal the power of your word and bring help to those around us. May the Holy Spirit guide us in the time ahead, so that those who seek you may receive provision. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!
The content of Romans chapter 13, verses 1-7,
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. 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. 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, honor to whom honor.
We share the third lecture on the conduct of Christians.
Starting from Romans chapter 12, Paul tells us how to apply the truth in our lives. How to live out God's glory. These truths are closely related to our lives, filling our lives with divine wisdom and experiencing His wonderful grace. These truths can help us better interact with others, live in harmony, and spread the gospel, allowing more people to experience Christ's grace.
Around us, there are often people expressing youthful anger, pointing out certain darkness, which leads us to lose confidence in the authorities. Brothers and sisters, the Bible never teaches that you can corrupt your country. We are all imperfect, and everyone has shortcomings. How to manifest Christ's love in the lives of imperfect people is what believers should contemplate. God tells us to be subject to those in authority to avoid bringing judgment upon ourselves.
Verse 1 states that everyone should be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who are in power are appointed by God.
This is still directed at believers. We need to be subject to those in authority. The Bible is very clear about this because there is no authority that is not from God. A double negative statement is used here to tell us that we must do this. This is divine wisdom; if someone does not submit, they will suffer loss.
Some say, "If the authority acts justly, I will submit to him; if he acts unjustly, I will not submit." Here, God says that all in authority are appointed by Him. Regardless of whether this person is just or unjust, good or bad, God tells us to submit to them. The Holy Spirit hopes that we will not have conflicts with them but coexist peacefully, allowing us to have good relationships.
So, we should submit to those in authority. Of course, this does not mean we must obey everything unconditionally. For example, if they ask you to give up your faith in Jesus, do not submit to that. However, we should still adhere to some rules in life. Although sometimes we may not fully understand, it might just be a matter of differing perspectives or ways of looking at things. Therefore, we should still submit to the words of those in authority.
Thus, resisting authority is resisting God's command; those who resist will bring judgment upon themselves.
Some people refuse to listen to this and insist on doing things that are not recognized by the authorities, thinking they are upholding the truth and maintaining the right path. What is the consequence? Those who resist will bring judgment upon themselves. When you face judgment, do not say it is from God; it is what you have brought upon yourself. Because the words of Jesus Christ are very clear here.
We hope our country is stable. Without a stable environment, how can you go to work or worship God? All of this may be lost. So, what God tells us is to submit to those in authority, not to resist them, but to listen to them.
You have believed in the Lord, and God has forgiven your sins; you are no longer a sinner. However, if you take a knife and kill someone, the laws of the land will still punish you. This is different. Although God no longer punishes you for this sin, what about your relationships with others and with those in authority? We must submit to one another. We must obey those in authority.
Many people misunderstand and think that since God no longer remembers our sins, they can live however they want, ignoring others' words, showing no respect for their superiors, and refusing to listen to those in authority. This is not wise, nor does it reflect the glory of Christ. Jesus preached the gospel on earth while submitting to the authorities of the time. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Resisting those in authority is resisting God's command, and those who resist will bring judgment upon themselves. The disobedience to authority refers to actions that go against God's will, such as harming others or doing evil... If someone believes in the Lord but continues to do these things, they will surely bring judgment upon themselves.
We may also encounter such situations. For example, some people clearly know that lending at high interest is wrong but still choose to engage in this business, lending to others, and end up losing their money. They then cry out to God, "Lord, why did you let me encounter this evil person? Hurry and make him return my money!" In fact, you are bringing judgment upon yourself because you have done something that goes against the authorities. So when you bring judgment upon yourself, do not complain to God or say this is God's lesson for you.
We should do things that benefit others and are good for the country, and avoid things that harm others.
We need to be examples to the world, showing them that we are people who benefit society, always bringing peace and joy to others wherever we go. He did not create chaos in the world but gave life to people, the gospel to the world, and health and peace to humanity. As Jesus is, so are we in the world.
Those in authority are also appointed by God; they are known by God. The orderly operation of this world is because God governs everything. Every day we see the sunrise and sunset, and the seasons change on time. This is because our Lord still governs all, and all things exist in obedience to God's word. The nations of the world are the same; the existence of laws allows people to work in an orderly manner and progress better. Those in authority are the executors of the law, aiming to make everything proceed more smoothly, not in chaos. After all, not everyone believes in Jesus, so the law is very necessary. Without laws to restrain people, everyone would act according to their own desires, and chaos would ensue.
The Bible mentions a time when the people of Israel lived as they pleased, which was during the time of the judges. You will find that in the Book of Judges, God set a way for the people of Israel to live, but they were unwilling to listen to God and acted according to their own desires, resulting in great suffering for the people.
Judges 17:6, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes."
From the above scripture, we can see why the people of Israel had such a difficult time during the time of the judges. If everyone acts according to their own desires and no one is willing to listen to anyone else, it will inevitably lead to chaos and disorder. Therefore, today, there are policies in the country and rules in the family that we should obey.
God established these authorities. God knows everything. The authority of those in power is not to bully the good but to punish the evil. They do what they should do, and we do what we should do; submission is enough. The rest we leave in prayer, and our Lord will surely listen.
Daniel 5:18-21
18 "O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. 19 And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. 20 But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. 21 Then he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys; they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses."
In the Old Testament, there was a king named Nebuchadnezzar, whom God appointed as king and granted him glory and authority. Nebuchadnezzar became proud and acted arbitrarily, resulting in his heart being changed from that of a man to that of a beast, and he lived in the mountains for seven years.
So, brothers and sisters, please remember that all things are under God's authority. If we truly encounter injustice, we should offer our prayers before the Lord, and our Lord will execute justice. God wants us to submit to these authorities. In fact, it helps us to believe that the Lord is still in control.
Verse 3 states that rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Just do good, and you will have praise from the same.
Here, Paul tells us the highest principle for conduct. That is to do good. When people receive grace from God and live out this blessing to build others up, the world sees our good works. These good works, no matter where or what we do, will not harm others but will benefit them. Because rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. If you do good, you will receive praise from them. When we follow the truth taught by Jesus, our actions will surely be good.
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.
This is a fact we need to see spiritually. All authorities are God's ministers. They are used by God and are beneficial to us. The meaning here is that when we live out the glory of Christ and do good, they will become our help and protection.
However, even believers should be afraid if they do evil, because they are the ones who punish evil. Although God no longer remembers the sins of believers, if a believer sins, the laws of the world will still punish them.
To give a simple example, we know that one should not drink and drive. We already have relevant laws. But if someone believes in the Lord and still chooses to drink and drive, praying not to be discovered, this is indeed an evil act, a selfish thought. On one hand, it disrespects one's own life; on the other hand, it disrespects the lives of others. If caught, one should accept the punishment. God does not delight in such actions.
1 Peter 2:13-14,
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
For the Lord's sake, submit to every human institution. Do it to glorify the Lord and to manifest Christ's love. If you work in a company, you should follow the company's rules and respect your superiors. No matter which country you are in, you should abide by that country's laws. We must become examples to the world and establish good relationships with those in authority.
Exodus 22:28, "You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people."
What does this mean? It means that intentionally spreading lies to slander those in authority is unacceptable. Do not revile God, which means distorting God's meaning with your own understanding and leading others to believe the same. At the same time, do not slander the rulers of your people. Do not distort the facts. When encountering injustice, we can place it in prayer and see how God leads us. God will surely make a way for us!
Titus 3:1, "Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work."
Paul tells Timothy to remind everyone, and here "everyone" refers to believers. Believers should submit to those in authority, obey their commands, and be ready for every good work. The last sentence is key; submission and obedience do not mean doing evil or compromising with others, but rather being prepared to do every good work. Currently, this is also a part that many believers lack. Too many believers can talk but cannot act, often arguing about the correctness of doctrines and attacking each other. Wouldn't it be better to spend that time doing good for others? Instead of arguing about the definition of love, let us, like Jesus, live out and give God's love.
Of course, we should also pray for those in authority, that they may use their power correctly. We must believe that all authority is given by God and live each day with this hope, entrusting everything and giving thanks in all things!
Verse 5 states, "Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake."
You must submit. In fact, Paul rarely uses the word "must... must..." as if it were a legal requirement, but it is not; he has already told believers that they can choose not to submit. Today, God will not hold your sins against you, but remember that this person may bring judgment upon themselves.
Those in authority are God's ministers; they are used by God and are beneficial to you. Think about it: if there were no security in your community, would you feel safe sleeping at night? You might lose everything without even knowing it; thieves could break into your home at any time. Because of the presence of these people, your safety is guaranteed. What they do is beneficial to you. A nation has rulers for the benefit of the people.
So you must submit. Even today, although we are under grace and God no longer remembers your sins, it does not mean you can treat others however you want, be disrespectful, or harm others at will, or slander your rulers. This is also wrong.
What is the reason you must submit? Not only because of punishment, meaning not just out of fear of punishment, but also for conscience' sake. First, believers know that those in authority are established by God, and not submitting to them is not submitting to God.
Conscience determines a person's behavior. If a person spends all day thinking about speculation and exploiting loopholes in the law, they do not believe in God and do not trust that God can bless them, so they engage in harmful actions. Brothers and sisters, do not participate in schemes to get rich quickly without effort. Be diligent in doing honest work; God will surely bless us, making us abundant enough to share with those in need.
If you obey the law, then those in authority will also appreciate you, and God will greatly bless you in this regard. Isn't that better?
Verse 6 states, "For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing."
This specifically mentions the matter of paying taxes. This is something that should be done. We believers should set an example because the country needs to operate and requires finances; we should pay taxes to support them. Those in authority provide justice, protection, and peace for the people, so we need to submit to them and respect them.
Indeed, there are people who evade taxes, but Christians should not be among them. We should actively pay taxes to support the better development of our country. This is our duty. The church is the same, families are the same, and the nation is the same.
If your family needs money, what will you do? You will certainly set aside some money for the basic expenses of the household. The same goes for the country; a nation is made up of many families, and each family needs to contribute its share. This way, the country will be secure, and we can live and work in peace.
In Genesis, Joseph became the prime minister of Egypt. During the years of plenty, he collected one-fifth of the people's grain, which was more than usual. The people might not understand, saying, "Why are you collecting so much grain at this time?" In fact, they did not know that after the years of plenty would come years of famine, and Joseph was preparing for their future sustenance. After collecting the grain, he stored it in various granaries. Later, when the years of plenty were over, the years of famine came, and many other nations had no food.
You will find that during the years of plenty, some people did not save their grain; some sold it, and others wasted it. But what was Egypt doing? They were storing grain, accumulating a large supply. During the years of famine, these people were not starved to death. In fact, any country operates this way; a country needs the support of its people. We should submit and support.
The church is the same. Some pastors say that tithing is no longer necessary, and everyone can give as they please; tithing has long been abolished, so do whatever you want, no need to give (in fact, believers like to hear such words). They forget that the church, like a family and a nation, needs to operate normally. If brothers and sisters do not contribute, the church cannot continue. Then when believers are sick, who will visit and help them? When someone is in trouble, what will they use to help?
The servants in the church are also established by God. Christ is the head of the church, and believers are the body, but each part must listen to the head's arrangement. God has established pastors to manage the church. If believers submit, the church will be orderly; if everyone is unwilling to listen to the pastor, it will be chaotic, and nothing will be accomplished. Over time, it will surely divide. But if everyone submits to one another, the church will surely be revived.
The same goes for families. The husband is the head, and the wife is the body. The wife submits to the husband. The husband loves the wife. All of this operates according to God's way, under His blessing. If everyone in a family does whatever they want, there will surely be endless arguments. Over time, it will surely divide. Therefore, Christians do not live as they please but must submit to one another; submission is for our greater blessing.
It is precisely because of the existence of rules that when everyone submits to these rules, just as they submit to God, things become very harmonious. Therefore, systems are necessary. Even under grace, God still has requirements for us. Thus, we need to respect those in authority; respect the deacons, teachers, and pastors in your church; and in the family, respect your husband, so that we may be blessed in all things.
Verse 7 states, "Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor."
What a person is due refers to what they have worked for and should receive.
1 Timothy 5:17-18
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages."
What these servants need is what should be given to them, so that they can serve the brothers and sisters without any worries. Isn't that better?
Matthew 22:15-21
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." 21 And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
When Jesus Christ came to preach the gospel on earth, He did not violate the law, but under the law, He was still able to manifest God's goodness, love, and forgiveness. Therefore, fear those whom you should fear; honor those whom you should honor.
Brothers and sisters, this is the content we shared, which teaches us how to establish harmonious relationships with those in authority. This is closely related to our lives. In the love of Christ, learn to submit and manifest Christ's love.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you for comforting us with such words, guiding us, and granting us wisdom to interact with others. You desire us to be law-abiding people. When we give love and live out good deeds, the world will see the glory of Christ through us, and glory will be given to our Heavenly Father. May we live out the likeness of Jesus Christ in the world, giving out Christ's love. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!