Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Rom 13:1 et seq. Indeed, to be subject to the authorities is the being to God who established them. Unless what is required of us is in clear contradiction with the Lord’s will (Acts 4:15-22; Acts 5:26-32). The Christian, who benefits from the security and public services provided by the State, must behave as a good citizen, pay his taxes scrupulously (Rom 13:7), respect the laws and regulations: police, customs, etc. “Do not owe anything to anyone” (Rom 13:8) is an exhortation not to be forgotten in our time when credit has entered the mores. Because debts can be a trap from several points of view: first, by committing to a future that does not belong to us; second, by binding ourselves to men rather than to God (Jer 17:5-8); and finally, by translating a spirit of impatience and self-will. Do I have to make a purchase for which the Lord has not yet given me the necessary money?
For there must be only one debt that binds us: the love that sums up all the instructions in this chapter: love for the Lord (1 Heart 2:13-16), for our brethren, for all men. An essential reason to be faithful and revive our hearts is that “morning is coming” (Isa 21:11-12). As long as the moral night of this world lasts, the believer is invited to put on the weapons of light (Rom 13:12; Eph 6:13-20). The Lord is coming. After the exhortation not to take revenge on oneself, but on overcoming evil with good, the Apostle, in this chapter, passes to a more general duty incumbent on every man, but in a special way on the Christian: “Let every soul submit to the authorities who are above him; for there is no authority except by God; and those that exist are ordained of God” (Rom 13:1).
“Every soul” is more general than “every Christian,” or “each one of you,” and it is well written this way on purpose (Rom 2:9). For the whole house of the believer: children, servants, everything is included. The Christian is certainly not of this world, but he is in the world, like other men, and thus he is bound to be subject to the authorities, and this for reasons that are of the utmost importance. First, authority is “ordained of God,” then the magistrate is “servant of God,” and finally “they are ministers of God” (Rom 13:4-6). It would be difficult to find more serious reasons for our duties towards the authorities.
Undoubtedly, one could object to this simple commandment of God: Yes, but what if authority itself does not recognize its dependence on God, if it governs according to its good pleasure and orders unjust or painful things? Do I still have to submit to it unconditionally? Certainly the word spoken by the apostles before the Sanhedrin: “One must obey God rather than men” is still valid. For if authority requires of us something that is contrary to God’s will, and if the fulfillment of such an order weighs on our conscience, we must obey God’s will. But only in this case. For in any other circumstance, I have to be subject simply, without concern for the political character of authority, whether monarchical, republican, or of another character, whether it fulfills its duties or not, for there is no authority that is not of God. How simple this makes the path of the believer!
At the time our epistle was written, it was certainly not easy to obey this commandment, for the authorities were entirely pagan and idolatrous. They therefore regarded as enemies the believers who had rejected the religion of the state and categorically refused to offer incense to the gods. They even oppressed and persecuted them. Despite this, it remained true that magistrates are ordained of God to punish evil, to demand and reward good (Rom 13:3). The magistrate was and still is today “servant of God”; the apostle declares it twice in this fourth verse: he is “servant of God for your good… he does not carry the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger to execute wrath on him who does evil.” That is why he who resists authority resists God’s ordinance, and those who resist will bring judgment upon themselves (Rom 13:2). In other words, all authority is of God; for this reason the believer must be subject to him, for he would resist the ordinance of God, if he were not.
It is possible that this submission will cause the Christian inconvenience of various kinds and that he may even experience significant losses and suffering. However, this should not change the way it acts; besides, does he have anything else to look forward to in this world of injustice? He is a stranger and a pilgrim; its bourgeoisie is in heaven; brought by faith into the closest relationship with God, he knows that his position and inheritance are heavenly; he is blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. He will one day reign with Christ, when the time comes, but his present part is to suffer and, as much as it depends on him, he must live in peace with all men, seek their good and “doing good,” close his mouth “to the ignorance of meaningless men” (1 Peter 2:15).
When we understand this, our position and attitude towards authority becomes very simple. If we discern God in her, the difficulties disappear and most of the questions resolve themselves. We also recognize the need to be subjected to Him, not only because of anger (which would reach us in case of disobedience), “but also because of conscience” (Rom 13:5). For this same reason, it may happen that we cannot obey, as has already been said, certain orders that are in contradiction with the positive will of God and our character as Christians. He must realize that his interests are not related to this earth, but to heaven.
Here we recall the apostle’s most important and timely exhortation in 1 Timothy 2: “I therefore exhort, first of all, to make supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgiving for all men — for kings and for all those who are high up, so that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, in all piety and honesty” (Rom 13:1, 2). Instead of dissenting the authorities, being passionate about their actions, and even pronouncing outrageous judgments on them (Titus 3:1, 2), our privilege and duty is to intercede for them; making God ascend for them intercessions and thanksgiving. If we do not seek the high things and associate ourselves with the humble (Rom 12:16), we will willingly dispense to all that is due to them or what they expect of us, especially since we will see God above them, desiring to serve Him in all these external things.
“Do not owe anything to anyone but to love one another, for he who loves others has fulfilled the law.” It is likely that, with this exhortation, the apostle is thinking first of all of the obligations just mentioned, but we can also see in it a warning against the guilty habit of making debts, as unfortunately often happens even among Christians. It is humiliating for a believer to go into debt, for whatever reason. In such a case, shouldn’t he put all his energy into getting out of debt as quickly as possible? Only one debt is an exception to this general rule: that of love. This debt is justified and does not dishonor anyone, neither before God nor before men.
Moreover, love is the fulfillment of the law; all the commandments that express man’s duties to his fellow men can be summed up in one: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Rom 13:9). This commandment has existed since ancient times but no one has been able to observe it. Only the grace that has revealed to us in Christ the fullness of divine love can transform our hearts and enable us to no longer walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. If we realize this, “the just requirement of the law” is fulfilled in us (Rom 8:3:4). “Love does not harm one’s neighbor”; if he did, he would act against his nature. Thus “love … is the sum of the law” or, as the apostle told the Galatians: “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this one: ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself'( Gal 5:14).
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Civic duties
Esd 7:26 Anyone who does not occasionally observe the law of your God and the law of the king shall be condemned to death, banishment, a fine, or imprisonment. Ec 8:2 I say to you: Keep the king’s orders, and this because of the oath made to God. Mt 17:27 But, so as not to scandalize them, go to the sea, throw the hook, and pull the first fish that will come; open his mouth, and you will find a statère. Take it, and give it to them for me and for you. Mt 22:21 Of Caesar, they replied. Then he said to them: Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s. Rom 13:1 Let every person be subject to the higher authorities; for there is no authority that does not come from God, and the authorities that exist have been instituted from God. Tit 3:1 Remind them to be subject to the magistrates and authorities, to obey, to be readyfor every goodwork; 1 Kings 2:13-14 Be subject, for the Lord’s sake, to every authority established among men, either to the king as sovereign, 14 or to the governors as sent by him to punish evildoers and to approve the good people.
- Royal favors
Pr 16:15 The serenity of the king’s face gives life, and his favor is like a spring rain. Pr 19:12 The wrath of the king is like the roar of a lion, and his favor is like dew on the grass. Pr 29:26 Many people seek the favor of the one who dominates, but it is the Lord who gives right to each one. Mt 24:45 Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant that his master has established upon his people to give them food at the right time?
- Honesty required
Lev 19:35-36 You will not commit iniquity in judgments, in measures of dimension, or in weights, or in measures of capacity. 36 You shall have just scales, just weights, just eph, and unjust ones. I am the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Dt 25:15 You will have exact and just weight, you will have an exact and just epha, that your days may be prolonged in the land that Jehovah your God gives you. Pr 11:1 The false scale is in horror to the Lord, but the right weight is pleasing to him. Rom 12:17 Do not return evil to anyone for the benefit of evil. Look for what is right in front of all men. Rom 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another; for he who loves others has fulfilled the law. 2 Co 8:21 for we seek what is good, not only before the Lord, but also before men. Phil 4.8 For the rest, brethren, let all that is true, all that is honorable, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovable, all that deserves approval, that which is ertuousandpraiseworthy, be the object of your thoughts.
- Warning Against Spiritual Sleep
Is 56:10 His guardians are all blind, without intelligence; They are all dumb dogs, unable to bark; They have daydreams, lie down, like to sleep. Mk 13:35-36 Watch, therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, or in the evening, or in the middle of the night, or at the crow of the rooster, or in the morning; 36 fear that he will find you asleep when he arrives suddenly. Rom 13:11 This matters all the more because you know what time we are in: it is time to finally wake up from sleep, for now salvation is closer to us than when we believed. Eph 5:14 That is why it is said: Wake up, you who sleep, Rise from the dead, and Christ will enlighten you. 1 Thess 5:6 Let’s not sleep like others, but let us watch and be sober.
From all the above, we note that the Apostle indicates another motive for the Christian to be faithful and vigilant: “And again this: knowing the time, that it is already time to wake up from sleep, because now salvation is closer to us than when we believed: the night is very advanced, and the day has approached”. As long as the sun of righteousness has not risen, the night of this world still lasts. Men can, through their business and the search for pleasures, try to forget this fact. “Those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night,” we read in 1 Thess 5:7. According to the exhortations of the Word, he rejects the works of darkness and puts on the weapons of light. For if we put on “the Lord Jesus Christ”, manifesting in all our thoughts, words and deeds, the character and walk of our beloved Savior, He the true light of day, not only will we not take care of the flesh to satisfy his lusts”, we will not seek the things in which these lusts find nourishment, but we will “walk, as He walked.” For salvation is closer to us than when we believed; the time has come to wake us up from our sleep; that is why he says, “Awaken, you who sleep, and rise from the dead, and Christ will be shining upon you.” Our prayers support you all in your efforts to this end.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may be shining in my life right now.
Thank you Lord Jesus for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby watering point to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow about “welcoming the weak in faith without judgment, not being a stumbling blocks for your brother.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.