One Year Journey Through the New Testament
Romans 13
Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!
Submit to Government
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.
(Romans 13:1–7, NKJV)
Points to Ponder:
- Paul opens chapter 13 with an admonishment to obey government leaders. While many thought that government oppression would be overthrown by the Messiah, Paul here taught that the government was an instrument of God for judgment and blessing.
- Examples like Pharaoh and Cyrus help the reader understand that leaders can be used by God to either bless or judge God’s people.
- He says to obey the law and pay your taxes. This is God’s will.
Love Your Neighbor
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
(Romans 13:8–10, NKJV)
Points to Ponder:
- Paul then moves from how a Christian should respond to the government to a discussion of how one should treat one another.
- The mantra is to love one another. He even says that the half of the Ten Commandments are summed up in the one statement (offered by Jesus in the gospels) to love one’s neighbor as yourself.
- In essence, then, loving one’s neighbor is the fulfillment of the law.
Put on Christ
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
(Romans 13:11–14, NKJV)
Points to Ponder:
- Finally, Paul encourages the believers to wake up from any spiritual sleep, because the salvation of the church (rapture, removal from the earth) is nearer than when they first believed.
- Put off the darkness and dark works, and wear the armor of light.
- Don’t be drunk or lustful, with strife and envy.
- Instead, wear the life and love of Jesus Christ.
- Deny the flesh and its works, and live holy. Jesus is coming!
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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.
Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.
Devoted To You 