Romans 13

Romans 13:1

Romans 13:1 : Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. Paul here speaks of civil governments, human governments. These injunctions apply to all men, especially to all Christians, in all times and places; but there was then a special need for such teaching. Christianity was new, and was regarded by some as antagonistic to human governments. There was likely to be such a notion among Christians. The Jews were especially averse to being subject to the Roman government, and Jews who became Chris-tians would likely hold to their former prejudice against being subject to Rome.

And converts from heathen-ism might feel that, having confessed Jesus Christ as their king, they were not subject to any other government. Hence the special need for Paul’s plain and emphatic teaching.

To make such submission to earthly governments seem more reasonable and necessary he informs them that all power is of God, and that civil governments are ordained of God. He who denies this fact denies the voice of inspiration. The fact that governments sometimes turn out bad, and do unjust things, does not prove Paul’s statement to be untrue. The devil sometimes controls the actions of governments, but that does not prove that all governments belong to the devil. The devil sometimes gets into churches and causes them to do evil and unjust things, but that does not prove that the devil owns and controls all churches. The design of civil government is to promote the security and the well-being of its citizens; and there would be no security of life and property, if there were no human governments.

And so obedience to civil authorities is a fundamental requirement of the gospel. “Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work” (Titus 3:1). “Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake whether to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well. For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:13-15).

One can scarcely imagine a government that would be worse than none. In all he says, Paul assumed that governments would carry out their God-appointed mission. Of course, if a government demands that a Christian must do anything against the will of God, he must obey God rather than man. Aside from this one thing, the Christian should be the best of all citizens; for “the powers that be are ordained of God.”

Romans 13:2

Romans 13:2 : Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. Because these powers are ordained of God, the one who resisteth–takes his stand against the power resists the ordinance of God. To resist the government does not simply mean to fail sometimes to obey a law it is to take a stand against the government–to defy the authority of the government. To do this is to array one-self against both God and the government, and in so doing brings upon himself the judgment of both.

Romans 13:3-4

Romans 13:3-4 : For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. The Roman authorities later put Paul to death yet he says, “Rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil.” On this point Conybeare and Howson have this to say: “We must remember that this was written before the imperial government had begun to persecute Christians. It is a testimony in favor of the general administration of the Roman criminal law.” But that seems to imply that Paul’s statement applied only to the Roman government, and only up to the time the Roman government began to persecute Christians. But was not Paul laying down principles that would apply to all Christians under established governments in all ages?

So it seems to me. Paul was stating the proper functions of civil governments.

His statements are a guide to the duties and limitations of governments, and a rebuke to those who overstep the bounds of their proper functions. Governments sometimes fail to function within their proper limits, just as churches sometimes fail to function as they should. The failure of a church to function as it should does not prove that the devil originated it, nor that all churches are owned and controlled by the devil; neither does a persecuting government prove that the devil controls all governments. No human government is perfect, and certainly the Roman government was far from perfection; but try to imagine the fate of the early Christians and of all other decent people, had there been no government at all. All governments are pleased with law-abiding citizens. The trouble was, the Roman government had some laws concerning religion, which Christians could not obey and this caused the trouble.

Monsters of cruelty like Nero made it hard on Christians. Civil governments were meant to be ministers of God for the good of the people.; but they sometimes swerve from their God-appointed mission, and become instruments of cruelty.

The sword, as here used, is a symbol of power–the power, or authority, to inflict the death penalty. The death penalty for certain crimes is one of God’s fundamental requirements. Long before the law of Moses was given God said to Noah, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood he shed: for in the image of God made he man” (Genesis 9:6). This decree of God has always had to be carried out in a legal way; other-wise it would be murder. “He beareth not the sword in vain; for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.” No person should therefore take vengeance with his own hands.

Romans 13:5

Romans 13:5 : Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. Two reasons or motives are here given for sub-mission to government authorities, namely, the penalty the government would inflict for failure to be in subjection; and a Christian must obey the authorities in order to have a clear conscience. A man who can dis-obey the laws of his government without having any remorse of conscience is lacking in respect for God’s commands. The requirement that Christians must be in subjection to the laws of the land, has been used by some as proof that Christians can have no part in government affairs but that is an unwarranted conclusion. The fact is, every citizen, whether he takes part in political affairs or does not, is expected to be in subjection to the laws of the country. From the humblest citizen to the Chief Executive all are subject to the laws of the government. It would be a curious thing to say that those who take part in the affairs of government are not to be in subjection to its laws.

Romans 13:6-7

Romans 13:6-7 : For this cause ye pay tribute also: for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon this very thing. Render to all they dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. Tribute has special reference to “the annual tax levied upon houses, lands, and persons.” The Christian must pay his taxes; the officers of the government must be paid, “for they are ministers of God’s service.” No Christian should try to avoid paying his just share of government expenses it is common honesty, as well as a Christian duty. Our Lord taught the Jews to pay their taxes (Matthew 22:15-22). “Render to all their dues”; or, Pay to all what you owe. Pay tribute and custom to whom they are due. Tribute–direct taxes on a person and his property; custom is revenue levied on imports and trades. So long as we live in the flesh, even if all people were Christians, we need civil governments; for there are things that must be done, that the church as a body is not authorized to do.

Romans 13:8-10

Romans 13:8-10 : Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: love therefore is the fulfilment of the law. If a man pays promptly according to contract, he owes nothing. “Render to all their dues”–pay what is due. When therefore the time comes to meet an obligation, meet it promptly. But the obligation to love one another is always due, and is never fully paid it is a perpetual debt.

The marginal reading in the American Standard Version informs us that the Greek word translated neighbor in Romans 13:8 means, the other. So the verse would read, “Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth the other hath fulfilled the law.” But the law is not fulfilled by mere sentiment, or feeling, but by deeds of helpfulness; and it means, as well, refraining from doing any harm. It means that one must refrain from doing the evil things mentioned in Romans 13:9. “For this” this is the sum of fulfilling the law of love, namely, refrain from the evils mentioned, and love your neighbor as yourself really it is all summed in the one command: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” And we love our neighbor as ourselves when we treat him as well as we would have him treat us. If a man loves his neighbor as himself, he will not do him any harm, but always good. This is real love.

 

 

 

Romans 13:11. And this, knowing the season, that it is already time for you to awake out of sleep; for now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed." “And this” additional matter, “knowing the season” knowing the character of the time in which they lived it was time for them to arouse from their indifference and lethargy. Few Christians are ever as wide awake as they should be. “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee” (Eph. 5:14). “Salvation nearer.” This seems to refer to their eternal salvation for they were already in possession of salvation in Christ from their alien sins. As time passes eternal salvation comes nearer. It is now nearer than when we first believed.

Romans 13:12

Romans 13:12 : The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. There are some difficulties in this verse, but its general meaning seems clear enough. Sin and ignorance are both rep-resented as darkness–night. Christians are all more or less under the influence of both. Paul’s language in this verse shows this to be so: “Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness.” Without the gospel of Christ darkness covered the world but the dark-ness, or night, was far spent, for the full revelation of the gospel was nearing completion. The day–the full light of the gospel–was at hand.

Now men walk in darkness only by choice. Christians have a responsibility. The gospel is light only to those who open their eyes to it. We must cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. Light of the gospel is the armor; we put that armor on by learning the gospel and cherishing it. The gospel is light to us only in so far as we know its teaching.

In connection with Romans 13:11-14 read 1 Thessalonians 5:7-10.

Romans 13:13-14

Romans 13:13-14 : Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chamber-ing and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. No Christian should be guilty of unseemly conduct. Love does not behave itself unseemly (1 Corinthians 13:5): A Christian man should be a gentleman–a gentle man. He should not stumble, as if he were walking in the dark; he should walk uprightly, as in the day. But if he does not walk in the light of the gospel, he is sure to stumble.

He should not be guilty of revelling and drunkenness the two usually go together. To revel is to engage in hilarious conduct, and the drunkard usually does that. “Not in chambering”–not in unchaste con-duct with the opposite sex “and wantonness”–lewd-ness. Strife and jealousy usually grow out of such conduct. Romans 13:14 is in contrast with Romans 13:13. Instead of indulging in such things as mentioned in Romans 13:13, we are to clothe ourselves with the characteristics manifested by our Lord while he was in the flesh–put ourselves completely under his authority, and let him always be our guide. We are to make his life our life.

 

We must make provision for the needs of our body, but not to fulfill its lusts. In short, the Christian must lead a clean life.