Romans

Submit to Government; Love your Neighbor; Put on Christ.

Romans 13:1-7

A living sacrifice, a renewed and transformed person in Christ, was to live peaceably and to leave vengeance to the Lord.  A living sacrifice is not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good.  One of the challenges to this walk is that of dealing with government and authorities.

Life in Rome wasn't easy for those that Paul wrote to.  The vast majority of the population in Rome was poor and in servitude to someone else.  This wasn't the land of opportunity, a place to make your own way in the world; it was scraping by, hard work and worry in a land controlled by those who had the power and wealth.  The average citizen didn't really have a voice, an advocate.  There were no civil rights as we understand them.  On top of that, the Jews and Christians, at best, were just tolerated and that wasn't always the case. 

Christians in Rome may have felt like a small boat in a big ocean at times, out of control, as if they were at the mercy of a tyrannical government.  The church came to Rome under the rule of Caligula (37-41 A.D.).   Caligula came to power as the result of political intrigue and royal family quarrels that led to murder.  When Caligula came to power, Rome was tolerant of Judaism and Christians were viewed as a sect of the Jews that were disruptive among the family of Judaism.  Caligula's early rule was one of winning favor with the people and the army.  It wasn't long before something changed.  He was extremely ill; some think he was being poisoned.  After recovering, he began to kill off all his family and torture those near him.  He was known to do this as he ate, as if it was some sort of entertainment.  He named his favorite horse as his personal counselor.  He also began to refer to himself as a god and presented himself publicly dressed as one of the Roman gods.  At one time he commanded the governor of Syria to place a statue of him in the Temple in Jerusalem for the purpose of adoration.  Obviously, the Jews threw a fit and Caligula withdrew this command for fear of a rebellion. 

Caligula was assassinated by his guards and Claudius I, Caligula's uncle, reigned from ad 41–54.  He delegated most of his responsibilities to his wife, at least up until he had her murdered.  He then married his niece who later poisoned him.  Claudius also tolerated the Jews for the most part but did banish them all from Rome halfway through his reign because the disturbances they caused (Acts 18:2). 

Claudius died in 54 A.D. and Nero came to power and reigned until 68 A.D.  Nero was most likely emperor when Paul wrote this letter to the Roman Christians.  His was the authority that Paul was asking these Christians to submit to.  Nero was 15 years old when he became the emperor.  By the time he was 22 he had his mother murdered.  Right after that he divorced his wife and had her murdered.  And of course, Nero is most famous for blaming Christians for the fire that swept through Rome; of which many historians believe Nero instigated.  He had Christians tortured and burned publicly.  It seemed to be a game or form of entertainment for Nero to come up with unique ways to kill and torture those in Christ.

Imagine yourself as a Christian, knowing these things, yet reading Paul's command to submit to this government because they are ordained by God. 

Chapter 13 is a continuation of what the Christian life should look like when we've presented ourselves before the Lord as a living sacrifice.  It's not hard to imagine some of these Christians rejecting Paul's words as coming from someone who doesn't understand.  Others, still listening to Paul, might have been asking, "If Jesus is my Lord, then do I have to still obey the government?  Should I rebel against all other authority?"

Paul told the Roman believers (and us) that they were to be subject to the governing authorities.  Did this surprise them? Us?  These authorities are over us in hierarchal way.  The person being transformed by the Holy Spirit will be subject to the governing authority.  There is no distinction made for godly and ungodly governments; moral and immoral; righteous and unrighteous; or free and democratic verses the oppression from a tyrant.  All governments and their authorities are from God.  Did Jesus not confirm this as he stood before Pilate. 

"Where are You from?" But Jesus gave him no answer.

¹⁰ Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?"

¹¹ Jesus answered,"You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above." John 19:9b-11a)

I also think of the imprisonment and execution of John the Baptist.  John was clearly not evil but imprisoned because he offended Herod.  Jesus certainly could have saved him.  Angels could have opened the doors and released him.  But God was doing something bigger and the government of Herod was part of it. 

Jesus was only under the authority of that Roman government because He Himself had given that authority.  Even the power and authority that condemned Jesus to death was given by God, for God's purpose, to serve God's plan. 

The authority the Kings of the world possess has been given to them by God.  They are established and continue by God and for Him.  And that happens whether they acknowledge Him as their Lord or not.  The only exception to this obedience we are called to seems to be when the government opposes the authority of God.  We no longer have to obey them when they ask us to follow them in evil or perform some act that goes against the precepts of God.  We see this principle twice in the book of Daniel.  In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego (Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah) disobeyed the mandate of king Nebuchadnezzar.  The decree was that all the people of the land were fall down and worship the gold image of the king upon the command.  Nebuchadnezzar blew a gasket when he found you these Hebrews refused to bow.  He offered them another chance, if they didn't take him up on it, they would be thrown into the furnace.  He then asked them an interesting question:

And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?

These young men of faith responded, seeming without hesitation.  They understood the words of Daniel, that God removes kings and raises up kings (2:21).  They didn't need to consider the offer.  Their God could deliver them from the furnace and he would deliver them from king's hand.  Regardless of that, they would not serve his gods or worship the gold image. 

Daniel and his friends were servants to the king and I don't think anyone could make the case they were not submitted to the king.  However, the king crossed the line.  Where is that line?  These young men knew right away. 

1. They were respectful, even in disobedience.
2. They were firm, nothing wishy washy.
3. They knew where the line was, prior to this event.
4. They did not compromise or negotiate. (We have no authority to negotiate God's degrees.)

Another example of resisting the government is also in Daniel in chapter 6.  The king was tricked into making a decree that anyone bringing a petition to any god or man other than the King would be thrown into the lion's den.  Daniel worshiped God as he always had.  He was charged and brought before King Darius.  The King didn't want to throw Daniel to the lions.  Darius said to Daniel, "Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you."  And we know that Daniel was delivered.

We have to look to the bible for guidance about where the line is that the government should not cross; or when they do cross it, we have permission to not submit.  Otherwise, to resist the government is to resist that which is ordained by God.  And resisting or rejecting what God has put in place to govern you is to bring His judgment on yourself.  This judgment many times comes from the government themselves.  We need these governing authorities in our lives.  These authorities reward good and they restrain or punish sin in a fallen world.  If there were no government, we would have anarchy.  We would be in a state of lawlessness.  Every man would do what was right in his own eyes. 

(Verse 3)

Our governments and authorities shouldn't be against good works but they should be against evil.  Think of how many people this is talking about.  This is our mayor, city council, school boards, local police, county commissioners, county sheriff, state representatives, governor, State police, FBI, CIA, ATF, Secret Service, all the courts from the least to the Supreme Court.  And that's just some of the government authorities we have over us.

It was obviously different for the people Paul was writing to.  But the principal Paul is laying out applies to us today in this way.  All these authorities and agencies are not just allowed by God but ordained by Him for His purpose.  And that purpose is to keep our sin in check.  Man is fallen and these authorities are to keep man's fallen state from degrading our society to murder and mayhem.

Paul advised the Romans to avoid trouble with the authorities, follow the laws and do what is right.  In breaking the laws, the authorities are God's ministers of justice.  If you practice evil then you might even be subject to the sword.  That is the death penalty.  Roman criminals were typically executed by beheading with the sword (crucifixion was reserved for the worst criminals).

Now, the principal of people honoring the authority of the government seems to work best when the government has God at the center of it; when a government has godly principles, compassion, grace, mercy and also justice.  However, the scriptures do not qualify when or which governments are to be submitted to.  In America, we still have the freedom to change our government because 'we the people' are the governing authority.  This may not be true much longer.

Paul expects Christians to be law abiding citizens.  We are to be those who are never in trouble with the law.  Our first response to all this might be that Paul doesn't know what we are dealing with so he can't possibly expect us to live up to this.  We could probably give examples all day about how our government did just the opposite of what Paul says.  At times they've been a terror to good works and not evil, but that's God's business, not ours.

If we're upset at having to honor and obey our government just think how these Roman Christians felt.  You know they were complaining and saying Paul doesn't understand how bad Nero is.  Even more fascinating is the very government Paul is telling them to obey is the one who will put him to death.

(Verse 5)

Our attitude is to be that we are subject to our government because we want a good conscience before God.  This is not just because we want to stay out of trouble with them.  We don't obey just when there is a chance of getting caught.   We obey all the time.  This is Christian character.

It is interesting that conscience comes into the equation.  It becomes a matter of conscience to determine where submission becomes compromise of our principals or obedience.  In Acts 4, the formerly lame man followed Peter and John into the temple.  All could see this 40 year old man who had never walked, now doing so with a smile on his face and a spring in his step.  He was a walking testimony to the power of Jesus.  The Sadducees were greatly distraught at Peter and John at the temple, teaching and preaching Jesus and His resurrection from the dead.  They were arrested and brought before the council.  Peter preached to them, giving glory to Jesus for the healing and calling for their repentance and faith.  The council was shocked at this boldness, especially as an uneducated and untrained men.  Peter and John were subsequently commanded to stop preaching in the name of Jesus.  Their response was one of conscience:

Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. ²⁰ For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:19-20)

It must be a matter of conscience and not emotions or feelings instigated by taxes, inconvenience or intrusion into our rule.  Our government is by the people, yet we blame government for nearly everything; at which they subsequently empower themselves to go fix our perceived problems.  You'd struggle to find anything the government does well other than spend money.  Is it not a spoiled and selfish people that fail to take responsibility for their lives and instead look to government to provide for what they lack?  Do we not see government used to as a tool to achieve what man covets?  The topic quickly turns from government to the larger discussion of culture.

What is the purpose of government?  Taxes are collected by our government to restrain evil and maintain an orderly society.  Paul tells us this and doesn't offer any exceptions.  He says to pay your taxes; pay your customs; be fearful of those you should fear; and honor the honorable.  Then let God take care of the rest.  Remember He said, "Vengeance is mine"

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The 1920's were a dark time for citizens of Germany, WWI had devastated them in many ways, not the least of which was their economy.  When people are hungry, when there is no food to be had and seemingly no hope for tomorrow, they're naturally looking for someone to bring a solution.  Adolf Hitler became that man.  He promised a restored nation and economy.  As he rose to prominence, his influence in that country also included influence within the church.  There was primarily one church in Germany that nearly everyone belonged to.  This church split into two factions that identified themselves as:

• German Christians
  • The German Christians appeared to be anything but Christian.  They wanted compromise; good relations with the government, influence in the political arena. 
  • They banned Jews from attending church.
  • They rejected the Old Testament (Jewish History as God's people)
  • They rejected the Pauline letters.
  • They somehow came up with the idea that Jesus was Aryan.
  • The regime determined what was acceptable to teach or not.
• Confessing Christians
  • Dietrich Bonhoeffer was among this group
    • (Learn more from Eric Metaxes's book on Bonhoeffer). 
  • Most within this group were not opposed to Hitler and his policies.
  • Most supported Hitler believing that God had raised up Hitler for Germany.  
  • Their opposition was based in the loss of power
    • The leadership wanted Hitler but also wanted control of church. 

The confessing Christians were the lesser of two evils; both had compromised the biblical ethics and promoted an evil state.  The faction of dissent among the confessing Christians were relatively small.  They were weeded out by the regime, killed and imprisoned for their faith.

The church seemed to have forgotten they were empowered by God and not their government.  Do you see parallels within our nation?  Have we made our comfort an idol?  Have we made the assumption that our first priority is no discomfort, no pain or persecution?  Does this move the church to embrace the culture to keep membership up, to support giving?  In doing so, are we not setting ourselves up to be guided and controlled by the government.  When it became clear that Hitler and his regime were putting in place evil racist policies, one pastor, Martin Niemoller, continued to preach the truth.  He was subsequently thrown in prison. The prison chaplain come to visit Niemoller and asked:

"What brings you here? Why are you in prison?"

Niemoller replied, "And, brother, why are you not in prison?"

In a similar thought, another said:

 "Sometimes the Lord of the world speaks more audibly out of prison cells and graves than out of the life of churches which congratulate themselves on their concordat with the State" (Earnst Kasemann, New Testament Questions of Today, p. 215).

As citizens of heaven, we don't get to throw off all restraint within this world.  We are still sin fallen.  Without legal boundaries enforced by sufficient means, mankind will become lawless.  The days of the judges shows us this. 

²⁵ In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25)

We are not called to blind obedience to authorities and government.  Absolute authority without accountability leads to the corruption.  Submission to the government is a balance of walking in the Spirit and living in a sin-fallen world.  As we are seeing, when the government becomes evil and corrupt, the balance is broken and lawlessness descends on the land.  The bible tells us these days are coming when man will again look for a solution and embrace a man as the solution, instead of Christ.  A beast will rise up and is rising up now that finds all its solutions in further empowering men and government with absolute power that brings absolute corruption.

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

 

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At the beginning of the Covid pandemic, nearly every pastor had Romans 13 thrown at them from one or more directions as an argument to shut down the church.  Nearly all churches submitted.  It was just for a couple weeks.  But then it became a couple months and so forth.  At some point submitting to the governments mandate to shut the doors of the church crossed the line and violates Hebrews 10: 

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.  (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Has there ever been something as divisive to the church?  Many churches were closed and never would recover from being closed for so long.  Pastors were turning on each other and that continues today.  Many seemed to have lost their way.  Some would define them as 'woke'; worried more about social issues than the gospel; compromising beliefs to maintain a following. 

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The Pharisees were working extra hard to trap Jesus, to find some charge against him.  Their brilliant idea was to flatter Jesus and acknowledge He was above men; then ask Him if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar.  If Jesus answered, "Yes." They set him up to be discredited among His people due to support for Rome.  If He said, "No" he would incriminate Himself as a tax evader, opposing Rome.  This was a clever game of gotcha by wicked and deceitful men.  However, they assumed they could trap Jesus like any man. 

Jesus did not even have a coin to use as a sermon illustration.  They produced a coin with Caesar's image on it.  Then He said:

Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. (Matthew 22:21)

Jesus sidestepped their trap; they were impressed with this and left.  In a single sentence, Jesus validated the human government while also establishing the limitation of it.  Caesar's image was on the coin.  God's image was on Caesar and all other men.  The government had a place but it wasn't the final authority.  It's all God's, He just allowed Caesar to rule for a time, for His glory. 

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.  (Philippians 3:20-21)

 

Romans 13:8-10

Our life as disciples is not to be characterized by debt, other than the debt of love. 

'The debt of love remains with us permanently and never leaves us; this is a debt which we both discharge every day and forever owe" (Origen)

Each of us has a perpetual obligation, or debt, to love one another.  The word for love here is 'agapeo'.  This is a general feeling of affection.  This kind of love could suggest being pleasant contentedness or even holding someone in high regard, even if we feel they don't deserve it.  Agape love is offered unconditionally.

Our love for one another is fulfillment of the law.  Does that sound strange?  How does loving my neighbor fulfill the law?  Paul lists the last five commandments (strangely, not in order).  All these commandments of the law are summed up in the saying, "Love your neighbor as yourself."  Paul is repeating the words of Jesus:

³⁶ "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"
³⁷ Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:36-37)

All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments; love God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself.  Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.  Paul simply says if we love our neighbor then we won't steal from them, we won't murder them or bear false witness against them.  Paul even says, 'if there is any other commandment' you can throw that in there also because if you love someone, if you genuinely care for them, then you won't do these things against them.

When this happens, you didn't keep the law to attain or retain righteousness.  Instead, your show of love was a natural work of the righteousness that was imputed to you.  This love is one of the things that flows from your life as you grow in holiness.  And that love honors and fulfills the law of God.  The act of loving turns the burden of the law and commandments into a blessing.

If each person did what Paul is talking about then the job of the government and authorities would wholly different.  The nature of most crimes is selfishness and pride.  The godly principles of selflessness and humility are what Paul is calling for as we love our neighbor or fellow man.  If we lived these principles, we would be self-governing.  And that's what a Christian should be.  Except it really isn't self-governing, is it?  Because we put Christ at the center of our life, we are being governed by Him.

'Love God, and do what you like.' St Augustine

If all we did were motivated by love, we wouldn't need law.  If we were dominated by a love for God and a love for others the world would be a very different place, government and authorities would not be necessary.  Alternatively, if we are further from God and more self-centered, there is not enough government or authorities to contain the sin for which we are capable. 

 

Romans 13:11-14

This last appears to be the motivation for the love spoken of in the previous verses.  Didn't we already put on Christ when we were saved?  Of course, and yet Paul encourages the church of Rome to do this.  This is along the lines of picking up your cross daily.  The thought is 'we were saved, we are being saved, and we are yet to be saved.'  The culmination of our salvation is the coming of the Lord.  This is event is near, on the horizon and is our motivation to be driven by love. 

The time is short.  We are to know the time.  We talked in the past few chapters about how Jesus held the Jews responsible for knowing the time of his visitation.  They missed it and their judgment was blindness in part until the times of the gentiles is complete.  For hundreds of years the Jews waited on their messiah and when he stood before them, they rejected him.

Paul told these Roman Christians to know the time.  The word for time is not speaking about the time of day; it is talking about the era or age we are living.  For Paul to talk to these Romans Christians about the era they were living in, he was speaking about living in the church age.  This was a time of grace and of the spreading of the gospel.  Things weren't easy, there would be corrupt governments, and there would be persecutions along with trials and tribulations.

And when we read these same words in our era it's not much different.  We are called to know the time or era in which we stand.  We are still in the church age.  Salvation is still going out to the world and to the gentiles.  Things aren't easy; we see corrupt governments, persecutions along with trials and tribulations.

However, if Paul thought it was important for the folks of his time to wake up and take note of the age they were living in, then he has to be screaming it to us. 

Anything after the resurrection of Christ is considered the last days.  The disciples knew they were living in the last days.  Jesus Christ can come at any time now.  It seems we are living in the last of the last of the last days.

Paul told them to wake up!  He's saying this is not the time for spiritual apathy or lethargy.  They had no time to be unresponsive to the things of God.  And again, I have to think if he was telling them to wake up; he's screaming it at us. 

We can easily fall into the trap like the Jews did.  We've been waiting for hundreds of years.  He didn't come before what makes me think he'll come today.  We might be lulled into a Ho hum Christianity.  I think it is time to pack your spiritual bags and look up.  I think time is short.  There's no time for 'ho hum' or 'I don't care' or "I'll worry about it later."

If the world knew the Lord was coming back next week what would happen?  Crime would drop to nearly 0% overnight.  Church attendance would skyrocket immediately.  You wouldn't be able to buy a bible, they'd be sold out.  If the world knew the time was short, they would want to be right with the Lord.  They would study up like they were going for a final exam.  In the last couple chapters, Paul gave us the answers to that exam.  He told us what we should look like when the Lord comes back.  We should be found transformed with a renovated mind.  We should be driven by love, living peaceably with as many as possible, not taking vengeance but leaving it to the Lord, obeying our government, paying our taxes, and working with the spiritual gifts given to us inside the body or Christ.

The problem is we don't know when the Lord will come back.  Maybe it will be next week, maybe today.  It's not for us to know.  And because of that the world needs to wake up.  Believers need to wake up or stay awake.  We can't be lulled to sleep by the passing of years.

This could be the year or the week or the day.  Paul says, our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  We are one step closer to our glorification.  With each passing day we are another step closer to being in His presence.

The night is far spent.  The night is this dark time we live in where we have to battle our sinful nature.  Temptations are all around us.  Satan is the prince of the power of the air in this fallen world and this time or age.  It's a time when governments and authorities are required to keep evil in check.  But the day is at hand.  We are to put on the armor of light.  This age is nearly spent and a new age is coming.  This is the dawn of eternity for each believer.

As we approach this time, Paul encourages us to be prepared.  We need to cast off the works of darkness since night is almost over.  We need to put away the things of the night, the things of darkness: the drunkenness, lewdness, lust, strife and envy.  And we should remember Paul is talking to Christians about these things. 

The preparation Paul is speaking about is in terms of being dressed.  As we were in the world we were dressed in the things of darkness and lived in the dark. 

"The rags of sin must come off if we put on the robe of Christ. There must be a taking away of the love of sin, there must be a renouncing of the practices and habits of sin, or else a man cannot be a, Christian. It will be an idle attempt to try and wear religion as a sort of celestial overall over the top of old sins." (Spurgeon)

Now that we are born again, we know that time is short.  We should change what we are wearing.  We should cast off the dark clothes and put on the light ones.  We should put on Jesus Christ.  Paul is speaking about figuratively wearing Him.  Every day we need to get up and put Jesus Christ on.  Because he is our finest and we want to be dressed in our best when the end comes.  When we are clothed in Christ, there will be no provisions for flesh or the lusts of the flesh.

Amen.

©2008, 2014, 2021 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater