Sometimes we can be tempted to wonder if God has lost the plot, as we see evil men triumphing, while the children of God are in the midst of distress, and we wonder if Satan is winning. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. According to His own wise counsel, the Lord has determined that all of the unrighteous will receive their just deserts at the resurrection of the dead. His last and greatest letter and perhaps the single most influential book in the New Testament in guiding the development of ⦠Romans 13 â A Christianâs Obligation to Government A. When Paul refers to governing authorities, he uses a phrase that can best be translated the powers that be. He tells us that the thing we must think about these governmental offices is that they are, in some way, brought into being by God himself. We cannot defend our participation in an unjust war simply by saying, âI was only doing my duty to the government.â We are never allowed to say, âMy country, right or wrong, my country.â Yet when the cause is just, we must obey our authorities. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. 2 In the previous chapters, Paul took pains to show us that all men are sinners - both Jew and Gentile alike. Only those who have been transformed by the grace of God can do what is right for the right reasons. A democracy? âTherefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of Godâs mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and pleasing to God â this is your true and proper worship.â â Romans 12:1 NIV God wants me to do what? in all its fullness to as many people as possible. In Paul’s day, tax money was used to pay the salaries of soldiers and other officials who persecuted Christians and committed other evils. Daily devotional with John Piper. How does this passage show Paulâs confidence in the sovereignty* of God? A significant and essential change needs to occur in this nation to combat the deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons that have hypnotized us! Which is the one God wants us to have? What Paul is saying to these Christians is that whatever form of government may be in control, they are to remember that God is behind it. View Resource, In the face of evil government, Christians can hide from view and keep out of the way as much as possible. It is an undermining of totalitarianism, not a reinforcement of it. Twitter. Daily Devotion © 2014 by Ray Stedman Ministries. The word hope in verse 13 links back with hope in verse 12c (citing Isa. Nevertheless, in obedience to Scripture we must obey even these unless they lead us to sin. We sometimes feel that we are surrounded by evil leaders who seem to have an anti-God agenda and we find it difficult to understand why. Daily Devotion in Romans 13. If the people grow toward understanding of truth, and morality prevails in a community, the form of government may well take on a democratic pattern. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ... Scripture: Romans 13:11â14. âDo not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Posted on April 20, 2020 April 9, 2020 - 14:11. The answer of Scripture is not necessarily any of these. Romans 13:1-7 The letter to the Romans is for the Apostle Paul what Charlotteâs web was to the spider, his magnum opus . For that condition, for that time and place, God has brought into being a particular government. Website © 2021 by Ray Stedman Ministries. We should not be known as those who try to find ways around the laws of the land; rather, our scrupulous obedience should be a model for the unbelievers around us. This truth is not confined to the New Testament. Short Devotion : Romans 13:10. Devotional. Where there is God there is hope, and where there is life, there is God. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but ⦠Help me to be a good citizen, trusting that you raise up and bring down leaders to accomplish your own purposes. Dr. Sproul has noted that although we may easily grasp the principle that we must obey the state unless it commands us to do something God forbids or forbids us from doing something God commands, applying it correctly is not always so easy. The Bible is clear about the end of times and all you have to do is open your eyes and there you have it Bible Prophecy. âYou know what time it is,â says Paul. Nevertheless, Paul told the church at Rome to pay its taxes anyway. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. 11:10), âIn Him shall the Gentiles hope.â Him refers to Jesus Christ and the promise of salvation that comes to all peoples through Him. Then do what is right and you will be commended. In rendering such obedience, we bear witness to the final authority of the Lord, for bowing to His authority means submitting to the civil government. At times, we may have to disobey the state in order to obey the Lord, but those occasions should be relatively rare. Let us honor those in authority over us and ask for the Spirit’s help to make us eager to serve others. What reasons are given for submitting to civil government (Romans 13:1-2)? 13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. There it is made clear that God definitely has a hand in whatever is going on on the earth at any particular time. Linkedin. by Susan Barnes. Insofar as our leaders do not command us to do something God forbids or forbid us from doing something that God commands, we have no excuse not to obey their directives. Iâm not sure I have thought through everything but I think it will help me to write out what is rolling around in my mind. Where truth disappears, government seems to become more autocratic. View Resource, As we will see, God’s authority supersedes the authority of the civil government, so we must have a nuanced view of civil obedience and disobedience. This is one chapter that I would ⦠On Saturday evening I will stand in front of Alex Chatfield and Brianna Gays in order to join them together in what we call âholy matrimony.â Months of planning will come to fruition in their wedding vows⦠Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Christian Devotion about being a living Sacrifice. They are not to be followed absolutely, that is, we cannot justify sin by saying “the government told me to do it.” But the civil magistrate is to receive our deference and honor. We must never give the ruling authorities just cause to view us as a lawless people. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Encourage your political leaders to do the same. View Resource, Some of the laws and regulations in your country today may seem unnecessary. Be certain that you reach your decisions based on careful, sober, biblical analysis and not on media hype or political party affiliation. The passage at hand only makes sense within the overarching context of Romans 12:9-13⦠In fact, the church is to be the conscience of the state, calling it to do its job of protecting human life and punishing criminals. Texts such as Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; and Titus 3:1 presenting a more positive view of the state. Romans 13:1â7. Then you will be able to test and approve what Godâs will is, his good, pleasing, and perfect will.â Romans 12:2 Do you ever feel like you spend all of your energy fighting? Romans 13 constitutes a severe demotion of arrogant and self-divinizing rulers. Romans 13 Devotion. In fact, the Scriptures reflect various forms of government. Now, that government can change. It is never wrong for the church to rebuke the state for not doing its job. The Ligonier Ministries site requires Javascript, but you’ve got Javascript disabled. Sometimes we are tempted, or even taught, to think of God as being remote from our political affairs, that he is off in heaven somewhere turning a rather morbid eye on us human beings struggling along with our political problems down here. By implication, if the rulers themselves are given the task of judging wicked people within their sphere of authority, they themselves will be judged by the God who set them up. Jesus left us the one called the counselor to know how to deal with situations like Jesus, He left us the one called the comforter to never lose hope, He left us the Holy Spirit to direct every step of our lives if we allow him too. It is time to wake up from old systems of racism, sexism, and homophobia. The Holy Spirit works inside us, changing our hearts so we become more like Jesus, and gives us the power to follow Him. Christian devotional about being a living sacrifice to God by honouring God by how we live from Romans 6:13. Devotional Questions â Romans 13:1-14 1. For permission to use this content, please review RayStedman.org/permissions. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. The authorities that exist have been established by God. God doesn't ordain any one form of government to be continued forever. Romans 13:1 Romans 13:1 Romans 13:1-10 To Whom It Is Due Romans 13:1-10 Romans 13:1-10 Romans 13:1ff Romans 13:1ff Romans 13:1 Romans 13:8 Romans 13:9 Romans 13:11 Romans 13:11 Romans 13:12 Romans 13:14 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. Romans 15:1-13: 2013-04-19 LIVING IN HARMONY: Romans 12:9-21: 2013-04-18 DEVOTION AND HONOR: Romans 12:1-13: 2013-04-10 PROVOKING AND ENVYING: Galatians 5:22-26 : 2013-04-09 BITE, DEVOUR, DESTROY: Galatians 5:13-15 : 2013-04-08 Is it a monarchy? View Resource, Not until eternity will perfect justice be dispensed on earth. Romans 13:5: âTherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscienceâ sake.â Paul means that we should be subject to our government not only because we fear punishment if we break the law, but also because we fear God, who knows our hearts. By Jason and Kimberly. Romans⬠â15:13⬠âNIVâ¬â¬ So many things happen in our day to day life it can be easy to become discouraged and lose hope. Rome by this time had already passed through several forms of government. Let us thank God for the gift of government, which protects us from civil anarchy. All are in need of a Saviour and the only way to escape condemnation, to be eternally justified, to be ⦠The Lord often calls us to do hard things, however, and this includes obeying the rulers with whom we disagree. Are there times when a Christian should disobey government? Paulâs prayer for the Romans was that the God of hope would fill their hearts with joy and peace through the power of God, the Holy Spirit. Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. Donate Now. John Piper Aug 28, 2005 88 Shares God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him Learn more about Desiring ⦠Still, that the Lord establishes civil governments reveals that government is not evil in itself. Daily Nugget: Romans 13 discusses Godâs perspective of government. View Resource, It is easy to obey God’s command to submit to our earthly rulers when they rule wisely. That is best for that particular place and time in history. Fix that problem! This means that if you have not come to Jesus Christ as a guilty sinner and put your trust in Him as your only hope for eternal life, then (as Paul puts it in Eph. View Resource, ‹ Previous Nero had just begun his reign as the fifth emperor of Rome when Paul wrote this letter. So when you ask, Which government is the best kind? Weâre on a mission to change that. Susan Barnes ~ pursuing a life worth writing about View all posts by Susan Barnes May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. This Daily Devotion was Inspired by one of Ray's Messages. This Daily Devotion was Inspired by one of Ray's Messages. Romans 13:7 King James Version (KJV) 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. John Hagee (October-23-2020) Daily Devotion: Romans 15:13 - Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit As long as we have breath in our lungs, we have a reason to hope. All rights reserved. God uses both faith and reason to reveal Himself to us. However, that does not mean the church may not speak to the state. Categories Short Devotion. In Romans, Paul shows us how to have a relationship with Jesus, move past our past, and step into the abundant life Jesus has for us. The sword cannot call lost sinners to God, only the Gospel can. Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. Scriptural Context: Romans 12:9-13:10. However, we can say that our general approach should be to go out of our way to obey the law of the state. Ask the Lord to help you discern how to obey Scripture in the matter of armed conflicts. 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. Romans is the seed-bed for Christian doctrine and Paul lays out the foundational truth of the glorious gospel of grace in this book, in a clear, concise, and systematic way. He is not just talking about heads of state; he is talking about all levels of authority, all the way down to the local police. A particular form of government cannot be counted on to uphold righteousness. As Christians, we are called to have consciences trained by the Word of God, so that we might more and more seek to serve the Lord because it is right for us to do so and not only because we fear His discipline. The state punishes evildoers with the sword, and the church preaches the gospel. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 0. 15:1 And Samuel said to Saul, âThe LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the LORD.2 Thus says the LORD of hosts, âI have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt.3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction 1 all that they have. Daily Devotion in Romans 13. ⦠Paying our taxes is not a sign that we endorse everything the government does with our money; rather, it is one way we fulfill God’s command to submit to the state. View Resource, Those who are under the authority of others are not allowed to wait for perfect leadership before they honor their supervisors, parents, church elders, and other leaders. Devotional: A Living Sacrifice. It is whatever God has brought into being. View Resource, Just war theory can get rather murky and difficult to apply, particularly when a nation is whipped up into an emotional fervor. Don't ever think of any state or any government as something that in itself is opposed to God, because it isn't. Our God is able! When Paul wrote this letter to these Christians, they were living in the capital city of the empire, Rome itself. View Resource, Civil authorities do not have to be perfect or even Christian for us to obey them. Evil governments may appear at times, but the general existence of authorities to preserve law and order is a good thing. Your gift enables our worldwide outreach. The New Testament alludes to the state in diverse ways. *The correct ex-pression is âthe Lord God omnipotent reignethâ Revelation 19:6. But, in any case, the point the apostle makes is that whatever form of government you find, God is behind it. But God is not on some remote Mount Olympus; he is right among us, involved in the pattern of governments; and he raises up kings and puts down others, raises up rulers and changes the form of government. Share this devotion with others ... Facebook. Next ››, The mission, passion and purpose of Ligonier Ministries is to proclaim the holiness of God Romans 13:1. DEVOTION AND HONOR: Romans 12:1-13: 2013-02-22 PROTECTION: Romans 8:31-39: 2013-02-20 EVIL DELIGHT: Romans 12:9-21: 2013-02-10 SIMPLE KINDNESS? An oligarchy? Romans⬠â13:1⬠âNKJVâ¬â¬ ââThis Election has a lot of people in a frenzy, but as this scripture says all authorities are appointed by God. It is time to wake up to what is going on all around. According to the confession, Christians may lawfully engage the government and serve in its various offices. View Resource, God calls us to pay taxes, not to approve of everything our tax money pays for. Homepage | Short Devotion | Short Devotion : Romans 13:10. Just War theory tells us the government is not supreme. Devotional: Romans 13.10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
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