Romans 13:1-7

God has established several “authority/submission” relationships in society.

·        Marriage (husband, wife; Eph. 5:22,24)

·        Family (parent, child; Eph. 6:1-4; Lk. 2:51)

·        Church (elders, members; 1 Cor. 16:16)

·        Workplace (master, slave; Titus 2:9; 1 Peter 2:18)

·        Government (leaders, citizens; Titus 3:1 plus our passage today)

These are all under attack today.  As we are writing we have seen a County Clerk in Kentucky imprisoned for refusal to issue marriage licenses for homosexuals.  What are we to do when we complain about the dictates of government?  Today’s passage is a fundamental Biblical passage on the subject.

What is the believer’s responsibility to the state?

ü Submission, v1-2.  This is not particularly complicated: it is obedience with a humble attitude.  It is synonymous with serving, helping, living for, adapting and yielding.  And it is Christ-like: Jesus was subject to His earthly parents (Lk. 2:51) as well as to His heavenly Father.  We should be clear: submission in these relationships is part of submission to God (cf. v1 and Eph. 5:21; Jas. 4:7; 1 Peter 5:5).  When children or wives or citizens or church members resist the idea of submission they are resisting God.

ü Support, v7.  Citizens pay for the services of their government, “rendering to Caesar what is Caesar’s” (Luke 20:22-25).  It is to be done with fear (respect) and honor!  Remember these words of Paul were written in the context of the Roman Empire when citizens did not have the right of dissent we enjoy.

What is the state’s responsibility to the citizens?

ü To provide a stable society, v3.  Paul says the government is to do “good”. The ultimate effect of this is that believers and all citizens can “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Tim. 2:2).  The government does this in two ways which are seen here and in 1 Peter 2:14.

ü By commending those who do good, v3.

ü By punishing evil doers, v4.  In Old Testament Israel this involved a system of justice that included retribution (Deut. 19:16-21) and restitution (Ex. 21:18-22:17), including putting to death certain criminals (Gen. 9:1-7). 

This is often at the core of Christian struggles with government.  Government does not have authority from God to forbid Christians from worship or fellowship or evangelism.  When they do Christians must be prepared to suffer the consequences, to remain submissive in their attitude and to trust God.  The stories from Ezra/Nehemiah, Daniel and Acts bear out this continued attitude in the face of persecution by governments that are outside their realm of authority.

Do not forget to keep Rom. 12:1-2 in mind.  Let us yield ourselves to Christ.  Let us be renewed in our minds.  And let us pray for those over us (1 Tim. 2:1-7).