July
11th Romans
13 Social – Be submissive
1:
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no
power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2:
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of
God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3:
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou
then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou
shalt have praise of the same: 4: For he is the 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 the minister of God, a
revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5: Wherefore ye
must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience
sake. 6: For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's
ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 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. 8: Owe no
man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another
hath fulfilled the law. 9: For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery,
Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false
witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment,
it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself. 10: Love worketh no ill to his neighbour:
therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11: And that, knowing
the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is
our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12: The night is far
spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of
darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13: Let us walk
honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in
chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14: But put ye
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to
fulfill the lusts thereof.
Paul
now tackles the difficult subject of the Christian relationship to
civil authority. And he says that Christians are to be subject to
higher powers. They are to be law abiding citizens. Why must
Christians obey civil authority? Because all the powers of men are
ordained of God. The most high rules in the kingdoms of men and he
sitteth over it whom so ever he will. And those who resist the
authority of men resist the ordinance of God. And those who resist
these that God has ordained resist God and will face the judgment of
God. The Police do not chase after good men, but only those who do
wrong. Christians should live exemplary lives so that ‘the power
that be’ will give glory to God. Those that judge men execute the
judgment of God. He is Gods servant he is the minister of God who is
commissioned to execute judgment on those who do evil. We are not
just to obey civil authority so that we will not suffer punishment
but so that we might live with a clear conscience. Christians are to
pay their taxes; they are to pay tolls and custom duty on goods. They
are to give respect to those to whom respect is due. Christians
should try to not have debts unpaid, but they are to love one another
because love fulfils all the law. All the commandments of God are
summed up in the concept of love. Those who love do not hurt their
neighbour. It is time to wake up and realise that the coming of the
Lord is coming near. And therefore our salvation from the very
presence of sin is nearer all the time. Let us put off sin in our
lives. Let us live in complete honesty, not in have raves and getting
drunk, not in sleeping around or in sexual wantonness, not in
bickering with others or being jealous. Christians are to live in the
Power of the Holy Spirit as Christ did and we are not to provide
opportunities for the flesh to take control so that we become
overwhelmed by the lusts of the flesh.
- How should the Christian live in society?
- How should christians view civil government and those who act on their behalf?
- In what way should the coming of Christ affect our thinking and lives?
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