Rom 13:1-14
1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no
authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist
have been established by God. |
Why Government is necessary? To keep the strong from
overpowering the weak. An Anarchist refuses to accept human governments.
Every animal is an anarchist because for them, only the strong survive.
Government began after the flood. (see Gen 9:6) |
| 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is
rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring
judgment on themselves. |
God’s vengeance on people is through the arm of the Law. We
do not take revenge as Paul mentioned in chapter 12:19. We leave room for
God's wrath in the form of the law. |
| 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for
those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in
authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. |
It is easy to think that God is against the good people by
commanding the good people to be kind to the bad people, but he has the arm
of the Law to make sure that bad people are punished. |
| 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do
wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's
servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. |
We have the law to do our fighting. Lawsuits is one way to
allow the Law to fight for you. Do not take matters in you own hands, but
leave them in the hands of the law. If the Law is not interested in
your case, then drop it. |
| 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities,
not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. |
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| 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are
God's servants, who give their full time to governing. |
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| 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay
taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then
honor. |
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| 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt
to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. |
Let no debt remain outstanding. Many are very
conscientious of so many things except when it comes to their debts.
You may file bankruptcy but you still owe the lender. Love attempts to pay
back everything. (see Ps 37:21) |
| 9 The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not
murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment
there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as
yourself." |
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| 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the
fulfillment of the law. |
love is the fulfillment of the law. God will
personally deal with moral Law on Judgment day. There are things that our
government says is legal, but God says they are illegal in heaven. does
no harm. There are things you can do to harm your neighbor that the Law
of our land will protect.
- Gossip and ruining reputation.
- Divorce without just cause.
- Aborting children.
- Spending your family money on drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes.
Thus, the law of the land is not the highest law of God. Love is the
highest law. |
| 11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has
come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer
now than when we first believed. |
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| 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let
us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. |
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| 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies
and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension
and jealousy. |
behave decently. Literally, behave as someone in
uniform. Putting on the uniform makes you realize that you are working for
someone else, and you cannot act like you normally would. Putting on Christ
makes us realize that we represent the Lord. |
| 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and
do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. |
clothe yourselves. Reminder of our uniform.
How many people would do the evil things if they were in uniform? |
Romans 
