Romans - Week 31

Governing Authorities

READ

Romans 13:1-3

1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.

This is an important passage about human government and the believer’s responsibility to it. God is ultimately sovereign and no government can exist unless He allows it. Paul wrote these words during the time of the Roman Empire, one that was not friendly to believers who considered Jesus Christ was Lord and the Romans thought Caesar was lord. There are exceptions when the government asks believers to do something that is contrary to God’s standards, but Paul here gives the general rules to follow.

REFLECT

Have you thought about governments being allowed to exist only by the permission of the sovereign God of the universe? Different governments allow varying degrees of spiritual freedom, but thank the Lord for whatever you have.

RESPOND

Read Proverbs 21:1 and thank the Lord that He is in ultimate control of every ruler.

A Clear Conscience

READ

Romans 13:4-5

4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.

It is God’s desire that governmental authorities act as His servants and carry out policies honoring to Him. If they do, it will be for the benefit of Christ-followers as well as non-Christ-followers. When this is the case, it will not be difficult for believers to submit to the authorities. It is generally considered that if a believer chooses to defy a God-dishonoring demand of the government, he should expect to suffer the consequences of what the government can do.

REFLECT

Is your conscience clear that you have obeyed the laws of your government? Is your conscience also clear that you are following God’s standards?

RESPOND

Read Acts 4:13-21 to read what Peter and John’s reply was to governmental authorities who wanted them to stop speaking about Jesus. Talk about this with your disciple and think about what you would do in a similar situation.

That Which Is Owed

READ

Romans 13:6-7

6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

Some people debate if taxes should be paid to the government. Here, however, Paul gives the reason for doing so. In his day, Paul knew the tax collectors for the Roman Empire often collected more than they should. In addition to urging Christians to pay their taxes he said they should “give respect and honor to those who are in authority.” This was not the only time Paul wrote about respecting and honoring—and praying for those in authority.

REFLECT

Are you honest when it comes to paying taxes to the government?

RESPOND

Read 1 Timothy 2:1-4 to see what Paul urges believers to do in regard to authorities. Are you and your disciple doing these?

Love Your Neighbor

READ

Romans 13:8-10

8 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. 9 For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

Paul continues by referring to what believers owe. He says their obligation is to “love one another.” He cites various commands first mentioned in Exodus 20 and then tells how they are summed up in just one commandment—“Love your neighbor as yourself.” When one loves his neighbor he will not steal from him nor take his wife or his life. Paul was a Pharisee before he became a Christ-follower. That group was tenacious about following Old Testament laws. But now Paul says that the one who loves “fulfills the requirements of God’s love.”

REFLECT

Have you thought about loving others fulfills God’s law? What are you doing to express that love to others?

RESPOND

An expert in religious Jewish law once asked Jesus, “Which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Read Matthew 22:34-40 to see the answer Jesus gave him.

Time Is Running Out

READ

Romans 13:11-12

11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.

Paul says it is “urgent” that believers realize how late it is. He sees the time closing in on the end of the age when Jesus will appear. He was writing this in the middle of the first century when he said “our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” Now in the 21^st century we are much closer. He appeals to Christ-followers not to live worldly lives but “put on the shining armor of right living.” This would be the kind of living that honors the Lord Jesus Christ.

REFLECT

Do you think about Jesus returning at any moment? When you do it will change the way you live.

RESPOND

With your disciple, read 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Both passages refer to the time when Jesus will return to catch up believers in the air. And talk about how knowing this changes one’s perspective about what is important in life.