In this chapter Paul discusses the blending and the separation of “Church and State.” What credence, if any are we to give to our governing authorities? If God is our authority, do we even have to listen to the government? Do we owe allegiance to a government we believe corrupt? Do we have to pay taxes? Paul will also discuss what the law of love means and how it applies and affects the Ten Commandments, and by extension, all of the other laws stipulated in the Hebrew texts. Paul alludes probably for the first time, to his belief that Christ’s second coming is at hand. Rounding out the chapter, Paul exhorts us to leave behind hedonistic lifestyles.
Romans 13:1-6
Everyone must submit themselves to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, the one who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 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 that person will commend you. For that person is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword for nothing. That one is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.
At first glance, one might get the impression that Paul is saying that everyone with governing authority has been placed there by God, and that by virtue of their position everything they do or say is good and right and just and for the benefit of the citizens they serve. Hitler comes to mind right away, and the idea that Hitler’s regime had been established by God and that Hitler was God’s servant was preposterous. Obviously, one needs to take more than a first glance and has to dig a little deeper to discover what Paul was trying to tell us.
Luke in the book of Acts indicates that during Paul’s travels to bring the gospel to various towns and cities, he usually established good relationships with the local authorities. Because Paul took pains to establish these good relationships with the local authorities, when various accusations were made against him by his opponents and when they tried to prejudice the authorities against him they were usually unsuccessful. At Ephesus, Corinth, and Palestine the authorities stood with Paul refusing to listen to accusations and accepting Paul’s innocence. At Philippi the magistrates had to eat crow for having Paul beaten and imprisoned. With this in mind it is no wonder that Paul encourages us to submit to governing authorities.
While this letter is addressed to the Romans it was freely distributed to all the churches with whom Paul worked. The country was occupied; therefore, insurrection was the order of the day. An especially ornery faction, the Zealots, believed in violent civil disobedience to make their points, and they believed they were acting with God’s approval. Right through to today, civil strife in the Mid-East is quite common, though ours is not to point fingers. Paul’s teaching is just as valid today as it was 2,000 years ago.
The concept of government and governmental authorities was ordained by God. The point of government is to serve the people, to provide for systems that individuals cannot provide for themselves alone–streets and roads, waterways, drainage and sewage, and law enforcement, just to name a few. These are all benefits enjoyed by people who decide to become part of a society, under some form of government.
Paul then is speaking about principles, not personalities. The principles state that the authority (the state) is to be a servant of God to do good for those they serve. Citizens, on the other hand, have certain duties to the authorities who serve them. When the Pharisees asked Jesus if it was right to pay taxes to Caesar, he replied, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matt. 22:21) Jesus upheld the concept that citizens are to pay taxes as wages for those in authority, as well as to finance the public works to be performed. It made no difference whether Caesar or Nero or Napoleon or any others were tyrants or not, the principles were to be honored, regardless of the personalities involved.
The principles state that while those in authority have power over the individual citizen, that power is to be used only against wrongdoers and rebels. So, in principle, obedience to authority should bring peace and security to the citizen.
Romans 13:7-10
Give everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes, if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for those who love their neighbors have fulfilled the law. 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.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.
Paul instructs on the responsibility to paying whatever debts are owed, whether monetary, spiritual or social. All debts must be paid. Then Paul echoes the words of Jesus in Matthew (22:36-40). When Jesus was asked, “Which is the greatest commandment in the law?” He replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (Deut. 6:5) This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Lev. 19:18) All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’” Jesus said, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Paul said, (in addition to the Ten Commandments) “and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.”
These statements are very important especially to homosexuals who have been told that the expression of their sexuality, and even their very sexuality itself is a sin and God-condemned. Paul said it. Even more, Jesus said it. All sin is a violation of the law of love. Conversely, that which does not violate the law of love cannot be sin. Even more, Paul says, “Love is the fulfillment of the law.” If Paul can say that love is the fulfillment of the law, then the love between man and man, or woman and woman, must fulfill the law just as much as love between man and woman.
Romans 13:11-14
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. 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. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
When I was growing up a popular song was Mañana. Spanish for tomorrow, the song embraces the concept of procrastination: Mañana is soon enough for me. Human beings have a natural tendency toward procrastination, as well as tendencies toward lethargy and inattentiveness. Paul is calling the people to wake up! Pay attention to what’s going on in the world! Do something while you still have time, to make changes in yourself and to make changes for the betterment of others–i.e. pay it forward. Paul was speaking with the earnestness of someone who was aware of all that needed doing to get the message of the gospel to all those who hadn’t heard.
Paul was also speaking in anticipation of the second coming of Jesus. The early church believed that Jesus was due back any day–that He would return in their lifetimes. It could come any day, so there was an urgency to be prepared for His return. In actuality, Jesus could indeed come any day now, and we should all be ready for Him.
Paul calls the people to put aside the deeds of darkness, including, but not limited to orgies, drunkenness, sexual immorality, debauchery, dissension and jealousy, and instead to put on the armor of light. It’s easy to see that the deeds of darkness refer to wrongdoing, such as those mentioned above, as most wrongdoing is done in the darkness, but what, you may ask is the armor of light? Called here the armor of light, in 2 Corinthians 6:7, Paul calls it the armor of righteousness, and in Ephesians 6:10-20, Paul calls it the armor of God consisting of:
Ø The belt of truth
Ø The breastplate of righteousness
Ø The sandals of the gospel of peace
Ø The shield of faith
Ø The helmet of salvation
Ø The sword of the Spirit, the word of God
Ø And prayer
Some denominations suggest that one puts on this armor of light, God, righteousness so that once armored the Christian is able to go out and “defeat the devil.” Let me ask you, do you think you by yourself could ever defeat Satan? Even with your armor? Or is the purpose of the armor to protect your spirit? Yes, the things that uplift and protect your spirit are truth, righteousness, the gospel, your faith, the gift of salvation, prayer, and the intercession of the Holy Spirit. We’re not called to “defeat the devil.” That’s not our job.
God gave away that job all the way back in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:15 God speaks to the serpent who deceived Adam and Eve and says, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” The traditional interpretation of this passage is that the serpent’s seed is Satan. In early times it was believed that the man carried the seed of a child and implanted it in the woman. Therefore, the woman’s seed could only refer to the virgin birth or Jesus. God gave the job of defeating Satan to Jesus.
In fact, Paul ends the chapter with the admonition I call: What you focus on is what you give power to. Paul says, “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Put your focus on Christ and ignore the rest. As long as your focus is on Christ, you can’t get into trouble.
LIFE APPLICATION