The Gospel Expressed Week 20 Christian Duties

WORD

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. ROM 13:1

From Rom 12 onwards, the apostle Paul talks about our reasonable response in light of the mercy that God has shown us through Christ. This is to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God as our service of worship. This means expressing love to others in various ways. In Rom 13, Paul discusses the practical application of this when it comes to relating with the government as Christian believers and citizens. This is a complicated and touchy topic for many. However, Paul gives two truths that could guide us.

The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel. DEU 17:12

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Sanhedrin 16a:7

Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, says: It is derived by means of a verbal analogy, with the meaning of presumptuousness stated in the context of a false prophet learned from presumptuousness stated in the context of a rebellious elder. With regard to a false prophet the verse states: “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die (Deu 18:20), and with regard to a rebellious elder it states: “The man who acts presumptuously by not listening to the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God, or the judge, that man shall die” (Deu 17:12). Just as there, with regard to a rebellious elder, he is presumptuous against a court of seventy-one judges, so too here, with regard to a false prophet, he is judged by a court of seventy-one judges.

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1 God delegates his authority.

For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. ROM 13:1

Paul wrote the book of Romans to believers in Rome, which at that time was led by an emperor who was known for his cruelty to Christians. He knew the weight of his words when he said those in authority have been instituted by God. But this verse implies that human authority and power are not absolute. The truth is, there is no authority except from God. Therefore, he is the one who positions and removes people from places of authority. This does not mean that all civil authorities are godly and that all they do are pleasing to God. But God can use even ungodly rulers to bring about his purposes (e.g., Pontius Pilate). How does Rom 8:28 give us assurance that he will fulfill his good plans and promises, regardless of the person who sits in civil authority?

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ROM 8:28

. . . but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. EXO 20:6

Showing steadfast love—That a person does, in order to reward him, for two thousand generations. Consequently God’s measure for reward is greater than his measure for punishment by five hundred times, because one is for four generations and the other for two thousand generations.

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2 We submit ultimately to God’s authority.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. ROM 13:1

Since all authority is from God and he is the one who puts people in positions of authority, Paul is saying that we have to submit to governing authorities. However, submission and obedience are not the same thing. He is not saying that we ought to obey everything they say. Paul and the other believers during his time were commanded by authorities to stop preaching the gospel, but they did not obey them (Act 5:27–29). They chose to declare the gospel to others even if it meant persecution and death. Since God is the ultimate authority, in areas where the commands of human authorities conflicted with God’s will, they chose to obey God rather than men. The idea of submission refers more to an internal attitude. A person can submit to authority and still voice out his or her points of view, concerns, and even disagreement. In modern-day democracies, citizens have the right to freedom of speech. However, as followers of Christ, we should do this with an attitude of respect and the motive of love, thus reflecting Christ to all around us. In what ways are you submitting to authorities? How does this reflect your submission to God’s authority?

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27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them,

28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.”

Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord.” 1KI 21:20

You sold yourself—You sold yourself to anger your Creator. Heb. התמכרך, you have sold yourself, as in (Deu 28:68) והתמכרתם, “and you will sell yourselves there to your enemies.”

And the Lord will bring you back in ships to Egypt, a journey that I promised that you should never make again; and there you shall offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but there will be no buyer. DEU 28:68

29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” ACT 5:27-29

Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.” 1SA 15:24

I feared the people—Referring to Doeg the Edomite, who was as important as all of them.

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