Romans 13

Romans 13

1Let 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. 2Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

In verses one and two of Romans 13, Paul talks about how those authorities, whether corrupt or not, have been put there by God. This is an interesting commentary on rulers and leaders. There are few leaders that I support whole heartedly... my county, state, and country are filled with disgusting leaders. Of course, I don't know anything about my city leaders so I am not including them in the list of corrupt elected officials. These leaders tell these lies just to get elected but then the promises they proclaim that they will fulfill in office get lost inparty politics. Yes, the founding fathers of the United States of America would be horribly disappointed in what their country -- OUR country -- has become.

Verses 3-5 talk about obeying the authority figures in your life so not only that you will not fear them (ie., if you're going the speed limit, you don't have to worry about getting a speeding ticket). Paul is also quick to point out that you shoudl obey your authorities as a sake of conscience. If there is one verse that is very similar it is 1 Corinthians 10: 31 "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." This is where the integrity comes in to play. You work hard no matter if anyone is watching or not, because God is always watching what you do and where your heart is.

6For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

It's obvious what these verses are talking about... taxes. Pay your taxes. Or else.

Fulfilling the Law Through Love

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Verse 8 has become a favorite verse of mine since I learned about it 5 or 6 years ago. When someone gives me a dollar or piece of gum, I always repay it. If they are Christian, I recite this verse back to them. ha ha There is really nothing else to add to what verses 9 and 10 say already, they are pretty self explanatory, though I would like to point out Christ Himself said the two greatest commandments is to "love God" and "love people"


11Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

These last four verses in Romans 13 are talking about loving God, obeying God. Christ said that no man knows the hour of when He will return and that it will be like a theif in the night... so we have to be on guard.