HEAVEN'S CITIZENS AND HUMAN GOVERNMENT (5 OF 7)
by Lenny Ports
Scripture: Romans 13:1-7
This content is part of a series.
Heaven's Citizens and Human Government (5 of 7)
Series: Love in Action
Lenny Ports
Romans 13:1-7
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 (v. 1).
SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES
When Christians come to this passage in Romans, more time is usually spent talking about what it doesn't mean. But let's start by talking about what it does mean.
The apostle Paul writes, ''Let every person be subject to the governing authorities'' (v. 1). Who are ''the governing authorities''? The government-the people who make our laws.
Paul says, ''Be subject [i.e., submit] to the governing authorities.'' We might say, ''But Paul didn't know that Trudeau would be our Prime Minister!'' Or Americans might say, ''But Paul didn't know that Trump would be our President!'' That's true, of course.
But let's talk about who was in power when Paul wrote these words.
Paul probably wrote his letter to the Romans in A.D. 57. Do you know who the Emperor of Rome was in A.D. 57. It was Nero. I don't know about you, but I'd rather live under the rule of Trudeau or Trump than Nero!
WHY?
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul wrote that ''our citizenship is in heaven'' (Phil. 3:20). Someone might say, ''If I'm a citizen of heaven, then I don't need to submit to 'governing authorities.''' But Paul says, ''You're wrong. 'Every person' must submit to their governing authorities.
Why? Why should we ''be subject to the governing authorities''? Paul gives two reasons. First, we should ''be subject to the governing authorities'' because God has appointed them. ''For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God'' (v. 1b).
Daniel 4:17 says, ''The Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.'' This was a lesson that King Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way.
The Roman governor Pilate said to Jesus, ''D ...
Series: Love in Action
Lenny Ports
Romans 13:1-7
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 (v. 1).
SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES
When Christians come to this passage in Romans, more time is usually spent talking about what it doesn't mean. But let's start by talking about what it does mean.
The apostle Paul writes, ''Let every person be subject to the governing authorities'' (v. 1). Who are ''the governing authorities''? The government-the people who make our laws.
Paul says, ''Be subject [i.e., submit] to the governing authorities.'' We might say, ''But Paul didn't know that Trudeau would be our Prime Minister!'' Or Americans might say, ''But Paul didn't know that Trump would be our President!'' That's true, of course.
But let's talk about who was in power when Paul wrote these words.
Paul probably wrote his letter to the Romans in A.D. 57. Do you know who the Emperor of Rome was in A.D. 57. It was Nero. I don't know about you, but I'd rather live under the rule of Trudeau or Trump than Nero!
WHY?
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul wrote that ''our citizenship is in heaven'' (Phil. 3:20). Someone might say, ''If I'm a citizen of heaven, then I don't need to submit to 'governing authorities.''' But Paul says, ''You're wrong. 'Every person' must submit to their governing authorities.
Why? Why should we ''be subject to the governing authorities''? Paul gives two reasons. First, we should ''be subject to the governing authorities'' because God has appointed them. ''For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God'' (v. 1b).
Daniel 4:17 says, ''The Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.'' This was a lesson that King Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way.
The Roman governor Pilate said to Jesus, ''D ...
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