Romans 12: Weeks 1 and 2

Begin by reading the entire chapter of Romans 13
 

What are the subjects of chapter 13?

Answer this by seeing the paragraphs (distinct sections)  and giving one subject to each paragraph.

Notice words that are REPEATED (God, authorities, rulers, subjection, do right, do wrong, wrath, fear, taxes, love, law, time (hour/night/day) , lay aside, put on, Christ)
 

Example:

ROM 13:1-7     Obey governing authorities

ROM 13:8-10   Love is the fulfillment of the law

ROM 13:11-14 Put on Christ in hope of His return
 

How does chapter 13 relate to chapter 12?

Possible answers:

Both are full of exhortations for the believer on how to live like sons and daughters of God in Christ

Both point to love as the ultimate motive for righteous living

Chapter 12 is about love for believers and enemies, while Chapter 13 is about how we behave as citizens

Chapter 12 begins with orienting toward God (by presenting our bodies a living sacrifice and having our mind renewed by His Word); Chapter 13 ends with orienting toward the Lord Jesus Christ - putting on His virtues and awaiting His return.
 

ROM 13:1-7
13 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7  Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due;  custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. NASU
 

ROM 13:1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

Paul introduces a new subject here and gives the topic sentence to the first paragraph.

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities”.

Yet chapter 13 is a companion to chapter 12, a continuation.  IN fact, as we shall see, Romans 12 and 13 establish general principles for the behavior of believers, and then Romans 14 and 15 apply those general principles to some specific situations that the church members in Rome were dealing with.
 

Can you spot a verse in chapter 12 that serves to provide a link with chapter 13?

Ans: ROM 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 1
 

What is the connection between Romans 13:4-5 and Romans 12:17-19?

ROM 12:17-19
17  Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19  Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.

Does it add relevance when you realize that the word “of God” are not in the Greek for Romans 12:19 - the italics?

Notice also the connection between Romans 13:8-10,12-13 and Romans 13:1-5.

[love fulfills the law; negative behavior in ROM 13:12-14 will bring about the wrath of the civil authorities]

Staying with the BIG PICTURE of Romans 13:1-7…

There are several parallel passages in the New Testament that say very similar things to Romans 13:1-7.

They include:

1PE 2:13-20

MAT 12:15-22.  and in fact all of Matthew chapter 12 has parallels to all of Romans 13.

MAR 12:17

1TI 2:1-2

TIT 3:1

<Turn to each passage and read>

1PE 2:17 is a succinct summary of all of Romans 12 and 13.

1 Peter 2:17  Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

Honor all people- all the way to and including your enemies:  ROM 12:14-21

Love the brotherhood- ROM 12:3-13; ROM 13:8-10

Fear God- ROM 12:1-2; ROM 13:1-6; ROM 13:11-14

Honor the king - ROM 13:1-7

One other important point here.  Government has its own sphere for authority.

What does Romans 13:1-7 tell us about what that sphere of authority is for governments?

Where does that authority come from? It is given by God.

But government can violate that sphere of authority and step beyond it. When that happens, when civil authorities overstep their bounds, the believer is called to honor God and His Word instead.

Mar12:17 - Jesus speaks of Caesar and God

Act  5:25-32 - the apostles face government overreach

So if the government gives you an order that is clearly and directly contradictory to Scripture, we are to obey God first rather than men. 

<Diagram of spheres  - legit gov’t authority, God’s will>

This is NOT addressing situations where government is doing something that is against the word of God. 

Applying this principle, if you were a believer in Germany in World War II, should you obey the government to hunt down and imprison/kill Jews?

If you were living in America at the time of the Revolutionary War, should you have taken up arms in revolt against England? [see below for discussion of Declaration of Independence versus Romans 13:1-6]

If you are convinced from God’s word that abortion is murder, what does this say about what is permitted and not permitted with respect to your actions?

ROM 13:1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

So Paul introduces a new subject here and gives the topic sentence to the first paragraph.

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities”.

Notice the universal nature of what is covered   here.

ROM 13:1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

This verse applies to every person, whether a believer or not.

And it relates to every authority in our lives.

This verse establishes the fact that the governing authorities have legitimate authority over us, and authority which comes from God.

What are some authorities that God has established for you?

Answers: government, law enforcement, parents, husbands, elders in the church, teachers in the classroom, officers in the military, bosses on the job, and ultimately Christ.

Why did God establish governments?

<diagram on the flip chart>

Does verse 1 include wicked governments like dictators, the Nazis, and so forth?

Even the worst governments will generally act as a deterrent to crime. 

For example, I don’t know of any countries where it is legal to steal or commit murder.

Where does the authority of government come from according to the Declaration of Independence?

Answer: the consent of the governed. Ie the people.

Where does the authority of government come from according to the word of God in Romans 13:1-6?

Answer:  God

Let’s discuss the implications of this.

Does this mean that the American Government is illegitimate? 

Answer:  No.  The Bible is silent as to HOW the government is formed, established, or changed.

Could these ever come into conflict in your life?

Answer: Yes.  Christians should not think that they have the final authority over their government. So movements to overthrow the government should not be supported by Christians for example.

So let’s revisit a question we saw earlier:

If you were living in America at the time of the Revolutionary War, should you have taken up arms in revolt against England?