Romans 13 is a practical application chapter; Grace has been established and the goodness of God proclaimed we are encouraged to walk in divine influence in every area of our life.
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
This covenant of grace comes into our life with direction for victory. Last week we ended with blessing and not cursing our enemies. Grace empowers us to live in as the newly created creature God has made us. Grace calls us to submit to the governing authorities. The instruction is clear, the authorities that exist are appointed by God. To resist the governing authority is to walk outside of God’s divine order! To resist the governing authority is to bring judgment from them.
Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
Governing authorities are a terror for evil. This is the God stated purpose for them. Do what is good and you will have praise from them. God calls the governing authority His minister for our good. The governing authority does not bear the sword in vain; the governing authority is to avenge and execute wrath on him who practices evil.
Romans 13:5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
God is always concerned our about our motives. Being subject to the governing authority should be for conscience’ sake. Give taxes to whom taxes is due; customs to whom customs is due! Respect to whom respect is due. This includes respecting the one in office even if you disagree with they way they govern. One trick of the enemy is to get us to complain about the leadership and come away from divine order. Many believers have given the devil a foothold in this area.
Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
We are called to live from the motive of love. If love is the motive of our actions, submitting to leadership will not be hard. Love your neighbor as yourself.
Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
When our actions are motivated from the love of God it is the fulfillment of the law. We have been called to know the time! It is time to awake out of sleep and walk in the fullness of God’s divine influence in our lives. It is time to walk as the newly created being God has made us; our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
There is no time to walk in darkness the hour is late. The call is great, put on the armor of light and walk in the day!
Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh. The struggle can be won with victory over the flesh. We must remember all we have learned in the building blocks of Romans. We are freed from sin by the power of One man’s obedience. Reckon yourself dead indeed to sin and alive unto God. Present yourself as alive unto God.
Romans 16:1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
We skip to Romans 16 and will pick up in Romans 14 next week. We see Paul begins to close his letter with instruction to help Phoebe a sister who was doing the work of the ministry. Paul greets Priscilla and Aquila a husband and wife pastor team.
Romans 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who labored much for us. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.
Romans 16:10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
Romans 16:12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.
Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Paul begins to give some last minute instructions to the church warning them to note those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine. Avoid them is the instruction!
Paul also instructs the church to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil. What a great promise, the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly; Grace be with you!
Romans 16:21 Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you. 22 I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Romans 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith; 27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
The heart of God being revealed in the closing lines of Romans 16. God wants the hearts of every believer established in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This gospel message has been revealed for obedience to the faith! To God be the glory…