Romans 13 hits Christians with 2 commands that may be the hardest to swallow, let alone obey. But if we want to be good Christians and strive to be Christlike, obey we must.
Romans 13
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.
Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.
Romans 13:1-7
If all Christians would obey this, would America’s political divide be non-existent?
Whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican (and I used to be a Dem — read about my switch here.), God wants us to submit — be subjects of — our governing authorities.
Subject — to be under the jurisdiction of — but it’s NOT ultimate rule. We have a higher authority — God.
Jesus respected the Roman authorities even though the Jews of that time expected Him to fight them and bring God’s Kingdom right away.
What God is expecting us to do is to work within the system. If you don’t agree with what a governing authority is doing, you can let them know by letters, calls, petitions, recalls, voting intelligently and standing up for causes that matter.
Do protests work?
Sure—peaceful ones. Read the Book of Acts, and you’ll see where Paul and his friends were arrested for preaching. They didn’t carry weapons. But even their arrests helped save jailers and some leaders and ultimately spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.
The best thing to do is to pray for our leaders as Paul directs us…
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1-4
Below I’ve listed a series of scripture verses that we can use to pray for our government leaders — whether we support them or not — whether they’re of the same party or not. We’re called to do this.
Continuing in Romans 13…
Love Fulfills God’s Requirements
Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.
This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
Romans 13:8-14 (bold emphasis mine)
The Day of Salvation is Near
Are you Rapture ready? I am. Can’t wait! That’s the hope we have knowing that this world is not all there is! Any day now.
If you’re not saved, here’s how you can be…
Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.
- Believe — have Faith — that Jesus is the Christ and He died taking your sins away forever and that He rose from the dead 3 days later.
- Repent of your sins — stop sinning! Do a complete 180-degree turn in your life and surrender your life to Him. When you ask Jesus to forgive you He will. ALL your sins will be wiped clean — past, present, and future! And All means ALL!
- Be Baptized by water baptism — show the world and yourself that you have died to your old life and are born again in Christ.
- Receive the gift of Holy Spirit in your heart.
Invite Jesus into Your Heart and Receive the Gift of Grace, Joy, Peace, and the Confident Hope of Eternal Life…
Pray this prayer humbly and wholeheartedly…
“Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Please forgive me. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. I will follow you for the rest of my life. Thank You for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Soli Deo Gloria — to God Alone be the Glory!
Praying for the Government from PrayingTheScriptures.com
1Tim 2:1…………Heavenly Father, I give thanks for our government.
http://www.prayingscriptures.com/government.shtml
1 Tim 2:2………..I pray for all men and women having authority over us in any way.
Prov. 1:23……….Pour out Your Spirit upon them and make Your Word known to them.
Ps 25:21………..Cause them to be men and women of integrity, obedient concerning us,
1 Tim 2:2………..that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.
Prov. 2:10……….Let wisdom enter their hearts, and let knowledge be pleasant to them.
Prov. 2:11……….Let discretion preserve them and understanding keep them,
Prov. 2:12……….to deliver them from the way of evil and from evil men.
Psalm 1:1……….Make their hearts and ears attentive to godly counsel,
2Chr 20:32………doing what is right in your sight.
Prov. 2:21……….Let the upright dwell in our government.
Heb 12:27……….Cause there to be a shaking in all areas.
Prov. 2:21……….Let those complete and blameless before You stay.
Prov. 2:22……….and cut off the wicked. Let the unfaithful be rooted out.
1Cor 4:5…………Bring to light what is hidden in darkness,
1Cor 4:5…………and expose the secret aims of the hearts.
Rev 2:5………….Let this nation remember from where they have fallen,
Rev 2:5………….repenting, and returning to doing their first works,
1Chr 22:19……..setting their hearts and their souls to seek the Lord,
2Chr 7:14……….humbling themselves, praying, and turning from their wicked ways.
2Chr 7:14……….Then hear them, O Lord, and forgive their sins and heal our land.
Acts 26:18……..Open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light.
Heb 3:13………..Soften the hearts that are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Ps 107:20………. Deliver them from their destructions.
2Pet 3:9…………Father, You have been longsuffering toward us,
2Pet 3:9…………not willing that any should perish,
2Pet 3:9…………but that all should come to repentance.
Isa 49:22………..Raise up a standard in this nation.
Zech 10:1……….Cause the rains of Your Spirit to flood this land
Hab 3:2………….and revive Your work in the midst of us.
Isa 59:16………..Raise up intercessors for this nation
2Cor 10:4……….to pull down strongholds over this land.
Isa 40:5…………And let the glory of the Lord be revealed!
