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Pastor's Blog August 26, 2021
"View of God in Romans XXV"
{Scroll over scripture reference to read the scripture or reference.
Romans 13:1-2 is a tricky passage about obeying government authority. Talking about the relationship between human authority and God's authority, Paul says in Romans 13:1-2, "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. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves" (NASB).
Paul's point is twofold: 1) the proper mindset of the Christian is to willingly be "subject" to the government (which is the common word used in the New Testament to talk about the Christian practice of caring more about others in humility and love); and 2) those who oppose or resist government authority - not necessarily government action - will automatically receive judgment (notice that it doesn't say God judges them, only that judgment is something that they "get" or "reap" as the natural consequence of their actions). So whether you are in favor or opposed to government involvement in the lives of their citizens, it's evident that neither side can take Romans 13:1-2 as support for their own position. Adherents of both sides usually favor government action that they like, while simultaneously disrespecting government authority. And all Christians struggle to submit themselves to each other in love, let alone to lovingly submitting to government authorities.
But did you notice that Paul bases the Christian's attitude toward the government on what God reveals about his own power and authority? "There is no authority except from God" - which means that God is still sovereign when we don't feel like he is, and God is not blind to the injustices perpetrated by government authorities (or citizens, for that matter). "Whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God" - not because God approves of the actions of government authorities, but because God will establish and remove them in his own time.
Friends, you can trust in the God who possesses all authority and power, because God has always used his authority to bless and enrich your lives.
God bless,
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
