1. Romans Part IV
Lesson 5

2. Romans 13 Subjection to governing authorities Historical setting:
Rome was the governing authority
Persecution
Ten years before Nero

3. Governing Authorities
Every person is to be subject to governing authorities
God established authority
No authority except from Him
Those who resist the authority – oppose God
Rules are established to bring good behavior and punish evil behavior
God’s ministers of good

4. Acts 4 and 5
Acts 4 “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 5:29 “We must obey God rather than men”
The apostles chose God over men and were ready to pay the consequences

5. Exodus 1:15-21 Egypt was a godless society like Rome
Midwives feared God above Pharaoh
Result: Moses was spared and became Israel’s deliverer
God honored the midwives and gave them families of their own

6. Philippians 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The believer’s citizenship is in heaven
His ultimate authority is God

7. Philippians and Genesis
Paul does NOT say that being subject to the governing authority means that Christians have to do something that is sin.
Genesis 9:5-6 God set up government. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God has God made man.”

8. Romans 13:8-10 Owe nothing to anyone, except love
Loving one’s neighbor fulfills the Law
Love your neighbor as yourself
Love does no wrong to its neighbor

9. Cross References
Luke 10: The one hated, became the neighbor to the man in need
Matt. 5:42 Don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you
John 3:16 God loved the world, which was in need, and gave us what we needed

10. Romans 13:11-14
Wake up
The Lord’s return is much nearer than when we believed
“Do this” refers to loving one’s neighbor
Love is the fulfillment of the Law
Lay aside the deeds of darkness
Put on the armor of light
Behave properly..as in the day

11. Romans 13:11-14 NOT in carousing and drunkenness
NOT in sexual promiscuity and sensuality
NOT in strife and jealousy
Put ON the Lord Jesus Christ
Make no provision for the flesh

12. I Thessalonians Increase and abound in love for one another Be alert
Be sober
Are YOU being alert and sober, increasing in love, not just “steady as she goes”?