We move to a new chapter now. It took 28 Gems to cover Romans 12. There is a lot in there. It would be a good chapter to do Saturation Reflection on. (see Bible Gem 226)
Now we move on to a new Chapter. Finally, you say. There are those of us who like to go slowly and get everything and there are those who want the broad strokes quickly. I am trying to steer a middle course between the two. I have had a number of people asking me lately if these Gems will ever be published in a book. My intention is to post them on the new website, indexed and easily searchable.
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 honour 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.
Romans 13:1-5
Up until now Paul has been focused on a single purpose. He has been revealing the purposes of God in salvation, how righteousness and wrath are being revealed. How these aspects are worked out in our lives. How we can live in righteousness by his grace and mercy. What it means to us practically and how we deal with the sinful nature within each of us – for all have sinned and all fall short of His glory. There is now no condemnation in Him and nothing can separate us from God’s love. Then Paul has spent the next three chapters investigating that statement. Following that he looks at the outworking of God’s grace in our lives and the gifts that releases. He deals with some practical issues of the Christian life. Now it is like he has changed tack and Paul now takes us on a journey over a number of practical issues for life as a Christian, a Christ follower. The first practical issue is the matter of authority, governments, kings and emperors, bosses and leaders.
Remember this letter was sent to the Roman church around 58 AD. The settled period in the Roman Empire under Julius Caesar has ended and now Rome and Christians are heading for troubled times. Caligula was the third emperor reigning from 16 March 37 until his assassination on 24 January 41. Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus [Nero] was in control until June AD 68. When Rome burned in 64 AD, Nero blamed the Christians for it and persecution broke out against Christians. Vespasian (AD 69–79) followed and he was the Roman emperor on the throne with the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. Titus Flavius Domitianus [Domitian] reigned from September 81 until September 96 and Trajan from AD 112 until 117. When Paul says to submit to governing authorities because they are placed there by God, this includes Nero, Domitian and Trajan and later Diocletian. All of these Roman Emperors were reknown for the persecution of Christians. This raises all kinds of issues and discussion points.
Pauls first point or argument on this matter is that everyone should submit because of the sovereignty of God. God has put these leaders in place or at least allowed them to reign. For the Christians in the church in Rome the letter came when Nero was ruling Rome. Nero may be equated with Hitler, Stalin or Saddam Hussein. Hardly the kind of leader one would think God would sanction. No problem submitting to a godly Christian leader or a leader I agree with. What about when you don’t agree with the leader and yet he/she is the one in authority. It all depends on the word “authority”. That is the word we will focus on in the next Gem. Yes you can go and do some digging before then.
Be Liberal in praising others; Conservative in judging; Moderate in accepting honour; RADICAL in loving Jesus!
Rick Warren
Never waste energy trying to be well-known. Today’s hero is tomorrow’s zero. You work on character & leave reputation to Him.
Rick Warren
When you blame others you add to the distance between them and you, and lose the only option that works – forgiveness.
Bob Gass