"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God." Romans 13v1
We come now in chapter 13 to the Christians duty in the wider world.
- Verses 1 - 7 - The Christian duty to the state.
- Verses 8 - 14 - The Christian duty to their neighbours.
We have a duty to the state, to be subject to them and to our neighbours, to love them. Paul carries forward his thoughts at the end of chapter 12, where he has been dealing with the subject of vengeance and he will now reveal one of the ways in which God recompenses evil in the world. As such we are enjoined to acknowledge God's role in the wider world. Before we look at the details of this very practical and challenging subject, it is well to look at the scope of what Paul is dealing with here. The subject matter is massive and we can only touch the fringes here, it is all about God's sovereign control of the world. There is an ordered arrangement of things in the world (it could not be otherwise) such that God through higher and lower authorities wields His control. The purpose of this is benign as follows:
- For the punishment of evil doers.
- For the peace of the community.
- For the praise of those that do well.
These threads of thought run through the verses. Without such control the world would be in chaos, and Christians have to play their part in assisting this cause.
We come now to the fundamental fact that there is an ordered arrangement of things in the universe in which we live, as also in the world in which we live, and it is necessarily so. Coming to the good order of things in this world, the apostle is saying that all authorities that exist are appointed by God and are responsible to God even if they don't know it. "There is no authority but of God." "The powers that be are ordained of God." This has been so from the very beginning and will continue to the end of time. God has never, and will never, relinquish his sovereign (if sometimes unseen) control of the world. Whether we think of governments, or local authorities or criminal authorities or educational authorities or medical authorities etc., all are under divine control. The universe is so ordered; the bible speaks of "principalities, powers, mights and dominions (Ephesians 1v21;3v10;6v12;Colossians 1v16;2v10;2v15). Whether of angels or demons the unseen world has a vast ordered arrangement of government. The same is true of the world of men. The key verse in all of this is Colossians 2v10 which says that "Jesus Christ is the head of every principality and power." There being no limitation put on this, indicates all such authorities are in view. No matter what system man devises to decide governments, the ones who accede to power do so by the ordination of God. Those who are in power should consider this carefully, because they will answer to Him some day, some way. This fact is a biblical truth and the most powerful king on earth who ever lived (Nebuchadnezzar) discovered this; "The most high ruleth in the kingdoms of men and giveth it to whomsoever He will." Daniel 4v17 This was true back then, this is true now.
There are three expressions in scripture which describe the scope of the sovereignty of God.
- Whomsoever He will Daniel 4v17
- Whatsoever He will Acts 4v28
- Whithersoever He will Proverbs 21v1
Amid the apparent chaos of this world, it is heartening to know that the blessed God who brought to us the gospel of His glory in Jesus Christ, is on the throne and has overall control and the final say in everything that happens. This does not mean that every single event is of God, it does mean that He manipulates everything to His own glorious end. In the course of that evildoers will be punished; those who do well will be praised. Both apostles Peter and Paul are very clear about the Christian's attitude towards earthly authorities. Romans 13v1 we are to be subject to them; 1st Timothy 2v1-3 we are to pray for them 1st Peter 2v13 we are to submit to every ordinance of man "For the Lord's sake."
There are many today who object to this teaching, on the basis that many authorities and rulers are corrupt, and in some cases the worst of men. This fact is stated in the book of Daniel 4v17 "He setteth up over it the basest of men." The reality is sometimes the world gets the rulers it deserves! It is not about who is in earthly control, because no matter the character of who is in power, God will always order things in line with His ultimate purpose.
GOD IS ON THE THRONE, BELIEVERS REJOICE, EVIL DOERS TREMBLE!!
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