The Road to Salvation – We study Paul's letter to the Romans

Review of Romans 12

Romans 12 shifts the focus away from Israel and the Church, two separate identities, to how we should live as believers. Paul gives several indications of what we should do - short sentences, almost like what we find in Proverbs. Chapter 13 focuses on how we as believers must live in a world that is not controlled by believers. How do we deal with the (mostly secular) authorities?

The chapter connects to the previous one. As Romans 12:21 ends with the command "Let...", Romans 13:1 begins with the same word. From here Paul writes about the authorities. We must understand that he is writing this about the authorities specifically in Rome, since this congregation was his target, as well as for believers in other places. Remember that the epistle for one church was also read by other churches (Colossians 4:16 indicates this nicely) and Paul would often use information he wrote for one church to encourage other churches (Romans 12:12 and 1 Thessalonians 5:17 describes the same thought.).

The authorities

God established three institutions for man:

1. The family (Genesis 2:24) which is the building block of the community.
2. The government or authorities (Genesis 9:6) that must control the community.
3. The Church (Acts 3 onwards) to bring the community back to Him.

Paul is very clear that we must submit ourselves to the authorities (verse 1). Authorities are not only individuals, but also the laws made by these authorities. We see in our time how people simply break laws and rules without caring in the least how it affects others. In the area where I live we see every day how users disregard the rules of the road. It is very easy to point the finger at "them" (the taxi drivers on the other side of the political spectrum). Look closely though. Most of those who disobey the rules are ducks from our pond; the guys with their big utility vehicles and expensive EGCs (expensive German cars). Their attitude is this: It is my right to endanger your life through my actions and you have no right to share the road with me unless it is on my terms. It is so unfortunate, but it is also the demonic spirit of the times in which we live. However, this is where we as believers must set the example. You cannot accuse someone else of driving against a red traffic light, and you drive through on the right side of the traffic circle.

We must not oppose the authorities because God has appointed them to those positions. If you do what is right, you have nothing to fear (verses 3,4). If for no other reason, it is essential to submit to legislation for the sake of your conscience (verse 5). It has nothing to do with whether we like the government of the day or not. It is about the fact that God established the authorities, and we must respect Him for that. Here comes the contentious question: should we pay taxes or not? Verses 6-7 make this very clear. Paying taxes is Scriptural. Jesus himself paid taxes. See Matthew 17:24-27. The question is whether all laws must be followed.

Is "the government" always right? Probably not. Can we disregard the government if they stand against it for what we believe in? Probably, but it depends on what law(s) they have enacted, and we have to understand that there may be consequences. If the government makes laws that are against God's command, we do not have to obey their command. Here are three examples:

1. Exodus 1 - the Pharaoh orders the Hebrew boys to be killed. Murder was contrary to God's command to fill the earth (Genesis 1:28). The result was that the Pharaoh instructed his own people to kill the boys. See Exodus 1:22.
2. Daniel 3 – the law that was made so that everyone had to worship the image. Daniel's friends refused, based on God's command that you may not bow down before a graven image according to the command in Exodus 20:4-5. The result was that they were thrown into the fiery furnace, but God protected them.
3. Acts 5 – Peter and John preach the gospel. They carried out God's command in Matthew 28:18-20. The result was that they were assaulted and threatened (Acts 5:40) but they were released.

Our actions towards others

Here is a very important instruction: we must not owe anything to anyone, except to love one another, so that we can fulfil the law (verse 10). See Deuteronomy 15:17-21. Is not the law then made void by faith? No. Rather, the law was fulfilled by faith. We are commanded to love our neighbour, according to Exodus 20:13-17. It is by loving our neighbour that others, including unbelievers, will see the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. See John 13:35.

Suddenly it sounds as if Paul is straying from the theme. In verse 11 he mentions that we know the present times, and we are now much closer to the final union with Jesus Christ than before. When I was converted about 34 years ago, everyone told me that we are so close to the end, Jesus might come today to get us. Thirty-four years later it still hasn't happened, but I'm now 34 years closer to its coming than I was then. It was no different for Paul. In the midst of the political unrest of his time, he still had a longing to go to heaven and be with Jesus Christ. See Philippians 1:23-34.

Paul warns us to wake up. The night is over. We must move out of the darkness into the light and do what Paul indicates in chapter 12. See 1 Peter 2:9. We must use the weapons that the Spirit gives us to overcome the powers of darkness. We must not only wear these weapons sometimes, but permanently gird them (verse 12) like a waist belt. We can no longer do the things of the world (the flesh), but we must live in the right attitude towards God.

Paul ends the passage with this important instruction: we must put on Jesus Christ. Think about this a bit. We must dress Him so that He is visible to us everywhere, while we give the devil no place to hold. This means that we will take off the garments of darkness as he mentions in verse 12. In his letter to the congregation in Colossae, Paul elaborates further on this. In Colossians 3:12-14 it is indicated what we should clothe ourselves with - compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, and love. All these things were character traits of Jesus.

Summary

As we look for a key verse or thought in each chapter, this one stands out to me: we must clothe ourselves with Jesus Christ and become more like Him. What articles of clothing do you still wear that are not associated with Jesus? Maybe there is an undergarment you wear that no one sees, but you know about it, and you know it's wrong. Go to the store (the Word) and buy yourself a new undergarment (get inspiration from the Word to do the right thing in line with the life of Jesus Christ). Perhaps we should pay more attention to Matthew 22:11-13 and make sure that we wear a wedding garment.

Take off the old worn clothes of sin and injustice and clothe yourself with God's righteousness, today.

Chapters

• Romans Chapter 1
• Romans Chapter 2
• Romans Chapter 3
• Romans Chapter 4
• Romans Chapter 5
• Romans Chapter 6
• Romans Chapter 7
• Romans Chapter 8
• Romans Chapter 9
• Romans Chapter 10
• Romans Chapter 11
• Romans Chapter 12
• Romans Chapter 13
• Romans Chapter 14
• Romans Chapter 15
• Romans Chapter 16

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