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Romans Chapter Thirteen

 
Chapter Thirteen general Review
 
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
 
1) To understand our relationship to the government
 
2) To appreciate the importance of love and moral purity
 
SUMMARY
 
Continuing to instruct concerning the "transformed life," Paul now
discusses the Christian's responsibilities to governmental authorities.
Understanding that all governments are in power due to the providence
of God, and that they serve as ministers of God to avenge the evil 
doer, Christians are admonished to submit to "the powers that be" 
(1-5). This submission involves payment of taxes and having respect 
for those in authority (6-7).
 
Paul's next exhortation deals with the importance of love and moral 
purity. Christians are to be indebted to no one, save to love one 
another. When love is properly demonstrated, even the requirements of 
the Law are adequately met (8-10). This admonition to love, however, 
is carefully balanced with the reminder that time is short and it is 
imperative that Christians maintain moral purity. This is done by 
Christians putting on the Lord Jesus and not making provision for the 
fulfilling of the lusts of the flesh (11-14).
 
OUTLINE
 
I. RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE GOVERNMENT (1-7)
 
 A. BE IN SUBJECTION (1-5)
 1. For governing authorities are appointed by God (1-2)
 2. For governing authorities are God's ministers to avenge evil
 (3-4)
 3. To avoid wrath and maintain good conscience (5)
 
 B. FULFILL WHAT IS DUE (6-7)
 1. Taxes, customs (6-7a)
 2. Fear (respect), honor (7b)
 
II. EXHORTATION TO LOVE AND MORAL PURITY (8-14)
 
 A. THE VALUE OF LOVE (8-10)
 1. Owe no one anything but love (8a)
 2. For love does no harm, and fulfills the Law (8b-10)
 
 B. CONCERNING MORAL PURITY (11-14)
 1. The time is short, we need to cast off the works of darkness 
 and put on the armor of light (11-12)
 2. Walk properly by putting on the Lord Jesus and making no
 provision to fulfill fleshly lusts (13-14)
 
WORDS TO PONDER
 
the governing authorities - the political powers which govern society
 
he does not bear the sword in vain - an implied reference to the
 approved use of capital punishment
 
put on the Lord Jesus Christ - a process begun in baptism (Ga 3:27),
 continued as we develop Christ-like
  qualities (Co 3:9-17)
 
make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts - avoid 
 situations where unlawful fleshly desires might be aroused and
 acted upon
 
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
 
1) List the main points of this chapter
 - Responsibilities To The Government (1-7)
 - Exhortations To Love And Moral Purity (8-14)
 
2) What one word summarizes the Christian's responsibility to the
 government? (1)
 - submit
 
3) From where do governments get their authority? (1)
 - God
 
4) What happens if we resist governing authorities? (2)
 - We resist God and bring judgment upon ourselves
 
5) What is a major responsibility of government? (4)
 - To avenge the evil doer
 
6) What should serve as motivation for Christians' submission to the
 government? (5)
 - Wrath, and conscience
 
7) What else is required of Christians in regards to government? (7)
 - Payment of taxes, and respect for those in authority
 
8) What one thing should we owe to others? (8)
 - Love
 
9) What are we to put on? (12,14)
 - The "armor of light", the Lord Jesus Christ
 
10) What are we not to provide opportunities for? (14)
 - The fulfillment of fleshly lusts

The Christian's Duty To Government (13:1-7)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Christians are blessed to be citizens of a heavenly kingdom...
 a. Our citizenship is in heaven - Ph 3:20
 b. We have been conveyed into the kingdom of God's dear Son - Co
 1:13; Re 1:9
 -- As such, we are described as "sojourners and pilgrims" in this
 world - 1 Pe 2:11
 
2. As "pilgrims", we live and work under the governments of men...
 a. With a variety of political systems: democracies, kingdoms,
 dictatorships, etc.
 b. Offering varying degrees of freedom, responsibilities, etc.
 -- What is our duty to such governments?
 
3. The Lord's church began and thrived during the Roman Empire...
 a. To Christians in the capital city of Rome, Paul wrote of their
 responsibility
 b. To Christians dispersed in outlying areas of the Empire, Peter did
  also
 -- The Christian's duty to government is made very clear by the
 apostles
 
[Using Paul's comments in Ro 13:1-7 as our starting point, let's review
what our duties are...]
 
I. BE SUBJECT
 
 A. THE RULE...
 1. Stressed twice by Paul
  a. "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities"
 - Ro 13:1
 b. "Therefore you must be subject..." - Ro 13:5
 2. Peter likewise taught this duty - 1 Pe 2:13-14
 a. "Therefore submit yourselves..."
 1) Submit means "be subject to"
 2) Signifying "to place one's self under subjection; to
 render one's self subordinate"
 b. We are to submit "to every ordinance of man"
 1) The word "ordinance" literally means "a creation"
 2) The Greeks and Romans described the appointment of
 officers as the "creation" of them
 3) Thus the expression "ordinance" actually refers:
 a) Not to a particular law passed by government
  b) But to the civil government or institution itself
 c) Cf. "to every human institution" (NASB, NRSV)
 4) Note that we are to submit to every human institution
 (whether it be a monarchy, democracy, totalitarian state,
 etc.)
 -- Our responsibility is clear: "Let every soul be subject" - Ro
 13:1
 
 B. THE REASON...
 1. Governing authorities that exist have been appointed by God!
 - Ro 13:1
 a. As emphasized in the book of Daniel - Dan 2:20-21; 4:17,25a,
 32a
 b. Even those that are evil, which God often uses for His
 divine purposes and then replaces - cf. Exo 9:16 (Egypt);
 Isa 10:5-12 (Assyria)
 2. Therefore to resist government means to resist God Himself!
 - Ro 13:2-4
 a. To resist is to bring judgment upon one's self
 b. For government is a minister of God, designed to avenge evil
 3. Peter adds two good reasons - 1 Pe 2:15
  a. First and foremost, "this is the will of God"
 1) Cf. also, "for the Lord's sake" - 1 Pe 2:13
 2) This will suffice for all true servants of God
 b. That we may "put to silence the ignorance of foolish men"
  1) Because of their allegiance to a heavenly king,
 Christians are often falsely accused of sedition or
 treason - e.g., Ac 17:5-8
 2) By doing good (e.g., by submitting), we can "silence"
 (lit., muzzle) ignorant charges
 -- To avoid wrath and have a good conscience, "you must be subject"
 - Ro 13:5
 
 C. THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE...
 1. It is not whenever government is oppressive
 a. Consider the government and conditions when Paul and Peter
 wrote
 b. The government was totalitarian, under Nero's evil and
 despotic rule as emperor
 c. Under Nero's reign, Christians suffered greatly - cf. 1 Pe
 4:12-13; 5:8-9
 d. Paul and Peter were eventually martyred
 2. The only exception: we must obey God rather than man!
 a. As illustrated by Peter and the apostles - Ac 4:18-20; 5:
 27-29
 b. When government tries to force us to disobey God, we must
 disobey the government
 c. Even then, we may break only the particular law designed to
 force disobedience to God
 d. We have no authority to break other laws in protest to the
 unjust law
 -- When government seeks to stifle our service to God, we must
 obey God rather than man!
 
[As we return to our text, we note additional duties to government...]
 
II. PAY WHAT IS DUE
 
 A. WE ARE TO PAY TAXES...
 1. As an act of submission we should pay our taxes - Ro 13:6
 2. Also other fees that are due, such as customs - Ro 13:7
 -- We may not approve of how the taxes are spent, but I doubt the
 early Christians approved of how Nero spent the government's
 money either
 
 B. WE ARE TO PAY RESPECT...
 1. Fear to whom fear is due - Ro 13:7
 a. Such as police officers, judges
 b. And if you do evil, be afraid! - Ro 13:4
 2. Honor to whom honor is due - Ro 13:7; cf. 1 Pe 2:17
 a. Such as presidents, kings, governors, local leaders
 b. Out of respect for the office, if not for the man (or woman)
 -- Our duty is not limited to those whose political or personal
 behavior we approve
 
[Before we end our study, we should certainly note another duty to
government that is ours...]
 
III. PRAY
 
 A. FOR KINGS AND ALL IN AUTHORITY...
 1. We are to offer supplications, prayers, intercessions - 1 Ti 2:
 1-2
 a. Praying for those who lead, not only our country, but those
 around the world
 b. Praying that they rule with wisdom, righteousness, and mercy
 2. We are to offer thanks - 1 Ti 2:1-2
 a. Taking time to thank God for those who rule well
 b. Thanking God for when we live in peace and prosperity, and
 for protecting us when we do not
 -- An invaluable contribution Christians can give their country
 are their prayers
 
 B. THAT WE MIGHT LEAD GOOD LIVES...
 1. Good in a material sense, to enjoy quiet and peaceful times
 - cf. 1 Th 4:11; He 12:14a
 2. Good in a spiritual sense, free to be godly and reverent - cf.
 He 12:14b
 -- As God works through the governments of men to bestow peace,
 prayer should be a priority for those who wish to live in peace
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. The duties placed on Christians toward their earthly governments are
 clear and simple...
 a. Be subject to governing authorities
 b. Pay what is due in taxes and respect
 c. Pray for all those in positions of authority
 
2. Beyond this, our involvement in the affairs of government may fall
 into the realm of judgment...
 a. Should we enter politics, serve in law enforcement, enlist in the
 military?
 b. Such questions have been debated by Christians for centuries
 -- One thing is clear, we must obey God rather than man, and avoid
 becoming entangled with the affairs of this life to the neglect of
 our service to God (2 Ti 2:4)
 
As a Christian, are you faithfully fulfilling your duty to earthly
government, while sojourning as a citizen of a heavenly kingdom...?

Indebted To Love (13:8-10)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. In our duty to government, Paul commanded to pay what is due (taxes
 and customs, fear and honor - cf. Ro 13:7
 
2. He then proceeded to discuss our duty to our fellow man (to owe no
 one anything, except to love one another) - cf. Ro 13:8
 
3. This does not forbid borrowing where contract obligations are met...
 a. Otherwise Jesus would not have permitted borrowing - cf. Mt 5:42
 b. Certainly debts should be paid - cf. Psa 37:21
 
4. This appears to be a use of the comparative "not"...
 a. Where "not" is not used as a literal prohibition
 b. But to compare one thing to another (not this..but this)
 c. For example, look at Jn 6:27
 1) Did Jesus condemn working for food?
 2) No, He was emphasizing what is most important
 
5. The point is this: we owe a debt to always love one another...
 a. "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to
 love one another" (NIV)
 b. "Leave no debt unpaid except the standing debt of mutual love"
 (Weymouth)
 
[Thus Christians should always feel "Indebted To Love". As to reasons
why, consider...]
 
I. WHY WE OWE THE DEBT
 
 A. IT FULFILLS THE LAW OF MOSES...
 1. Jewish Christians were slow to give up the Law - e.g., Ac 21:
 20ff
 2. Some tried to bind elements of the Law on Gentiles - e.g., Ac
 15:1,5
 3. The apostles (and Holy Spirit) withstood such efforts - cf. Ac
  15:28; Ga 5:1-4; Ro 7:4-6
 4. The command to love fulfilled much of the Law - Ro 13:8-10
 -- Jewish Christians could take comfort in knowing that keeping
 the command to love one another fulfilled the Law
 
 B. IT FULFILLS THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST...
 1. Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment - Jn 13:34,35; 15:12
 a. To love one another
 b. As He loved us
 2. The gospel reveals that God is love, and love is of God - 1 Jn
 4:7-11
 a. Those who love are born of God and know Him
 b. God loved us, and so we ought to love another
 -- As disciples of Christ, it is only natural that we emulate the
 love shown us
 
[For such reasons, we "ought" (indebted) to love one another. How can
we pay this "debt"...?]
 
II. HOW WE PAY THE DEBT
 
 A. THROUGH IMITATING JESUS...
 1. Jesus sets the standard - Jn 13:34; 15:12
 a. We are to love as He loved us
 b. This raises the quality of love (compared to loving one as
  yourself)
 2. Jesus sets a high standard - Jn 15:13; 1 Jn 3:16-18
 a. By laying down His life for His friends
 b. We also ought to lay down our life for the brethren
 -- In principle, the example of Jesus illustrates how we pay the
 debt we owe
 
 B. THROUGH ACTIVE GOOD WILL...
 1. Paul defined true love - 1 Co 13:4-8
 a. Defined by what it does
 1) Suffers long and is kind, rejoices in the truth
 2) Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
 endures all things
 b. Defined by what it does not do
 1) Does not envy; does not parade itself, is not puffed up
 2) Does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not
  provoked, thinks no evil
 3) Does not rejoice in iniquity, and never fails
 2. We can pay on the debt by treating one another in this way
 a. Be patient and kind; rejoicing in what is truth
 b. Forbearing with one another, believing and hoping for the
 best in one another
 c. Free from envy, arrogance, pride, and selfish interests
 d. Thinking no evil of a brother, and grieved when seeing one
 transgress
 e. Never failing to love as Christ loved us
 -- In practice, Paul's description provides guidance on how we pay
 the debt we owe
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. The debt we owe can never be fully paid...
 a. For we are to love one another as Christ loved us
 b. Yet His love "passes knowledge" - cf. Ep 3:19
 
2. Thus we should always feel an indebtedness...
 a. To increase in love - cf. 1 Th 4:9-10
 b. To abound in love still more and more - cf. Ph 1:9
 
In this way we can "approve the things that are excellent" and "be
sincere and without offense till the day of Christ." (Ph 1:10). Is this
not sufficient motivation to be "Indebted To Love"...?

It's Time To Wake Up! (13:11-14)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Apathy and lethargy are problems that often afflict the people of
 God...
 a. Many Christians simply "go through the motions"
 b. Many Churches exist, but with little zeal or progress
 
2. Such problems were common in New Testament times...
 a. The church in Ephesus left their first love - Re 2:4
 b. The church in Laodicea became lukewarm - Re 3:15-16
 
3. Paul felt the need to exhort the brethren in Rome to awake from sleep
 - Ro 13:11-14
 a. "To awake from carelessness and indifference" - B. W. Johnson
 b. "To shake off slothfulness, security, and all former sinful
 courses" - Poole
 c. To awake from "stupid, fatal indifference to eternal things" - JFB
 
[Have we become lethargic and indifferent to eternal things? If so,
"It's Time To Wake Up!" With Paul's exhortation before us, consider
some reasons...]
 
I. WHY WE NEED TO WAKE (11-12a)
 
 A. KNOWING THE TIME...
 1. Knowing the nature of time
 a. Time is short
 b. Time is fleeting - Ja 4:14-17
 2. Knowing what time it is
 a. Now is the time to obey the Lord
 b. Now is day of salvation - 2 Co 6:1-2
 
 B. OUR SALVATION IS NEARER...
 1. Our salvation is nearer - in what way?
 a. The Lord's return is nearer
 b. Our own death is nearer, should we die before the Lord
 returns - cf. He 9:27
 2. Than we first believed
 a. Every day brings us closer
 b. Think of how much time has gone by since we believed!
 
 C. THE NIGHT IS FAR SPENT...
 1. The night - referring to the moral darkness of this world - cf.
 1 Jn 2:8
  2. Is far spent - lit., "is cut off" It is becoming short; it is
 hastening to a close - cf. 1 Co 7:31b
 3. This world and time as we know it will not last long
 
 D. THE DAY IS AT HAND...
 1. "The day of eternal blessedness is at hand - is about to dawn
 on us in our glorious resurrection unto eternal life" - Clarke
 2. Until which the Word of God serves as a light shining in the
 dark - cf. 2 Pe 1:19
 
[Since these things are true, let us walk (conduct ourselves)
properly...]
 
II. HOW WE OUGHT TO WALK (12b-14)
 
 A. CASTING OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS...
 1. Such things as mentioned in this text:
 a. Revelry, drunkenness, lewdness
 b. Lust, strife, envy
 2. Such things as mentioned in other texts:
 a. Adultery, fornication, idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
 contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish
 ambitions, dissension's, heresies, murders - cf. Ga 5:19-21
 b. Passion, evil desire, covetousness, anger, malice,
 blasphemy, filthy language, lying - cf. Co 3:5-8
 
 B. PUTTING ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT...
 1. The breastplate of faith and love, the hope of salvation as a
 helmet - 1 Th 5:8
 2. That armor of God including truth, righteousness, the gospel,
 faith, the hope of salvation, the Word of God - cf. Ep 6:10-17
 
 C. PUTTING ON THE LORD JESUS...
 1. First, in baptism
 a. For in baptism we "put on" Christ - Ga 3:27
 b. We are raised "with" Christ, "made alive together with Him"
 - Co 2:11-13
 2. Then, in developing Christ-like character
 a. Putting on the new man, renewed in knowledge, with tender
 mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering,
  forbearance, forgiving one another, love - Co 3:10-14
 b. Being renewed in mind, a new man in true righteousness and
 holiness - Ep 4:20-24
 c. Growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ - cf.
 2 Pe 1:5-8; 3:18
 
 D. MAKING NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH...
 1. Something we must do!
 a. If we want to live spiritually - cf. Ro 8:12-13a
 b. If we desire the love of the Father - cf. 1 Jn 2:15-17
 2. Something we can do!
 a. With the aid of the Spirit - cf. Ro 8:13b; Ep 3:16,20; Ga 5:
 16-17
 b. With the aid of God's providence - cf. 1 Co 10:13
 c. With the aid of watchful prayer - Mt 26:41; cf. 1 Pe 4:7;
 5:8
 3. How serious are we in this regard?
 a. Do we avoid circumstances that might tempt the flesh?
 b. Do we abstain from activities that arouse fleshly lusts?
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. Brethren, are we sleeping...?
 a. Indifferent to matters of the spirit, careless about things
  eternal?
 b. Lethargic in our service to the Lord, apathetic about our
 spiritual well-being?
 
2. If so, then "It's Time To Wake Up!"...
 a. The time to change and grow will be soon be gone!
 b. The day of eternity will arrive and we won't be ready!
 
3. Let us be children of the day, not of the night...
 a. Put on the Lord Jesus
 b. Put on the armor of light
 c. Walk properly
 d. Make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its fleshly lusts
 
...and we can look forward to obtaining salvation through Jesus Christ!
- cf. 1 Th 5:1-11

－－《Executable Outlines》

The Duty of Citizens

The Night Is Nearly Over

The Day Is Almost Here

I. Attitude toward Government

1. Submit to the Authorities

2. Fulfill the Obligations

3. Do What Is Right

II. Attitude toward People

1. No Debt

2. Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

3. Fulfill the Law

III. Attitude toward Self

1. Be Alert and Behave Well

2. Clothe Yourself with Jesus

3. Don’t Gratify the Sinful Nature