Romans 13 God’s Governments
Romans 13:1-7 speaks to government, seemingly implying government always serves God and His purposes, even apart from that government acknowledging Him.
Romans 13:1-4 We can see an example of this in God’s call to Cyrus through Isaiah. (Isaiah 44:28-45:7) Isaiah prophesied 740-681 BC. Cyrus the Great ruled from 559-530 BC.
There might seem to be a problem since Paul seems to endorse all rulers as being appointed by God to enforce laws that make people do what is right. What if an evil ruler, e.g. Hitler, orders his subjects to disobey God and do evil? The logical answer is that that ruler was not appointed by God. But that is not necessarily the whole story. We have two examples in the New Testament.
- The disciples said they must obey God rather than man, when ordered to stop evangelizing. (Acts 5:29)
- Jesus did not use any power or persuasion to prevent His execution, telling Pilate “You would have no authority over Me at all, if it had not been given to you from above.” (John 19:11) Jesus knew the final outcome and the purpose of His suffering.
God orchestrates all events for His purposes. The statement that ‘they are God’s servants’ is twice in 13:4 and repeated in 13:6. Exodus 9:16 was previously quoted in Romans 9:17 to emphasize that God raised Pharaoh up for His purposes, to display His power and so that His name would be proclaimed in all the earth. But this did not imply that the Israelites should have obeyed Pharaoh, only that he was God’s (unwilling) servant.
One final point. Government cannot enforce love nor prevent coveting. Only love can conquer both external and internal evil.
Romans 13:8-14 Love of neighbors reflects our love for God and His love for us, but we need divine armor to defeat the temptation to violate that love. Jesus offers love untainted by human desire or carnal appetites. After all, God is love. (1 John 4:8).
Romans 13:9 quotes the Law from Exodus 20:13-17, and Leviticus 19:18. Jesus also quoted Leviticus 19:18 in a similar discussion in Matthew 22:39. “…you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.”
Romans 13:11-12 Now is the time to show love!
Romans 13:14 alludes to Ephesians 6:13-17 which commands readers to put on the full armor of God. This armor is to enable us to overcome the cruel intentions and temptations of the enemy.
God’s love is not a fairy tale emotion. His kind of love is a firm decision to want and work for the best possible outcome for the beloved. It may manifest in ways that seem cruel or unloving at the time. That is why governments wield the sword, because they are God’s instrument for good. Organizations cannot love, but people can create organizations that work for best outcomes for people. Ideally, that is what government should do.
It is interesting that throughout history people have set up communes, or communal living arrangements, believing these will work for everyone’s best interest. (Acts 2:44 & 4:32) History has shown repeatedly that it doesn’t work well for very long. It is impossible for man, apart from the unction of the Holy Spirit, to live that way. Communes typically last for a generation or less. Communist governments, trying to implement having all things in common on a national level, last longer by brute force, but no one believes they are being run in the best interest of the people. Human nature unfortunately forces rules requiring work for food (or incentivizing work). (2 Thessalonians 3:10-13) And yet, government is preferred over anarchy because of human nature. This is the core of Paul’s counsel. Most of society does not live in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, so God has given us secular government to prevent the chaos of anarchy.
Romans 14 Judging Others
Romans 14 We have different taboos in the modern world than eating meat sacrificed to idols. But we are still called to grace; to receive grace and extend it to others.
Romans 14:1 What is a disputable matter? Almost anything can be disputed. Some claim diet as a matter of health, but no longer a matter of faith or obedience to God. And yet we criticize others’ dietary choices as being unhealthy, even though there are enormous variations in what people deem healthy. And the same can be said of how people spend their time and money.
Romans 14:5-6 The Pharisees criticized Jesus’ disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath, and He rebuked them. (Luke 6:1-10) Evidently during Paul’s time there were vegetarians apart from concerns about sacrificing to idols. And today people talk about health implications based on dietary choices, including sugar and fat consumption, additives, and fad diets for weight loss. Just ask the trolling influencers on the internet.
Romans 14:7-9 The focus is not on our actions, right or wrong, but on Jesus and His death and resurrection.
Romans 14:10 Paul says don’t gossip or criticize others on disputable matters. But who decides what falls in which category? What is the standard of sin? Do we ignore fornication and adultery? Paul did pass judgment on someone who was doing so (1 Corinthians 5:1-5). Jesus did not condemn the woman caught in the act of adultery, but did tell her to sin no more. (John 8:11).
Jesus gave instructions for dealing with a brother who sins. (Matthew 18:15-17) There seems to be an assumption that it is incontrovertibly sin, not some disputable matter. And the first step is to talk to the brother privately. Not to talk to others unless the first conversation doesn’t bear fruit. I can see two possible reasons - either the sinning brother doesn’t think it is sin, or he doesn’t care because he wants to do it anyway even though he recognizes it as sin. Then the inclusion of two or three others is for resolving the first possibility - if three or four (no more) agree it is sin (outvoting the sinning brother unanimously), then it falls in the second category of willful sin. Disfellowship is the prescribed action in that case. Possibly to protect the rest of the fellowship from being influenced, but more likely to make real to the sinning brother the consequences. Paul implies that this excommunication succeeded in bringing the sinning brother to repentance so that he could be restored to fellowship. (2 Corinthians 2:5-11)
Romans 14:10-12 In the end, God will judge us, not based on our actions (for which we will give account) but based on our relationship with Jesus. 14:11 quotes Isaiah 45:23 in which the prophet declares that the ends of the earth will turn to God and be saved. It is not the lifestyles of gentiles that condemn or save them, but whether they come to Jesus.
Romans 14:13-19 The important point that Paul repeatedly repeats is that we should build others up, not tear others down, with our words.
Romans 14:20 Returning to food once again, Paul now says all foods are clean (Mark 7:19). Peter received similar direction, using food as a metaphor for gentiles. (Acts 10:15) But the point is that it is not about food as the final concern, but that it is wrong to do something that causes another person to stumble (morally or spiritually).
Romans 14:23 In conclusion, every action either comes from faith or it doesn’t. That is the standard Paul gives for self-examination. Extending grace to others by building them up comes from faith. Judging, disputing with, gossiping about, and criticizing others are not from faith.
