Romans Chapter 13

Obey Your Governing Authorities.

This chapter starts off saying, “Everyone must submit themselves to the governing authorities for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

Our greatest authority is God so we must obey him first and foremost. So any rules that oppose God’s word is not to be followed because God is our ultimate authority. All other authorities must submit themselves to their authorities, which ultimately goes back to God.

Some quote this verse as a way of dictating Christians obedience. What they forget, is their authority must line up with God’s authority as well.

Now if their rules of authority do not violate God’s word, then yes, we are to obey them. Our obedience becomes a testimony of our Christian faith and respect. Verse 2 says to rebel against our authorities is to rebel against God. This chapter says that those who do such things will bring God’s judgment.

This is a difficult chapter to know when we are to implement or not implement our obedience. May we carefully take each situation to the Lord so that we don’t destroy our Christian testimony nor compromise our faith.

Blessings!