Romans 13 is one of the most practical and challenging chapters in the New Testament. It answers a question we all wrestle with: How should Christians relate to government and authority?
Paul begins by saying, “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God” (Romans 13:1, NLT). This doesn’t mean governments are perfect—far from it. But it does mean that God is sovereign over who holds power, and Christians are called to honor that reality.
Government’s purpose, Paul explains, is to maintain justice, restrain evil, and serve the common good (Romans 13:3–4). When governments function as God intended, they protect citizens, punish wrongdoing, and promote order. We demonstrate trust in God’s design when we obey laws, pay taxes, and live as good citizens (Romans 13:5–7).
But what about when governments overreach? Scripture gives us a clear line: when earthly authority commands what God forbids—or forbids what God commands—we must obey God rather than man. When Peter and John were told not to preach Jesus, they replied, “We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20, NLT). Civil disobedience is justified when the government tries to silence the gospel.
Religious liberty, then, is not just about Sunday worship. It’s freedom to live out our faith every day, everywhere. It is a God-given right, not a privilege granted by the state. That’s why we pray for leaders (1 Timothy 2:1–2) and advocate for freedom, not only for ourselves, but for all people.
Paul then transitions from government to daily life, reminding us that love fulfills God’s law (Romans 13:8–10). If we love our neighbors, we will naturally live in a way that pleases God. Love doesn’t cancel God’s commands. It carries them out.
Finally, Paul adds a sense of urgency: “The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living” (Romans 13:12, NLT). The Christian life isn’t passive. Instead, it’s active. We are called to “clothe ourselves with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14).
Here’s the bottom line: Love your country, but seek God’s kingdom first. Honor those in authority, but worship Christ above all. Obey laws that promote good and boldly resist anything that hinders the gospel. And as you live this out, remember: your ultimate citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). No government, policy, or election can take away the eternal security you have in Christ.
Let’s be the kind of believers whose lives point people to Jesus, not just by what we say about Him, but by how we live under His rule, even as we live under the earthly authority of our government.