Romans Made Easy Chapter 13

Romans

By Joyce Webb  2011

Verse 1 -4

Every person should put himself under the authority of the higher power.

Paul is talking about the power of government.

Paul says: There would be no one in power to rule over others unless God allowed it---or let it happen. The purpose of government is to keep order and give safety to its people.

We may not like the government over us. But God is the one who has let people form governments and rule over people. God is the highest power. Any power you find in the world is because God put it there.

Anyone who will not respect this power of government over them, is going against the way God has planned things to be.

People who will not come under the authority of their government will be punished.

There are many kinds of government in the world. There are kings who rule and whatever they say is what happens.

In some governments the leaders are not honest, they cheat the people, they kill people, they steal from the people------they are still the government----and you are under their authority.

Nevertheless, the government is there to give a form of order so people can live together in peace. We have seen on TV, some governments are mean to their people----but they are there to give order to a country.

If we do not obey them, we will be punished.

Paul says: Rulers do not make people afraid if they are doing right, but those who do evil need to be afraid.

Paul continues to tell them: Respect the government. Do what is right and you will not have reason to be afraid.

Rulers and governments are the "tool" of God to do good for people. But if you are doing evil, expect to be punished. The ruler "does not carry a sword for nothing".

He is there to keep peace. If he needs to use the sword to keep peace, he will.

In America, we do not use swords any more. We have laws, police, judges, courts, jail, etc.

Even though there are governments in the world that are run by very bad evil men,

Still----God’s purpose for government----was to have order and peace so people could live life in safety. That is what government is suppose to do.

We need to obey the government ----not just so we can stay away from punishment-----but because we know in our minds it is the right thing to do.

Because of this, we pay taxes and fees to the government. They are God’s "ministers" "tools" .

Give to them honor, respect, ---pay taxes----follow the custom of the land.

From these verses that Paul writes, there must have been those believers who thought that because they were now following Christ that they should not obey the laws of their rulers. Paul is writing to the Romans. The Roman rulers did many things that were wrong. Many people were not happy about the leaders.

Believers in Christ would be most unhappy about the Roman leaders and their worship of idols and the many sinful things they did.

But Paul is telling the believers-----obey the rulers and the law of the land. Do what is right.

There will be times that the law or a ruler may try to make people do something that is against the true God-----that is when the believer will have to make a choice---knowing that it may cost his life.

We are never to do something that is a sin against God. In most ways we are to obey the government. God is a higher government----as believers He is our highest authority to obey. If our government would tell us to do something that was against God-----we need to obey God first---even if we get killed. You remember the story of the 3 Hebrew men in the book of Daniel who would not bow down to the idol the king made? And even Daniel when he was thrown to the lions. There are times when we obey God more than we obey the government.

There are preachers in nations, today, who are in prison and are to be killed because they believe in Jesus and they will not go against Jesus and say they do not believe in Him. Since they will not go against Jesus---they will probably be killed. These governments do not believe in Christianity and they are against Christians.

We hope that our government never goes against Christianity, but it may some day. We do not know what is in the future. There is growing feeling against some groups of Christians, even today in the TV news, that makes Christians wonder what will happen in our own country.

Do not owe anyone anything. In other words, do not spend more money than you have. Do not have debt. Do not borrow.

You may say, "We can not live in modern America with out borrowing money."

For some things that may be true. Most people borrow money to buy a house. How did all those people get into so much trouble recently with houses? They bought a house they could not afford. It was too big, and too fancy and far more than they could ever pay. They did not have money to put down. They paid big monthly bills. They took the loan on interest that varied---which means it could get bigger. It was not a smart, thoughtful, careful deal.

You may need to borrow money for a house, or a refrigerator, or stove, or car. But you need to consider what you make----and buy something in keeping with what you can afford. If you can only afford a Chevy---don’t buy a Cadillac. Same for a house, or any other thing. Borrow money for something that is within your ability to pay for it. Otherwise, you can not pay for it and you will lose it in the end, plus all the money you put in it.

Do not use a credit card unless you can afford to pay it off. It would be best to not buy more than you can pay at the next month’s bill---and pay it off. If you do carry it from month to month, understand what the extra amount is that you are paying.    Can you afford it?

If you do not have much money coming in----accept that----live in that limit---do not try to have more than you can afford. It will only bring you sorrow and embarrassment. There is no embarrassment in being poor. You might think so at times. But truly, a person’s worth is not in the things he owns. Being in debt and not paying is shameful.

The best way is the old fashioned way of saving money for something until you have the money to pay for it. Saving money ---even a little----every week, or month is the best way to have money for those things that suddenly you need.

Do not live up every dime you make. Save a few dollars, put it away---let it build up. If you make a habit of this, you will be surprised how it will grow into a nice amount.

Paul, goes on the say in verse 8, Love each other. If you love the other person, you are doing what the law says. The 10 Commandments were about how to act to other people. If you are always acting in love to someone, you will never break the commandments. Love will not steal, lie, cheat,, kill, be guilty of adultery, be jealous, covet, etc. Love will act to your neighbor the way you would want them to act to you.

Love will not do evil or harm to it neighbor. Love will honor God and be like Him. So you will be doing God’ will.

It is time for Christians to "wake up". Get serious about living for God. The time for our salvation to be completed is closer now than it was when we first believed.

We speak of our believing in Jesus, asking for forgiveness, repenting, as being "saved". However, we are not truly saved until we are in heaven. That is the time our salvation is complete. When we are in heaven, we will not need to worry any more about temptation to sin, or doing wrong, etc. Salvation will be complete.

Every day we get closer to heaven.

Paul makes a picture: The night is coming when we will not be able to work.

Paul is talking about the farmers of that day. People worked in the fields until dark and they could not see. Then it was time to stop and go home and eat.

The picture is: this world is getting dark. There will come a time when darkness is complete and it will be time to stop preaching to people. It will be time to stop working to get people to believe in Jesus. Time for getting people saved will be over.

So we need to work while it is day. We need to be trying to get people to follow Jesus now while it is day. The time is coming when it will be too late.

Paul says: Let us put on the armor of light. In Ephesians 6;13, Paul talks about the armor of God.

Let us walk honestly, as in the day. We are the "children of Light" meaning Jesus’ Light---not the "new age" kind of light. We are to show the "Light of the World-Jesus" as we live every day.

Daylight shines bright. You can see what is happening. People who walk in the day know that others can see them and what they do---so they are careful about what they do---people are watching. We want them to see Jesus in us.

We are not to be drunk, or get into riots or fights. Do not do sexual sins of any kind. Do not be arguing and fighting. Do not be jealous and have envy.

Put on Jesus----like you might put on a robe---You are to be like Jesus to people.

(Not just pretend like you put on a mask----but you really try to be like Jesus.)

Do not give place to your flesh---in doing fleshly sins---anger, jealous, sinful sex, selfish wants, want of power, money, pride, etc.----Do not do those things that are of lust---desires of the flesh or body---meaning those things that do not have spiritual value---they are desires that are selfish for things of this earth.