Romans 13: Subjection Does Not Mean Total Obedience —- Part 3

Romans 13: Subjection Does Not Mean Total Obedience —- Part 3

In Part 2, we talked about the purpose of '𝐞𝐱𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐚' and '𝐞𝐤𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚' ----- to continue God's government and establish His Kingdom on earth.

As believers, the 'exousia' (delegated authority) given to us is meant to fulfill that designated jurisdiction (the Kingdom's government on earth). This is why we have Luke 10:19, Matt 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-18. We have Christ's authority (exousia) to walk in divine protection and crush every form of darkness.

Since we have been assigned with this designated jurisdiction, we are to execute the 'exousia' in every arena that doesn't look like heaven. This is in the Lord's prayer. In other words, the 'ekklesia' (church, called-out ones, believers, Body of Christ) is God's Kingdom governing body on earth.

How do we reconcile this with Romans 13 on subjection to earthly authorities? It's very simple.

𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧, 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭, 𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰.

For 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐝'𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐫. Therefore one must be in subjection, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐝'𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡 but also 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. - Rom 13:3-5

The passage tells us that the earthly authorities (rulers) are set in place to carry out what is good. They are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. This reveals 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, which is the foundation of God's government (Ps 89:14). We are to do what is good (Gal 6:10; Micah 6:8), which is in alignment with heavenly and earthly government.

However, if the earthly governing authorities are executing what does 𝐍𝐎𝐓 look like in heaven, i.e. contrary to the Kingdom of God, 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 of kings whom we are first called to obey and follow. In such scenario, the 'ekklesia', on whom the Kingdom government is delegated upon our shoulders, should execute the 'exousia' (heaven's delegated authority) with the law of the Kingdom.

This is why Christianity was the central figure to abolish slavery in the States in the 19th century. If they simply follow Romans 13 blindly, this might not have taken place.

The Kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Spirit. The earth should reflect that. Where there is law FOR injustice, abuse, slavery, abortion, homosexual marriage, etc, of which none is in heaven, we do NOT be subject to the earthly authorities. For we must obey God, and not men (Acts 5:29). That also means that we must speak up and take action.

Note: Some church leaders say, “I don’t want to be involved in politics and the government. Let me just do my own thing in the church.” That’s not biblical. That’s religion. Religion does not interfere with life on earth. You can be involved in politics without being political. By NOT making any stand, you are already making a stand by not executing your God-given exousia to establish His Kingdom on earth.

As long as what is being executed on earth reflects heaven, we are to be subject to the earthly governing body.

As long as what is being executed on earth does 𝐍𝐎𝐓 reflect heaven, we are to execute 'exousia' as the Kingdom governing body.

In the next part, we will look at the immediate context of Romans 13 as well as 1 Peter 2, and see how Scriptures cannot be broken, because some have taken Romans 13 to the other extreme where they only limit the context to the synagogue leadership between the Jews and the Gentiles.