• Main Idea: When we recognize that God has set the governing authorities in place, we will honor and submit to them in obedience to God.
• Head Change: To know that government is God’s instrument for punishing the bad and promoting the good.
• Heart Change: To feel motivated to submit to the governing authorities as long as it doesn’t require disobedience to God’s commands.
• Life Change: To live as an exemplary citizen as an act of obedience to God.

Imagine that the government disappeared. What would change about your daily life? How do you think people would respond to having no perceptible governing authority over them?

Nowadays, it’s common for us to hear (or even utter ourselves) grumblings about the government. And for all the ways we might like things done differently, the apostle Paul says that God has put our leaders in place and given them their authority. So, then, what are our responsibilities, even if we don’t like our politicians?

In this session, J.D. unpacks both the responsibilities of those who govern and the responsibilities of those who are governed. It is a timely reminder to help us navigate life in our confused society.

Read Romans 13:1–14.
Show Session 10: Romans 13:1–14 (15 minutes).

Politics is one of the most volatile topics of conversation in our society today, even within the church. But we must all reckon with what it means to live out our faith in the society where we live, which includes how we are to relate to those who govern us. What are some of the most common critiques you hear regarding politics and government? Why do you think politics and government are such touchy subjects?

In verse 1, Paul makes a statement that could not be any clearer: everyone should “submit to the governing authorities.” He then tells us why: “there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.” Paul makes no qualifications—the default posture of Christians toward their government is one of submission. What’s your reaction when you read that we are to submit to the governing authorities? Why?

In what ways can we sometimes fail to submit to the governing authorities? Why do we find submission—especially to governing authority—to be so difficult?

Paul goes on, in verse 2, to speak candidly about what a refusal to submit means. He says to “resist authority” is to “oppose God’s command” because the existing authorities have been instituted by God. If Paul equates submission to authority with obedience to God, how serious should we be about submitting to our government and its leaders? Are there any exceptions? What are some examples of possible exceptions?

He continues his argument in verse 3 saying that good conduct doesn’t lead to judgment and punishment from those in authority, but bad conduct rightly does. In our society, what are some practical examples of bad conduct that warrants judgment from the governing authorities?

In verse 4, Paul lays out what J.D. said are the two primary responsibilities of those who govern: they “punish the bad” and “promote the good.” In what ways do governing authorities punish bad conduct? How do our governing authorities “promote the good”?

In what ways do governments sometimes get good and bad backward and punish wrongly? What responsibility do Christians have when the government mistakes bad for good?

Since the governing authorities have been instituted by God and are servants of God to punish bad and promote good, Paul repeats, “Therefore, you must submit.” He is emphatic. And remember, the political context in Rome was much different from ours—it could be brutal, even deadly. How seriously did Paul take the issue of submission to the governing authorities? Why do you think we fail to take submission as seriously as Paul?

Is it possible to take our submission to the governing authorities too far? How? What are some examples?

We submit “not only because of wrath,” or to avoid punishment, “but also because of [our] conscience.” He is arguing here that our conscience—or our moral compass, directed by the Spirit—tells us that submission to the government is right. Does your conscience agree with Paul’s assessment? What can we do to make sure that our conscience is tethered to God’s Word? What happens when we ignore or disobey our conscience? 

In verses 6–7, Paul broaches the topic of taxes, explaining why we pay them and then, in case anyone wasn’t clear, explicitly commanding us to pay them. “Pay your obligations to everyone,” he says, “taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.” To whom do you owe respect or honor? From whom have you withheld respect or honor? How can you show them respect or honor this week?

With verse 8, Paul returns to the theme of love. He tells readers to “love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” What are you doing to grow in your love for others? Who in your life models love for others well?

In verses 9–10, Paul explains what he means when he says that loving others fulfills the law. Listing several of the Ten Commandments, he says they can be summed up by God’s command in Leviticus 19 to “Love your neighbor,” or all those you encounter, “as yourself.” How does loving our neighbor help us obey the commands Paul spells out in this passage?

One of J.D.’s points regarding our responsibility as citizens is that we have an obligation to engage in the politics of our society. In what ways is political engagement an act of love? Do you see your own political engagement—speaking, voting, serving—as an opportunity to love and care for your neighbors? What could change about our society if we viewed our political involvement as a means of doing good for our neighbors?

Paul tells us in verse 10 that “Love does no wrong to a neighbor,” which is why love “is the fulfillment of the law.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor. As Christians, who are your neighbors? What kind of neighbors ought we to be? What can you do to exercise love more consistently for them?

To close chapter 13, Paul dives into a discussion on the end times, also called eschatology, implying that the end is drawing near. How often do you think about the return of Christ or the end times? What thoughts and emotions come to mind when you do?

While our discussion of end times can lead us to anxiety or conjecture, it leads Paul to ethics—if “the night is nearly over,” how should we behave? He answers: “discard the deeds of darkness;” “put on the armor of light;” “walk with decency: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy.” If the end is near, our time to do good and to share the gospel is running out. Why do you think it is essential to be godly in these last days?

Paul closes chapter 13 with two commands. First, don’t act on premeditated sin. What sort of sins do we plan? What sinful urges do we long to act on? What can you do to guard against your tendency to make plans to gratify your flesh’s desires?

Second, Paul says “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Or, as the NIV states, “clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ.” The way we act should look like how Jesus would act. Thinking of yourself, how does your behavior differ when you are “clothed” with Christ?

Romans 13 is a chapter preoccupied with love. We submit to the governing authorities because we love God,  and we engage in the political process (where we’re allowed) because we love our neighbors, all while we await the return of our beloved savior. How can love make you a more exemplary citizen and a better neighbor?

Our politicians, as flawed as they are, have been put in place and empowered by God. They are his servants, meant to promote the good and punish the bad in our society. And God commands us to submit to them.

But our submission is always to be informed by our allegiance to the great commandment—to love God above all else and love our neighbor as ourselves. We may think that we are most effective when venting our frustration with politicians. But, to God, we are most effective when we actively love one another. How might the love of God change your neighborhood, city, and nation?