Rules of engagement

What do we know about life during the time Paul wrote the letter to those in Rome. We see the main purpose of the letter was to give instructions to people on how to live a Christ based life.

In the beginning of chapter 13 it’s Paul talks about submitting to authorities. Who were the authorities then and to what degree should they submit to the authorities. Today and tomorrow we will be looking into the first few verses in chapter 13 to understand the difference today and then. People don’t realize the culture has changed and the way we elect public authorities has changed also, but we must always obey the law of the land.

Today our main goal is what are the rules of engagement when it comes to the submitting to the authorities today verses doing the time when Paul wrote the letter

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
Romans 13:1‭-‬4 NKJV

When we take this at face value, Paul was letting them know as believers in Christ is to obey or submit to the governing authorities. Part of being a Christian is to follow the rules of those in power. To what degree does a person have to listen. What if the governing authorities go against God’s authority, who will you listen to or obey.

Within today’s text, we notice two types of authorities both man and God. Today it’s about looking at this at face value. Leaders during that time were mostly put into power of authority because of the spiritual atmosphere at this time. Kings, rulers, and leaders were all at this time authority people had to listen to and obey. They were seen to be put into that position because of God. Being in authority people had to listen to what was the law at that present time.

When we dig deeper into today’s text, we see Paul saying don’t resist the authorities. If you do then you will bring judgement on yourself. First it was a way to give instructions to the Christians at this time. Second Paul said those in authority have been appointed by God. That was the culture at this time, many were appointed by God for a certain position.

Two main things within this passage is to submit to the authorities under a certain degree of God. Second is to do what is good. As those at this time would do what was instructed to do then they would be praised

The praise was given to people for doing good but God would totally get the credit for it all. We know as Christian do good things then good results and good results. Yet if a person did evil or went against the authorities then judgement even unto death.

Rules of engagement were, remember who appointed the authorities. Do good in everything you do, because you will receive praise, but the true praises belong to God. God kept them from doing evil and their lives were spared. Another rule is if you do evil and go against the authorities than judgement and death could happen.

This was the physical action of what Paul was saying. Like I have been told before. Just as there physical law that governs this planet or world, there are spiritual laws that govern our relationship with God. Tomorrow we will be looking at a different concept of this text taking from a natural to a spiritual understanding.

Remember it’s all about truth and the way it was and the way it is and our life how it is governs by God and his truth