Romans 13:3 - Forerunner Commentary

Romans 13:3

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Articles, Bible studies, and sermons that contain The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans 13:3:

Romans 13:2-5
Excerpted from: Government (Part Three)

Where is power? Power is with God. And from His position of power He delegates to certain individuals a portion of power and responsibility. Those to whom He delegates the power are responsible, or they are accountable, to Him.

In the New Testament, despite the fact that the nations have in no way made a covenant with God like Israel did (and in many cases the governments are despotic, chaotic, bribe-taking, abusive, unjust, uncaring, unmoving, and insensitive), their power and existence flows from God.

God is not responsible for what they do, but He does not make them do the things that they do. They have free moral agency as well. But we have to understand that they exist only because God has deemed it so.

Their purpose is seen here, in the New Testament, to be generally good. At least, it is better than the alternative, which is no government at all. The reason is that it is God's intention that the purpose of these governments—to whom He has delegated His authority—is to keep order in the community. The Christian, then, is to honor its power, as sent by God—to keep life from social chaos, to be a deterrent to evildoers, and also to be a rewarder of those who do right and good.

Romans 13:1-5
Excerpted from: Government (Part Three)

Where is power? Power is with God. And from His position of power He delegates to certain individuals a portion of power and responsibility. Those to whom He delegates the power are responsible, or they are accountable, to Him.

In the New Testament, despite the fact that the nations have in no way made a covenant with God like Israel did (and in many cases the governments are despotic, chaotic, bribe-taking, abusive, unjust, uncaring, unmoving, and insensitive), their power and existence flows from God.

God is not responsible for what they do, but He does not make them do the things that they do. They have free moral agency as well. But we have to understand that they exist only because God has deemed it so.

Their purpose is seen here, in the New Testament, to be generally good. At least, it is better than the alternative, which is no government at all. The reason is that it is God's intention that the purpose of these governments—to whom He has delegated His authority—is to keep order in the community. The Christian, then, is to honor its power, as sent by God—to keep life from social chaos, to be a deterrent to evildoers, and also to be a rewarder of those who do right and good.

Articles
Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Fifteen): Deference
Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Fifteen): Deference
Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part Four)
Should We Obey the Laws of Our Government?
The Ministry of Angels
The Promise in the Fifth Commandment (Part Two)
The Sixth Commandment (Part One) (1997)
The Sovereignty of God: Part Five
Why Did God Command Israel to Go to War?
Why Should Christians Refuse Jury Duty?

Bible Studies
Tithing: Second Tithe

Essays
Are These Your Feasts? (Part Two)
Christian Reaction to Terror
Expanding Government
Is Patriotism Biblical?
Marriage—A God-Plane Relationship (Part Five)
Submission (Part One)  (2)
Submission (Part Two)
The Word of the Hour
Ubiquitous Government

Sermons
Faith Over Fear
Don't Meddle and Always Be Ready to Answer
Unity and Godly Diversity in One Body
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Thirty)
How Does God View Human Government?
Is the United States a Christian Nation? (Part 3)
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Nine)
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Eight)
Biblical Principles of Justice (Part Three)
The Book of Daniel (Part Three)
Secession (Part One): Separation Wrong?
Secession (Part One): Separation Wrong?
Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part Six, Conclusion)
Self-Government
Angelic Responsibilities
Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Thirty-Two): Ecclesiastes 8:1-9
Acts (Part Twenty-Four)
Faith, Government, and the Calendar (Part 4)
Faith and the Calendar (Part Two)
Warfare!
The Sovereignty of God (Part 6)
Self-Government: Overcoming
Self-Government: Overcoming
We Give Our Heads and Hearts
Pilgrim's Progress
God's Stare Decisis
Choices and a Man After God's Own Heart: Turn, Turn, Turn
'But I Say to You' (Part Six): Retaliation
'But I Say to You' (Part Six): Retaliation

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