Under a Higher Authority / Romans 13:1-7

Amen. Alright, if you’ve got a Bible, turn to Romans 13. We’re going to look together at verses one through seven. We are continuing in the downhill sweep toward the end of this book. Even though Paul is being very practical, he certainly hasn’t left us without sensitive issues to work through—not the least of which is this passage right here.

Before we dive into the text, I’d like to set it up a little bit. If we jump straight in, I think we get stuck in our own modern context. We forget that this was written in a specific historical backdrop, and understanding that helps us frame how it applies to our lives today. When we talk about Roman culture in the mid-first century, we have to look at what was happening on the ground.

You had the Emperor Claudius, who had previously ejected all Jewish people and Christians from Rome. You see a couple in the book of Acts, Priscilla and Aquila, who were forced to leave because of that decree. The racism in Rome was at its peak. The aristocracy, the opulence, and the arrogance of Rome had completely rejected the Jewish people and the Christian community. The persecution was so severe that you were hard-pressed to even find enough men to hold a synagogue service. In order to have a service, you need ten men—it’s called a minyan. You’ll read about the church at Philippi; it didn’t start with ten dudes in a synagogue. It started with a group of ladies having a prayer meeting down by a river because Paul couldn’t find ten men to have a meeting.

But in AD 54, an emperor by the name of Nero takes over. Nero is a fascinating cat. He allowed the Jews and Christians to return, and Paul is writing this letter during this specific window of time. We know this because Paul writes to both Jews and Christians in Rome, but we also know he writes before the end of Nero’s life, because Nero is eventually the one who will execute Paul.

The Suspicion of the State

In Rome at this time, there were three primary branches of power: the Senate, the Praetorian (the military/religious branch), and the Emperor. There was an incredible fear of corruption because it was a very corrupt time. If you know Roman history, dudes were getting stabbed in the back left and right. The quickest way to lose your reign was to lose favor with the other parties, so Nero became incredibly paranoid.

As Rome conquered new cities, they welcomed polytheism. If they took over your city and you worshiped the sun god, they just added your god to their pantheon. Their goal was to accumulate as many deities as possible without offending any of them—the more the merrier. Then the Christians started coming along. Here comes the Apostle Paul, this disturber of the peace, bringing a message of repentance to an indulgent, morally lax culture.

Once people became followers of Christ, their lives changed so dramatically that the average Roman citizen found it troubling. Because of Nero’s paranoia and persecution, the church began to meet underground. Now, I don’t know about you, but anything done in secret seems shady. The church was just praying and studying the Bible, but they were doing it in secret for fear of their lives. Nero was the kind of guy who would arrest you for no reason, sew you into animal skins, and throw you into the arena for sport.

Because of this, the Christians faced three main accusations. First, they were called “shady” because they met in secret. Second, they were accused of being cannibalistic. When they met, they talked about “eating His flesh and drinking His blood.” The Romans didn’t understand Communion; they thought it was literal. Third, the Romans actually called Christians “atheists.” Why? Because the Christians recognized only one true God. They wouldn’t visit the pagan temples, and they wouldn’t burn incense to Caesar and declare that Caesar was Lord.

It’s in this high-tension context—with an egomaniac, paranoid emperor who had the authority to do anything on a whim—that Paul writes these words.

Romans 13:1 (NASB)

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

The Call to Subjection

Every person. Every person whose life has been given in response to God’s mercy. Every person who has embraced the Gospel, renounced the old life, and is being transformed by the renewing of their mind. Paul tells us to be in subjection to governing authorities.

Now, you and I might go, “Time out. That guy is an idiot! Why would God say to submit to a guy like Nero?” What Paul is going to show us is that it’s not ultimately about submitting to “that guy,” it’s about submitting to the Guy. This willing subjection shows our submission to the Father.

The term “subjection” in a sterile, technical sense means to place yourself up under the authority of another. But this term is more dynamic than that. It’s the same phrase used of Christ putting all things under His feet, the church being subject to Christ, and believers being subject to one another.

Remember last week? We talked about how a faith that claims Jesus with words but doesn’t live it with deeds is unbiblical. Our faith should be evidenced by how we live. We talked about outdoing one another in honor and taking the initiative. That concept of initiative carries over here. Subjection doesn’t mean rote, mindless obedience. It means we willingly place ourselves under authority to actively take initiative so that the person in authority can be all that God wants them to be.

Ladies, if I say you are called to be in subjection to your husbands, and I only mean “come under his thumb,” not many of you are going to say, “Wow, thank you!” But if I say God has given you a unique role to come alongside your husband to actively invest in his life so he can be all God called him to be—and he is called to do the same for you—that changes the narrative.

We have an obligation to be part of the solution, not just passive observers. In that Roman culture, when people became Christians, the temptation was to lean toward anarchy. “I’m a Christian now, I reject Caesar, grab the pitchforks, let’s start a revolution!” But God opposes lawlessness and disorder. This isn’t about political rebellion; it’s about something much deeper.

The Sovereignty of the King

All authority is from God. They stand ordained and appointed by Him. Peter, writing after Paul was killed, says the same thing: submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution. Paul isn’t arguing for the “divine right of kings” or a specific form of government; he’s making the observation that divine authority establishes human authority.

I don’t know your political background, and frankly, I don’t care if you’re a blue guy or a red guy. For twenty-five years of my life, I didn’t even vote. I’m embarrassed to say that now, but I didn’t think I made a difference. Then I turned twenty-five and thought, “I should probably do this.” I started researching candidates, picking my person, and nail-biting in front of the TV as the numbers came in. Sometimes I was thrilled, and sometimes I was so disappointed my whole countenance would fall.

But I had to be reminded that God is not asleep. If this verse is true, it suggests that whether I liked the result or not, God appointed that person for that role for His purposes. The highest authority is not the government; it’s the King of Kings, who is sovereign over all of it.

Jesus understood this. When He was arrested and stood before Pilate, Pilate said, “Don’t you know I have the authority to release you or crucify you?” And Jesus looked at that egocentric little punk and said, “You would have no authority over Me unless it was given to you from above.”

John 19:11 (NASB)

Jesus answered, ‘You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has [the] greater sin.’

If you’ve ever cruised through the Old Testament, you find the book of Habakkuk. He asks God, “How is it that the wicked prosper and the godly suffer?” And God’s response is fascinating. He says, “Look at the nations and be astonished, because I am doing something you wouldn’t believe even if I told you. I am raising up the Chaldeans—that fierce, pagan nation—to accomplish My work.”

Habakkuk 1:5-6 (NASB)

’Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because [I am] doing something in your days– You would not believe if you were told. ’For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, That fierce and impetuous people Who march throughout the earth To seize dwelling places which are not theirs.

God says, “I’ll raise up Pilate. I’ll raise up a pagan nation. I’ll do whatever I need to do to accomplish My purposes.”

Have you noticed how Christians panic during election years? It causes people to lose their minds. I want to suggest that this panic exposes our inner idols. We buy into the lie that if we just get our guy elected, things will finally change. We think if we had the right majority or the right legislation, we’d be saved. The irony is you can get the exact person you wanted, and it still might not change the thing you want changed. Our panic exposes our dependence on the rulers of this world and a lack of trust in the ultimate King. The rulers of this world fly their jets and have their motorcades, but they are puppets in the hands of Almighty God.

The Purpose of the Sword

Paul goes on to say that whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed.

Romans 13:2 (NASB)

Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

There are two judgments here. First, if we choose not to submit or seek the good of those in authority, we face condemnation because we are disrespecting God’s appointment. But the second judgment is also true: those in authority will answer to God for how they used the power entrusted to them. If a leader is doing stupid stuff, don’t worry—God is very good at taking notes.

Romans 13:3 (NASB)

For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;

You know exactly what this means. You’ve experienced this passage when you’ve driven past a motorcycle cop. You didn’t think of the Greek text, but you felt it! You saw him, you went, “Oh snap,” and you looked at your speedometer. If you were under the limit, you were like, “What’s up?” If you were over, you were looking for the nearest exit. Rulers are not a cause of fear if you’re doing what’s right.

Now, I know this is a powder keg subject today. Issues of race, violence, and law enforcement are all over the news. Let me be clear: if there is a dirty cop out there abusing power or using excessive violence, they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. They must be held accountable. I don’t think anyone disagrees with that.

But I’m also fairly confident that not all cops are dirty. I’ve seen that show Dirty Jobs, and I’m pretty sure being a cop would be on the list. Just imagine for a second: you get a call for a domestic dispute. You pull up and there are six “yoked” dudes on the lawn, clearly agitated. You don’t know if they’re armed. You don’t know if you’re a welcome guest. You have to make a decision in a nanosecond because a 250-pound man is coming at you, and he isn’t looking for a hug. You’re wondering, “Am I going to make it home tonight?”

Five minutes later, you’re at a scene where a girl committed suicide. Five minutes after that, you’re in a parking lot dealing with a fender bender where someone is screaming at you because you’re being “unprofessional.” They don’t know you still have blood on your shoes from the last call. Is there a harder job in this city?

This authority is appointed by God as an expression of order. If you do what is good, you have nothing to fear. Peter reminds us to keep our behavior excellent so that even if people slander us, they will see our good deeds and glorify God.

1 Peter 2:12 (NASB)

Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe [them], glorify God in the day of visitation.

We cannot allow our behavior to be dictated by the quality of our leadership. “If I like the leader, I’ll obey; if I don’t, I’ll rebel.” That’s not the Christian way. My dad had a very high view of authority. If I bowed up to a teacher, it didn’t matter if the teacher was wrong—I was in trouble. He taught me that if you do what’s right, you have no problem.

A Matter of Conscience

Paul calls the governing authority a “minister of God.”

Romans 13:4 (NASB)

for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

That’s a tough pill to swallow. You’re telling me Nero—the guy who just killed my friend—is a minister of God? The world says only submit to the people you like. God says they are there to create healthy boundaries. When they bring “the sword,” it’s for the purpose of reform.

It’s like parenting. When my daughters were young and wanted to touch a hot stove, I’d tell them, “Don’t touch that, it’s hot.” If they disobeyed, I became an “avenger who brought wrath.” I didn’t beat my kids, but I wanted them to know that when you bow up to authority, there are consequences. The hope is that next time, she won’t remember the pain of the stove, but the discipline of the parent, and she’ll rethink her choice. That’s our responsibility as parents—to train them up so they don’t depart from the right path.

I look at California sometimes and think, “Man, this is the most hyper-regulated state in the country. Do we really need this many ‘tools’?” But what is our option? Do we storm Sacramento with pitchforks? Do we all just move to Texas? If we all leave, who is going to share Christ here? God has placed us here, under this authority, to be a witness.

Romans 13:5 (NASB)

Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.

We don’t just obey because we’re afraid of a ticket. We do it for conscience’ sake. We do it because it’s right. Remember the context: Nero eventually blamed the Christians for a fire in Rome that he likely started. He impaled Christians and lit them on fire to provide light for his garden parties. And Paul says, “It is necessary to be in subjection.” If they had to do it under Nero, how much more should we be able to do it today?

Render to All Their Due

Then Paul hits us where it hurts: taxes.

Romans 13:6 (NASB)

For because of this you also pay taxes, for [rulers] are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

I don’t like verse six any more than you do. I don’t like how they spend it or the trajectory they’re on. But it’s not about my preference. We do it because it’s honoring to the Lord.

Now, is there a limit? Yes. If the government ever mandates that we behave in a way that is contrary to Scripture, we have a problem. In the book of Acts, when Peter and John were arrested and told to stop preaching the Gospel, they said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge.”

Acts 4:19 (NASB)

But Peter and John answered and said to them, ’Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;

They said it again in chapter five: “We must obey God rather than men.” So, if the law forces us to violate our faith, we can be in subjection to the penalty without being obedient to the command.

Christianity isn’t about anarchy or carrying a literal sword. In Paul’s day, there was a group called the Zealots who thought they were honoring God by carrying daggers and stabbing Romans in the marketplace. That movement eventually led to the destruction of the temple in AD 70. God hasn’t called us to be a “Seal Team Six” of spies; He’s called us to be the salt of the earth.

Romans 13:7 (NASB)

Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

Give people what they are due. It’s not about overthrowing nations; it’s about making disciples of nations. It’s not a political movement; it’s a movement of the heart.

So, how do we live this out?

First, be informed and get involved. It’s embarrassing that I waited until I was twenty-five to vote. Show up. Use your voice.

Second, if you see abuse or injustice, speak up! We live in a system that allows for that. File the complaint. Use the voice God gave you.

Third, pray. Paul told Timothy to pray for kings and all in authority so that we might lead a peaceful and quiet life. When you pray, you aren’t just asking for circumstances to change; you’re asking God to change us.

Finally, calm down about the government. You don’t need to build a bunker or hoard rations. God hasn’t called us to retreat; He’s called us to enter this culture. I’m not a fan of every policy, but I submit to a higher authority. I want to be the kind of guy that when someone in authority sees me, they think, “There’s something different about him.” And I get to point them to Jesus and say, “I don’t do this for you; I serve the Lord. You don’t have to worry about me stabbing you in the back, but I am going to pray for you—and that might be even more powerful.”

That is what it means to be a Christian willingly subject to the authorities around us.

Let’s pray.

Father, I thank You for this passage. Even though it feels practical, it exposes our inner idolatry regarding parties and platforms. God, raise our sights to see You. We want to submit to You. Help us to take initiative in the lives of those around us so they might see Jesus. We thank You for the freedom we have in Christ to remain steady even when chaos surrounds us. We know You are still in control, You still have a plan, and we are still a part of it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.