Scott Trautwein
Romans 12:21-13:14
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21 NKJV
1. Subject ourselves to authority
“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. Therefore, youmust be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” Romans 13:1–7 NKJV
“We are to submit right up to the point where obedience to the state would entail disobedience to God”
“Whenever laws are enacted which contradict God’s law, civil disobedience becomes a Christian duty.”
– John Stott
- There is no authority except from God
- The authorities that exist are appointed by God
- Authority is good because it comes from God
“We need to be cautious, however, in our interpretation of Paul’s statements. He cannot be taken to mean that all the Herods, Neros and Domitians of New Testament times, and all the Hitlers, Stalins, and Saddams of our times, were personally appointed by God, that God is responsible for their behaviour, or that their authority is in no circumstances to be resisted. Paul means rather that all human authority is derived from God’s authority, so that we can say to rulers what Jesus said to Pilate, ‘You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.’” – John Stott
How do we overcome evil with good?
- Keep a good attitude toward the authorities
- Pray for them
- Respect them
- Be careful how we speak or write about them
2. Keep paying the debt of love
“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:1–2 NKJV
“Love is the breath we breathe when, in the realm of evil, we have no breath left.”
“Love is that denial and demolition of the existing order which no revolt can bring about.”
“Love does not enter into competition; and therefore, it cannot be defeated.”
– Karl Barth
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…” 1 Corinthians 13:7-8 NKJV
3. Stay awake!
“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:11–14 NKJV
“But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.” Mattew 25:5 NKJV
“Watch and pray…” Matthew 26:41 NKJV
“The picture is that, because of the hour, we must not only wake up and get up, but get dressed as well. We must take off our night clothes, the deeds of darkness, and put on instead, as suitable daytime equipment for the soldiers of Christ, the armor of light.” – John Stott
QUESTIONS TO PONDER (OR DISCUSS WITH THOSE YOU ARE IN “CHURCH” WITH TODAY)
- Summarize in your own words what a Christian’s attitude toward authority should be from Romans 13:1–7.
- What do you think about the statement that not having a right attitude toward authority is trying to overcome evil with evil instead of with good?
- Barth says, “Love is that good work by which the evil is overcome.” Can you give a personal example of this in your own life?
- How do you stay awake spiritually?
- How do you put on Christ?
Read Romans 14