Some of my favorite movies of all time are films in which a rebellion group has formed and is the last bastion of hope for good in the world against a tyrannical, evil darkness. Films such as “Star Wars” and “Lord of the Rings” are among my favorites. In them, we see the underdog group fight back against the oppressive evil that threatens to rule over all the land. It is so satisfying to see these rebels win and overthrow the bad guys in the films. I think it is in our nature to desire to rebel, especially against a force that we believe to be wrong or oppressive. It can be a decision by management at work that appears to be predatory, your mortgage company charging more for your home, or a teacher that you feel wrongly punished your child at school. 

1. Describe a time in your life when you have felt the desire to stand against something that felt unjust to you. 

Please read Romans 13:1-7. We have all felt this desire to push back and fight against these things that have wronged us. In our passage today, Paul addresses what that looks like in the context of government. In his time, the Roman government was an incredibly difficult subject, especially among Jews and Christians. Romans chapter 13:1-2 says, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” Paul is speaking to our natural inclination to resist by reminding the believer that all authority is granted by God. All governments, past, present, and future, have been appointed by God. He placed every leader in his seat, and He removed every leader from his seat when the time was right. Even though corruption in government exists, this does not remove the fact that God has appointed the people involved in such scandals and evil practices. Paul exhorts Christians to be the best citizens of their government. In verse two, he goes so far as to say that resisting the government that God has ordained is to resist God Himself. 

2. Paul asserts that “there is no authority except from God” in verse 1. What does this teach us about the relationship between God and human governments? 

3. In verse 2, Paul talks about resisting authority and receiving judgment. What are the consequences of resisting governing authorities according to these verses? 

Now, this compliance with governing authorities does not mean that the believer is expected to have blind obedience. There are times in which disobedience is a duty of the believer. Most specifically, it is when a governing body commands its people to disobey God and disregard His commands. 

4. What are some examples that might warrant disobedience to the government? 

There are plenty of examples found in Scripture where God’s people could not comply with the orders of their government. I personally love the story in Daniel chapter 3, where we see three God-fearing men refuse to bow down to an idol of their king and, as a result, are thrown in the fiery furnace. If you read this story, you will notice that these men did not mount an insurrection or start a rebellion against the king. They could not comply with the order that they had been given to worship someone or something over God, so they disobeyed. However, when the time came, they accepted the consequences of their actions without complaint. Obedience to the commands of God must always come first, no matter what. This obedience to God may sometimes look like disobedience to government. Disobedience to government will likely have consequences, but as we see in verse four, it is the responsibility of government to dole out justice, “For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.” 

5. Paul writes that the authority “does not bear the sword in vain.” How does this description relate to the role of government in maintaining justice and order? 

This verse shows us that governments have some authority that individuals do not. Specifically, we are being told that the government is given the authority to exact vengeance on an evildoer. That is something that we, as followers of Christ, are told not to do. Personal vengeance is wrong in the sight of the Lord because vengeance is to be exacted through the justice system set up by ruling authorities. Paul tells us in verse three that if we conduct ourselves well, we need not fear the vengeance of our government. Therefore, if we have conducted ourselves well, which might even mean disobedience toward the government in order to obey God, then we have done right in the sight of the Lord and have nothing to fear when or if the consequences come through the justice system.  

6. Verse 4 mentions that the governing authority is “God’s servant for your good.” What does this suggest about the role of government in a believer’s life? 

7. What does it mean practically to view the government as a servant of God, especially when it may not appear to be acting in accordance with God’s will? 

Paul continues in verse five by reminding us that this command is one of conscience, not something that should be done out of fear of the Lord’s wrath. As God’s people, we should be set apart from the world. One area in which we ought to demonstrate this is in our understanding of government as a divine institution that God has ordained. This does not mean that we cannot disagree or work to change things that we see as problematic, but we must be respectful of the office that God has chosen, for He has picked them to be His servants for the people for a time. One way of showing respect, which Paul addresses here specifically, is paying taxes. If we feel that a government or leader is unjustly or wrongfully using funds that they have access to, it can be a natural reaction to want to give less funds to them! However, this is clearly spoken about in God’s Word as something that is unbecoming of a follower of Christ. 

8. In verse 7, Paul instructs believers to “pay to all what is owed to them,” including taxes, revenue, and respect. How does this comprehensive command guide your behavior toward different forms of authority, such as government, employers, or leaders in the church? 

9. How does the broader message of Romans 13:1-7 shape your understanding of how Christians should interact with government and authority in everyday life? 

10. How can this understanding affect the way we pray for our leaders or engage in discussions about politics and justice?