The eastern sky turning pale gold over the dark tiled rooftops of a sleeping first-century Roman city just before dawn.

The Book of

Romans 13

The night is almost over. How should the church live while it waits for the day? Owing nothing but love.

14 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–3:20The problemEveryone needs the gospel
3:21–5The answerRight with God by faith
6–8New lifeFree in Christ, led by the Spirit
9–11God and IsraelHis promises stand
12–16Living itLove in a church of Jews and GentilesChapter 13

Submission to Authorities

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

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For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.

Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience.

This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Reflect

What is due

Paul says, “Pay everyone what you owe him,” and that includes more than money: “respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.” Think of the people set over you at work, at school or in your town. How could you show them respect this week, and pray for them by name?

Love Fulfills the Law

Romans 13:8

The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Summed up in one

Whiteboard

Paul names four of the commandments about our neighbor, “and any other commandments,” and says they are all summed up in one: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love keeps every one of them, because “Love does no wrong to its neighbor.”

Question

Quick question

Paul tells the church to owe nothing to anyone, with one exception.

What is the one debt Paul says we should always owe?

The Day Is Near

A Roman soldier’s helmet, shield, belt and sword laid out on a wooden bench by an open doorway as the first light of dawn falls on them.

And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

0:18

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ

Romans 13:14

Pray

Dressed for the day

“The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near.” Ask God to wake you up to that today. Name one of the “deeds of darkness” you need to lay aside, and ask Him to help you “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ” in its place.

You’ve experienced

Romans 13

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A verse to carry with you

Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

Romans 13:14

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