Christian Citizenship - Part One, The State. (Romans 13: 1-7)

Episode Summary: In this episode on Christian citizenship, we explore Romans 13:1–7, the most comprehensive New Testament passage on a believer's relationship to government. Paul makes a compelling case that governing authorities are ordained by God and that submission to them is a form of submission to God's providential order. We unpack what it means to live faithfully under human governments—just or unjust—and how our ultimate allegiance to God's authority informs our public and civic responsibilities.

Main Themes:

• The universal call for Christians to submit to governing authorities (v.1)
• Government's divine institution and God's sovereignty over human rulers (v.1–2)
• Resistance to government as resistance to God (v.2)
• Government as God's servant to commend good and punish evil (v.3–4)
• The Christian's dual motive for obedience: conscience and fear of judgment (v.5)
• The legitimacy of state authority in collecting taxes and maintaining order (v.6–7)

Key Points:

• Submission to government is grounded in submission to God, not in the moral merit of the state itself.
• All authority, including governmental, is ultimately from God—even flawed or unjust rulers exist by God's sovereign allowance.
• Christians should be known for their integrity, lawfulness, and peaceable conduct within society.
• The government bears the sword not in vain—it has the God-given right and responsibility to administer justice.
• Obedience to the state does not override our obedience to God, but it expresses our trust in God's providence.

Applications for Today:

• Christians must grapple with the tension of living as citizens of heaven and residents of earthly nations.
• Our critique of government must always be tempered by the recognition of God's hand in history.
• Active, respectful civic engagement is part of our Christian witness.
• We must resist lawlessness and chaos, even as we pursue justice and righteousness.

Questions for Reflection:

1. How does recognizing God’s sovereignty over government change your attitude toward political authorities?
2. Are there limits to Christian submission to the state? When and how should believers resist?
3. In what ways can Christians be faithful citizens without compromising their ultimate loyalty to Christ?

Further Reading:

• Daniel 4:17 — God's sovereignty over human kingdoms
• Acts 25–28 — Paul's respectful engagement with Roman authority
• Matthew 22:15–22 — Jesus on rendering to Caesar and to God

Next Episode: In Part Two, we will explore the boundaries of submission—when governments command what God forbids or forbid what God commands. How should believers respond when earthly and heavenly authority collide?

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Transcript

Christian Citizenship - Part One, The State.  (Romans 13: 1-7)

 Transcript:

What is your responsibility as  a husband? What is your responsibility as  a wife? What is my responsibility as  a parent? Beyond that, you might ask questions like, what is my responsibility, my Christian responsibility,  as an employer or as an employee or as a neighbour? 

Eventually, if you start asking those kinds of questions, you will get around  to asking, What is my responsibility as a citizen of the state? What should my attitude be toward government? What should my responsibility  be? What are my duties as a Christian citizen? 

You might ask something like, are my attitudes, responsibilities, and duties different to someone who doesn’t hold to the tenants of the Christian faith? Is my motive different toward  the state as would be the motive of someone that didn't know Jesus  Christ? 

If you start searching the scriptures  to find the answers to those kinds of questions, you will  eventually find yourself in the book of Romans. In Romans chapter 13, we have the most extended passage in all of the New Testament  on a Christian's relationship to government.

So today we will turn to Romans chapter 13 to find the answers to some of  these questions I have just asked….

It's very appropriate that Romans  would contain these kinds of instructions Because you see, Rome was the Whitehall or the Washington, D.C. of the first century. 

Furthermore,  the subject of the Book of Romans is righteousness. And in discussing  our relationship to government, Paul has some things to say about righteousness in terms of what the government should do and  our right relationship to government. 

If you want to understand what your role and responsibility is as a Christian living under the authority of any government—whether just or unjust—there is no better place to begin than Romans chapter 13.

This passage stands as the clearest and most direct instruction in all the New Testament on how believers are to relate to the state. Here, Paul sets before us not just a theological principle, but a practical call to obedience in the complex arena of civic life.

As we step into this chapter, we immediately sense a shift in subject. 

At the end of chapter 12, Paul was speaking to us about love—love that is sincere, love that blesses enemies, love that refuses to take vengeance into its own hands. And then, without pause or transition, he opens chapter 13 with these striking words: " Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities

It’s abrupt, but perhaps not disconnected. Some have suggested Paul is continuing his thought on vengeance: reminding us that vengeance belongs to God, and one way God administers justice in the world is through the governing powers. Others see a link between this and the call to love—that submitting to those in authority is, in fact, an expression of love for neighbour and society.

Either way, the shift is clear. Paul now turns his attention from personal relationships to public order—from how we treat one another to how we live under the rule of law.

And the heart of what he says is simple, even if its implications are anything but: Let every person submit to the governing authorities.

Please notice two important things about that command.

First, it is universal, Paul says, "everyone,". That means this isn’t a word just for citizens or for a privileged few. In the Roman Empire of Paul’s day, society was rigidly divided: there were slaves, who had no rights at all; there were the common people, who bore the tax burden; and there were the elite—Roman citizens, who enjoyed many privileges.

Paul is saying that regardless of your station, regardless of your social rank or political status, if you are in Christ, you are called to submit to the governing authorities.

This is not conditional upon how just or competent the leaders are. It is not an optional ethic for those who happen to agree with the policies of the day. It is the baseline Christian posture toward the state: humble submission.

But Paul doesn’t leave it at that. He moves quickly to explain why this command matters so much. From verses 1 through 5, he gives us reasons—deep, theological reasons—that go to the very foundation of how we understand authority in the world.

The first reason is this: government—any government that exists—is there because God allowed it. Look again at verse 1:

“For there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

This is not some isolated teaching; it's a theme that runs through all of Scripture. One of the clearest expressions of it is seen in the book of Daniel.

Turn for a moment to Daniel chapter 4, verse 17. This is what the prophet writes: “The Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will and sets over it the lowliest of men.” This is not an obscure verse. It's a refrain we see throughout the book of Daniel—that the rise and fall of kings and empires is not ultimately determined by military power or political manoeuvring, but by the sovereign hand of God.

He lifts up rulers, and He casts them down.

And Paul is saying the same thing here. That ruler, that government under which you live—whether just or unjust, wise or foolish—exists by divine appointment.

Now that may raise hard questions for us, especially when we think of the Stalins and the Hitlers of history. We’ll wrestle with that in a moment. But Paul’s first and strongest point is clear: our submission to authority is grounded in our submission to God. To resist the authority that God has ordained is, Paul says in verse 2, to resist God Himself.

He even uses two different Greek words to describe resistance. One has the sense of taking up arms—outright rebellion. The other is more subtle—simply setting yourself against, withholding allegiance, undermining authority. In either case, resistance is framed as a spiritual offense, not just a civic one.

This is a hard word. It raises challenging questions. But it also offers us a vision of profound order and purpose in what often feels like a chaotic and unjust world. 

So, before we rush in to deal with those questions that rise out of this, let’s sit with this truth for a moment:

The God who rules the heavens also rules the nations. He is not absent from the structures of power. He is not surprised by who sits on earthly thrones. And he calls us, as ultimately citizens of heaven and sojourners on earth, to live lives of humble obedience—even in the face of imperfect rulers—because behind every earthly throne, there stands the throne of God.

Paul then writes in verse 2, 

Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”

So, government isn’t merely a human invention — it’s something God himself has established. That doesn’t mean every ruler who comes to power is personally chosen by God in a moral or spiritual sense. Paul isn’t suggesting that every government decision or regime has God’s blessing. Rather, the point is that the concept of government — of order, the rule of law, public justice — was God-ordained.

As Scripture says elsewhere, God raises up kings and brings them down. But Paul’s focus here is on the institution of government, not individual governments or leaders.

He’s emphasizing that just because some governments act wickedly or fall short of God's standards doesn’t mean the institution itself is corrupt or optional for Christians.

Take marriage, for example. God instituted marriage, but some marriages are tragic and abusive. That doesn’t invalidate marriage as an institution, nor does it remove our responsibility to honour it.

The same applies to government. Just because it's been mishandled doesn’t mean it should be rejected. As a principle In fact, Scripture consistently calls Christians to remain faithful in their responsibilities even when others fail theirs.

To put it another way: Bad government is still better than no government at all. We can easily fixate on the evils that bad governments commit and conclude we’re free to reject or resist them altogether. But total absence of government is anarchy which leads to even greater suffering.

Chaos is often worse than flawed order.

And this isn’t merely a theoretical argument. Jesus Christ himself submitted to the authority of the Roman government under Pontius Pilate, even though he was treated with gross injustice.

The Apostle Paul, too, was wrongly accused, unlawfully imprisoned for years in Caesarea, and eventually transported under Roman custody to Rome where Acts ends with him under house arrest.

Neither Jesus nor Paul resisted the institution of government, despite suffering under its corruption. They submitted to it — not out of weakness, but because they recognized its divine origin and purpose.

So, Paul’s primary argument is that we should submit to government because it is ordained by God.

But he gives us a second reason as well. In verse 3, he begins again with the word “for” — indicating a further reason: 

“For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”

(Romans 13: 4-5)

Paul here describes government as “God’s servant,” twice calling it his “agent.” That’s important language. Government exists not just to maintain order generally, but to carry out justice — to reward good and punish evil.

These verses make that twofold function of government clear: promoting what is good and punishing what is evil. That’s the biblical purpose of the state.

Paul goes further and says that the one in authority “does not bear the sword for no reason.” The sword here is not symbolic Paul is saying, has the divine authority to exercise that power in the service of justice. Not merely the permission, but the right — even the duty — to punish wrongdoing.

To summarize: Paul’s teaching here in Romans 13 is that Christians are to submit to government, not because it’s perfect or always just in its execution, but because it is an institution ordained by God. Government exists to uphold good and restrain evil — and we honour God by respecting the authority he has placed over us, even when that authority is imperfect.

So yes, we are under the law of Christ. But that doesn’t mean God has revoked the authority He gave to government. Under Christ, in the New Testament, the state still has that responsibility.

And Paul knew that. Remember the book of Acts? He’s arrested. He’s facing charges. He doesn't protest the government's right to prosecute him; he acknowledges it. He recognizes that right — not as a failure of grace, but as a part of God's order.

Now, while we're on the topic of government having the right to execute justice, let’s talk about war. Same principle. Not all wars are just. Not all wars are wise. But the same God who said, “You shall not murder,” also commanded His people to go to war at times.

The same God who ordained peace also ordained justice. The state has a responsibility to protect its people — and sometimes, that means going to war.

You might remember in Romans 12, Paul says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live at peace with all men.” That’s the goal. Peace. 

But let’s be honest — sometimes peace isn’t possible. Sometimes evil won’t be reasoned with. And when that happens, the government must act. It must protect. And it may have to fight.

So what’s Paul saying in Romans 13? He’s saying Christians are called to submit to the government. Not blindly. Not without thought. But with a recognition that this authority — this structure — has been ordained by God.

Why submit? Paul gives us three reasons.

First, theological. Because government is God’s institution. That’s verse 1. “There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

Second, Is practical. Because if you resist, there will be consequences. That’s verses 3 and 4. “Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good.” If you do wrong, you should be afraid. Because government bears the sword — and not in vain.

Third, and this is key — It’s personal. Verse 5:

“Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.”

In other words, submit not just because you're afraid of what might happen to you — but because you know it's right. Your conscience tells you so. You know God put that authority there, and you want to live with a clear conscience before Him.

And that brings us to one last observation — an important one.

If the government has the right to punish evil, then that means the government must have people to enforce that justice. Police. Soldiers. Officers of the law. People who carry out that responsibility. People who, as Paul says, are “God’s servants.” That’s the word used — same word we use for pastors. Ministers. 

In fact, in some countries, they still use that word — Minister of Justice. Minister of Défense.

In some countries they call the police “Peace Officers.” They aren’t just enforcing laws. They’re maintaining peace. That’s a God-given role. They’re in the ministry too — the ministry of justice.

So, the state bears the sword — to punish evil. It promotes peace. It is God’s servant. And we, as believers, are called to recognize that, respect that, and submit to that — not just to stay out of trouble, but because we know, deep down, it’s part of God's order.

This reminds me of an article I once read, where a man wrote anonymously to the tax office. He confessed, “Several years ago, I didn’t pay all the tax I owed. Enclosed is a cheque for £50. I hope that will settle things. But if I find I still can’t sleep at night, I’ll send the rest.”

Now, while that may raise a smile, Paul’s point in Romans 13 is actually quite serious. He says we should submit to the governing authorities—for conscience’s sake. That is, not just out of fear of punishment, but because it is the right thing to do. Because it honours God.

Then Paul gets very practical. In verses 6 and 7 he writes:

6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.

Here we are given two very straightforward responsibilities. First, pay your taxes. Second, give proper respect and honour to those in positions of authority.

It’s astonishing how realistic and grounded Scripture is. It even acknowledges that civil servants—yes, tax collectors and bureaucrats—are actually God’s ministers, devoting themselves to this very task. 

That’s strong language! Paul says they are attending to the work of governance. It may not always feel holy, but Scripture dignifies their role with divine purpose.

God gives them the authority—and yes, the right—to collect taxes in order to carry out their responsibilities. That takes people, and people must be paid. So, we render onto Ceaser what is due.

Even Jesus made this point. The only recorded time He supernaturally provided money for His disciples was—would you believe it? Was to pay their taxes.

Peter caught a fish, and in its mouth was the exact coin needed to settle the tax bill. It’s as if God was saying, "This matters. Pay what you owe." Paying taxes is part of obedience to God’s ordained order.

Then Paul says, “if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.” 

In other words, we are to show appropriate deference to all levels of authority—not just the highest offices, but all who serve in public roles: from presidents and prime ministers to local officials, police officers, and yes, even the health and safety inspector. 

We may disagree with policies or feel the burden of bureaucracy is to heavy, but our default attitude should be one of honour and respect.

We’ve all heard or maybe even told jokes about politicians or our local the tax office—“the Infernal Internal Revenue,” as one man called it. Some humour can lighten the mood but let’s be careful not to cross the line into cynicism or contempt. 

The institutions of government, flawed as they may be, still carry God’s delegated authority. That alone deserves our reverence.

The bottom line? Pay your taxes. Show respect. Honor the role, even if you struggle with the person. This is part of the Christian’s public witness. 

We are to be the kind of citizens whose submission to authority flows not merely from civic duty but from theological conviction.

But this raises a fair question: Is this command to submit absolute? Are there exceptions?

Yes, there are. Scripture allows for, and even commands, disobedience to earthly authority when that authority requires us to disobey God. 

As Peter said in Acts 5:29, “We must obey God rather than men.” So if the government commands what God forbids, or forbids what God commands, our allegiance must be to God.

Such cases are rare for most of us. But we must acknowledge their legitimacy.

Even so, the general principle remains: Don’t resist. Don’t rebel. Don’t stir up insurrection. Instead, adopt a posture of peaceable submission and humble obedience.

And if you’re struggling with that, here’s something to consider: Be grateful.

Just look around the world at regimes where injustice reigns and citizens have no voice. We should thank God for the privilege of living in a society where we have a vote, a voice, and recourse under the law.

“I buy petrol and pay the tax, thankful for the roads I can drive on. I climb a mountain or walk through a park, paid for by my taxes. I see a lighthouse, or a police car I should try and thank God for the institutions that keep us safe.”

The attitude Paul calls us to in Romans 13 is not blind compliance. Not uncritical loyalty. But humble submission—out of reverence for God, for the sake of conscience, and for the good of our society.

That’s the principle but tomorrow we will look at some specific example of what this means when the rubber of our heavily taxed car hits the road…..