As we turn to Romans 13, Paul begins with addressing the people concerning their need to be good citizens and neighbors. Why? Didn’t Paul suffer at the hand of governments? Was it not a government who crucified Christ? Yes. Then why does Paul say, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation” (Romans 13:1-2).
Did not Paul preach even when the authorities told him not to? Certainly! Then what could he mean? Paul does not forget that all authority, (the good, the bad, and the ugly) are ordained by God, for God is Sovereign. It was God who placed Nebuchadnezzar on his throne. Ultimately, God awoke His people to their sin and lead Nebuchadnezzar to declare there was only one God. Note what he spoke in Daniel 4:37. “Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”
When Pilot said, “knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, ‘Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.’” (John 19:10-11).
Therefore, God’s plan marches forward and every leader of Government God has ordained to be there. “What others mean for evil, God can use for good.”
Good Citizens
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. (Romans 13:3-7).
Again, we ask, “What do you mean Paul?” Are those governments where Christians are killed better than no government? Even, the worst governments are better than anarchy. In 2010, we saw what happened in Ciudad Meir, Tamaulipas, Mexico when anarchy broke out and the law officials were all killed or run out of town. Beyond that, what those evil governments mean for evil; God can use for the advancement of His kingdom.
Stephen was martyred and the early church was tortured; but it was that which lead to the gospel being spread to all nations. Read Acts 7 and 8. Furthermore, I do believe Stephen’s death and Paul’s part in it played a role in Paul’s heart being prepared to fall before Christ when he met him on the road to Damascus.
So, how are we good citizens and still worship God?
Peter, Stephen, Paul, John and all the early church exemplified what it means to be good citizens and neighbors; while never compromising on the truth of the gospel message. You must repent and accept Jesus as Your Lord to be saved. There is no other way.
Therefore, we are to be good citizens; yet, we are to stand for Christ. If that means we go to jail, we go to jail. When the decree came that no one was to pray openly, Daniel did not run to hide. Instead he flung the windows open and bowed low to pray to God.
When Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego heard the decree to bow before the golden shrine of Nebuchadnezzar, they did not. Neither did they riot. They submitted to the penalty of the law. As, they told the King. “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Daniel 3:16-18
We are to fight with our only offensive weapon, our sword of truth. This is to be wielded by the Holy Spirit within us as we are instructed in Ephesians 6. Verse 17 says, “take …the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”. Or 1 Peter 3:15 says, Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
Or Good Neighbors
Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:8-10.
This takes us back to “Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil and cling to what is good.” Romans 12:17 (NET).
If my greater concern is the salvation of my neighbors; then, I MUST live a life that exemplifies Christ. I must love their soul; but never be afraid to confront their sin gently, humbly. Remembering the mire from which God saved me, I must tell them the truth of their sin and their need for Christ. For without that, how will they ever repent? And without repentance there is no remission of sin. “Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-48).
A Good Citizen and Neighbor. Why?
“11 And do this[k] because we know[l] the time, that it is already the hour for us to awake from sleep, for our salvation is now nearer than when we became believers. 12 The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near. So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light. 13 Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy. 14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires. Romans 13: 11-14 (NET).
Christ is coming again and today is closer to that glorious truth than was yesterday. Oh, no I do not know the day or the hour. However, in the scheme of eternity, the night has advanced toward dawn. This life, these few years which are as a vapor are nothing compared to eternity.
So, my question is: Do you know Christ as your Savior and Lord? If not, I bid you come. If you do, I urge you to realize the urgency of spreading the gospel message. That is why Christians must be a good citizens and neighbors, that we may present Christ to others.
The night has advanced toward the dawn; the day is near. So, then we must lay aside the works of darkness and put on the weapons of light. Are you more concerned with today’s pleasure? Or fulfilling your lust filled desires than the eternity of those around you? “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14).
Concluding Thought
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:14-16). You, sleeping Christians WAKE UP! For those of you who are spiritually dead, come humbly, repentantly to Jesus and live.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2019
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