Romans 13:13-14 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.Jesus is “the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man” (John 1:9), for he is God who “is light, and in Him there is no darkn...

Romans 13:11-12 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.           In view of the Christian’s command to love his neighbor as the fruit of his salvation (not the root of...

Romans 13:8b-10 …he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.            Having concluded...

Romans 13:8b …love one another. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.Paul’s context of loving one another was originally introduced in 12:9, and although monetary debts are always to be paid (13:6-7), the debt of love for one another is the immediate context, a debt that is perpetually owed. Jesus told His disciples, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even ...

Romans 13:8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another.The Bible is not a book full of random verses instructing people to do and not do certain things. “Owe nothing to anyone,” for example, if taken out of context, might lead some to believe that Christians should never have a stitch of debt at any time for any reason. But in reality, neither the OT nor the NT categorically forbids borrowin...

Romans 13:6-7 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.In v. 6 Paul says that governing authorities are “servants” (Gr. leitourgos) of God. This term for “servant” is a different word than the one translated t...

Romans 13:3-5 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5 ...

Romans 13:2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.So what if our government went Nazi and promoted the slaughter of innocent people? How might Romans 13 then be interpreted? Did not the Jewish midwives defy the pharaoh to preserve Hebrew male babies when they were born? They “feared God, and did not...

Romans 13:1b For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.Two reasons to obey governing authorities can be seen in Romans 13:1. First, the Apostle Paul, speaking for God, commands it. So, to follow a command of God is to worship God—offering oneself as a living sacrifice (12:1). Second, all governing authorities exist by God’s consent and are “established...

Romans 13:1a Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities.Paul knew a little something about the topic of civil obedience. On one occasion, after being falsely accused of breaking the law and being put into the Philippian prison, instead of moaning about the injustice of it all, he and his companion Silas spent their night “praying and singing hymns of praise to God” (Acts 16:2...

Romans 12:19-21 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.           In Romans 12:19-21 Paul conti...

Romans 12:14-18 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depend...

Romans 12:10-13 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.Christians offering themselves to God as living sacrifices (12:1) both love and hate—havi...

Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.As every Christian knows, acting in accordance with one’s faith in every situation life gives is not easy. Behavior that glories Christ is not necessarily natural, but since believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, it is of course attainable. The Christian, having been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ, now has the ...

Romans 12:6, 8 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly… 8 he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.               A fifth spiritual gift given by God to the Church for those who would offer themselves to Him as living sacrifices is “he who gives” (Gr. metadidōmi), or the...