Week 7 – Submission to Authorities

Jul 16
5 min read

Romans 13:1-7

Tonight, as we continue our discussion of living out the whole Gospel, we must look at the act of submission. Back in June this year, I discussed the act of letting go and surrendering to God in a previous Debbie Mama’s Place.

If you didn’t catch it, go back and watch it after this video. It will help you to recognize your need to submit to God first with a few tips on how to do just that.

Somehow, being born with red hair means you are a strong-willed child. You are labeled stubborn, you lack the ability to pay attention, and you are completely disobedient to your parents and all adults in general!

Well, I was one of those so-labeled kids. I had my own mind, my own way, my own desires, and nothing was going to stop me from getting my way. So much so that I often found myself in trouble with mom and dad. I even labeled myself a rebel for decades!

But, somewhere down the road (and it was a long, long road lemme tell you), I decided to submit my will to the authorities over me. When I did right and followed the rules, I didn’t get into trouble. I found the rebellious natural Debbie died, and the spirit-filled Debbie came to life. I made the conscious CHOICE to submit.

Now, since we just discussed the issue of letting go and surrendering to God just a few months ago, I want to use this time to focus on whom God has given authority and how we, as his children, should act toward them.

What is submission?

Submission means giving someone else control over you, your things, your family, your money, your choices, and more, for example. You do it all the time in your everyday life without ever thinking about it.

When I’m driving, I submit to other drivers by allowing them to come into my lane. As an American, I submit to the government by following the established laws. As I’m working, I submit to my boss when he brings more work in for me to complete. As a student, I submit to the teacher’s syllabus for the semester and complete the assigned schoolwork.

No matter what, however, I still have a choice in all those things. But, every decision has a consequence – whether good or bad. Driving – if you don’t let the other car in, you have an accident with them. Work – if you don’t do the assignment from your boss, you get fired. Government – if you don’t follow the laws, you get arrested. School – if you don’t do schoolwork, you flunk out. Similarly, when you make the choice to do the opposite, good things happen.

Paul takes a little time in his letter to the Roman church to discuss how we are to submit to these authorities. Let’s take a look at the first seven verses in Chapter 13.

“Everyone must submit themselves to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.

The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

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.

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

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

I’m not about to get into the subject of politics, so don’t turn me off too quickly. But, I am going to talk about real-life, whole-Gospel living. Many of you will be offended by the mere fact that I am telling you to submit to anyone. If so, be offended!

But don’t turn away from the truth of God’s Word. If you received the message and believed in Jesus Christ, you must break the notion that you have the right to live autonomously. Am I meddling yet? Yes, yes, I think I am…but hear me,

To fully live out the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ, you need to KNOW the whole Gospel; that it includes submission to governing authorities.

Paul makes sure to let the Roman church know that God placed these people in authority over everyone. How crazy is that to think that God chooses the men and women we are to submit to in our governments? But it’s true! There’s no denying what Romans 13:1 says.

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

These authorities are considered:

· Rulers

· Servants

· Judges

· Agents of wrath

Yikes! People God puts in positions of authority have a lot of power and responsibility. But, it’s not just those in the government who have this God-given authority. If you look closer at verse one, you’ll see that it states, “…submit themselves to the governing authorities.” Who governs?

People like:

· The President of the country

· The principal of the school

· The board of directors

· The Police Chief

· Your Boss

· Your teacher

· Your spouse?

· Your parents (no matter how old you are, btw!)

· Your pastor – oh yes, her too!

This list can and does go on. God puts them in these positions of authority (and sometimes they abuse it, I know), but we are still to submit to them. Why you ask?

Well, I’m glad you asked!

Paul writes in 13:5 that “therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.” He also writes in verse two that “Consequently, those who rebel against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”

Conclusion

So, it’s a good thing to let go of your individuality and autonomy and submit to governing authorities. By doing so, you are submitting to God and finding freedom from the fear of those who are in charge. You are fully trusting that God knows what he is doing.

I never said it was easy! But by confessing the sin of rebellion before God, he offers you the strength you need to have peace. Submitting to governing authorities shows the world that Jesus is in charge of your life. You are publicly living out the whole Gospel.

It opens avenues for you to walk with the weak, which is what we’ll discuss next week, the final week in Romans.

Start submitting to God by submitting to all types of governing authorities.

Week 7