Romans - Chapter 13

Love fulfills the Law

Romans – Chapter 13

Review

1. What was Chapter 1 about?

1. Gospel
2. Discusses how bad the Gentiles are (remember: “Greeks and barbarians”)?

2. What’s Chapter 2 about?
1. Judgment – God’s Judgment falls on all.
2. Jews aren’t much better than the Gentiles from Chapter 1
3. Chapter 3?
1. Justification
2. Faith through Salvation, not works
3. Works are THE FRUIT of Salvation through Faith (in Jesus Christ)
4. Chapter 4?
1. Faith
2. …Of their fathers (Abraham and David)
3. Shouldn’t be a new concept for them.
5. Chapter 5?
1. Result of Justification
2. We receive benefits.  Jesus is contrasted (mostly) with Adam
6. Chapter 6?
1. Life and Death – Believer’s Style
2. Alive in Christ, dead to sin.
7. Chapter 7?
1. Our Motivation – The Law motivates by Fear.  God-followers are motivated by Love.
8. Chapter 8?
1. Our Position with God in the Spirit.
9. Chapter 9?
1. This is God’s show.  He can, He does, He will…just because He wants to…just because He’s God.
2. Israel’s past
10. Chapter 10?
1. Salvation, how?
2. Israel’s present
11. Chapter 11?
1. God’s Grace – our ticket, Israel’s restoration
2. Israel’s future
12. Chapter 12?
1. Our Sacrifice – Our Response(s)

Introduction

1. What’s your opinion of Romans (thus far)?  Easy, hard, straightforward, confusing, basic, advanced, etc?
2. How did you all do this week reading Romans?
3. What is your opinion of this chapter?  Easy or lots of questions, difficult and convoluted?
1. At first pass, seems like the first half isn’t important (about gov’t).  But once I reread and meditated on it, I realized that even our most despised government leaders are placed there and empowered by God.
2. It’s also difficult to see how/why the two sections (gov’t and “neighbors) are in the same chapter.  Yes, Paul didn’t write it that way, but our Bible-fathers that put it together surely had a reason.  It just kinda escapes me now.
4. Can you group any of these chapters together?
1. 1-5 deal with justification / conversion, ie “getting” saved
2. 6-8 deal with sanctification - “living” saved.
3. Chapters 1-3:20 deal primarily with God.
4. Chapters 3:21-7 deal primarily with Jesus Christ.
5. Chapter 8 - introduces the Holy Spirit
6. Chapter 9 – talks about God’s Authority and the history of Israel
7. Chapter 10 – talks about God’s Mercy and the present Israel
8. Chapter 11 - Israel’s future and God’s grace
9. Chapter 12 – Start the “sanctification” process.  How to live as a Christian.  Overview of all the relationships involved.
10. Chapter 13 – relationships of/to Government and “neighbors”
5. J. Vernon McGee says “Romans chapters 1-8 are doctrinal.  Romans chapters 9-11 are dispensational.  Romans chapters 12-16 are duty.  The first eight chapters of Romans emphasize faith.  Chapters 9-11 emphasize hope.  Chapters 12-16 emphasize love.  There is another way to view Romans: the first section deals with salvation; the second section with segregation; and the last section with service.” (Thru the Bible, vol. 4 pp 708).

Lesson

1. vv. 1-7 [READ – Rom 13:1-7]
1. v 1 - “There is no authority except from God” – God places every government leader.  Elections are not by chance, fate, or public whim.  They are the result of God’s choosing.  Presidential Vote 2000 was not a surprise, fiasco, illegal, or “unknown”, except by us.  God knew the whole time.
2. V 2-3 – if every government is established by God, then if you rebel against that government, you rebel against God.
3. v 4

                                                               i.      “minister”  This word is the equivalent of “deacon, teacher, etc”.

                                                             ii.      They are God’s servant.  They bear a sword.

4. V 5 – obey not just because it costs you something if you get caught, but for your conscience.
5. V 6-7 – Pay your taxes.  Show your respect.  Honor our leaders…because they devote themselves to this position and are servants of God!

                                                               i.      Do you consider some political leaders as NOT (clearly) being servants of God?

6. So, we’re supposed to submit to our government.  How?

                                                               i.      Honor them, respect them, pay our taxes, obey the law (not just out of fear, but for clear conscience.), etc.

7. What happens if we do not submit to our government?

                                                               i.      Receive condemnation.

                                                             ii.      We live in fear of authority.

                                                            iii.      We receive wrath via the sword God gave the government.

                                                            iv.      We’ll have a conflicted conscience.

8. What happens if we DO submit to our government?

                                                               i.      We have no fear of authority.

                                                             ii.      We receive praise from “authority”.

                                                            iii.      We’ll be afraid of the consequences (wrath, sword, etc)

                                                            iv.      We’ll have a clear conscience.

                                                             v.      We’ll have to pay taxes…  :)

9. Why is this message here?  What did the Jews think of this idea?

                                                               i.      They hated the Roman Empire.  They considered themselves too good to be “subjects” of anyone.

                                                             ii.      They also saw laws (THE Law) as achievements to be had, not something to live subjected to.  It was a paradigm shift for them to consider “obeying” and not “achieving”.

2. vv. 8-10 [READ – Rom 13:8-10]
1. Why?  Why is this here?  How does it relate or transition to/from the previous verses?

                                                               i.      In my opinion, he’s stating that you don’t have to always be mindful of laws, rules, regulations, process, procedure, etc.  Love and the rest will be taken care of.

                                                             ii.      The main point of this verse has nothing to do with “owing”.  Yes, folks use this verse to talk about not owing things from cups of sugar to money, but I think that’s beside the point.

2. Paul states that “he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled THE law”.  Really?  Explain.

                                                               i.      Remember, the Law was “expanded” by Pharisees to include hundreds of things that were not central to the original Mosaic Law.  The Law has always been about love.  God’s love for us, how we (they) should act, etc.  Loving others fulfills the Mosaic Law and is central to everything discussed in God’s Word.

3. vv. 11-14 [READ – Rom 13:11-14]
1. v 11 – “This” references:

                                                               i.      Submit to government

                                                             ii.      Love others…

2. Why does Paul paint this “alarm clock” picture?  Time’s running out, wake up, etc…

                                                               i.      Because we don’t know when we’ll die nor when Christ will return.  We need to be prepared, ready for our meeting under either circumstance.

Summary

1. What’s your key verse?
1. v 10
2. Based on what you know about Ch. 13 and Ch. 12, doesn’t Ch. 13 seem to be a continuation of Ch. 12?
1. If so, why did the smart guys break up these seemingly related topics into two chapters?
3. How do you feel about what your attitude and responsibility is to be towards our government officials?
1. It’s pretty easy for GWB, Geo. Washington, Reagan, Ashcroft, etc.
2. Pretty hard to respect Clinton, Ted (or any) Kennedy, etc
3. Do you feel that this chapter means “our” government officials or ALL government officials?  (ie, Castro, Hussein…)
4. Why did Paul do the “wake up” routine when he did?  Was he wrong?  Christ hasn’t returned yet, so it wasn’t THAT close?  Is that the point?
1. No.  The point is that we don’t know when.
2. It’s even more relevant now 2000 years after Paul said it.
5. What’s the relationship between the two “blocks” in this chapter?
6. What do you think now of this Chapter?
1. Short and seems like there’s not much there are first glance, but it’s actually pretty deep.

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