Authority & Responsibility (11/01/24)

Authority and individual responsibility

11/2/2024

Every [a]person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except [b]from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore [c]whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

-Romans 13:1-2 (NASB)

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Authority

Based on the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the word "authority" has four particular definitions, please refer back to the definition(s) for this Bible study section. Read the following passage and verses as we contemplate how authority works hand-in-hand with God's law and justice:

Romans 13 begins with pointing out that every soul is subject to governing authority and that all authority is established by God. Jesus proclaims that all authority is given to him in Matthew 28:18 and Isaiah 9:6-7 explains prophetically what will happen when the government rests on Christ's shoulder. Yet, I am sure many of us are looking around our environment and saying, where is this justice and the righteousness of Jesus' expanding kingdom around us. The reason for this failure to see such justice and righteousness is that many of us fail to pick up our cross daily (Matthew 16:24-26) or, said another way, to take responsibility in choosing to obey God's Law.

Responsibility

Jesus tasks his followers in Matthew 28:19-20 to "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to [h]follow all that I commanded you. In Romans 13:2-14, Paul exemplifies two of the three parts of Jesus' commission. He "makes disciples of" the Roman Empire (both Jew and Gentile) and teaches the people to follow all that Jesus' commanded them (i.e. Romans 13:8-10, loving your neighbor as yourself; Romans 13:2, submitting to authority; and Matthew 16:24/Romans 13:13-14, dying to self to have Christ with you).

Authority & Responsibility Questions

  1. Which definition of authority is being discussed in Romans 13?

  2. If the "ruler"/"servant of God" is established in that position of authority by God and such person resists God's laws, what do you believe the consequences would be for that person? Others?

  3. Should others submit to such a ruler's authority? Why or why not?

  4. Do you think the Lord would remove such a person's authority, but he could remain in the position of authority? Can you think of any real life examples?

Prayer: We pray for rulers in our nation who are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. We ask they exemplify the agape love of Jesus, so that there will be no end to the increase of God's government or of peace on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. In Jesus' name. Amen.