Welcome to Thus Says the Prophets!
Welcome to Thus Says the Prophets!
Romans 13:
Demanding Resistance Not Apathy!
Demanding Resistance Not Apathy!
- Romans 13:1 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.
MANY Nicean Christians seemingly LOVE to take the Bible out of context, to pick and choose the verses they will accept as instructive and those they will reject. This verse, taken alone, says all governments (good and bad by implication) are authorized by God and should be obeyed. BUT this chapter only begins here.
- 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Taken alone this verse seems to forbid disobedience and resistance but again, keep reading!
- 3 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:
4 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.
This verse is important for understanding this chapter. Rulers -- the concept of human government -- is the Will of God. The system of Human governments were decreed by God for the human family when Noah left the ark. At that point HaShem, the God of Israel, declared the Seven Noahide Laws. I discuss these HERE. The PURPOSE of human government is to maintain these seven laws and whatever laws are necessary to enforce these:
The Noahide Laws:
- 1. Worship Only HaShem
2. Honor and Praise HaShem
3. Respect and Protect Human Life
4. Respect the Family
5. Respect the Rights and Properties of Others
6. Respect the Sanctity of all Life
7. Pursue Justice
When governments uphold these seven laws they are the ministers of God.
When they violate these seven laws they are the enemies of God.
Disobeying laws that enforce these Seven is rebellion against God, not just ones human rulers.
However as the Apostles boldly declared to their corrupt government officials:
- "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).
- 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
Wherefore -- because the rulers act as God's ministers -- obey them not only out of fear of punishment but as service to God. IF the rulers do use their power to serve the Seven Noahide Laws the Apostles say we are to refuse to obey them!
- 6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
See this? Obey and honor those leaders to whom it is due, to those who are acting as ministers as God in executing God's Will for the good of humanity. Do not however render service and honor to those who do not deserve it.
- 8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
All rulers are but "men" and we owe unrighteous men NOTHING, be they kings or paupers.
- 9 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.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
"... cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."
This is NOT apathy! This is Standing against the Darkness!
- 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
"But put ye on..." (enduo in the orginal) which means to "sink into" as in submerging oneself into the armor of God, the armor of Light.
This is NOT apathy! This is a call to arms! WHEN the government is in subjection to the Will of God we are to submit as a service unto God. When they rebel against God we commanded to arm ourselves in righteousness and resist the enemies of God!
Those Gentiles who are willing to joint the Great Multitude and those Jews who are chosen by HaShem to serve as members of the 144,000 righteous Jews need to decide NOW that they are ready to Stand! Even now we should be clothing ourselves in the armor of Light!
- Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
Having done all to stand STAND!
- STAND!
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