Paul is urging those of us in Christ to change the way we live. We don't belong to the darkness any longer. The sun is coming up. It's time for us to leave behind the works and darkness and live as if we're standing in the light.
In Romans 13:11-14, Paul tells us that the time of our salvation is rapidly approaching. He urges us to lead a life of integrity, where we clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and abandon our desire to satisfy our sinful nature.
Settings. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
If there is a potential situation that could provide a chance for us to indulge in our sinful and fleshly desires, we should not engage or go near that situation. Instead, we should put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Traditionally the way people have interpreted Romans 13, one to seven is that we should obey the government in so far as we can and not disobey God. That we should not be troublemakers for the government in any kind of unnecessary sense.
The love that believers express is a weapon against the darkness and the flesh as the community moves together towards the day of salvation. The debt of love can never be settled because we grow up into the salvation that is ours in Christ by loving our neighbor through the work of the Spirit.
NLT The authorities are God's servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.
Literally, this would read: "Therefore, let us not judge one another any longer, but rather judge to never put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother." In a sense Paul is saying that if you are going to judge, judge to never put a hindrance in your brother's way. Stop judging one another.
13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.
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Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.
Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?
Casting your anxiety on God means trusting him for handling this specific situation. If you believe that he cares (which is what the promise says), and believe that he is God, then your fears will be lifted. The Connection with Prayer.
In Romans 14, Paul is trying to teach Christians to stop judging each other regarding secondary matters of religious practice about food and holy days. Paul is talking to committed disciples and he told them to focus on peace, upbuilding and avoiding quarrels.
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. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness. . . . To put on the armor of light is to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the light and life of the world.
Jesus came not to be served but to serve. Through his service we are declared innocent of our sins. Now, as the recipients of Jesus' saving service, let us decide never to judge and always to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us decide “to pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”
Romans 13 is a charge to clothe ourselves with Christ Jesus and live as His children in this present world. We are to submit to authorities and to pay respect where it is due. We are to wake up and serve the Lord out of love by showing others the light of the gospel.
13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
Context Summary
Generally speaking, human government serves to rein in and punish those who do evil. Governments do this on God's behalf. Christians must pay their taxes to support this work God is doing. In addition, those in Christ owe respect and honor to the authorities that God has put in place.
So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Verse 12 appeals to the necessity of judging ourselves now in the light of the fact that God will review our case at the judgment seat. We should not sit in judgment on others; rather, we need to judge ourselves.
Paul's advice to the strong is simple: when the exercise of your legitimate liberty emboldens the weak to violate his conscience, you must defer to his interests and refrain from what would otherwise be permissible for you to do.
ESV Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. NIV Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.
For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
That's exactly what Romans 13:1–4 says, and it's instituted by God for a reason. That reason basically, to summarize, is to promote good for people and to protect people against evil.
Romans 13:5: “Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake.” Paul means that we should be subject to our government not only because we fear punishment if we break the law, but also because we fear God, who knows our hearts.