ROMANS CHAPTER 13

OBSERVATION STAGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The purpose of the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the normative rules of language, context and logic which limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Romans. This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.

Remember that something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in view.

*** EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 12 ***

IN VIEW OF GOD'S MERCY BESTOWED UPON THEM, PAUL AUTHORITATIVELY EXHORTS GENTILES WHO ARE FELLOW BELIEVERS, TO OFFER THEIR BODIES - THEIR THOUGHTS, WORDS & DEEDS - AS A LIVING / DAILY SACRIFICE, HOLY AND PLEASING TO GOD AS THEIR SPIRITUAL ACT OF WORSHIP

*** END OF EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 12 ***

I) [Ro 13:1-5]:

A) LET EVERY SOUL = EVERY PERSON BE SUBJECT TO GOVERNING AUTHORITIES. SINCE ALL AUTHORITIES ARE APPOINTED OVER MEN BY GOD ALONE, THEN WHOEVER RESISTS AUTHORITY RESISTS THE ORDINANCE / THE AUTHORITY OF GOD HIMSELF AND BRINGS GOD'S JUDGMENT UPON HIMSELF

B) INDIVIDUALS WHO DO RIGHT BY SUBMITTING TO THE AUTHORITY OF THEIR RULERS WITH A GODLY CONSCIENCE - FREE FROM A MENTAL ATTITUDE OF REBELLIOUSNESS - (1) ARE PLACED UNDER THE LORD'S PROTECTION, (2) ARE IN A POSITION TO BE FREE FROM FEARING THOSE IN AUTHORITY AND (3) WILL BE COMMENDED BY THEM

RULERS HOLD NO TERROR FOR SUBMISSIVE INDIVIDUALS BUT FOR THOSE WHO DO EVIL BY RESISTING THEIR AUTHORITY. SINCE RULERS ARE GOD'S SERVANTS WHO BEAR THE SWORD AS AVENGERS TO EXECUTE GOD'S WRATH ON THOSE WHO PRACTICE EVIL, THEN ONE MUST BE SUBJECT TO ONES RULERS NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL OF GOD'S WRATH BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE CONSCIENCE GOD HAS PROVIDED WITHIN THEM

C) BELIEVERS ARE ENDOWED BY GOD WITH A CONSCIENCE: A CONSCIOUS UNDERSTANDING AND MENTAL IMPETUS TO CHOOSE TO OBEY GOD - TO CONSCIOUSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND SUBMIT TO THE LORD'S DESIGNATED GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY OVER THEM

D) PEOPLE RECEIVE FROM GOD THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT THAT THEY DESERVE - THAT REFLECTS THEIR CHARACTER - THAT MIRRORS THEIR RESPONSE TO THEIR GOD GIVEN CONSCIENCE. IN ORDER TO BE BLESSED BY GOD WITH A GODLY RULING AUTHORITY, THE PEOPLES' ACTIONS AND RESPONSES TO THEIR CONSCIENCES MUST LARGELY BE GODLY AND FREE FROM REFLECTING AN UNWILLINGNESS TO SUBMIT TO GOVERNMENTAL RULERS EVEN WHEN THE RULERS ARE EVIL, INEPT OR CORRUPT

E) GOD IS A HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS GOD WHO DOES NOT CONTRADICT HIMSELF BY COMMANDING RULERS OR BELIEVERS TO ISSUE OR OBEY UNRIGHTEOUS COMMANDS RESPECTIVELY. SO THE BELIEVER IS TO REFUSE TO OBEY COMMANDS THAT VIOLATE THE HOLINESS OF GOD IN A MANNER WHICH STILL RESPECTS GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY

1) [Compare Ro 6:13 ]:

2) [Compare Ro 8:28]:

II) [Ro 13:6-7]:

A) GOVERNMENTAL RULERS ARE GOD'S MINISTERS AND NO MATTER HOW UNWORTHY REQUIRE FINANCIAL SUPPORT BECAUSE THEY ARE APPOINTED BY GOD TO FUNCTION IN THEIR POSITION TO ATTEND TO THE PURPOSES OF GOD

III) [Ro 13:8-10]:

A) BELIEVERS ARE TO OWE NO ONE ANYTHING EXCEPT TO EXPRESS AGAPE / GODLY LOVE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER. A LIFESTYLE CHARACTERIZED BY AGAPE LOVE TOWARD OTHERS QUALIFIES AS FULFILLING THE RIGHTEOUS STANDARD OF THE LAW, I.E., RULES GOVERNING HUMAN CONDUCT - SPECIFICALLY THE MOSAIC LAW

**** EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 12 ****

A PARAMOUNT CHARACTERISTIC FOR BELIEVERS TO EXERCISE IS AGAPE / GODLY LOVE TOWARD OTHERS WHICH IS WITHOUT PRETENSE - A SELF-SACRIFICIAL REGARD FOR THE WELFARE OF ANOTHER - A REGARD WHICH NATURE IT IS TO ABHOR WHAT IS EVIL AND CLING TO WHAT IS GODLY

**** END OF EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 12 ****

1) [Compare Ro 8:3-4]:

2) [Compare Ro 12:1-2]:

IV) [Ro 13:11-14]:

A) BELIEVERS ARE TO OWE NO ONE ANYTHING EXCEPT TO EXPRESS AGAPE / GODLY LOVE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER. A LIFESTYLE CHARACTERIZED BY AGAPE LOVE TOWARD OTHERS QUALIFIES AS FULFILLING THE RIGHTEOUS STANDARD OF LAW, I.E., RULES GOVERNING HUMAN CONDUCT - SPECIFICALLY THE MOSAIC LAW. THE HOUR FOR BELIEVERS TO AWAKEN FROM THEIR INACTIVE FAITH IS NOW, FOR THE COMPLETION OF THEIR SALVATION IS NEARER THAN WHEN THEY FIRST BELIEVED. THEY ARE TO LAY ASIDE THE DEEDS OF DARKNESS, (SIN), AND PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT, I.E., CLOTHE THEMSELVES WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST - HIS STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND NOT THINK ABOUT HOW TO GRATIFY THE DESIRES OF THE SINFUL NATURE

ROMANS CHAPTER 14