What happens to those who resist governmental authority?
Scripture teaches that governing powers are ordained by God, so whoever resists governmental authority resists God's ordinance and brings condemnation upon himself. Yet believers are first responsible to live peaceably under government, resisting only when it commands something contrary to Christian experience and Scripture.
Les explains that the powers that be are ordained of God, and verse 2 says that whoever resists the power resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist receive condemnation. He acknowledges this raises questions about what if someday there is a completely totalitarian, ungodly government. Even so, he says the believer's first responsibility is to live peaceably under that government. The only place believers have the right to resist is when that government goes contrary to their Christian experience and to the commands of Scripture. Then they have every right to say, wait a minute, I cannot do that. Until then, they are to give themselves.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.