Resisting government authority is resisting what God has ordained, and it brings self-condemnation; from God's perspective, those who resist are in rebellion against His arrangement.
Paul writes in Romans 13:1-2 that every soul is to be subject to the higher powers because 'the powers that be are ordained of God.' Whoever resists the power resists God's ordinance and receives 'damnation' to himself. Les Feldick explains that government is there for our protection, and rulers are meant to be a terror to the criminal element, not to those who do good. Therefore an evil-doer has real reason to fear the government's sword.
Romans 13:1-2 — This is the direct biblical statement that government is God's ordinance and that resistance brings condemnation.
Romans 13:3-4 — This explains the ruler's God-given role and why evil-doers should be afraid of the governing authority.
Scripture is direct about the source and consequence of civil authority. Romans 13:1 says, '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.' The next verse gives the consequence: 'Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.' The Bible also tells us why rulers exist. Romans 13:3-4 says rulers are 'not a terror to good works, but to the evil,' and the ruler does not 'bear the sword in vain.' He is 'the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.' In other words, the government has God-given authority to punish those who do evil, and a lawbreaker is right to be afraid.
Les Feldick takes Romans 13 as the key New Testament passage on the role of government. He says the 'higher powers' are not God Himself but the civil authority over us, and no government exists except the one God has allowed to be placed there. Since government comes from God, Les says we are not to take advantage of it; rather, we are to recognize what a blessing good government is. On the question of resistance, Les comments directly on Romans 13:2: to 'resisteth the power' is to resist what God has ordained, and those who resist 'shall receive themselves condemnation.' He acknowledges this raises hard questions about totalitarian or ungodly governments, but he insists that first and foremost the believer is to live peaceably under government. The only right to resist, in his teaching, is when a government compels something contrary to our Christian experience and the commands of Scripture. Les also explains the purpose of government: rulers are to be a terror to the evil and criminal element, not to good works. Government is there for our protection and so we can pursue life; that protection is supported by taxes. In related teaching, he connects the rebellious attitude behind lawbreaking to the carnal mind, which is enmity against God and cannot be subject to His law.
Paul is not speaking of God in this phrase; he is speaking of civil government, the authority over us. Les Feldick stresses that there is no government except the one God puts there — 'the powers that be are ordained of God.' This is why Paul can command every soul to be subject to those authorities. Because the authority is God-ordained, resisting it is resisting God's arrangement.
Les Feldick says that if we someday had a completely totalitarian, ungodly government, the believer's first responsibility is still to live peaceably under it. He sees only one exception: believers have the right to resist when the government goes contrary to their Christian experience and to the commands of Scripture. In that case, a believer can say, 'I can't do that.' Otherwise, resistance brings the condemnation Romans 13:2 describes.
Scripture says rulers are not a terror to good works but to evil, and the ruler is God's minister to execute wrath on the one who does evil. Les Feldick puts it plainly: government is to be a terror to the evil element, to the criminal element. That is what government is for. Because of that, a person who breaks the law should be afraid of the authority — while a person doing good has no reason to fear it.
Les Feldick identifies the fallen human mind as the root of rebellion. The carnal or Adamic mind is enmity against God; it is not subject to God's law and cannot be. He observes that even when laws are clear, people reject them if they still want what the law forbids. That same rebellious mindset, Les teaches, makes people enemies of God and resistant to His authority, which is why people refuse to submit to the authorities God has put in place.
Government Ordained by God
Les explains that the 'higher powers' in Romans 13 are civil government, not God, and that no government exists except those God has ordained — so submission is required because God put them there.
Resistance Brings Self-Condemnation
Les directly comments on Romans 13:2, saying those who resist the government are resisting what God has ordained and receive condemnation; he says believers should live peaceably and resist only when government commands something against Scripture.
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And God's Word says that they're filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, in other words, I think that word means more than just plain immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, they'll argue over anything, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters. Isn't this awful? Like I said, I wouldn't dare tell anybody that this is what they are.
Christ in You — What Galatians 5 and Romans 8:10 Really Mean
Whereupon her temper flared, and she stamped her pretty little foot and said, I hate God. Well you see, that's just exactly what I've been talking about. People can keep old Adam under control, but when he's prodded, out it comes. And I thought that was the perfect example of what a lot of times we're up against.
Rulers Are a Terror to Evil
Les teaches that government exists to protect citizens and to be a terror to the criminal element, so lawbreakers should fear the ruler.
Why Even "Good People" Can't Escape God's Judgment — Romans 2
What's their future? The indignation of God, and His wrath. Now remember, God has never yet poured out His wrath. That's something that is still future, but when it comes, it's going to be beyond human comprehension. Well, come all the way down to verse 11. "...there is no respect of persons with God.
Rebellion Is Enmity Against God
Les says the carnal, Adamic mind is rebellious and therefore an enemy of God, showing that resistance to authority is rooted in rebellion against God.
Human Nature Rejects Law
Les illustrates that clear laws do not stop rebellion, because human nature wants what it wants; lost mankind rejects God's laws and cannot please God.
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.
This establishes that all civil authority ultimately comes from God, which is why resisting it is treated so seriously.
Romans 13:2: Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
This is the key verse answering what happens when people resist government authority — they resist God's ordinance and receive condemnation.
Romans 13:3: 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:
This explains that government is intended to protect those who do good and to frighten those who do evil.
Romans 13:4: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou doest 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 shows that rulers carry God-given authority to punish evildoers — the sword is not carried in vain.
Romans 8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
This reveals the rebellious root of the human heart that resists God's authority, including the government He has ordained.
Paul means that resisting the government is resisting what God has ordained, and the person who does this brings condemnation on himself. Les Feldick emphasizes this is God's arrangement, so rebellion against authority carries serious consequences.
He says the believer is to live peaceably under government; the only time a believer has a right to resist is when the government demands something contrary to Christian experience or the commands of Scripture.
Scripture says rulers are not a terror to good works but to evil; they are God's ministers to execute wrath on evildoers. Les says government's role is to be a terror to the criminal element.
Les teaches that the carnal, unredeemed mind is enmity against God — rebellious and not subject to God's law. People naturally reject authority because human nature refuses to submit.
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