Christians should remain subject to ungodly government, because every ruler is divinely appointed by God.
Paul instructs every soul to be subject to governing authorities, and Les Feldick makes clear that even ungodly rulers like Hitler hold office by God's sovereign appointment. Government is God's minister to restrain evil and protect good works, so resisting it resists God's ordinance. This does not mean God approves of every ruler's actions, but it sets the believer's normal posture as peaceful submission.
Romans 13:1 — This verse commands every soul to be subject to governing authorities, establishing that government is God-ordained.
Romans 13:2 — It warns that resisting government is resisting God's ordinance, addressing the believer's response even to ungodly rulers.
Romans 13:4 — It describes government as God's minister who bears the sword against evil, explaining why it deserves submission.
Romans 13:1 commands every soul to be subject to the higher powers, teaching that all governing authority exists by God's appointment. Romans 13:2 warns that whoever resists the power resists God's ordinance and will incur judgment. Romans 13:3-4 explains that rulers are not a terror to good works but to evil: they are God's ministers for good, bearing the sword to execute wrath on wrongdoers. The Bible therefore frames civil government as a divinely ordained institution, not a human accident, and believers are called to live under it peaceably.
Les Feldick emphasizes that every central government exists by God's sovereign appointment. He applies this to Hitler and to American presidents, saying even leaders we dislike are there by divine appointment. He also points out that in a democracy believers have the freedom to complain and criticize, but Paul's admonition calls them to recognize government's God-given role. Les describes government as the authority that controls a people within a geographical area, and he notes that good government is a blessing not to be taken advantage of. He adds that rulers are meant to make lawbreakers afraid while giving no terror to those who do good. He also reminds believers that their security does not rest in government's guarantees but in the finished work of Christ, so persecution cannot move them from their place in the body of Christ.
Yes. Scripture says all governing power comes from God and is ordained by Him (Romans 13:1). Les Feldick reinforces this by pointing to Hitler and to unpopular American presidents, stating that every central government is there by God's sovereign divine appointment. This is true even when the ruler is morally ungodly.
Government is to be a terror to evil works, not to good works. Rulers are described as ministers of God for good, bearing the sword to execute wrath on the one who does evil (Romans 13:3-4). Les adds that the ordinary purpose of government is to control a people within a geographical area, and he points to the coming Messiah's righteous government as the ultimate fulfillment (Isaiah 9:6-7).
The Bible explicitly warns that whoever resists the government resists God's ordinance and will receive condemnation (Romans 13:2). Les applies this directly, teaching that resisting local government is resisting God's ordinance. While the clips do not describe exceptions, the normal Christian response presented is peaceful subjection under government.
God's Sovereign Appointment of All Governments
Verse 19. God says, I will repay, and I'll tell you what, I'd rather have God do it than me, because He's going to be a lot tougher to deal with than I could ever hope to be. Then of course the admonition, verse 20-21. Paul says, "...If thy enemy hunger feed him, if he thirst give him drink, for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Government as God's Ordinance and a Terror to Evil
And if someday we lose our beautiful democratic way of living, it'll probably be because we've brought it on ourselves. But let's continue on in the few moments we have left. Verse 2 now. Paul writes, And whosoever therefore resisteth the power, that is, the government, whosoever resists his local government, resisteth the ordinance of God.
Government Bears the Sword Against Evil
Alright, so the rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Paul writes then to the believers of Rome, Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power, or respect it? Do that which is good, or which is right, and thou shalt have the praise of the same. For he, your local government, is a minister of God to thee for good.
Subjection to Higher Powers and the Blessing of Good Government
And now Paul, writing to the church, to the church at Rome in particular, but, of course, to the church down through the ages. Now, in Romans 13, Paul is laying out so clearly the role of government. We in America are blessed, aren't we? We think we have the best government that the world has ever known. And it's got its weaknesses. It has its problems, no doubt about it.
Believer's Security Not Dependent on Government
We're living in an extremely different time than most Christians had to live in, because we do have a government that so far at least guarantees our our rights to assembly and to religion. I don't like the word, but whatever. All right let's go on. Romans 8. Tribulation or distress or persecution.
Why Did Adam's Sin Affect All of Us? Romans 5:10-14
The Russian government, hopefully, can't come over and do anything to me. Why? Because I'm not a citizen, I'm not under their control, and so consequently I can do whatever I want to do so far as Russian law is concerned, because I'm not under their control. Now it's the same way spiritually with lost people.
Government Defined and Messiah's Coming Rule
Well to control a people within a geographical area. Now of course they're trying to shove world government down our throat. It's coming whether we want it or not. But normally we think of government as being over a sovereign nation, over a geographical area. "...
Romans 6:7-12 — Can a Believer Still Sin After Being Set Free?
And see, the implications from Scripture is choose to be a Spirit-filled believer and not a fleshly-minded believer. Still both believers. All right, read on. So let not old Adam, verse 12, therefore reign, and I'm going to keep putting it in here until it rings like a bell. Don't let him reign like a king in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof.
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 is the foundational command to submit to governing authorities, showing that government is God-ordained.
Romans 13:2: Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
It explains that resisting government is resisting God's arrangement and brings judgment.
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 clarifies that government should protect those who do good and frighten evildoers.
Romans 13:4: 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.
It describes government as God's minister with the sword, authorized to execute wrath on evildoers.
Isaiah 9:6: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
It prophesies that the coming Messiah will bear the government on His shoulder.
Isaiah 9:7: Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
It shows His government will be endless and just, ruling from David's throne.
Not necessarily. The passage says governing powers are ordained by God, and Les Feldick states that even Hitler occupied power by divine appointment. God permits men to rule while still holding them accountable for their actions.
Les says that one of the beauties of democracy is that we can complain and say what we want. But Paul admonishes believers to recognize that every central government is there by divine appointment, so complaint should never become rebellion.
Because government is not a terror to good works but to evil. It is God's minister for good, and only those who do evil should fear its sword (Romans 13:3-4).
Watch the Teaching: What Does the Bible Really Say About Obeying Government?