Yes—Scripture says government is God's ordained minister that executes His wrath on evildoers, so lawbreakers have real reason to be afraid.
Romans 13 teaches that all governing authorities are established by God. Rulers are not a terror to good works but to evil, and the one who does evil should be afraid because the sword-bearer is God's servant to punish wrongdoing. So a lawbreaker's fear is proper because civil government acts as God's revenger against crime.
Romans 13:1-4 — This passage directly answers why lawbreakers should fear government: rulers are God's ordained ministers and the sword-bearing revengers of His wrath on evildoers.
Romans 13:1 commands, "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." Verse 2 then warns that "they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation," because resisting the power is resisting God's ordinance. The passage then clarifies the government's role. Romans 13:3 says rulers are "not a terror to good works, but to the evil." Verse 4 makes it even more direct: "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." The sword is not carried without purpose, and the one who does evil is the object of its terror.
Les Feldick teaches that Romans 13 sets the believer's attitude toward government. He points out that every central government is present by divine appointment—even wicked rulers like Hitler, whom he says God had ordained (Clip 0, Clip 3). Therefore, believers should normally live peaceably under their government. The only legitimate resistance, Les explains, is when government commands something contrary to the Christian's experience or to the commands of Scripture (Clip 1). Les also emphasizes the practical purpose of government: it exists so citizens can pursue joy and happiness, and rulers are supposed to be a terror to the criminal element, not to those who do good (Clip 2). Government is God's minister, even when the officials are ungodly, and it needs tax money to operate (Clip 4). On the most serious matter of murder, Les affirms that convicted murderers should be dealt with, because the Bible takes account of the awful possibility of executing the innocent (Clip 7). In short, the government's God-given role is to protect the good and punish evil—which is why lawbreakers should fear it.
Paul says every soul must be subject to the higher powers because those powers are ordained by God. Resisting them is resisting God's ordinance and brings damnation. The ruler is God's minister for good, but also a revenger who executes wrath on the one who does evil. This makes government a divine institution, not merely a human arrangement.
Les Feldick acknowledges that Romans 13 raises the question of what to do under a completely totalitarian, ungodly government. He says the believer's first responsibility is to live peaceably under that government. The only place where believers have a right to resist is when the government goes contrary to their Christian experience and to the commands of Scripture—then they can say, "I can't do that."
Romans 13:4 says the ruler does not bear the sword in vain; he is God's minister, a revenger to execute wrath on the one doing evil. Les Feldick applies this to capital punishment, noting that people who are without a shadow of a doubt guilty of murder have to be dealt with. He also recognizes the horror of executing an innocent person, but insists the state still has the duty to punish proven murderers.
Les explains that government needs tax money to operate and it's the only way it can function. Since government is God's minister for our protection, Paul's instruction is to render tribute to whom tribute is due. Paying taxes is therefore part of supporting the God-ordained work of civil authority.
Les Feldick says yes. He points to Romans 13:1 that there is no power except what God puts there, and the powers that be are ordained of God. He uses Hitler as an example, saying God can ordain even an evil ruler to accomplish His purposes, and that the German people received what they deserved.
Government Is Ordained by God
Les teaches that no government exists except by God's appointment; even evil rulers like Hitler were ordained by God and used for His purposes.
Resisting God's Ordinance
Les explains Romans 13:2—resisting the government is resisting God's ordinance and brings condemnation, but believers may resist when government demands what Scripture forbids.
Rulers Are a Terror to Evil
Les says the reason for government is to let citizens pursue happiness, and the ruler is supposed to be a terror to the criminal element—not to those who do good.
Every Government Is by Divine Appointment
Paul admonishes believers to recognize that every central government is there by divine appointment, even while democracy gives us freedom to complain.
Government as God's Minister
Les notes that government officials, even ungodly ones, are God's ministers attending to their work, which is why believers pay taxes.
Redemption Explained: From Law to Grace (Romans 3 & 6)
Because the law only has one purpose in Scripture, and it is what? For by the law is the knowledge, not of God, but of what? Sin, see? Now, when God gave the Ten Commandments then, the Ten Commandments just literally showed the old Adam how he really operated, and that was all the law could do.
Why Even "Good People" Can't Escape God's Judgment — Romans 2
In other words, it's not going to excuse them, just because they weren't under the children of Israel. "...those who have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law." Well, we know what the law does. We'll see that in the next chapter. It condemns everybody, because every human being that's ever lived other than Christ Himself, has already broken the law, and so they're condemned. Verse 13, "...
Government and Capital Punishment
Les recognizes the danger of executing an innocent person, but insists that people proven guilty of murder must be dealt with—so the state bears the sword for a reason.
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 verse establishes that civil government is a God-ordained authority, so resisting it is resisting God's arrangement.
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 warning for lawbreakers—resistance to the governing authority brings divine 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 verse contrasts good and evil conduct and shows that fear is only appropriate for those who do evil.
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.
This directly answers why lawbreakers should fear: the government's sword is God's instrument to execute wrath on evildoers.
Yes. Romans 13:4 says if you do evil, be afraid, because the ruler is God's minister and "beareth not the sword in vain." The government's sword is there to execute wrath on those who practice evil.
According to Romans 13:1, "the powers that be are ordained of God." Les Feldick teaches that this includes even ungodly rulers—he even says Hitler was ordained by God—because God places governments in authority for His own purposes.
Les Feldick says the believer's first responsibility is to live peaceably under government. The only place where believers have a right to resist is when government commands something contrary to their Christian experience or to the commands of Scripture.
Even ungodly government officials are described as God's ministers attending to this very work, and government needs tax money to operate. Paul's instruction is to render tribute to those to whom tribute is due.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Established Capital Punishment | Genesis 9 Explained