Be Subject to the Higher Powers Romans 13:1

Paul the apostle told the believing people in Rome, “if your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head”, and he added, “be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” In chapter thirteen and verse one of Romans, Paul tells the believers, “let every soul be subject unto the higher powers” where we read:

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 verse begins, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God:” Paul began with the word, “let every” which means “allow and permit each, all, the whole and everyone” “soul” or “the seat of the feelings, desires, affections and aversions” “be subject” or “arrange themselves under, subordinate and submit” “unto the higher” which means “to the stand out, risen above, superior in rank” “powers” or “the authorities, rulers and governments” “For” or “because and since” “there is no power” which means “not one authority, ruler or government exists” “but” or “except or lest” “of God” which means “pertaining to the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Paul shared how everyone is to “submit” to “government authorities” because they would not exist except that “God” chose for them to be.

The verse continues, “ the powers that be are ordained of God.”. Paul added the words, “the powers” which means “the authorities, rulers and governments” “that be” or “who exist” “are ordained” which means “put in order, stationed, arranged, assigned and appointed” “of God” or “pertaining to the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Paul declared the “authorities” which exist to be “arranged, assigned and appointed” by God Himself.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see how every “power” or “authority” in “government and rule” is “assigned and appointed” by God, and Christians are to “submit” to them. Jesus Christ who came to “save” mankind is the “absolute authority”, and when He appoints and chooses officials in “government”, He has a greater plan in mind than people may know. “Governments” around the world vary and each one of them has the “authority” of God over them, and those who are wise shall harken to Paul's word and “subordinate” themselves to God's rulers.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome, “Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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