“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:1-2).
When the home, the church, and the state function in harmony with God’s word, there will be the essential building blocks for a flourishing society—decency and order. Not any of these three divine creations functions properly without adherence to the principles of authority and submission.
In civil government, God has placed the authority to execute His vengeance and righteous wrath on evildoers in the hands of civil rulers. Therefore, “every soul” (i.e., all humanity) is commanded to be in continuous subjection to the governing authorities.
The creation of civil governments was authorized by God. Its rule of providing law and order to a nation is a divine appointment. Therefore, every citizen has an obligation to submit to the laws of the land. To resist the authority of the state is to resist God’s divinely created institution and face His just wrath for such defiance.
The divinely assigned authority of civil rulers is to be respected and obeyed because of who God is.
Even when the emperor is Nero.
