Romans 13:4-6
The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. 6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.

I. How to understand government authority? (v. 4)
• Rebels and conspiracy theorists mistrust God’s

.
• Government officials are God’s

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.
• Government protects

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based on God’s laws.
• We need to respect the

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if not the person.

II. How to relate to government authority? (v. 5)
• Beware of people of “faith” who lead in

.
• Christians should be

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because it is right. (Phil. 2:5-8)
• Passion, conviction, and conscience can be

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.
• There is a difference between civil

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and civil

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.

III. How to respond to governing ordinances? (v. 6)
• Compliance to laws and ordinances is

.
• Christians have dual obligations due to dual

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. (Phil. 3:20)
• God judges by the

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grace of Jesus not party association.
• The Christian’s focus is not to fill

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with Christians.
• The Christian’s focus is to

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for people as God does.

1. As you listened to the message, what points stood out?
2. Read Romans 13:4. What is the role of government authority in relation to
good and evil? How do governing authorities serve God by administering
justice (refer to Romans 12:19)?
3. Read Romans 13:5. What two reasons does the apostle Paul give to
submit to authority? What is one’s conscience authorized and not authorized to do when it comes to truth, right, and wrong?
4. In what ways do Christians willingly submit to government authority?
What are examples of ways Christians do not submit to government
authority?
5. Read Romans 13:6. Why is it important for Christians to pay their taxes,
even if they are unreasonable? How do you feel about this? Discuss how
submitting to government authority relates to Romans 12:1.
6. Read Daniel 6:6-10 and Acts 5:27-29. What is the criteria for disobeying
government? How do these passages help determine when we should
and should not disobey government?