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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Romans Chapter 13 

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Paul
Date Penned: (57 AD)
Overview: How to Behave (c 12-16)
Theme: Personal Responsibility (c 12-14)
Message: Respect and Love  (v 1-14)

Romans 13 Commentary

(13:1-7) Respect for Authority - Paul ends chapter 12 by exhorting his readers about their Christian lifestyle as they relate to unbelieving neighbors, employers, and others. In chapter 13, he discusses how Christians should relate to the government. Remember, Paul’s immediate audience was in Rome, the capital city of the mighty Roman Empire.

(13: 8-14) Love Fulfills God's Requirements - Paul’s practical directions for Christian living have a distinct pattern. Each time he focuses on a set of applications, whether it is gifts (chapter 12), government (chapter 13), or personal convictions (chapter 14), Paul always anticipates the question, Why should we do this? In this section, Paul teaches that love is an urgent requirement for believers. Love is not to be withheld for later. We must live as if this were our last day on earth. One day will be the last day—will Christ find us loving others?


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Love One Another


Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of Romans with Chapter 13 and in our text we see Paul's account of how we are to obey government and authorities that are in place but to most of all how love fulfills God's requirements of how we are to live. We are instructed to Love one another because this sin cursed world lacks compassion and caring. How about you? Do you Love others as Christ has loved you? Let us learn from our text today and our Lord's instruction to owe no man anything but to Love one another for he that loveth another fulfills God's requirements to treat our fellow man and reflect the love that Jesus has showed you.

 

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Romans 13

Romans 13

 1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

 2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

 3For 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:

 4For 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.

 5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

 6For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

 7Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

 8Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

 9For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

 10Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

 11And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

 12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

 13Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

 14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.