Romans 13:3, commentary and pictures

Rulers are not a terror to those who do good but to those who do evil, so doing what is good takes away fear of civil power and brings its praise. Human government is ordained by God, and obedience to it in its rightful sphere is a sacred duty, so Christians are to uphold civil authority and live in peaceable conformity to the laws of the land whenever they can do so without breaking the law of God. The Word of God stands supreme over all human law, and when the demands of government clash with the demands of God, God must be obeyed rather than men. The state was ordained because of sin to keep order and shield people from violence, and it would have no reason to exist if there were no sin. Its work is only to check evil by the fear of punishment, and in fulfilling its highest purpose it has nothing to do with religion and can have no union with the church.

Rulers Ordained Against Evil

Rulers are not a terror to good works but to the evil, so the one who does what is good need not be afraid of the civil power but will have praise of the same. Doing right removes fear of governing authority and brings its approval rather than its threat. Even when God's law is made void, the zeal of the true and loyal is to rise warmer and more decided in clear, firm, positive and unflinching testimony, yet with nothing done in a defiant spirit toward rulers, which hearts fully surrendered to God will prevent. Civil authority is to be supported and its laws peaceably obeyed, and obeying princes and civil rule does not mean serving Belial, while claiming divine sanction to break away from all control leads to rebellion, strife, violence and bloodshed.

The state is ordained by God to preserve order and protect people from violence, and it exists because of sin, so that if there were no sin there would be no reason for it to exist. Its mission is solely the prevention of evil by evil-minded persons through fear of penalties, and acting in its own sphere it is always useful and will be as long as sin exists. It is ordained in general according to the demands of the time and place of its existence, and it exercises proper jurisdiction when it attends to its own affairs in a civil capacity. In meeting its highest purpose it has nothing to do with religion and can have no union with religion or the church, with religion finding no place in its statute books and the church no recognition, while the divine church grows by the life of God and is molded and led by the Word of God.

God has to do with the laws of the land and uses rulers to restrain evil. While Jesus is in the sanctuary His restraining Spirit is felt by rulers and people, holding back Satan's great control over the mass of the world and keeping God's people from great suffering they would otherwise experience. Rulers are responsible for using their authority to deter and oppose wrongdoing rather than letting corrupt appetites and conduct go unchecked, and when they fail to restrain evildoers evil and suffering spread. A Heaven-appointed leader of the nation, chosen by God to execute His law, should by an unblemished character be a terror to evil-doers. David had been taken into close connection with God and shown great favor, which should have moved him to preserve his character unblemished, but when at ease and unguarded and in self-security he let go his hold upon God and yielded to Satan, trampled upon the precepts he was appointed to execute, and by his own guilty act strengthened the hands of evil-doers instead of being a terror to them.

Obedience Within Divine Limits

Human government is an ordinance of divine appointment, and obedience to it within its legitimate sphere is a sacred duty. Christians are to support civil authority and conform peaceably in all things to the laws of the state whenever they can do so without conflicting with the law of God. Its authority is limited, for God's Word is supreme authority above all human legislation, and a Thus saith the Lord is never to be set aside for a Thus saith the church or a Thus saith the state. The crown of Christ is to be lifted above the diadems of earthly potentates.

When the claims of government conflict with the claims of God, God must be obeyed rather than men. In this last conflict those blessed with a knowledge of God's Word have the responsibility to firmly hold aloft the banner of truth and religious liberty. Even in a time when God's law is made void, faithful people are to give a zealous, steadfast, clear, firm, positive and unflinching testimony, with zeal rising warmer and more decided. That testimony is to be given while remaining subject to civil authority, doing nothing in a defiant spirit toward rulers, which hearts fully surrendered to God will prevent.

Obedience to God does not require defying authorities. Words spoken or written should be carefully considered lest they appear antagonistic to law and order, and nothing should be said or done to unnecessarily close the way. Believers are to go forward in Christ's name advocating the truths committed to them, and only when forbidden by men to do this work to answer that they cannot but speak the things they have seen and heard. Obeying princes and civil authority is right, upholds order in society and restraint by civil authority, and does not mean attempting to serve both God and Belial. Claiming divine sanction to break away from all control and to disobey princes is rebellion against civil authority, and it leads to sedition, strife, violence and bloodshed.

God places managers and superiors in institutions in positions of trust, and by doing so shows them respect and honor. Those in authority, especially managers of departments who regulate and discipline youth, understand better than others what rules are essential, and their judgment deserves confidence and their authority deserves respect and honor. Parents and church members must uphold their hands in maintaining order and wise discipline, and must not blindly sustain and sympathize with youth who refuse to submit or insist on their own way against their superiors. In any difficulty they must go directly to those in charge to learn the truth. Teaching children to respect and obey such authority upholds the principles that lie at the very foundation of loyalty to truth, to fellow beings, and to God.