The Righteousness of God: Love Fulfills the Law
Government is ordained by God. Submission to governing authorities is submission to God's order. Pay your taxes. Give respect and honor.
But one debt remains: the continuing debt to love one another. Love fulfills the law. Love does no harm to a neighbor.
And the hour is urgent. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. Put on the armor of light. Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Submit to governing authorities
"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."
Governing authorities are civil rulers. Submission is commanded for everyone.
All authority comes from God; He establishes rulers. This does not mean all rulers are good, but all are under God's sovereignty.
Government is divinely ordained. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted.
Resisting authority is resisting God's order.
God's servant for your good
"For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer."
Rulers are God's servants. Their purpose: the good of society. The sword symbolizes authority to punish, including capital punishment.
They execute God's wrath on evildoers. This is God's restraint on evil through government.
Government's purpose: punish evil, commend good. Those who do right need not fear authority.
Government is God's instrument to restrain evil.
Pay your taxes
"This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing."
Taxes fund government. Paying taxes is an act of submission. Authorities devote themselves to governing.
Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Funding government is supporting God's ordained institution. Government deserves both material support and respectful attitudes.
Pay what you owe: taxes, respect, honor.
The continuing debt to love
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law."
Pay all debts promptly. The one debt that remains: love. Love is an ongoing obligation.
Love fulfills the law because it naturally does what the law commands. Love is the summary of ethics.
The commandments—You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet—and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Love is the fulfillment of the law.
Love does no harm
"Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
Love's nature: it does no harm. Love is inherently protective and benevolent.
Fulfillment means full satisfaction of law's demands. Love accomplishes what law requires.
All the commandments relating to others are summed up in love your neighbor as yourself. Love is not optional; it is the essence of obedience.
Love naturally does what the law commands.
The hour is urgent
"And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed."
Urgency: understand the time, the appointed moment. Wake up from spiritual sleep.
Salvation here is future: final redemption. It is nearer than when we first believed. Time is short; live accordingly.
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. Night symbolizes this present evil age. Day is Christ's return and eternal day.
Time is short; Christ's return is near.
Put on the armor of light
"So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."
The transition is near. Put aside (take off) deeds of darkness. Put on (clothe yourself with) armor of light.
Lifestyle must match the approaching day.
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
Behave becomingly, honorably, as in public visibility, not hidden. These vices belong to darkness, not light.
Live as children of the light.
Clothe yourselves with Christ
"Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh."
The positive command: clothe yourself with Christ. Put on Christ like a garment. This is union with Christ, living in His character.
Do not make provision (forethought) for the flesh. Do not plan to satisfy sinful desires.
This verse converted Augustine. Christ, not flesh, must dominate our lives.
Put on Christ; do not gratify the flesh.
Final exhortation
Romans 13 addresses both civic duty and Christian living. Submit to governing authorities. Pay your taxes. Give respect and honor.
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another. Love fulfills the law. Love does no harm to a neighbor.
The hour is urgent. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. Put aside the deeds of darkness. Put on the armor of light.
Behave decently. Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Do not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Live as those who are waiting for Christ's return. The day is near. Walk in the light.
Closing prayer
Father, thank You for ordaining government to restrain evil and promote good. Help us to submit to authorities and fulfill our civic duties. May we pay the continuing debt to love one another, for love fulfills the law. As we await Christ's return, help us to put aside the deeds of darkness and clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. In His name, amen.