The Higher Power Romans 13

THE HIGHER POWER ROMANS CHAPTER 13 (KJV)

By Don Bennett

Complete Text

Intro: There are those who believe that in Romans Chapter 13:1-8 Christians are taugh that they should obey the laws of civil governments and submit to its rulers, however, a careful study of this text will show that this is not what is being taught. There are many preachers who have been recruited by our government, under the Faith Based Initiative and other programs, to convince their members that they should do whatever their civil government instructs them to do, in order to please the God of heaven and creation of all that is. Moreover, to use Romans Chapter Thirteen to show that it is the will of God that they do so. I urge you to get your Bible (King James translation), and study along with me. As we expose this fallacy.

Scriptural Text: Roman 13:1-8

Rom 13:1-8 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. ‘Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. ‘For 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:
‘For 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. ‘Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. ‘For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. ‘Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. ‘Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”

It is understood that in verse one we are taught to be subject to the higher power. The obvious question that one should ask is, “What is the higher power that I must be subject too?” It is the answer to this question that is key to understanding the truth of what is being taught here in Romans 13. Let us begin our study by listening to what Jesus had to say about the “…higher power…”. Just before his ascension he gave instructions to his apostles, saying, Luke 24:46-49 “…Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: ‘And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. “And ye are witnesses of these things. ‘And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. ”He told them that as the father in heaven had promised they would be clothed with the power. In Acts Jesus again instructed them where to go and wait for this power.

Acts 1:4-8 “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
‘ For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
‘When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
‘And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
‘But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth.”

When the day of Pentecost came, they were assembled together in Jerusalem waiting for the fulfillment of the promise; and just as Christ said he would, he sent the promise of the father. The record is:

Acts 2:1-4 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
‘And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
‘And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
‘And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Not only is God’s power the higher power but it is the highest power; there is no higher power than the power of God. And these faithful men had been clothed, yes, dressed with it. Surly, this power is the only power that is ordained by God. As we read in v.1, “…For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”

Now that we have learned what the higher power is and that the apostles were endued with it when they were baptized. They had been thus ordained of God, by God, to proclaim his ordinance. Consider their ordination and those ordained in the body of Christ, the Church of Christ.

Matt. 10:1-4 “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

‘Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
‘Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of

Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
‘Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.”

Mark 3:14 “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,”

And again, John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

The apostles are the powers that be ordained of God the power from on high, the higher power. All of the powers that are ordained of God exist in his kingdom the church and not in the kingdoms of this world which are ordained of the evil one.

Consider these scriptures from which we learn more about the powers ordained of God:

Paul wrote, 1Tim. 2:7 “Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.”

To Titus, Titus 1:4-5 “To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
‘For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:”

The apostles had power to decree, or ordain ordinances, for the church, Acts 16:3-5 “Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
‘And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. ‘And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.”

1Cor 7:17-19 “But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. ‘Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. ‘Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.”

The third question we want to answer is, To what power is every soul subject to?” 1Pet. 1:22-25 “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. ‘For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

Matt. 10:27-28 “What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. ‘And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

WHOSOEVER RESISTETH THE POWER RESISTETH THE ORDINANCE OF GOD VERSE 2. ‘Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. The word for ordinance in this verse means “through arrangement”. God arranged that Jesus should die on the cross to redeem lost mankind and therein is the power to save,

as expressed in Rom 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” And it is this power that most resist and many will attempt to pervert. The message to all that resist this power, as is stated, “…shall receive to themselves damnation.” Jesus stated it this way, Mar 16:15-16 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

‘He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

Perhaps more will be said about resisting the power and receiving damnation at another time.

Paul continues to instruct and to identify the rulers that he was writing about in verses (3-4) “For 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:

‘For 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.”

The rulers are identified in the two verses as being the minister (servant) of God have power from God, of which, those that do evil are asked the question, ”Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?” The rulers are further identified as the minister of God to the saints at Rome for good and will praise those who do good. But those (in the church) that do evil should fear because he was not given the sword in vain and as the minister of God, “…a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”

A summation of what we should have learned thus far concerning the order of the HIGHER POWER is as follows: God the Father, God the Word (Son), God the Holy Ghost. (Matt. 28:19-20) “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ‘Teaching them to observe all

things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

John 5:7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”

The highest order on earth are the Apostles. it is through the power that was given to the twelve apostles that the true Church of Christ is instructed and ordered until the end of the world. No one on earth has any authority to change anything that they ordained. As Jesus said to Peter, (Matt. 16:18-19) “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
‘And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

The Kingdom of Christ, is the Church of Christ, and all that are members are living stones, and as Paul wrote in (Eph. 2:20), are “…built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;”

all should be warned that the word of God is settled in heaven, and to change it in any manner is to incur to oneself eternal damnation. This warning applies to elders, evangelist, preachers, teachers….In addition, every member of the church should be further warned that elders who rule according to that which has been ordained by the apostles should be honored, for “…they bear not the sword in vain“, bearing in mind that, the sword of the Spirit is the word of God (Eph. 6:17). If the elders refuse to rule according to the word of God, in order to be a faithful servant of the Lord, one has no choice but to find a congregation where the word is followed. No one is exempt from this responsibility.

I know of no place in the new testament where the rulers of the kingdoms of this world are said to be ordained of God. Rather than being ordained of God, they are, according to the teaching of the scripture under the control of the devil. And the only way that one can be delivered from the devils kingdom (government) is by being translated into the kingdom of the Son of God. (Col. 1:13), “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” The kingdoms of this world and it’s rulers are not put in power by God the Father, but by the devil, and are described as being the rulers of the darkness of this world.(Eph. 6:11-12) “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Whereas, those set in power by God to rule in his kingdom encourage and praise and use

and comfort the faithful and to “…execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” In contrast, the devil rewards those rulers of the dark and wicked things of the world; those in high offices that practice spiritual wickedness. Those that practice witchcraft, Satanism, promote abortion, practice and promote pedophilia, stealers of people, traffic in dope (of all kind), murder, lying, bribery, unjust wars, terror, conspiracy, secret dark societies, and all kinds of lawlessness. The list could go on and on. SURELY, THESE ARE NOT THE RULERS THAT WE ARE TOLD TO OBEY THAT ARE ORDANED OF GOD!

The devil has requirements that one must submit too in order to rule in his kingdom. He is a very crafty lobbyist. He is both bold and cunning and will offer you the world if you will worship him. Consider how he tempted Jesus, he came to him and offered him all the kingdoms in the world, as is written in, Matt. 4:8-11 “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; ‘And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. ‘Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. ‘Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.” The devil will not promote to rule in high places, in his worldly kingdom of darkness, those who refuse to worship him. The devil rewards the evil!

In verses five through eight saints are still being instructed to subject themselves to the ministers of God because of wrath and conscience sake. These servants should be paid given what they are due, whether it be tribute, custom, fear, or honor. The fulfilling of the law requires that Christians love one another.

Now that we have learned what is taught in Romans 13:1-8, I would be negligent in not directing the focus of our study to a passage of scripture that does address the subject of civil obedience. Christians are commanded in scripture to be law-abiding citizens in the country in which we reside. One place is 1Peter 2:11-21, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; ‘Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. ‘Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; ‘Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. ‘For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
‘As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. ‘Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
‘Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. ‘For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. ‘For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. ‘For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also

suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”

Christians are to abstain from those things of the flesh that war against the soul, and be honest in conversation. We are taught to submit to every ordinance of man, Kings and governors and those that are sent by them to punish the evil doers and praise them that do good. When this is understood in context, we realize that our submission to civil governments are limited to doing and supporting those things that are honest and good. A faithful Christian will refuse to do those thing that will not glorify the Father, through Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

There are many examples both in the O.T and in the N.T., that we could reference to show how the demands of rulers and leaders of this worlds kingdoms were defied in order that God’ people be faithful to Him. There are examples in resent history and others that are contemporary to our time. The example I have chosen is from the New Testament.

In chapter three of the book of Acts, we have the record of the apostle Peter healing the man that had been lame from berth. The people were amazed when they saw the lame man healed, walking leaping, and holding Peter and John. Their wonderment afforded Peter the opportunity to preach Jesus to the people. In chapter four the “…priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them. ‘Being grieved that they (the apostles) taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” (Acts 4:1-2). The rulers, elders, and scribes put the apostles in jail until the next day. The next day they were asked by the rulers, “By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?” (v.7) Peter spoke unto them explaining that it was through the name of Jesus Christ that the lame man was healed. Because the rulers could not deny the miracle, they conferred among themselves and concluded, Acts 4:16-23 “Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. ‘But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. ‘And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. ‘But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. ‘For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. ‘So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. ‘For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed. ‘And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.”

In chapter five, not long after being put in jail and threatened by the rulers not to preach in the name of Jesus the resurrection from the dead. The apostles continued to preach and perform wonders, and heal all manner of sickness, and multitudes of both men and women believed and were added to the Lord. The rulers were again angered and put the

apostles in prison. Acts 5:19-23 “But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, ‘Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. ‘And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. ‘But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, ‘Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.” Not only did the angel of the Lord help them escape from prison but in defiance of the ordinance of the high priest and the rulers commanded them to go and preach in the temple “…all the words of this life.”

Acts 5:24-29 “Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
‘Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. ‘Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. ‘And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, ‘Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. ‘Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” The above is a clear example of an exception to the teaching that Christians should submit to every ordinances of man. When men regardless, of their office or position, order us to do something that the Lord command that we not do, or order us not to do something the Lord command that we do. The faithful Christian response is, “But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. ‘For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” “… we aught to obey God rather than man”

When Jesus was questioned by the chief priests and the scribes for the purpose of having him say something that they could use against him, Luke 20:19-25 “And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. ‘And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. ‘And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly: ‘Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? ‘But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? ‘Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's. ‘And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.’ What Jesus taught here in Luke 20:19-25 about rendering unto Caesar when compared to what is taught in Romans 13: 5-8, ‘Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for

conscience sake. ‘For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. ‘Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”

Both Jesus and the apostle Paul are speaking of the same things, rendering what is due to man what is due him, and rendering to God the things that are due him. God deserves our love, honor, tribute, and fear. Many rulers don’t deserve our tribute, nor can we in good conscious follow many of their customs and laws. Anything that would cause us to do thing contrary to our faith in Jesus Christ, should not be honored nor obeyed. Only the creator God of heaven deserves our worship. Faithful Christians will not worship Caesar, Pope, Governor, President, nor any other creature or thing. As Christ answered, “And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.”

If we are ordered to lie, murder, deny Jesus Christ, support abortion, sodomy, same gender unions…our answer should be, God forbid. “We aught to obey God rather than man.” We should not honor leaders who do such things, and/or make it legal for others to commit such wickedness; but rather rebuke them out of love for the lost, and pray that they repent.

In conclusion: The Holy Spirit that the Father sent into the world to the apostle's, through his son Jesus Christ, is the higher Power. Through this higher power the ordinances of God were established and leaders ordained in the Body of Christ (The Church of Christ). All must obey those ordinances or be damned. Praise be to God almighty.