The days are evil. We are to obey God's laws, but we are also to obey our government regarding those things that are not sinful and against God. There will be uprisings and rebellion against the government, but God tells us we are not to participate with those who do this.
I do recognize that the same Paul who wrote this hid and fled from certain authorities who came to arrest him. Jesus also hid himself from them at times. It appears Paul's command is we are not to seek to bring harm against those in power, nor are we to resist the laws that are not sinful.
Verse 3, says "the authorities are not a terror to good conduct". We know that authorities do bring terror to good conduct, so we must seek God to know what to do in those type of situations. We need to be close to the Lord so we know what to do. We are going to face challenges we could never have dreamed of. Forced abortion, polluted vaccines, and the forced evil teachings of our children being only a few examples.
Protect your ears and the ears of those you love from TV, worldly music, video games and any evil thing that seeks to pollute the mind and heart. The war is for the mind, heart and soul.
Love one another and do not practice sin.
Romans 13 ISV
Obey Your Government
1Every person must be subject to the governing authorities, for no authority exists except by God’s permission.a The existing authorities have been established by God, 2so that whoever resists the authorities opposes what God has established, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3For the authorities are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you like to live without being afraid of the authorities? Then do what is right, and you will receive their approval. 4For they are God’s servants, working for your good.
But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for it is not without reason that they bear the sword. Indeed, they are God’s servants to administer punishmentb to anyone who does wrong.5Therefore, it is necessary for you to be acquiescent to the authorities,c not only for the sake of God’sd punishment,e but also for the sake of your own conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes. For rulersf are God’s servants faithfully devoting themselves to their work.g 7Pay everyone whatever you owe them—taxes to whom taxes are due, tolls to whom tolls are due, fearh to whom feari is due, honor to whom honor is due.
Love One Another
8Do not owe anyone anything—except to love one another. For the one who loves another has fulfilled the Law. 9For the commandments, “You must not commit adultery; you must not murder; you must not steal; you must not covet,”j and every other commandment are summed up in this statement: “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”k 10Love never does anything that is harmful to its neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the Law.
Live in the Light of the Messiah’s Return
11This is necessary because you know the times—it’s already time for you to wake up from sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we became believers. 12The night is almost over, and the day is near.
Let’s therefore put aside the actions of darkness and put on the armor of light.
- 13Let’s behave decently, as people who live in the light of day.l
- No wild parties,
- drunkenness,
- sexual immorality,
- promiscuity,
- quarreling,
- or jealousy!
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