Chapter # 13 Paragraph # 1 Study # 4
October 18, 2020
Humble, Texas
(Download Audio)
(071)
Thesis: Resisting "authorities" is resisting God with one caveat: we cannot "resist" God by doing His will.
Introduction: In our studies of
Romans 13:1-7 we have considered the role of the "soul" in Paul's command to believers to make it a high priority to "be subject to governing authorities". The "soul" is the core reality for relational harmony and relational harmony cannot exist with conflict over "agenda", "methodology", and "consequence" issues. We have also considered the fact that "subjection" is just that: "subjection"; the aligning of oneself
under the decisions of others without "kicking and screaming". Paul told Titus that those who are to be in "subjection" are to do so to be "well-pleasing" and "not argumentative" (
2:9). And, in our last study, we considered Paul's (and Isaiah's) major analogy in the concept of "subjection" to be that of the potter's absolute authority of his "clay"; a concept about which no one complains.
This evening we are going to consider Paul's most emphatic declaration: "resisting authority is resisting God".
- I. A Further Pursuit of Paul's "Authority" Concept.
- A. On the face of it, "authority", as Paul addresses it in this paragraph, is the ability to make "agenda" decisions, "methodology" decisions, and "enforcement" decisions for others.
- 1. These are the "logical" elements of "authority".
- 2. Paul's "authority concept" was originally given in his first use of the term in Romans (9:21).
- B. Paul's unacknowledged awareness of the major "problem" with God's establishment of the authority that is exercised by fallen men.
- 1. What Paul actually taught.
- a. There "not is" any authority except "under God".
- 1) The "not" is emphatic (ou).
- 2) The preposition is dominant (hupo).
- a) It is attached to the imperative: "be in submission" (hupo plus tasso).
- b) It is repeated in the phrase "except 'under' God" in 13:1.
- c) It is used repeatedly by Paul in Romans (3:9; 3:13; 6:14[2X]; 6:15[2X]; and 16:20) to indicate "powerful dominion".
- 3) The reality is illustrated by God's curtailment of Satan in respect to Job, and all of Jesus' exorcisms while on the earth (as well as His dominion over the wind and the waves; a matter of great impact upon the disciples as well as a possible illustration of "Legion's" attempt to destroy Him).
- 4) Even the abuses of "authority" by "authorities" does not escape the final reality that there "not is" any authority except "under God" (Note Jesus' instructions in Matthew 23:2).
- b. Those "being" are "having been placed in rank" under God.
- 1) The idea of "having been placed in rank" is an idea only identified by this word in 7 texts of the New Testament, Luke being the majority user in Acts.
- 2) This idea of "ranking" is linked to the issue of "making a firm commitment" wherein a particular course of action has been "settled upon" and pursued with great diligence.
- a) This idea is directly linked to the reality of "agape" as the fundamental concept of moving "commitments" from one level to another as it seems good to the one "moving the commitments".
- b) Once a matter has been "moved higher" in the value system, methods are engaged to secure the fulfillment of the now "rearranged" values.
- c) The potency of this word is most clear from Acts 13:48 and 22:10 where God's "agape arrangements" take on extremely important issues.
- d) And the reality of this concept is most clear from Daniel's witness and appeal to Nebuchadnezzar: Daniel 2:21 and 4:27.
- c. Thus, once "arranged under/by God" any who "resist" are "resisting God".
- 1) The concept of "resistance" is presented by the use of the same word that Paul used in 13:1 (where he commanded "subjection") with the contrary preposition "against" (anti) attached as a prefix.
- a) The meaning of this term is supplied by Paul's term "opposed" in 13:2.
- b) At issue in "opposition" is a word using the same prefix, but attaching it to a verb that means "to take a stand" (anthistemi).
- 2) The "problem" in "resistance" is that it is "against" The God.
- 3) And the downline "problem" is that it brings about "judgment" (krima).
- 2. What Paul did not address.
- a. He did not address the inevitable development of "authority" being used by human "authorities" to countermand divine "authority".
- 1) It is inevitable that human authorities will eventually, if not immediately, issue "decrees" that are in direct contradiction to Divine mandates (well illustrated by Nebuchadnezzar's command that everyone bow down to his golden image of himself).
- 2) This is directly addressed in many places in the Scriptures, but the most succinct is Acts 5:29 where Peter declares "We must obey God rather than men".
- b. There was no need for him to address this because it was extremely well known and widely accepted by all who are experienced in the message of the Gospel which includes Jesus' pointed declaration in Matthew 10:18 that His disciples would run into irresolvable conflicts with human authorities.
- c. The biblical counsel in such situations is to refuse the rules that the "authorities" have put in place against them and submit to whatever consequences are imposed afterward without complaint.
- 1) In 2 Timothy 4:6 (with context) we do not find Paul whining about his mistreatment by Caesar, but, rather, rejoicing that he has been enabled to "finish his course" in view of the "laid up" reward which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, has promised.
- 2) The greatest single issue of relating to "authority" is Paul's "issue" in this text: "authority does not exist except under God".
