Romans 13: Love and the Coming Day
Believers submit to governing authorities, owe only the debt of love that fulfills the law, and live in the light as the day draws near.
Romans 13 (WEB)
1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.
2 Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.
3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,
4 for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
5 Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, attending continually on this very thing.
7 Give therefore to everyone what you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.
8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
10 Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.
11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed.
12 The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the works of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.
Romans 13 (KJV)
1 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.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 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:
4 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.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Romans 13 (ASV)
1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment.
3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same:
4 for he is a 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 a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
6 For for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
8 Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: love therefore is the fulfilment of the law.
11 And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when wefirstbelieved.
12 The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Summary
Paul instructs believers to be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by him. To resist authority is to resist what God has appointed, incurring judgment. Rulers are God's servants for good, holding the sword to punish evildoers and commend the good, so subjection is required not only to avoid wrath but for the sake of conscience. For the same reason believers pay taxes, for officials are God's servants attending to this very thing; they are to give everyone what is owed—taxes, revenue, respect, and honor. Then Paul names the one debt that always remains: love. The one who loves another has fulfilled the law, for all the commandments are summed up in loving your neighbor as yourself, and love does no harm to a neighbor, so love is the fulfillment of the law. Finally, Paul appeals to the lateness of the hour. Knowing the time, believers should awaken from sleep, for salvation is nearer than when they first believed. The night is far gone and the day is at hand, so they must cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, walk properly as in the day, and put on the Lord Jesus Christ, making no provision for the flesh and its desires.
Key Figures
- Paul — The apostle who teaches submission to authority, the supremacy of love, and urgent holy living in light of the approaching day.
- The governing authorities — Rulers instituted by God as his servants for good, bearing the sword to restrain evil and commend what is right.
- The neighbor — The one we are commanded to love as ourselves, the focus of the debt of love that fulfills the whole law.
- The believer awake to the day — The one who, knowing the time, casts off darkness, puts on the armor of light, and clothes himself with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Key Verse
Romans 13:8 (WEB)
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Lessons Learned
- Governing authorities are instituted by God, and believers are to submit for conscience' sake.
- Love is the one debt that is never fully paid and the fulfillment of the whole law.
- Love does no harm to a neighbor, so to love is to keep God's commandments.
- The nearness of Christ's day calls us to live awake, in the light, clothed with Christ.
- Authority is God's appointment. "There is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God" (Romans 13:1, WEB). Submission to legitimate authority honors the God who established it.
- Love is the debt that remains. "Owe no one anything, except to love one another" (Romans 13:8, WEB). We can never say we have loved enough; this debt is always owed.
- Love fulfills the law. "Love doesn't harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law" (Romans 13:10, WEB). Genuine love accomplishes what all the commandments aim at.
- Live in light of the coming day. "The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let's therefore throw off the works of darkness" (Romans 13:12, WEB). The nearness of Christ's return reshapes how we live now.
- On what basis does Paul call believers to submit to governing authorities (13:1-5)?
- What does it mean that love is the one debt we always owe (13:8)?
- How does love "fulfill the law" (13:8-10)?
- How should knowing that "the day is near" affect the way we live (13:11-14)?
- What "works of darkness" might God be calling you to throw off as you "put on" Christ?
- Paul grounds submission in God's ordering of the world: authorities are instituted by God as his servants for good, so we obey for conscience' sake, not merely to avoid punishment (13:1-5). This is not blind endorsement of every ruler but recognition of God's design for order. It frees believers from rebellion while leaving room for God's higher claim.
- The debt of love is unique because, unlike taxes or respect, it is never paid off; we always owe more love to one another (13:8). Love is an ongoing obligation rooted in grace. This keeps relationships from becoming mere transactions and calls us to continual self-giving.
- Love fulfills the law because every command about our neighbor is summed up in loving them as ourselves, and love does them no harm (13:8-10). Rules describe what love does; love is their living substance. When we truly love, we naturally keep God's commands.
- Knowing the day is near, we are to wake from sleep, throw off darkness, and put on the armor of light and the Lord Jesus Christ (13:11-14). The shortness of time gives urgency to holy living. We live now as people who belong to the dawning day, not the passing night.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to name, quietly or aloud, one work of darkness to put off and one way to clothe themselves with Christ. Encourage them to see this not as grim effort but as living in keeping with the coming day.