Romans 13
Romans 13:1-14
1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.
9 For the commandments, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” “YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,” “YOU SHALL NOT STEAL,” “YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,” “YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
So, even though we’ve died with Christ to be delivered from sin’s slave master and any condemnation of the flesh, there is a responsibility we yet have to simply choose good over evil. There is still an enemy looking for someone to devour who is completely vulnerable to his stalking because of their violation of natural laws. Even though there has been an inward rebirth, in order for there to be freedom from consequences of earthly regulations, along with the hauntings of an inward conscience, a choice for a walk in the light over the way of the flesh is essential. In addition to the work of grace on the inside, there is a continual clothing of Christ on the outside that will determine whether or not the wages of sin bring death to this present life. To put on Christ is to put on love and its elimination of any considerations of the flesh and its demise.
How precious is the approach of our Father of love in bringing deliverance to us through Christ. He continually sees us in Him and offers us this amazing opportunity to walk free from the devastation of darkness, continually welcoming us into His holy light. In the simple choice of Him is a reception of His love, mercy and grace that breaks the chains of the past, while empowering to completely overcome any entanglements that would still overtake us. Quite apart from any personal qualifications, we get to clothe ourselves with the Lamb of God who gave up His own life to free us from all evil and destruction. Ours is a life of unending choices for transformation in every setting of the heart and mind on Him.