God Is Still on the Throne
Romans 13 never teaches that every ruler is godly or every government decision is right.
God Is Still on the Throne
Let’s look at Romans 13:1–7. It’s one of the most discussed—and difficult—passages in all of Paul’s writings as he explains how believers are to relate to governing authorities.
Paul is surprisingly simple: “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God” (Romans 13:1).
Those words are remarkable when we think about where Paul was and who was ruling the Roman Empire at the time. Paul wasn’t writing during a golden age of righteous leadership. He lived under a cruel government that would eventually imprison and execute him. The emperor was Nero. Let that settle in for a few minutes.
How do we reconcile that?
Let’s start here: Paul’s confidence was never placed in Rome. His confidence rested in the sovereign God who reigns over every throne on earth.
Romans 13 never teaches that every ruler is godly or every government decision is right. Even Paul refused commands that would have required him to disobey God. In Acts 5:29, Peter declared, “We must obey God rather than men”. Daniel continued praying even when it was forbidden.
Their allegiance belonged to God.
Paul is saying that Christians should not be known for hostility or contempt toward lawful authority. We are to live as people who believe that even when governments disappoint us, God has not surrendered His throne.
Our hope is never found in an election, a political party or a government program. Those things come and go. God does not. Kingdoms rise and fall, but Jesus Christ remains King of kings forever.
When we trust God, we never panic. We can disagree without despair, engage without bitterness and live faithfully knowing that nothing takes place outside His sovereign care.
Spend some time today thanking God. Ask Him to help you trust Him even when you don’t understand the direction of our nation or its leaders. Our peace is rooted not in who occupies an office, but in the One who occupies heaven’s throne.
Tomorrow: Romans 13 doesn’t just shape how we think about government—it also shapes how we minister to those who govern us.
