One of the most controversial and talked about subjects in our day is government. It seems that you can’t get away from fights, attacks, and opinions about government. The great irony is that with respect to worship, as Americans we live in perhaps the freest society in the history of the world. The Apostle Paul gives us a Biblical perspective on government, but God’s Word does not always answer the questions we are curious about but instead gives us the answers that God wants us to have. So, in Romans 13, Paul does not tell us which is the best form of government or how a government is to operate, but instead he gives Christians instructions on how they are to relate to government –all governments. The important thing for us to see is that even when writing about something so worldly-centered as government, Paul instructs believers to have an other-worldly perspective. We are to be followers of Christ who are “Submitting to Authority” (Romans 13:1-7).

I. Preliminary Considerations
A. Why Is This Here?
B. What Does This Tell Us?

II. Government is of God
A. God Has Given Us Government
B. God Has a Purpose for Government

Questions for consideration: (1) Why do you think Paul’s statements in this passage are so controversial? What does that tell us about ourselves? (2) Why is it important for us to see that government comes from God? What is the alternative? (3) What are the two temptations that come to us with respect to government? How should we deal with them?