Romans: Gospel Living The Transforming Power of the Gospel Part 4

Oct 26, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Sovereignty Over Governing Authorities

God is the ultimate authority who establishes all governing powers, and every person in authority is there by His sovereign will. Recognizing this truth allows believers to trust God’s purposes even when earthly rulers seem flawed or unjust, knowing that no authority exists apart from His ordination. This perspective calls us to submit not because human leaders are always worthy, but because God is always in control and worthy of our trust. [41:08]

Romans 13:1-2 (ESV)
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you struggle to trust God’s sovereignty over those in authority, and how might remembering His control change your attitude or actions today?

Day 2: The Call to Respect and Honor Authorities

Believers are called to show respect and honor to those in positions of civil authority, not because of their personal merit, but because they are appointed by God and bear His image. This means refraining from speaking disparagingly about leaders, even when disagreeing with their actions, and instead demonstrating a Christlike attitude that sets us apart from the world. By honoring those in authority, we reflect our trust in God’s order and our commitment to His commands. [01:05:53]

Romans 13:7 (ESV)
Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Reflection: Is there a leader or authority figure you have spoken about disrespectfully? How can you intentionally show them respect and honor this week, regardless of your personal opinions?

Day 3: When to Obey God Rather Than Men

While Christians are generally called to be subject to governing authorities, there are clear biblical examples where obedience to God must take precedence when human commands contradict God’s revealed will. Scripture commends those who, like the Hebrew midwives, Daniel, and the apostles, chose to obey God rather than men, even at great personal risk. This principle requires discernment and courage, ensuring our ultimate allegiance remains with God above all earthly powers. [55:21]

Acts 5:29 (ESV)
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Reflection: Can you identify a situation—past, present, or hypothetical—where obeying God might require you to go against human authority? What would faithfulness look like in that moment?

Day 4: Subjection Is More Than Obedience—It’s Recognizing God’s Order

Being subject to authority is not simply blind obedience, but an acknowledgment of the order God has established, recognizing our place within it while always holding God as the highest authority. This means respecting the roles and responsibilities of those over us, but also understanding that our ultimate submission is to God, and that there may be times when we cannot comply with human commands that violate His will. Living this way requires humility, discernment, and a heart aligned with God’s purposes. [56:45]

Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a renewed mind that discerns when to submit and when to stand firm for God’s truth in your daily interactions with authority?

Day 5: Praying for and Participating in Civic Life

Believers are urged to pray for all who are in positions of authority, seeking God’s guidance and blessing for them so that society may flourish in peace and godliness. In addition to prayer, Christians are encouraged to participate responsibly in civic duties, such as voting, as an extension of their faith and stewardship, trusting God to work through their engagement for His purposes. This active involvement reflects both submission to God’s order and a desire to see His will done on earth. [01:10:27]

1 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

Reflection: How can you make praying for leaders and participating in civic responsibilities a regular part of your spiritual life this week?

Sermon Summary

All that we build, all our striving, and every legacy we hope to leave behind is ultimately empty unless the Lord is at the center. Our lives are but a mist, and all glory belongs to Christ, our King. He alone is sovereign, and His rule and reign are everlasting. As we reflect on our place in this world, we must remember that Christ, the Creator of all, became human, bore our sins, died, and rose again so that we might belong to Him—not just as His creation, but as those redeemed and adopted into His family. Yet, even as those who belong to Christ, we often fail to give Him the lordship He deserves in our daily lives. We are called to submit every area of our lives to Him, including how we relate to those in authority over us.

God’s sovereignty extends to every governing authority. Paul’s words in Romans 13 challenge us to see government not as a purely human institution, but as something God has ordained for His purposes. Even when authorities are imperfect or unjust, God remains in control, using them to accomplish His will. Our call is to be subject to these authorities, recognizing their place in God’s order, while also understanding that our ultimate allegiance is to God Himself.

Scripture provides examples of faithful people who, when commanded to do evil, chose to obey God rather than men. Being subject to authority does not always mean blind obedience; it means recognizing the rightful place of authority while never compromising our obedience to God’s revealed will. We are to pay taxes, show respect, and honor those in authority, not because they are always worthy, but because God has placed them there. Even when we disagree or when the government acts unjustly, our trust is not in men, but in the God who ordains all things.

We are also called to pray for those in authority and to use the privileges we have—such as voting—to seek the good of our society. Ultimately, our peace and confidence rest in the truth that God is sovereign over all rulers and authorities. One day, every earthly authority will bow before Christ, the King of Kings. Until then, we live as people transformed by this truth, submitting to authority as an act of trust in God’s perfect rule.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Sovereignty Over All Authority Every governing authority, from the most local official to the highest ruler, is in place because God has sovereignly ordained it. This truth calls us to a posture of humility and trust, even when we cannot see the purpose behind certain leaders or policies. Our submission to authority is ultimately an act of faith in God’s providence, not in the perfection of human rulers. [39:10]
2. Submission Does Not Mean Unquestioning Obedience To be subject to authority is to recognize its rightful place in God’s order, but never to place it above God Himself. Scripture is clear that when human commands contradict God’s revealed will, our allegiance must remain with God. Civil disobedience, when necessary, is not rebellion but faithfulness to the higher authority of God. [55:21]
3. Respect and Honor Are Due Because of God, Not Men We are called to pay taxes, show respect, and honor those in authority—not because they are always just or deserving, but because God has placed them in their roles. This discipline shapes our hearts, teaching us to trust God’s wisdom and to see even flawed leaders as part of His sovereign plan. [65:53]
4. Conscience and Obedience Go Hand in Hand Our obedience to authority is not just about avoiding punishment, but about maintaining a clear conscience before God. Like David with Saul, we are called to trust God’s timing and justice, refusing to take matters into our own hands even when wronged. This cultivates a deep reliance on God’s ultimate justice and mercy. [61:22]
5. Prayer and Participation Are Acts of Faith We are urged to pray for those in authority and to participate in the civic process, such as voting, as an extension of our trust in God’s sovereignty. These actions are not merely civic duties, but spiritual disciplines that align our hearts with God’s purposes for our society. In doing so, we seek the peace and flourishing of our communities while resting in God’s control over all things.

** [70:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[30:38] - All Glory Be to Christ
[33:19] - Christ’s Kingship and Our Identity
[34:18] - The Gospel and Our Belonging
[37:08] - Struggles with Authority
[39:10] - God’s Sovereignty Over Government
[41:45] - Christians in the Seat of Power
[43:03] - Government and God’s Judgment
[44:13] - Reading Romans 13:1-7
[46:10] - God’s Ordination of Rulers
[49:24] - Biblical Examples of Civil Disobedience
[55:21] - The Meaning of Submission
[61:22] - Conscience and Obedience
[65:53] - Taxes, Respect, and Honor
[70:27] - Prayer and Civic Participation
[72:20] - Trusting God’s Sovereignty
[73:46] - Closing Prayer and Response Song

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: All Glory Be to Christ—God’s Sovereignty and Our Response to Authority

Bible Reading

Romans 13:1-7 (ESV)
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Observation Questions

According to Romans 13:1-2, what is the reason Paul gives for being subject to governing authorities?
In the sermon, what examples were given of people in the Bible who disobeyed governing authorities, and why were they commended for it? [[49:24]]
What does Paul say is the role of government in verses 3-4? How does he describe those in authority?
What practical actions does Paul mention in verses 6-7 that show our submission to authority?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that “all glory belongs to Christ, our King. He alone is sovereign, and His rule and reign are everlasting.” How does this truth affect the way Christians view earthly authorities? [[33:19]]
Why does Paul say that our submission to authority is “not just about avoiding punishment, but about maintaining a clear conscience before God”? What does this look like in real life? [[01:01:22]]
The sermon points out that “submission does not mean unquestioning obedience.” How can a Christian discern when to obey and when to respectfully disobey a governing authority? [[55:21]]
Why are respect and honor due to those in authority, even when they are not personally worthy of it? [[01:05:53]]

Application Questions

The sermon reminds us that “all that we build, all our striving, and every legacy we hope to leave behind is ultimately empty unless the Lord is at the center.” Are there areas of your life where you are striving for your own legacy instead of submitting to Christ’s lordship? What would it look like to put Christ at the center in those areas? [[33:19]]
Think about a time when you disagreed with someone in authority over you (parent, boss, government, etc.). How did you respond? Looking back, do you think your response reflected trust in God’s sovereignty? Why or why not? [[37:08]]
The sermon gives examples of civil disobedience in the Bible. Have you ever faced a situation where obeying an authority would have meant disobeying God? How did you handle it, or how would you hope to handle it if it happened? [[53:56]]
Paul says to pay taxes, show respect, and honor those in authority. Is there a specific authority figure in your life right now that you struggle to respect or honor? What is one practical step you could take this week to show them respect—not because they deserve it, but because God has placed them there? [[01:05:53]]
The sermon urges us to pray for those in authority and to participate in civic duties like voting. How often do you pray for leaders in your city, state, or country? What would it look like to make this a regular habit? [[01:10:27]]
The sermon says, “We are called to submit every area of our lives to Him, including how we relate to those in authority over us.” Are there any areas where you find it especially hard to submit to authority? What might God be teaching you through those struggles? [[35:41]]
When you see injustice or corruption in government, how do you usually respond—in anger, cynicism, apathy, or prayer? What would it look like to respond in a way that shows your trust is in God’s ultimate justice and mercy? [[01:12:20]]

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help you trust His sovereignty over all authorities, to give you wisdom in how to respond to those in power, and to help you honor Christ as King in every area of your life.

Sermon Clips

“God is sovereign over those who are in positions of government authority. And he uses them, as imperfect as they are, to accomplish his will. Last week, we saw how the Apostle Paul shifted his writing style dramatically when he got to the second part of chapter 12.”

“Our dedication of ourselves to the Lord doesn't consist of something that takes place in some ethereal sphere that floats above what's going on in our everyday lives. We're to live out our commitment to God in every aspect of our lives, including how we relate to the government.”

“Commands having to do with many different aspects of the Christian life. But here in chapter 13, he slows down once again and he focuses deeply on one area of life that every believer must wrestle with. Our relationship to the government.”

“If you think about it, there are very good reasons why Paul chose to write this in this particular letter of his. Let's remind ourselves, who is Paul writing to here? That's not rhetorical. Answer, who is Paul writing to here?”

“Does obeying secular governmental authorities entail conforming to the world? If so, then we shouldn't obey those authorities because we're commanded not to conform to the world. What we find in this passage is that those who are over us in governmental authority aren't in those positions apart from God”

“What we find out in today's passage is that though God is the one who will execute his vengeance on unrepentant sinners in the last day, he has also ordained civil government as an institution to carry out his judgment in the present age.”

“All throughout the Bible, we see that God providentially rules over everything. Specifically, the rise and fall of political rulers. For example, in Daniel 4:17, Daniel tells King Nebuchadnezzar, "The Most High rules the kingdom of men”

“In the same way, when we reject authority without just cause, we disrupt God's order and we invite consequences either from the state or from God directly. Let's read verses three and four again.”

“There are occasions where rulers are a terror to those who do good. Verse four says that the governing authorities are servants of God, carrying out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Well, as we've seen, sometimes governing authorities carry out wrath, all right, but not God's wrath, and they carry it”

“To be subject to someone is to recognize one's subordinate place in a hierarchy established by God. It's to acknowledge that certain institutions or people have been placed over us and have the right to our respect.”

“But Paul would never think that a wife must always do what her husband demanded. For instance, if her husband wanted her to do something in the bedroom with other people involved, that's clearly immoral and she should refuse to do that. In a similar way, we believers can be”

“And we should as much as possible do what the government says as long as the government is not asking us to do something contrary to the teaching of scripture.”

“Paul and Jesus don't give us that out. At the time of Jesus ministry, the Jews were under the authority of the Roman Empire. And one of the things that was funded by the government at that time was the gladiatorial games. If you know anything about Roman history, you know these games demonstrated very little regard for human life.”

“We should think of it as an opportunity to demonstrate that our trust is in God's sovereignty, even over how the government uses the money we give it.”

“Those who have positions of civil authority ultimately have those positions because God has sovereignly ordained that to be the case. Romans 13:1 says there is no authority except those from God. Those that exist have been instituted by God. We may not”

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