Session 13

Chapter 13: Submission to Authority

From Romans Study

Watch Video  

The One Thing: We are called to submit to the authorities God has placed in our lives and trust Him as the ultimate Judge.

Intro

In Chapter 12, we began looking at the practical outworking of our faith. We learned that being a living sacrifice means renewing our minds and using our unique spiritual gifts to serve the body of Christ. We were challenged to let our love be genuine and to overcome evil with good. Paul began to show us what the gospel looks like in our internal attitudes and our relationships within the Church.

In Chapter 13, Paul expands that vision to how we live as citizens in a broken world. He addresses a topic that is often difficult: our relationship with authority. Paul argues that because God is the ultimate source of all authority, our submission to earthly leaders is actually an act of trust in Him. As you read, look for the call for us to love our neighbors and the urgency of living in the light as we wait for Jesus to return.

Study Questions

1. According to verse 1, where does all authority come from?
2. Who are God’s servants according to verse 4?
3. According to verse 5, what are the two reasons we should submit to authority?
4. Read Mark 12:17. What connections do you see between Jesus’ words and Paul’s teaching in Romans 13:6-7?
5. Read Exodus 20:13-17. According to Romans 13:8-10, how do we fulfill the law?
6. Read verses 11-12. Paul uses the imagery of "waking from sleep" because the "day is at hand." How should the reality of Jesus’ eventual return change the way we live as citizens today?
7. ​​Read verse 14. What does it look like practically to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" instead of acting on the desires of the flesh?
8. List the "desires of the flesh" Paul tells us to avoid in this chapter.
9. What is your main takeaway from Chapter 13? What is one part of this teaching that is hard for you to understand?

Paul teaches that all authority is established by God for our protection. In this video, we learn that submitting to our leaders is actually an act of trust in God’s sovereignty.

Discussion Questions

1. How does knowing that God is the one who establishes our leaders change the way you pray for or talk about people in authority?
2. Why is submission such a difficult concept for us in our culture today?
3. Using the Daniel example, how do we know when to submit and when to respectfully resist?
4. How does loving your neighbor fulfill all the other rules of the law?
5. Reflect on your study this week. Are there any specific questions you want to discuss or insights you would like to share?