5.09.2016

ROMANS: Servant Authorities

After making the case that we are all justified by the same grace, from the same forgiving God who loves to show grace and mercy to His creation, Paul then says the only logical response to this graciousness is to offer our own lives as sacrifices —instruments God can use as conduits of His love in the world.

When working through the last section, one of my editors made an incredible observation I’d never realized (thanks Laura!). I had been working off of my trusty old Bible sitting next to me with the translation I have used my whole life, the NIV of 1984. In that version, the translators had rendered the command to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices.” But the newer translation has changed the sacrifice from plural to singular. This is a great wrestling match that I think the newer translation captures.

The call is not for us to offer all of our individual bodies as individual sacrifices, but instead for us to offer our bodies — in service to one another — as a united sacrifice to God. This would be our act of worship. To honor and serve and love each other in a way that God would find our lives to be a pleasing aroma, and the world would see a proper depiction of who God is. Brilliant.

But Paul extends his calling even further, to places that might not sit as well with our postmodern, American mentalities.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
Keep in mind that these “governing authorities” are the same people who have persecuted believers and made them suffer at the end of the sword (as we saw only a few sections back). They are not simply leaders from a differing political party with differing ideologies — they are truly enemies of the state.
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason.
This verse sits in my head often as I think about all the times I feel as though the government wants to infringe on my rights, or when I start getting a little entitled about privacy or oversight. I am quick to remind myself that as a follower of Jesus, I am called to walk in the light and have nothing to hide. I should be living such a good life that there is nothing to condemn. If I live as I ought, I should have very little to fear.
They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

Again, Paul’s words remind me of the humility needed to see that God has a plan I don’t always understand or perceive. He makes vessels and instruments to use as He sees fit. It is very hard for me to know when an authority is being used by God to accomplish His purposes, so I ought to respect the place God has given them in my world.
This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Pay what you owe others — including the government — and when it comes to debt, make sure the only thing you owe other human beings is love and dignity.

Make sure this way of love is what we give ourselves to. Make sure we continue to learn how to master our sarx and be able to lay down our lives for our neighbors, our leaders, and even our enemies.
And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
As we come to the close of yet another chapter in Romans, we are reminded that our call — our offering of worship — is our ability to love each other. In our willingness to serve and see others as more significant than ourselves, we put God on display to a world that seeks to serve self. May we be true worshipers. May we offer up sacrifices of self-sacrificial living.

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