Jesus spoke on the subject. Take heed what He
has said and be discerning spiritually. The only authority is God.
Satan is the ruler of this world (until he is removed at the end)
John
14:30 I
will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of
this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.
The
rulers of the world do not believe in Jesus Christ; they sneered at
Him and crucified Him. They will do the same to those who follow
Jesus to the end
Luke
23:35 And
the people stood looking on. But even the rulers
with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself
if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”
Luke
24:20 and
how the chief priests and our rulers
delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.
Luke
21:12 But before all these things, they
will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up
to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings
and rulers for My name’s sake.
___________________now
read Romans 13
Romans 13 is
all about dues: to the rulers, between citizens, and dues to self, as
the citizens of the Kingdom of God, yet living in a physical human
world. Rulers pay dues too -to the ultimate authority, God.
God is the
final Judge. The Lord Jesus Christ will come again to Judge the
secrets of men, the living and the dead. (2 Timothy 4:1; Romans 2:16)
Romans
13
Governing authorities – receive dues
for appointment
1 Let every soul be subject to the governing
authorities. For there is no authority except from God,
and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore
whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God,
and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For
rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want
to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have
praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s
minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he
does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an
avenger to execute wrath on him who
practices evil. 5 Therefore you must
be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’
sake.6 For because
of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers
attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render
therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are
due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to
whom honor.
(Note the definition of qualified 'rulers/authorities' - appointed by God, keep the ordinances of God, not a terror to good works, minister to God's people for good, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. )
Love is a due
8 Owe
no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another
has fulfilled the law. 9 For
the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You
shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear
false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there
is any other
commandment, are all summed
up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.” 10 Love
does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the
fulfillment of the law.
(Love one another is the only dues payable between citizens of the Kingdom of God!)
Make sure you receive your due!
11 And do this,
knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake
out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than
when we first believed. 12 The
night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the
works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let
us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not
in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But
put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh,
to fulfill its lusts.
(Citizens of the Kingdom of God also receive dues: Each has received Jesus Christ, and is entitled to put on Him, become the righteousness of God!)
They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
