Paul preached the Gospel of the Grace of God that is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (2 Timothy 4:17; Romans 1:16; Ephesians 3:1-2). He received his message by visions and revelations of the Lord Jesus Christ (2Corinthians 12:1,7; Galatians 1:11,12; Ephesians 3:3). This message contains the preaching of the cross that is, unto us who are saved, the "power of God" (1Corinthians 1:18).
But before salvation, we were all under the dominion and rule of the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. We walked according to the course of this world, which is established by Satan, the prince of the power of the invisible realm, manifesting the lusts of our flesh (Ephesians 2:2-3). As such, we possessed no capacity to function under the power ordained of God, the higher power.
But thanks be unto God, Who is rich in mercy, for when we, by faith, relied upon the accomplishments of His Son upon the cross, were delivered from the power of darkness and translated into His glorious Heavenly Kingdom (Colossians 1:13; Ephesians 1:3; 2:4-6). God, through the working of the Holy Spirit, placed (baptized) us in the One Body of Christ, under the power and authority of Jesus Christ as our HEAD (1Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 2:12).
This good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and on the third day arose from the dead is the only Gospel that saves the soul (1Corinthians 15:3-4). Sinners who believe are now counted as saints, and no longer sinners.
Let us now examine Romans 13:1-7:
These commands of Paul unto the saints at Rome reveal that they were to be under subjection to the higher powers that were ordained of God. Please note that Paul is not addressing lost mankind nor religious folks apart from Christ; only saved people who are in the One Body. (Romans 1:6; 12:4,5).
Vs. 1 states…"the powers that be are ordained of God.” These are the higher or superior powers that are of God and ordained of God. These powers had delegated authority and were privileged to exercise power since the authority they operated under did not originate within them.
Paul the apostle of and to the Gentiles is the higher power being discussed in Romans 13… “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:” (Romans 11:13) “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6: Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7: Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” (1 Timothy 2:5-7). “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2: If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:” (Ephesians 3:1,2).
Paul understood his delegated authority from the Lord and the use of his power within the Body of Christ: “Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God.” (Romans 15:15)
Paul acknowledged his authority/power was given him by God and that it was for the edification of the Body of Christ and not their destruction. “For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:” (2 Corinthians 10:8)
Paul had the proper view of himself and his position. “I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.” (2 Corinthians 12:11) “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;” (Ephesians 3:8) “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6: I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7: So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-7)
Christ spoke through Paul and he lived by the power of God as he ministered to the Corinthians. “Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. 4: For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.” (2 Corinthians 13:3-4)
Paul's had the strength to do God’s work because Jesus was working in and through him. “Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” (Colossians 1:29)
Paul had both the humility and boldness to do what God had ordained him to do. “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:” (Romans 1:5) “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.” (2 Timothy 1:11).
There is a three-fold testimony in Scripture concerning God providing His chosen spokesman with authority/power. The Record shows God giving authority to Moses in the Dispensation of Law during Time Past; and He also committed unto Peter, the primary prophetic Kingdom apostle, the 'keys' to the Kingdom of Heaven upon earth (Matthew 16:19), with Peter using those keys during the Pentecostal era as recorded in the early chapters of Acts; and God also committed unto Paul the Dispensation of the Grace of God, with it's corresponding authority/power to accomplish the establishment of the Sound Doctrines of Grace Truth. “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;” (Colossians 1:25)
Paul was the higher power because of the Sound Doctrine that God was revealing to him. “According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.” (1 Timothy 1:11) “But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” (Titus 1:3, 9).
God blessed the early Christian church with apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to participate in the edification process as the Word of Truth was being given to Paul (Ephesians 4:11-14). These men labored in harmony with Paul. It wasn’t so much that these men had spiritual gifts---they were the gifts to the Body of Christ. They were co-laborers with Paul as he exercised his apostolic authority in directing their ministry. “Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 2: And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:” (1 Thessalonians 3:1-2) “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. 20: For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. 21: For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. 22: But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. 23: Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. 24: But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. 25: Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.” (Philippians 2:19-25) “Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 3: As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,” (1 Timothy 1:3) “To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. 5: For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:” (Titus 1:5).
Within themselves, these men were not the authority, but because of the deposit of Truth placed into their trust by God through Paul's ministry, they could speak and rebuke with all authority. “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2) “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4: And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:2-5) “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” (Titus 2:15).
In Romans 13:2-5, there are two basic issues presented concerning how the saints could respond to the higher powers of verse one. For example, in Romans chapters 6-8, Paul lays before each Christian the newness of life that we have been raised to walk in. A Christian can either choose to walk "after" the flesh or yield to the Spirit of God. One walk is a daily life in subjection to God and His revealed Word under Grace. The other is resistance to God and His authority revealed by Paul's epistles (1 Corinthians 14:37; 2 Corinthians 13:3).
Likewise, in Romans 13 the charge is to grow in grace through willingly subjecting oneself unto God's higher power/rulers/ministers. The opposite of this is to ignore/resist that which God had ordained to be the power.
I. A Christian Living after the FLESH:
· These believers resist the power/authority of God - Romans 12:2.; 1 Tim 5:17; 1 Thessalonians 3:2
· These believers resist the plan of God – vs. 2. The ordinance of God reveals the will and purpose of God so the saint can align his manner of living so that he may function as a full-grown son of God manifesting Grace and Truth (Romans 8:29; 15:8; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
· These believers that resist receive unto themselves judgment:
During the Acts period as Romans was being written, Paul exercised his authority to bring physical signs of destruction unto those who opposed the preaching of His gospel. There was also a great spiritual loss in the blessedness of grace reigning within the local assemblies when they rejected and spoke against Paul (Acts 13:11; 1 Corinthians 4:21; 5:3-5; 11:27-30; 2 Corinthians 12:12- 13:3,10; Galatians 4:15).
The post-Acts period marked the departure of physical signs being manifested, but the magnitude of the spiritual loss has increased as Christians, since Paul's day, have consistently rejected the Authority of God found in the Pauline epistles. As a whole, the Church that is His Body has preferred the demonstration of God's power as recorded in Matthew-John and Acts chapters 1-8. The Body of Christ has neglected, yes even changed, the truth concerning "...the powers that be are ordained of God." Yet, there remains a day when all the Body will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ to give account (1 Corinthians 3:10-4:2; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
II. A Christian Living Yielded to the SPIRIT:
· These believers were subject unto the higher power/authority of God (Romans 13:3).
· These believers were to be affected for good by the power as the will and purpose of God was manifested and understood by the saints. The higher powers of God were to exercise their authority in such a manner that the saints would experience spiritual soundness, goodness, and profit (Philippians 2:19- 21; 1 Timothy 4:15,16).
· These believers would receive praise of the powers that be:
During the apostolic journeys of Paul as he had just left the brethren in the midst of persecution, he often sent his co-laborers or ministers of God to check on those saints he left behind. As these ministers of God brought back good reports of the saints submitting to Paul's authority, this news refreshed Paul and brought his praise unto the same (1 Thessalonians 3:1-10; Philippians 2:19-23; 2 Corinthians 7:6-16).
It was the design of God to use men invested with delegated power/authority instructed in Sound Doctrine to bring maturity and edification to the membership of the Body of Christ by the POWER OF GOD (1 Corinthians 2:5
· Leaders within the Body of Christ must teach the Word of Truth rightly divided making clear the differences between Mystery Truth and Prophetic Truth, the Body of Christ and National Israel, the Heavenly Program and the Earthly Program, and Grace and Law.
· Concerning the higher powers/rulers/ministers of God as recorded in Romans 13:3-6, Paul also sent others such as Titus, Timothy, and Epaphroditus as those ordained ministers of God to confirm the saints with the doctrines of His Gospel. These men were the "gifts" God gave to the Body of Christ as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 4:11.
· The identifying mark of the true ministers of God would be that they would not change the Sound Doctrine Paul had committed unto them. They would teach and do the same thing Paul taught (2 Timothy 2:1,2; Philippians 4:9). The local assemblies were expected to submit themselves unto these true powers/rulers/ministers of God thus proving the sincerity of their love (2 Corinthians 7:5-16). The local assemblies were/are expected to stand against Satan's false apostles and deceitful workers. These men were/are sent by Satan into the Body of Christ to draw the members into a Law/Works/Flesh system. God even labels these false workers as the ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Ephesians 4:14).
· Loving obedience to God was made known when the assemblies submitted to Paul and his co-laborers and rejected the false authorities/powers. This was evidence of their obedience to the Spirit of Christ that was in them as they lived under the Grace/Faith/Spirit system.
· To serve Christ and to be involved with the work of Christ was to obey Paul and to respond in a God honoring manner to his co-laborers giving honor to who honor was due (Philippians 2:25-30, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).
For the saint to resist the powers of God is to walk after the lust of the flesh. Today, most of the members of the Church, which is His Body, are in this position due to their ignorance and disregard of the distinctive nature of Paul's authority, power, and epistles in the Dispensation of the Grace of God. Though the consequences of that resistance may not be seen in this life, all things will be manifested at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Nevertheless, the believer that now ministers another gospel due to his neglect of rightly dividing the Word of Truth between Prophecy and Mystery is accursed (Galatians 1:8,9), reprobate concerning the faith and good works (2 Timothy 3:8; Titus 1:16).
We must keep in mind that as Paul wrote Romans during the diminishing of Israel (Romans 11:11-13), and as God raised up this apostle of Grace, that to speak against Paul at this time, resulted in a judgment/damnation that affected the physical body.
A good example of this is in 1 Corinthians 5 where a member of the Body of Christ was having sexual relations with his father’s wife. This man, as well as the whole Corinthian assembly, was outside of godly conduct that was acceptable to Paul in his God given authority.
We find that since that time, and unto our day, God's method for establishing sound doctrine, for bringing reproof, correction, and instruction to the saints, is by 2 Timothy 3:16; A completed Book called the Holy Scriptures studied and applied according to 2 Timothy 2:15.
Every believer can find himself in subjection unto God during this present Dispensation of Grace, living life under His power as we grow in understanding Grace; FOR TODAY GRACE REIGNS--Romans 5:21.
Let's consider Romans 13:6-8 where we find one major point within these three verses. It is that the members of the One Body were to discharge their duty unto the ministers of God as he faithfully discharged his responsibility given him of God. Those that received the 'spiritual things' from the minister of God were bound by love's duty to provide the 'physical things' unto that faithful power/ruler/minister so he could continue on in those God given ministries (Galatians 6:6; 1 Corinthians 9:10-14).
Romans 13:6 states that these powers/rulers/ministers of God were to attend continually upon this very thing. What is "this very thing?" In context it is that the minister of God exercise his God delegated power for the benefit of the saints which produces edification and maturity. Verse 5 reveals that the Christian was to obey the minister of God for conscience sake (for the Christian to possess a pure and good conscience toward God's commandments through Paul, contrasted to a weak and defiled or seared conscience). This is the forming of Christ within the saints (Galatians 4:19; Eph 4:11,12; Colossians 1:28).
These men of God were to effectively use Paul's Sound Doctrine. That Sound Doctrine would then provide the increase or profit of God within the new life of the saints (1 Timothy 1:10,11; 4:15).
Actually, it is the Holy Spirit taking the Word of God and energizing the Word within the believing heart of the saints by the power of God, thus strengthening the inner man (Romans 15:13; Ephesians 3:16-17; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
If those ministers of God failed to deliver the Word rightly divided, God would not establish the Christians in spiritual wisdom of the Mystery, but rather they would possess a human and worldly wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:5; Romans 8:5-7).
In verse 6-8 there are four words that most people, saved or lost, view as only applying to some form of human/national/civil government. The words are: tribute, custom, fear, and honour.
Verse 7 reads, "Render therefore to all their dues:" This is the collective heading that ties all the four words under one issue. That issue being the saints faithfully discharging their responsibility unto God's ministers who are the higher powers. Rendering their dues, though it is down here on this earth being done unto the faithful power/ruler/minister of God, was the same as being done unto God for He had ordained this procedure.
TRIBUTE--a tax, which was self imposed, which was paid to the minister of God (1 Corinthians 9:9-14; 2 Corinthians 8:8-14/9:5-8; Galatians 6:6). By 'taxing' oneself it denoted an attitude of subjection unto God as the Christian recognized God's ordinance or arrangement.
CUSTOM--a toll or tax paid to accomplish a specific purpose. Paul collected from local assemblies money to be used to help out the other assemblies. Paul was entreated to take on "the fellowship of the ministering to the saints" (2 Corinthians 8:1-18; 2 Corinthians 1:13).
FEAR--a wholesome dread of displeasing the minister of God. This godly fear was beneficial as it influenced the disposition and attitude concerning subjection unto God (2 Corinthians 7:1; Eph 5:21).
HONOUR-an internal system of valuing or esteeming the Man of God in his ministry as the saints yielded to God's will as expressed by these faithful stewards (1 Thessalonians 5:12,13; 1 Timothy 5:17).
Finally, Romans 13 is very plain that the higher power/ruler/minister of God was to continually look upon that which edified and was for good. This brought maturity to the saints so they could do the work of the ministry. Ephesians 4:11-13 is a wonderful passage of Scripture that confirms this Truth. If the servant of God did this, he was worth his support. If he did not, the saints were not to support him in what he was doing until he recovered himself by acknowledging the full truth delivered unto and by Paul through the office of his apostleship (1 Corinthians 14:37).
In the present Dispensation of the Grace of God, Jesus Christ is the Head of the One Body. To make this mystery position known, God committed unto Paul's trust a divine office of authority. There were no other humans who had this office (Romans 11:13) though there were other Body apostles. Just like Moses, who was the first and only one that possessed "the pattern of the tabernacle" and delivered the Law unto the Circumcised, Paul was the first and only one God entrusted with "the form of sound words" and delivered the issues of the Dispensation of the Grace of God unto the Uncircumcised (Titus 1:3; 1 Timothy 1:11). Paul received "the form of sound words" through visions and revelations of the Lord (Acts 9:16; 18:9; 26:16; Galatians 1:11,12; Ephesians 3:3; Colossians 1:25).
As the sign gift ministry failed, ceased, and vanished with the close of the Acts period; and with Paul and the other 'gifts' that God gave to men having died; and God not giving others or continuing to give other 'gifts', was/is God left without an authoritative voice? Is there a power/authority that speaks for God today? Yes, there still is an authority that speaks.
But just like it was in Paul's day when the lost, and sadly the saved, spoke against God's design in the edification process in using Paul and the other 'gifts', the same ill will is demonstrated towards that which replaced them.
As we look at Paul's ministry as well as the ministry of the other ordained men of God, we find that their ministries were to provide a four-fold effect. These men were to provide doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. With the passing away of these "gifts unto men" God replaced them with His completed Word of Truth.
This completed Word of God was known as Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16). Second Timothy 3:16,17 reveals that the four-fold ministry of the gifted men had been replaced with Scriptures that do the very same thing. God replacing Paul's ministry as well as the ministry of the other ordained men of God with Scriptures that provide doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.
TODAY, there are no longer any Romans 13 higher powers or rulers or ministers of God, but God's fully, completed, perfect Word in the Bible.
With the Epistle of Second Timothy being the last book in the Bible to be written while Paul was near his execution, God had used the Romans 13 'higher powers' to give, copy, collect, and collate all that is Scripture. God's design was to have all Scripture resident within the Body of Christ before Paul died, with his Second Epistle to Timothy concluding the deposit of Truth, the Body of Christ was/is to be the place where God's Word of Truth could be found, therefore, the Body of Christ, the church of the living God, was/is the pillar and the ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15).
Since the death of Paul the apostle, God's edifying process has been through Scriptures; NOT a man as a gift or even especially gifted men for ministry, for this false tradition is not stated in 2 Timothy 3:16 as the means of edification. Through the Word of Truth found in a BOOK studied "rightly divided", we grow up IN CHRIST and become workmen of God (Ephesians 4:15; 2 Timothy 2:15).
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