“2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. 4 For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. 5 Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience.”
Why should we submit to those who have authority over us? To oppose those whom God puts in authority over us is to oppose God Himself. Want to avoid judgment? Want to be free from strife? Want to be unafraid of those in positions of authority over you? Paul says, “Do what is good!” (v. 3b) The words of the Apostle Peter agree with Paul:
“Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good.” — 1 Peter 2:13-14
Will those in authority over us always praise good conduct and punish bad? Is it always the case that Christians must submit to and obey those in authority over us? What about evil leaders or corrupt governments? The words of Paul and Peter speak of a general principle, one that will have exceptions. Not every ruler established by God will honor those who do good, but most will. Even still, just as Paul described in verse 1, we can rest in what we know God has told us: God is in control, He has established every person that is in a position of authority and He will use it to accomplish His purposes and to glorify His name. It is a fascinating mystery how God will use even the willful transgression of humans in positions of authority for His glory. Peter has some helpful words on this subject. Speaking of submitting to authority, Peter says:
“For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God.” — 1 Peter 2:19-20
Peter says, what good does it do if you act wrongly and are justly punished for your offense? You are getting what you deserve. However, those who suffer at the hand of those in authority, yet are doing what is right, that brings glory to God. Those who are abiding by the conscience that God the Spirit provides within them, and are living in obedience, yet suffer harm from those in authority, those people will find favor with God.
We can see an example of this in the Old Testament. In Jeremiah 29, we see the words of the Lord, through the prophet Jeremiah, are written and sent to those whom had been deported from Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar. The deportation of the Jews from their homeland by a foreign adversary whom God had allowed to conquer Israel would have seemed like a definite evil in the eyes of the Jews. How could God let His people be conquered and displaced like this? How could God let someone like King Nebuchadnezzar reign over Israel? Even in the midst of what seems like a terrible situation, God provides for His people to thrive:
“This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles I deported from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their produce. Find wives for yourselves, and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and give your daughters to men in marriage so that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease. Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.” — Jeremiah 29:4-7
Not only did God protect and provide for His people, but He had caused this calamity to fall upon the Jews so that He would accomplish His purposes.
“For this is what the Lord says: “When seventy years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm my promise concerning you to restore you to this place. For I know the plans I have for you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you” — this is the Lord’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place from which I deported you.”” — Jeremiah 29:10-14
Not only was God going to use this disaster for Israel’s well being, but He used it to cause the nation to repent, return to God, obey Him, and pray to Him!
This story prompts us to consider this question: Why has God established governments and people in authority over us? Paul gives us two reasons:
- It is for our own good. Those in positions of authority are placed there by God, and are servants to Him. “For it [the government/authority] is God’s servant for your good.” (v. 4a words in brackets added for context) It may not always seem like this is the case from our perspective, but we can rest with assurance that God is working out all things for our good.
“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” — Romans 8:28
- It is God’s tool for vengeance. Paul instructed Christians not to seek their own vengeance at the end of chapter 12.
“Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” — Romans 12:19
Instead Paul reminds Christians of God’s words from the Old Testament:
““Vengeance and retribution belong to me. In time their foot will slip, for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”” — Deuteronomy 32:35
God has the right to seek vengeance against those who rebel against His word and will in any way He sees fit, and He tells us that He will use governments and those in authority to accomplish that.
In conclusion of all that Paul just told us, he gives us two clear reasons why we need to submit to authority. “Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience.” (v. 5) Christians must submit to authority because if we do, we will avoid the wrath of God, and, having a conscience that is informed by the Holy Spirit of God, we must do what God wills. To violate our Christian consciences, provoked by the Holy Spirit, would be to sin against God.