Thursday, April 28, 2016
Romans Chapter 13 ~ Righteousness Practiced ~ In the World
Romans 13
1 Everyone must submit to governing
authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of
authority have been placed there by God.
2 So anyone who rebels against authority
is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.
3 For the authorities do not strike fear
in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like
to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor
you.
4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent
for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for
they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very
purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.
5 So you must submit to them, not only to
avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.
6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same
reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what
they do.
7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay
your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and
honor to those who are in authority.
8 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your
obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the
requirements of God’s law.
9 For the commandments say, “You must not
commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.”
These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love
your neighbor as yourself.”
10 Love does no wrong to others, so love
fulfills the requirements of God’s law.
11 This is all the more urgent, for you
know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer
now than when we first believed.
12 The night is almost gone; the day of
salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and
put on the shining armor of right living.
13 Because we belong to the day, we must
live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild
parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in
quarreling and jealousy.
14 Instead, clothe
yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself
think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
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