Romansنموونە

Romans 13
Living This Day in Light of That Day

How do we live as citizens of heaven while still honouring the systems of earth?

Romans 13 is Paul’s answer to this exact tension. The believers in Rome lived under Nero, a corrupt and increasingly unstable ruler. Yet Paul still writes, “Let everyone submit to the governing authorities” (v. 1). Not because the emperor is perfect, but because God is sovereign.

Authority, Paul says, is part of God’s design. Human governments, flawed as they are, have been instituted by God for order, justice, and restraint of evil. We don’t submit blindly. Scripture is clear: when earthly leaders command what God forbids or forbid what God commands, our allegiance is to Christ (Acts 5:29). But outside of those extremes, submission to authority honours God.

Paul isn’t naïve. He had seen governments protect him (Acts 16, 22) and abuse him (2 Cor 11:23). He knew about injustice—he witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion. Still, Paul emphasises that God is over every ruler (Dan 2:21; Ps 75:7), and that how we live under authority reflects our trust in God's providence.

Then, he shifts to love. “The one who loves another has fulfilled the law” (v. 8). Christian obedience isn’t just passive submission. It’s active love. Love isn’t wishy-washy sentiment. It honours God’s commands. It refuses to harm, to covet, to hate. It seeks to bless, to give, to build up.

Finally, Paul lifts our eyes to the bigger picture. “The night is nearly over, the day is near” (v. 12). That “day” is Christ’s return. And until then, we are called to wake up, to cast off darkness, and to put on the armour of light. In a world chasing sin, we put on Christ. We don’t flirt with darkness or make excuses for the flesh. We clothe ourselves in Jesus, living from our new identity with urgency, purity, and joy.

This day is not just another day. It is a dress rehearsal for eternity.