Romans 13

Respect for Authority

13Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.G3956G5590G5293G5242G1849G1063G2076G3756G1849G1508G575G2316G1161G1849G5607G1526G5021G5259G23162So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.G5620G498G1849G436G1296G2316G1161G436G2983G1438G29173For 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.G1063G758G1526G3756G5401G18G2041G235G2556G2309G1161G3361G5399G1849G4160G18G2532G2192G1868G1537G8464The 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.G1063G2076G1249G2316G4671G1519G18G1161G1437G4160G2556G5399G1063G5409G3756G3162G1500G1063G2076G1249G2316G1558G3709G1519G4238G25565So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.G1352G318G5293G3756G3440G1223G3709G235G2532G4893G12236Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.G1063G1223G5124G1223G5055G5411G2532G1063G1526G2316G3011G4342G1519G5124G8467Give 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.G591G3767G3956G3782G5411G3588G5411G5056G3588G5056G5401G3588G5401G5092G3588G5092

Love Fulfills God’s Requirements

8Owe 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.G3784G3367G3367G1508G25G240G1063G25G2087G4137G35519For 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."G1063G3431G3756G3431G5407G3756G5407G2813G3756G2813G5576G3756G5576G1937G3756G1937G2532G1536G2087G1785G346G1722G5129G3056G1722G25G4675G4139G5613G143810Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God's law.G26G2038G3756G2556G4139G3767G26G4138G355111This 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.G2532G5124G1492G2540G3754G2235G5610G2248G1453G1537G5258G1063G3568G2257G4991G1452G2228G3753G410012The 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.G3571G4298G1161G2250G1448G659G3767G659G2041G4655G2532G1746G3696G545713Because 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.G4043G2156G5613G1722G2250G3361G2970G2532G3178G3361G2845G2532G766G3361G2054G2532G220514Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.G235G1746G2962G2424G5547G2532G4160G3361G4307G1519G4561G1939