How Christians relate to the state is not secondary to the gospel. As Paul makes clear in Romans 13, our relation to the governing authorities is part of our response to the glorious gospel Paul laid out in chapters 1-11. It is part of how we express genuine love for the Lord. It is part of laying our lives down as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to Him. But how should Christians relate to the state? Paul gives us clear instruction in today’s passage.