What does Romans 13 actually mean when Paul says that believers should be in submission to governing authorities?

Does Romans 13 teach Christians to blindly obey every government, every law, and every ruler? Or is Paul saying something deeper about God’s Kingdom, authority, justice, love, and the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant?

In this message, we walk carefully through Romans 13 and examine Paul’s teaching in its first-century historical and covenant context.

Paul tells believers to respect governing authorities, pay what is owed, honor those in positions of authority, and live as good citizens. But he also makes it clear that our ultimate allegiance is not to earthly government—it is to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.

We’ll explore:

What Paul means by “be in subjection” to governing authorities

Whether Christians are required to obey unjust or evil governments

How Romans 13 connects with Acts 4 and Acts 5

Why Paul calls government a “servant of God”

What taxes, honor, and civic responsibility have to do with Christian discipleship

What Paul means by “owe nothing to anyone except to love one another”

Why love fulfills the law

The difference between the Old Covenant law and the Law of Christ

Why the Kingdom of God is governed by love rather than external law

What Paul means when he says “the night is almost gone, and the day is near”

How Romans 13 connects to the coming judgment upon Jerusalem and the end of the Old Covenant age

What it means to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ”

How Christians can live as Kingdom people in a divided and hostile world

The Christian life isn't about endlessly striving to earn God's approval.

Grace has already changed our identity.

We have been accepted in Christ, made new, and brought into His Kingdom. Now we are called to live from that identity—loving our neighbors, honoring others, overcoming evil with good, walking in righteousness, and demonstrating the character of our King.

The world doesn't need more angry Christians.

It needs to see Jesus.

So let's open Romans 13 and discover what it really means to live as Kingdom people in the world.

📖 KEY PASSAGES

Romans 12–13

Deuteronomy 32:35

1 Peter 2:13

Acts 4:18–20

Acts 5:28–29

Matthew 22:21

Galatians 5:14

James 2:8

🔥 KEY MESSAGE

You don't have to earn what Jesus has already given you.

Receive His love.

Walk in His grace.

Live in His Kingdom.

Love your neighbor.

Overcome evil with good.

And above everything else—

PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

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💬 QUESTION FOR YOU:

What do you think Romans 13 means when Paul tells Christians to submit to governing authorities?

#Romans13 #KingdomOfGod #Grace #CovenantTheology #Christianity #BibleStudy #Jesus #NewCovenant #Romans #ChristianLiving

Are you exhausted from striving, striving, striving to be “holy enough” for God? In this message, Pastor Chad takes us through Romans 12 and uncovers what it really means to be a “living sacrifice.” Spoiler: It’s not about religious performance, but about receiving and living from the radical grace and mercy God has already given us in Christ!

📖 Key Scriptures:

Romans 11 & 12 | Romans 12:1-2, 12:17 | Deuteronomy 32:35 | 1 Peter 4:10 | John 10:10

In this teaching, you’ll discover:

The difference between Old Covenant striving and New Covenant living

Why “offering your body as a living sacrifice” is a response to God’s love, not a religious requirement

How renewing your mind means letting go of old, religious thought patterns and embracing your true identity in Christ

The beauty of spiritual gifts—given to EVERY believer for the good of the whole Body, inside and outside the church

Why unity, diversity, and mutual dependence are at the heart of the church

The call to overcome evil with good, trust God’s justice, and walk in love and peace

Whether you feel “gifted” or not, this message will help you see how God has uniquely equipped you to serve, encourage, and love others. Stop measuring yourself by religious standards—live in the freedom and fullness Christ has already provided!

If you’ve ever felt weighed down by shame, striving, or comparison, this message will set your heart free. Join us as we dig deep into God’s Word and discover the joy of living as God’s beloved, gifted, and united people.

👍 Like, subscribe, and share if this message encourages you!

💬 Let us know in the comments: What’s one way you want to walk out your faith as a living sacrifice this week?

For more info about Charis New Testament Church, visit www.charisntc.org.

In Awe: The Fear of the Lord | Charis New Testament Church

Join us as Pastor Tom explores a life-changing truth that’s often overlooked: the fear of the Lord. What does it really mean to “fear God”—and why is it described in Scripture as His treasure (Isaiah 33:6)? Discover how this holy, reverential awe is not about being afraid of God, but about drawing near to Him, honoring Him, and living in deep respect for who He is.

In this message, you’ll learn:

-The difference between tormenting fear and the biblical “fear of the Lord”

-How the fear of the Lord leads to wisdom, knowledge, and life (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10, Job 28:28)

-Why Jesus Himself delighted in the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2-3)

-How reverence for God frees us from the fear of man and brings confidence, satisfaction, and direction for our lives

-Practical steps and Scriptures to grow in awe and intimacy with God

Pastor Tom shares personal reflections, biblical insights, and practical encouragement for anyone hungry to go deeper in their relationship with God. Whether this is a new topic for you or a familiar truth, you’ll be invited to rediscover the awe and wonder of walking in the fear of the Lord.

Scriptures referenced: Isaiah 33:6, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 8:13, Psalm 19:9, Psalm 25:14, Hebrews 12:28-29, Acts 9:31, Philippians 2:12, and many more.

For more messages and resources, visit www.charisntc.org.

What if you've been exhausted, not because your faith is weak, but because you've been climbing the wrong mountain? Pastor Chad opens Romans 10 with a piercing observation: while the church obsesses over sin, the Apostle Paul's real target was religion itself—the deadly trap of trying to earn what God freely offers. Drawing from Paul's bold reinterpretation of Deuteronomy 30, Pastor Chad reveals that Moses was always pointing forward to Christ, the one who descended and rose so we would never have to strive our way to heaven. With disarming honesty, Pastor Chad exposes how modern believers sing about grace on Sunday yet secretly live by law Monday through Saturday, creating a spiritual schizophrenia that robs us of joy, peace, and assurance. This message strikes at the heart of every person exhausted by performance-based Christianity—whether you're paralyzed by shame or puffed up by self-righteousness, both are symptoms of the same disease. This week, practice the Gospel Bookends: begin each morning declaring "I am fully righteous in Christ" and close each night thanking God that your standing never shifted based on your performance. Stop climbing. Stop striving. Just receive—and then live freely from that unshakable foundation.

What if you've been working so hard to earn something that was already freely given to you? In Romans 9, Pastor Chad guides us through one of Scripture's most profound tensions—the same Paul who declared "nothing can separate us from the love of God" now weeps with unceasing anguish over Israel's rejection of their Messiah. With pastoral depth, Pastor Chad reveals that God's promises never operate through bloodline, religious résumé, or human effort, but through faith alone—just as Isaac was chosen not because of ancestry, but because of promise. Drawing a powerful contrast between religion and relationship, Pastor Chad challenges those who have attended church their whole lives yet remain exhausted, striving to earn approval that grace has already secured. Like clay in a potter's hands, we often mistake God's shaping process for punishment—when in reality, every pressure point is preparation. Whether you're carrying guilt from your past, praying for a prodigal loved one, or still stumbling over Jesus rather than building on Him, today's message calls you to stop striving and start resting. Write down the name of someone who has walked away, pray with Paul's intensity, and surrender to the One whose word has never failed—because in Christ, you are already enough.

What if the pain you're carrying right now isn't the whole story—what if it's actually the beginning of something glorious? Pastor Chad opens Romans 8:18 with a breathtaking declaration: our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory being revealed in us *right now*. Drawing from Paul's sweeping vision of a groaning creation eagerly waiting for God's children to step into their true identity, Pastor Chad challenges the lie that Christianity is merely about surviving until heaven. Instead, he paints a vivid picture of transformation happening in real time—every traffic jam, every slammed door, every unclear diagnosis is an invitation to ask, *"How is God revealing His glory in me through this?"* With disarming honesty, Pastor Chad dismantles the religious distortion of predestination, revealing that God didn't predetermine winners and losers—He predetermined that *you* would be conformed into the image of His Son. And perhaps most powerfully, he confronts the trap of living in a forgiven past, reminding us that God doesn't live in yesterday's garbage. Your rear-view mirror is small for a reason. This week, ask yourself: *"What would I do if I truly believed God was for me?"* Then do it—because nothing in all creation can separate you from His love.

What if the very religion meant to set you free has actually kept you in chains? Pastor Chad delivers a powerful message from Romans 8, exposing how the church has tragically muddied the Old Covenant law with the New Covenant of grace—leaving believers exhausted on the treadmill of self-effort, stranded in Romans 7 when they were born to live in Romans 8. With striking clarity, Pastor Chad dismantles the lie of a condemning God, reminding us that through Christ, "there is now no condemnation"—and that every whisper of shame is simply a warning light signaling we've stopped believing the Gospel. His central revelation is breathtaking: you are not a servant hoping to be noticed, not a prisoner on parole—you are an adopted heir, chosen by a Father who legally and lovingly can never disown you. Like Emperor Augustus inheriting Caesar's name and legions, you have inherited heaven's very resources. The real life isn't found in saying no to sin—it's found in saying yes to Jesus. So this week, when condemnation whispers and fear knocks, remember who you are. Set your mind on the Spirit. You are already free—now go live like it.

What if everything you've been told about your struggle with sin is wrong? Pastor Chad delivered a revolutionary message that challenges the very foundation of religious thinking—revealing that you are not a prisoner to your past, but completely dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Drawing from Romans 7, Chad exposed the devastating lie that believers have a "sin nature," explaining instead that we are new creations married to grace, not bound to the law. His powerful analogy of being married to "Mr. Grace" rather than "Mr. Law" illuminated how we've been freed from the performance-based relationship that exhausts and defeats so many Christians. Chad's bold declaration that "you do not have a sin nature" shattered religious misconceptions, revealing that sin is outside trying to get in, not inside trying to get out. He challenged listeners to stop introducing themselves by their failures and start living from the truth of their identity in Christ. This isn't about trying harder or white-knuckling through life—it's about recognizing that the victory has already been won. The time for religious masks and endless struggling is over. You have a choice every morning: walk in the flesh or walk in the Spirit. Stop saying "I'm just a sinner saved by grace"—you are a saint, the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Your story isn't Romans 7; it's Romans 8. You are already free, already righteous, already completely loved. Now live like it's true—because it is.

What if everything you believed about your struggle with sin was actually holding you back from the freedom Christ already won for you? Pastor Chad delivers a revolutionary message that shatters religious misconceptions and reveals the stunning truth of Romans 6. Far from giving believers a "license to sin," grace actually provides the power to say no to sin because we have literally died with Christ and been raised as new creations. Chad exposes how traditional religion keeps us trapped in cycles of self-effort and guilt, when the Gospel declares we are no longer slaves to sin but free children of God. This isn't about trying harder or crucifying ourselves daily—it's about believing what Christ accomplished and living from that reality. When we truly understand that our old sinful identity died on the cross and we now possess Christ's righteousness, everything changes. Chad challenges us to stop defining ourselves by past failures and start speaking truth over the lies sin whispers. This week, declare daily: "I am dead to sin, alive to God, and free in Christ"—because grace didn't just forgive you, it completely transformed your identity.

What does it mean to trust God when everything feels uncertain? Pastor Tom opened his heart about the whirlwind of new beginnings surrounding him—graduations, his mother's unexpected engagement, corporate mergers, and the profound absence of his father. Through personal vulnerability and biblical wisdom, he revealed that every single day is actually a fresh start because "His mercies begin afresh each morning" (Lamentations 3:22-24). Tom challenged us to stop leaning on our own understanding and instead tap into the unlimited wisdom available through Christ and the Holy Spirit. He reminded us that God has already written our story, thinking of us constantly, with plans for hope and peace rather than disaster. The pastor's raw honesty about running from God only to find Him "right there in your face" when we turn around painted a beautiful picture of divine pursuit. Whether you're facing exciting transitions or difficult endings, this message calls you to redeem your time, seek God's wisdom first, and trust His perfect plans. Don't try to navigate your new beginning alone—step boldly forward knowing that the God who chases you down with goodness and mercy is empowering you for victory.