Romans 13:3 “For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.”

Government wasn’t always nice to Paul. On his first missionary journey city leaders in Antioch and Iconium were involved in plots to force him from their cities, even assassinate him. In the city of Philippi he was arrested for setting a girl free from an evil spirit, severely whipped, and thrown into jail. Back home in Israel, Roman governors kept Paul in prison for over two years even though they realized the charges against him were false. They did so as a political favor to the Jewish leaders. No one understood better than Paul that sometimes those who govern are corrupt.

Even so, Paul urged the people of his day to obey the government. We Christians have two reasons we can live free from fear of the one in authority. As believers in Jesus, we have the Ultimate Authority on our side. Do you remember when Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell”? The God we worship is infinitely more powerful than all.

Then Jesus turns around and promises, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

At all times the God we call our Father has his loving eye on us. He knows how we are being treated. He has a plan to take care of us. He cares what happens to us. “You are worth more than many sparrows” is such an understatement. Our God valued us more than the life of his perfect, holy Son, and gave him up to save us. If we have done wrong, we may have a debt to pay to society. But we have no debt to pay to our God. In Jesus the whole debt was paid, and we are forgiven. So we don’t have to be afraid of anyone or anything, not even the authorities who govern us.

But Paul invites us to find another kind of freedom from fear. “Do what is right and he will commend you.” Submit to those who govern. We may not agree with every law they pass. The speed limit may seem too low on this road. The tax rate may seem too high on this income. These safety requirements may seem unreasonably burdensome for my business. We may question the wisdom of our leaders. But until they require us to actively commit some kind of sin, God’s word to us is, “Submit to the authority.” Obey the laws of the land in the place where you live. Live your lives free from fear of those who are in authority.

Of course, if the issue ever comes down to obey God or obey the authority, the choice for those who follow Jesus is clear. We obey God and face the consequences. Remember, Jesus said that the worst people can do is destroy our bodies. Our Father has already redeemed and rescued our souls. Nor is Paul forbidding us to use whatever influence we might have to get laws more friendly to our faith, or laws that better serve our neighbor. But for the sake of peace, that we might live our lives without fear, it is God’s will for us to submit to those who govern us.