What does it mean Romans 13:1-7? (Part 9)
What is the finality of the potentates?
To understand this, let see the excerpts that comes before and after Romans 3:1-7:
• Rom 12:19-21 -> “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”.
• Rom 13:8-10 -> “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”.
Note that Paul is talking about to love our neighbor. As Jesus’ followers (mercy vessels), the believer in Christ can’t judge nor fight physically against the evil, but only wait in Jesus’ mercy, having delight in His salvation (Ps 9:14; 13:5; 21:1; 119:166).
But, how to sort out the problem of the evil? After all:
• Ecc 8:11 -> “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”.
Evidently, Paul discerns two outright distinct areas of the “Creator’s work”:
• Vessels of destruction: “What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,” (Rom 9:22).
• Vessels of glory: “in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—“ (Rom 9:23).
The Church, as vessel of glory, should:
• *give place unto the wrath of the Creator* ;
• be like lambs (Mat 10:16), wise to the good and simple to the evil (Rom 16:19);
• not resist to the evil (Mat 5:39-43; Rom 12:16);
• carry out forgiveness, mercy, grace;
• pray for those who pursue them;
• bless the enemies, love them (Mat 5:44,45).
Those who don’t belong to the Church, are the vessels of wrath (including the potentates). At this way, the State receives the incumbency of punishing the turpitude (expressly prohibited to the vessels of glory – James 3:10-12), that is to say, *accomplish the wrath*.
Tomorrow we will carry on. Have a great day.
What is the finality of the potentates?
To understand this, let see the excerpts that comes before and after Romans 3:1-7:
• Rom 12:19-21 -> “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”.
• Rom 13:8-10 -> “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”.
Note that Paul is talking about to love our neighbor. As Jesus’ followers (mercy vessels), the believer in Christ can’t judge nor fight physically against the evil, but only wait in Jesus’ mercy, having delight in His salvation (Ps 9:14; 13:5; 21:1; 119:166).
But, how to sort out the problem of the evil? After all:
• Ecc 8:11 -> “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”.
Evidently, Paul discerns two outright distinct areas of the “Creator’s work”:
• Vessels of destruction: “What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,” (Rom 9:22).
• Vessels of glory: “in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—“ (Rom 9:23).
The Church, as vessel of glory, should:
• *give place unto the wrath of the Creator* ;
• be like lambs (Mat 10:16), wise to the good and simple to the evil (Rom 16:19);
• not resist to the evil (Mat 5:39-43; Rom 12:16);
• carry out forgiveness, mercy, grace;
• pray for those who pursue them;
• bless the enemies, love them (Mat 5:44,45).
Those who don’t belong to the Church, are the vessels of wrath (including the potentates). At this way, the State receives the incumbency of punishing the turpitude (expressly prohibited to the vessels of glory – James 3:10-12), that is to say, *accomplish the wrath*.
Tomorrow we will carry on. Have a great day.