"Freedoms"(Romans 13:1-5)

Romans 13:1-5

We all want freedom, but we don’t usually understand what that means. The freedoms that we desire may put us into bondage. Many young people will complain about not having enough freedom, but when they become adults and are no longer under the constant supervision of teachers and parents, they may start to miss the authority they were under. This is because the freedom they are pursuing is not aligned with God’s authority and ultimately leads to regret and bondage. It can be hard to exercise your freedom to follow God if you have never been given the chance, but true freedom come to submitting to God’s rule. 

Most people do not understand true freedom and bondage and try to gain freedom through some selfish practices. True freedom does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want. It is not about making ourselves the most important thing our lives. True freedom is not resisting the call of submitting to authority except your own. Also, it is not found in writing your own moral code. Finally, it is not the result of getting your own way. Attempting to gain freedom through those methods will eventually lead to bondage. 

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 

Romans 13:1

God puts people in authority, and we need to acknowledge this. There is an order in this world, and some are in authority, and we all must behave in a manner that God has ordained. When we do not behave in this manner, we go into bondage, and no one will see freedom. Just like a bird in a cage, or a dog kept on a short leash, no one will look at a caged bird or tied up dog and say they have freedom. Both the bird and the dog are not living in the way God had created them to live.

In Romans 13, Paul addresses this very problem of true freedom and in verse two, Paul tells us what happens when we do not submit.

Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 

Romans 13:2

Although Paul is talking about the rulers and governments of this world, he is also talking about submitting to God and the kingdom of God. Our submission is not just in this world, it goes to heaven. By submitting to the authorities of this world which God has established, we are submitting to God. God is the creator of this world and expects us to be under his laws. Judgement will come on us in the physical world as well as with spiritual grief.  

Freedom and authority are not our enemies. If we try to come out from authority, this is not freedom. When we try to achieve freedom from, money, relationships, or fame, we will go into bondage. 

When we find ourselves going into bondage, we need to go back under God’ authority. The church is the gift of God that will help us to live as good Christians. We cannot do things on our own outside of the church. We need to encourage each other and support each other to do good works and stay in authority under God. The church is also to remind us of the importance of grace. It is only by grace that we are saved.

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

Romans 6:22

Freedom does not come from coming out of authority. If we want to experience true freedom, we need to submit to God’s authority like slaves of righteousness.