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
A clear call to obey the authorities in our lives. Though they seem like just natural people and positions, in fact they have been put there by God.
Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Romans 13:7
Another clear call to pay what we owe and not hold back. It is out of obedience to God that we pay taxes and bills and honor those in authority.
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8
Love is the greatest commandment. It encompasses all good and right behavior toward others. Paul describes it as a debt that we owe.
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Romans 13:13-14 NIV
God calls us out of sin and darkness and into the light. We should not even consider how to gratify the desires is the sinful nature. In other words, the desires will be there but we must choose to ignore them and focus instead on serving Jesus.
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