When man believes he occupies a Ptolemaic view—that he is the center of the universe—we must be reminded of the Copernican truth: the Son is the King and is the true center of our universe.
Just as Copernicus shifted our understanding of the heavens, moving us from a man-centered model to a sun-centered one, we must also recognize that nations’ governance and authority are not centered on human power. They are established and revolve around the sovereignty of God, with Christ at the center. Romans 13:1 affirms that all authority comes from God, reminding us that human rule, like the planets in orbit, must align with the Son’s ultimate authority.
A recent church sermon series on citizenship and government inspired this Trundle.
Romans 13:1 – God’s Intrinsic and Delegated Authority in Governance (540 words)
Introduction
Romans 13:1 serves as a key verse for understanding the balance between God’s intrinsic authority and the authority He delegates to human governments. It establishes that all power comes from God, even when exercised by human rulers. But when human governments fail to uphold justice and righteousness, as history shows, there remains an ultimate appeal to heaven.
1. God’s Intrinsic Authority
God’s authority is absolute and inherent. As the Creator of all, He alone holds ultimate power over everything. No human authority can override His rule.
Romans 13:1 (NIV):
“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.”
All authority, whether in heaven or on earth, is derived from God. His authority is intrinsic, meaning it is built into the very nature of His creation and is part of man’s purpose.
Daniel 4:35 (NIV):
“He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’”
God’s authority is unquestionable and superior to all human powers.
John Adams reflected this in his belief:
“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were… the general principles of Christianity… as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”
Governments must be rooted in God’s eternal authority.
2. Delegated Authority to Human Governments
While God holds all power, He delegates authority to human governments to maintain order and promote justice. Yet, this authority is limited and must always align with God’s will.
Romans 13:1 (NIV):
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.”
Even human rulers, kings, and governments are under God’s control. They serve a purpose in His divine plan, but their power is borrowed from Him.
Genesis 1:26 (NIV):
“Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule…”
At creation, God gave humans the authority to govern His world, establishing the concept of delegated authority.
James Madison emphasized this connection:
“Before any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe.”
Human rulers, Madison believed, are always subject to God’s higher law.
3. The Limits of Delegated Authority and Appeal to Heaven
Though established by God, governments can fail in their duty to uphold justice and righteousness. When they do, the believer’s ultimate appeal is to God’s higher authority.
Acts 5:29 (NIV):
“Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than human beings!’”
When government directives contradict God’s commands, Christians must follow divine law.
John Locke famously wrote – “Where the body of the people, or any single man, is deprived of their right, or is under the exercise of a power without right, and have no appeal on earth, then they have a liberty to appeal to heaven.” (Second Treatise of Government).
Locke understood that when all earthly remedies are exhausted, there remains a final appeal to God for justice.
Our Founding Fathers knew this, and the Pine Tree Flag, flown by American colonists during the Revolution, carried the words “An Appeal to Heaven.” This flag symbolized the belief that when earthly governments failed to protect the rights given by God, the people could turn to God for justice. It was a reminder that human authority is limited, but God’s authority is eternal and sovereign.
Aquinas expressed a similar thought:
“Human law has the nature of law insofar as it partakes of right reason, and it is clear that right reason is in accordance with the law of God.” When governments stray from God’s law, they lose their legitimacy.
Conclusion
Romans 13:1 teaches that all authority, both intrinsic and delegated, comes from God. Human governments exist because God allows them to, but they are accountable to Him. When governments fail, there is always an appeal to heaven, reminding us that God’s rule is unchanging and final.