GENERAL CONFERENCE.
BATTLE CREEK, MICH., 1891.
BIBLE STUDY.
LETTER TO THE ROMANS
BY ELDER E. J. WAGGONER
It will be necessary to skip from the eighth to the thirteenth chapter;
not but that there are some of the most important truths in the Bible
contained in the intervening chapters, but the time allotted for this
series of Bible study is too limited to admit of their perusal. So
to-night we will take up the study of the 13th chapter, as it treats
upon questions which are of vital importance to all believers in the
third angel's message.
In this chapter the apostle Paul is speaking to professed Christians. As
we have already stated, this is proved in the early part of the epistle
where in the second chapter the apostle addresses those who rest in the
law and make their boast of God. From that point forward the epistle is
addressed to those that profess to know God.
In the seventh chapter the
apostle says, "For I speak to them that know the law." So instead of
the thirteenth chapter being simply a treatise on civil government,
showing its duties and limits, it is addressed to the church, showing
how they should relate themselves to God, so as not to be in conflict
with the powers that be. If this is borne in mind, it will be a great
help in the solution of the many important questions which are
considered in the chapter.
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.
For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of
God. Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that
resist shall receive unto themselves damnation." Rom. 13:1, 2. These
verses are not to be construed as teaching that Christians must obey
every command that civil governments may impose upon them. We may recall
the time in which this was written, and the people to whom it was
addressed.
---It was written at a time when the Roman Empire held sway over
all the known world, and it was especially addressed to the church at
Rome, the capital of this universal Empire. The emperor reigning at that
time was Nero, and he was doubtless the most wicked, the most
blood-thirsty, and abominable licentious monarch that ever sat upon the
throne of any kingdom. I suppose there never was another man in the
world that combined so much evil in himself as Nero the emperor of the
Romans. He was a heathen, and a heathen of the heathens.
The laws which were enacted in Rome recognized the
heathen religion, and were opposed to Christianity. In the reign of
Nero occurred the most cruel persecution to the Christians that ever has
been since the world began; and it was during this persecution that the
apostle Paul lost his head. Therefore it is manifest that the apostle,
when he says that we are to be subject to the powers that be, does not
mean to convey the idea that we should do everything that the powers
that be tell us to do. If the apostle Paul had done that, he never would
have lost his head: but he suffered because the truth which he preached
was opposed to the principles of the Roman government; and we cannot
suppose that the apostle Paul would preach one thing and do another.
---Then the question arises, What does he mean by exhorting us to be
"subject unto the higher powers"?
Take the case negatively. We are not to resist the powers that be. Why?
Because we are children of the Highest,—children of the heavenly
kingdom, and the rule of that kingdom is peace. The ruler of
the kingdom is the Prince of peace. Therefore since we have been
delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of
his Son, we are to allow the peace of God to rule in our hearts. Col.
3:15. For this reason we are to "follow peace with all men, and
holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." Heb. 12:14.
In the 12th chapter of Romans we are instructed, "If it be possible, as
much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." That does not mean
that we are to live peaceably with all men just as long as we can endure
their provocation, and when that gets unendurable, that we are at
liberty to have it out with them in a regular quarrel.
---But it does mean
that "if it be possible, as much as lieth in you," you are to
live at peace with all men.
Q: How far now, is it possible for the
Christian to live at peace with 
all men?
A: It is possible for him to be at
peace with all men, as far as he himself is concerned, all the time.
For, he is dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto Christ. Christ dwells in
his heart by faith, and Christ is the Prince of peace.
---Then there are
no circumstances under which the Christian is justified in losing his
temper and declaring war either against an individual or a government.
---Now how about being subject to the powers, yet not
always obeying them?
Take a familiar example.
Nebuchadnezzar was king
of Babylon, and his was certainly a government ordained of God, for God
had given all the lands over which he ruled into the hands of
Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and all nations were to serve him,
and his son and his son's son.
Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold and
commanded that when the music sounded, all the people were to bow down
to it. It was told to the king that the three Hebrews, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego had not fallen down and worshiped the golden
image. The king called them to him, and told them that although they had
disobeyed him, he would overlook that offense, if when the music
sounded again, they would worship the image. "Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not
careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we
serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will
deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee,
O king, that we will not serve thy god, nor worship the golden image
which thou hast set up."
---They did not resist the king.
---He gave them an
alternative.
---They could do one of two things,—
bow down to the image,
or
be cast into the furnace.
---They disobeyed the order to bow down to the
image; but they did not resist the alternative to go into the furnace.
In 1 Peter 2:13, we are told, "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of
man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto
governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil
doers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of
God, that with well doing, you may put to silence the ignorance of
foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of
maliciousness, but as servants of God. Honor all men. Love the
brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." This is parallel with the
statement in the 13th of Romans, as is seen by verse 7.
It is our duty to preach the gospel; to arise and let our light shine,
and if we do that, God will hold the winds as long as they ought to be
held. Brethren, the third angel's message is the greatest thing in all
the earth. ... the time will come ....when the third angel's message will be the theme and topic of
conversation in every mouth.
