• Romans 13:1-10
    Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he 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 bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
     
  • Romans 8:7-12
    Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
     
  • Isaiah 9:6-7
    For unto us a Child is born,
    Unto us a Son is given;
    And the government will be upon His shoulder.
    And His name will be called
    Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
    Of the increase of His government and peace
    There will be no end,
    Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
    To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
    From that time forward, even forever.
    The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
     
  • 2 Corinthians 10:13-16
    We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men's labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's sphere of accomplishment.
     
  • 1 Peter 2:13-17
    Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
     
  • Genesis 1:26
    Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
     
  • 1 Samuel 8:5-7
    and said to him, 'Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.' But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, 'Give us a king to judge us.' So Samuel prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
     
For more scripture references, please see Bible verses for Government


Resources

Authority and Government

Sermon by John O. Reid

God places us under the governments of men—national, state, and local—as well as the authorities in our workplaces and homes, to train us in the habit of obedience. He establishes government on a broad scale to bring order and benefit to mankind, teaching us the vital lesson of submitting to the authority set over …


Self-Government (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

A massive revolutionary, yet bloodless, overturn of the American government, religion, economics, and education is taking place. This revolution has been ongoing for about one hundred years and is now reaching a critical point. American citizens are giving up their liberties to a government, mirroring historical patterns where …


How Does God View Human Government?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Governments often face moments of crisis that test their purpose and functionality, as seen in extraordinary measures like border closures and lockdowns during global challenges. Such actions can blur the line between protecting citizens and infringing on their rights, raising questions about the balance of authority. The …


Government (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Government is a difficult subject with many nuances. Under the New Covenant people must be subject to the civil governments of men because their authority derives directly from God. Being subject to them is being obedient to God. Peter added that people are to be subject to every ordinance of man because they are the servants of …


Self-Government: Overcoming

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God's government is God Himself governing directly with nothing between a repentant person and Him after baptism and receipt of His Spirit. Church government is ordained by God but is not the same as God's government. All authority in civil governments and the church derives from God who appoints or allows people to positions of …


Self-Government and Responsibility (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Government is the system by which authority is exercised to produce order. God governs His creation by moving events of history toward His goal while exercising very little power to control individual decisions. The carnal mind is not subject to God because it will not arrange itself in order under Him. The word translated …


Self-Government (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Government is difficult to submit to because the carnal mind is enmity against God and is not subject to the law of God. Government at its best is a necessary evil, yet it is an objectionable good because the alternative of no government is unthinkable. Government is omnipresent because aspects of it must be dealt with …


Government (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Government is an absolute necessity that becomes more complex as a group grows larger. It is the act or process of governing, the complex of laws, institutions, and customs through which governing is carried out, and the body of persons that constitutes the governing authority. Government always implies the aim of keeping on a …



For more resources, please see the library topic for Government