In this world where disregard for laws seems commonplace, God places us under human governments—national, state, local, workplace, and home—to train us in obedience. God establishes government for order and for our benefit, teaching us the vital lesson of submission, except when it conflicts with His laws. Jesus Christ Himself, despite the unworthiness of the ruling Caesar, affirmed the duty to pay taxes and respect authority, demonstrating obedience to civil powers. Similarly, Paul taught that all authority is ordained by God, and we must not resist what He has appointed, for government is instituted by His will. We are to be subject to civil rulers as a matter of conscience and duty to God, paying taxes, obeying laws, and showing respect to the office, even if not to the individual. The examples of Jesus and the apostles under Roman rule show no lawbreaking or resistance, but rather a commitment to giving Caesar what is due. When governmental laws conflict with God's laws, the examples of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego illustrate standing firm for God's laws, while still giving due respect to civil authority in all other matters, even at the risk of punishment. God has set up government to bring order, providing us the opportunity to learn submission and to administer authority, producing harmony, unity, safety, peace, and the character of obedience He desires in us. Despite the pervasive rebellious attitude influenced by satan, we must respect true authority and strive to obey the laws of the land, developing the character God values.

God hates rebellion, viewing it as a grave sin akin to witchcraft, and He rejects those who defy His authority. The pervasive influence of Satan, the prince of rebellion, fosters a spirit of lawlessness that affects societies worldwide, manifesting in defiance against governments and laws. This rebellious attitude is evident in various forms, from political and social unrest to the outright rejection of legal authority by groups and individuals. In the context of government, submission is a principle God ordains. Governing authorities are appointed by Him to maintain order, and resisting these authorities equates to resisting His ordinance. We are called to be subject to these powers, not merely out of fear of punishment, but for conscience's sake, recognizing that they serve as ministers of God. This includes obeying laws, paying taxes, and showing respect to government officials, as exemplified by Jesus Christ, who submitted to an oppressive regime and paid taxes despite its injustices. The concept of sovereign citizenship, where individuals claim supreme authority and reject laws they disagree with, stands in direct opposition to this principle of submission. Such an attitude mirrors the rebellion of Satan and leads to disorder, as it denies the authority God has established. Instead of rebellion, we are to obey the laws of the land, trusting in God to guide and protect us from injustice, even as we witness corruption and abuses in government. God has placed authority in various aspects of life to teach us the character of submission, a lesson vital for entrance into His Kingdom. As we navigate societal structures, we must learn to respect and submit to authority, developing the submissive character of Jesus Christ, while always prioritizing God's laws over man's when they conflict. This approach fosters harmony, order, and peace, aligning us with God's will as we seek His Kingdom and righteousness.

In times of national disappointment and betrayal, the purpose and function of government come into question, especially under extraordinary measures like those seen during global crises. Christians face restrictions on worship and must navigate their duties toward the state alongside their duties to God. When the commands of government conflict with those of God, the resolution is not always clear, as even issues like taxes raise complex questions about moral implications. The Bible provides guidance on this matter. Jesus Christ, during His trial before Pilate, clarified that all authority in human government is delegated by God, as seen in John 19:11. He used the term "exousia," meaning legitimate authority, to emphasize that government's power is not intrinsic but divinely authorized, deserving respect and recognition. Jesus Himself respected Pilate's authority, answering courteously and acknowledging Pilate's right to judge, even when the judgment was wrong. Romans 13:1-7 further instructs Christians to be subject to higher authorities, acting as model citizens by obeying civil laws, paying taxes honestly, and honoring those in power, even if they are corrupt. Revolution for personal gain or mere opposition is unchristian; instead, respect and thankfulness are due to those in authority. However, obedience has limits. Christians must not act contrary to God's direct commands or moral standards, even if commanded by the state. Two specific limits to obedience are evident. First, the state cannot forbid the proclamation of the gospel, a duty commanded by Christ Himself, as illustrated in Acts 4 and 5 where the apostles defied authorities to continue preaching, accepting the consequences. Second, the state has no right to command immoral or anti-Christian acts, and Christians must refuse such commands, facing potential repercussions with the strength provided by God's Spirit. The authority of government, while legitimate, is bound by the moral nature of God from whom it originates. Pilate's authority, for instance, involved responsibility, and misuse of it constituted sin against God. Thus, while obedience is generally required, it must be balanced with adherence to God's higher authority, especially in matters of spiritual duty and moral conduct. God's sovereignty remains ultimate, and human government must be guided by His moral framework to avoid tyranny and corruption.

Under the New Covenant the Kingdom of God is a spiritual reality whose citizenship already places believers in heavenly places through Christ, so that their primary allegiance belongs to the spiritual Ruler who is forming them into His Son's image. Because this transformation requires direct access to God without human intermediaries, civil government no longer functions as an essential part of the covenant relationship the way it did under the Old Covenant in Israel. Nevertheless, every existing civil authority derives its power from God and exists to maintain order, punish evildoers, and reward those who do good. Christians are therefore instructed to be subject to governing authorities, to obey their ordinances, to honor rulers, and to pray for them so that peaceful conditions may continue and the gospel can be preached. Submission is rendered not merely to avoid punishment but for conscience' sake and for the Lord's sake, recognizing that honoring delegated power is ultimately an expression of honor toward the One who grants it. When a human law directly contradicts God's command, the believer continues to submit by accepting the penalty rather than violating divine instruction, thereby obeying God while still acknowledging the source of all authority. This pattern of submission forms an essential part of the ongoing spiritual transformation that moves the mind from a fleshly to a heavenly perspective, preparing citizens of the coming Kingdom to exercise rule under Christ once every competing authority has been brought into subjection.

Under the New Covenant believers must remain subject to the civil governments of men because their authority derives directly from God. Submission to those governments therefore constitutes submission to God, and it must be rendered for the Lord's sake. This requirement applies even when rulers are corrupt or oppressive. The same principle governs every lesser authority, whether in the family or in any other human structure. The carnal mind harbors an almost overpowering unwillingness to live within the limits set by any governor. This resistance, which is enmity against God as the ultimate source of all authority, manifests itself in countless small acts of disregard for law. When people routinely exceed speed limits or otherwise justify minor violations, they reveal an attitude that will also refuse larger demands of righteousness. A second, closely related failure compounds the problem: an unwillingness to perform acts of love that go beyond the letter of any command. Jesus magnified the law by showing that its intent reaches the thoughts and motives of the heart and requires generosity, mercy, and self-sacrifice even toward enemies. Mere outward compliance remains cold and incomplete unless it is accompanied by these voluntary expressions of goodwill. Because the New Covenant is made with individuals rather than with a nation, each person stands directly before God. The rending of the temple veil removed every intermediary, granting believers confident access to the Father's presence through Christ. In this setting the smallest unit of government is the individual, who must voluntarily consent to God's rule and keep himself submitted by faith. No religious hierarchy stands between the believer and God; each one will give account directly to Christ. Consequently, when any human authority, whether civil or ecclesiastical, issues a decree contrary to God's word, the individual bears the responsibility to obey the higher law. God holds every person accountable for discerning truth and for refusing to follow commands that violate His revealed will, regardless of the source. Only when each individual willingly submits in this manner does God's form of government function without coercion and produce the liberty He intends.

Government exists as an absolute necessity for order, direction, and the accomplishment of goals, yet human attitudes toward it remain ambivalent and unstable, shifting between demands for swift intervention and resentment of intrusion. The natural mind harbors enmity against God and refuses subjection to His law, producing rejection of divine government that first destabilizes homes, spreads into society as anarchy, and ultimately leads to extinction unless submission occurs. God introduced Himself at creation as the supreme Governor who exercises authority to bring order from chaos and confers governing power on mankind with the intent that it be used positively to tend, preserve, and promote growth toward perfection. This pattern continues as population grows more complex, requiring either common consent to rules or the application of force. In Israel's formation, the people voluntarily consented to God's rule through covenant, accepting His voice and laws so that He would serve as their Governor and produce life, abundant living, and blessings for obedience. God delegates authority through chosen leaders who receive instruction, the Spirit, and limits on their role, with the overarching function of government being to educate, guide, issue laws that maintain order, and enforce penalties that reveal the consequences of disobedience. Submission to God's government therefore aligns conduct with His purpose, while refusal accelerates disorganization. Converted minds demonstrate this submission by living according to His statutes rather than the burdensome patterns of human or satanic rule, thereby participating in the body that has consented to be ruled for the sake of eternal and abundant life.

Submission to government begins with the recognition that most problems arise when individuals fail to live within the limits established by authority and instead justify self-centered actions rather than pursuing opportunities to do good for others. This pattern is illustrated by Jesus Christ, who not only kept the commandments but actively went about doing good through acts of kindness, generosity, mercy, and correction. Righteousness therefore encompasses both the negative restraint of the law and a positive sensitivity to beneficial conduct. Each person bears direct responsibility to God without any intervening spiritual hierarchy, so submission occurs first to the Father and then to human authorities in their respective spheres. No government functions unless individuals submit within their own areas of responsibility, beginning with the individual as the smallest unit of government. When human authority becomes oppressive, the command remains to obey God rather than men, as demonstrated by Daniel and his companions, by Peter's refusal of the heavenly voice, and by the angels who were not required to follow Helel in rebellion. Jesus consistently lived within the fluctuating limits of His authority, refusing to call for angelic intervention or to revile His persecutors even though all power had been given to Him. David likewise refused to stretch out his hand against Saul, the Lord's anointed, choosing instead to flee and to wait for God to act. Such conduct reveals that true governability flows from a personal relationship with God, expressed through faithfulness in little things and a deliberate choice to deny self and relinquish control. Leaders are therefore first servants of God, and their quality of rule determines the well-being of those under them. Those who prove governable by living within God's limits will be entrusted with greater authority in His Kingdom.

All authority, civil or ecclesiastical, derives from God, so submission to it (Romans 13:1-7; I Peter 2:13-17) is done for the Lord's sake and is in effect obedience to God, except where it would require breaking His law (Acts 5:29). Yet human governments and church government are not themselves God's government, which is God Himself governing. Treating church government as identical to God's government led many into a kind of idolatry, giving the church the respect and submission owed to God and excusing sin with "the church told me to do it." Since Christ's sacrifice, believers have direct access to God with no one standing between, as Adam and Eve once did until Satan interposed himself. Every choice is therefore a choice to be governed by God, by self, or by Satan (Deuteronomy 30). Christ is the model: He submitted to Pilate and the religious authorities because He trusted His Father's judgment, never letting anyone turn Him from obedience to God. Church authority is ordained and should be submitted to by faith, but it operates by servant leadership within a family structure headed by the Father and Christ, and each leader is limited to the sphere God appointed. The problem is never the structure but the abuse of free moral agency by those governing and those governed. Even God's government works only when each person voluntarily and intelligently chooses to submit to it. One should follow the truth of the message rather than the messenger.

Honoring parents, the first governors God gave, trains a person to respect and submit to civil government. Former F.B.I. chief J. Edgar Hoover claimed that a child taught at home to honor the Ten Commandments will have little trouble following the laws of the land, because the fifth commandment teaches respect for leadership and authority. Paul commands every soul to be subject to the governing authorities, since all authority is appointed by God. Whoever resists authority resists God's ordinance and brings judgment on himself. Rulers are God's ministers, a terror to evil and a praise to good works, so the believer submits not only to avoid wrath but for conscience' sake. Titus and Peter add that Christians are to obey rulers, be ready for every good work, speak evil of no one, be peaceable and gentle, and honor the king. Such submission silences foolish men, and liberty is never to be used as a cloak for vice. The same spirit carries into the workplace, where submission to employers, done as to Christ, brings life, freedom, and tranquility, while chafing against authority, even difficult authority, brings misery. Tony Kummer warns that mutiny in the home soon becomes mutiny with government, work, and church, and ultimately with God.