Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Romans 13:1-7

After exploring our duties within the church and toward our enemies, Paul now turns our attention toward the world’s structures. In this week’s episode of Open Your Bibles, we tackle a challenging question: Who has authority?

In a world of political division, we often forget that there is no power on earth that did not first pass through the hands of the Sovereign King. Subjection to authority isn't about the worthiness of the leader, but about the worthiness of the God who placed them there.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The Sovereign Appointment: Why we believe that every ruler—whether they acknowledge Him or not—is a "servant of God" (a diakonos) ordained for His specific purposes.
• The Sword and the State: A Reformed look at the role of government. We discuss how God uses the state to restrain evil and maintain order, serving as a temporal "avenger" of His justice.
• Conscience Over Convenience: Why our obedience to the state is actually an act of worship to God. We explore the "Third Use of the Law" as it applies to our civic duties, like paying taxes and showing honor.
• The Limits of Subjection: We briefly discuss the "Magistrate's Boundary"—what happens when an earthly authority commands what God forbids?

When we see that the King of Kings is the one who establishes earthly thrones, we can live with peace and integrity, knowing that our ultimate citizenship is secure in Christ.

Grace and Peace

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:9-21

In this week's episode, we ask the punchy question: What is our duty?

In our natural state, our "love" is often selfish or conditional. But for the believer who has been transformed by the renewal of their mind, love becomes a supernatural fruit of the Spirit. It is the "Duty of Gratitude"—a life that hates what God hates and clings to what He calls good.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Genuine Love vs. Worldly Affection: Why a Reformed understanding of the heart’s corruption means we must constantly pray for "genuine" love that isn't just a performance, but a sincere reflection of Christ’s love for us.
• The Third Use of the Law: How we view these commands not as a way to earn favor, but as our "reasonable service" and the logical outworking of the grace we have already received.
• Fervency in Spirit: What it means to be "on fire" for the Lord without falling into the trap of self-reliance. We discuss how the Sovereign King provides the very zeal He commands.
• Overcoming Evil with Good: A deep dive into the end of the chapter. How do we respond to enemies? We explore the doctrine of God’s Vengeance—realizing that because God is the perfectly Just Judge, we are free to be perfectly merciful.

When our lives are "from Him, through Him, and to Him," our duty becomes our delight. We no longer seek to avenge ourselves because we trust in the perfect providence and justice of our Sovereign God.

Grace and Peace

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:1-2

We are back! After a short break, we are thrilled to begin a brand-new season of Open Your Bibles as we transition into the practical, life-altering teaching of Romans 12.

In our season premiere, we ask the ultimate follow-up question: Now what?

For eleven chapters, Paul has laid out the "mercies of God"—His sovereign choice, His perfect wisdom, and His gift of salvation. We’ve climbed the mountain of doctrine, and now we stand at the peak looking down at our daily lives. If all of this is true, how then shall we live? Paul shows us that the only logical response to such grace isn't just a song on Sunday; it is the total offering of our entire lives to the Sovereign King.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The Foundation of Mercy: Why our obedience is never an attempt to earn God's love, but a joyful response to the love He has already lavished on us.
• The Living Sacrifice: The paradox of being a sacrifice that doesn't die on an altar, but lives every moment for the glory of the Master.
• Metamorphosis: How the Holy Spirit "transforms" us from the inside out, changing the way we think so we can discern God’s perfect will.
• Gifts for the Body: A look at verses 3–11 and how God’s sovereign grace distributes different gifts so that the Church functions as one healthy, living body.

We explore how "holy praise" moves from our lips into our hands and feet. True worship is a life that refuses to be shaped by the world’s mold because it has been reshaped by the Word of God.

Grace and peace.