Section 9
authorities appointed by God requires a certain amount of transformation. Sisters, if you want to submit to your husbands, you need transforma tion. If we are submissive to God's appointed authorities, it is an indicator that we have a certain amount of transformation, because our natural character and disposition are rebellious. We were born rebellious, and our natural re sponse to authority is to say, "No." Thus, subjec tion to authority requires transformation from the growth in life. "Therefore he who resists the authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose will receive to themselves judgment" (v. 2). It is not good to resist author ity. Either the judgment will descend upon you from the authority, or it will come to you directly from God.
In verse 5 Paul says that "it is necessary to be subject, not only because of wrath, but also because of conscience." Because of conscience, we need to learn, by being transformed, to be subject to authorities.
Furthermore, we need to pay taxes and to ren der revenue to whom they are due. We also must render fear and honor to whom they are due. To render tax, fear, and honor to whom they are due indicates that we are subject to authority.