Verse 1  "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."

There are two Greek words that are translated "power" in the New Testament.  One is "dunamis" and it means strength.  The other is "exousia" and it means authority.  In this passage in the thirteenth chapter of Romans the Greek word is "exousia" meaning authority.  Thus, Rom. 13:1 could be rendered "Let every soul be subject unto the higher authorities.  For there is no authority but of God: the authorities that be are ordained of God."   

One of the lessons taught in verse 1 is that all authority comes from God.  God is the creator of all things.  He created and made all things for his pleasure.  Paul had previously asked the question, "Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?"  Thus, as God is the former of all things, we are subject to Him in all things.  There is no true authority outside of God and that which to gives.  Any so-called authority that did not derive from God is a false authority.   

The authority that I have as a husband and a father derives from God.  Likewise, the authority that my wife has as a wife and a mother derives from God.  The authority that I have as a man derives from God.   

There are many authorities that derive from God.  Societal authorities to govern societies derive from God.  The Church has authority to govern its members and its functions according to that authority that God has given to her in His word.   

All authority that God has given to others is limited.  God sets the limitation on individual authority, on societal governmental authority, on church authority, on parental authority, on marital authority, on master/servant relationships.  We have no authority to go beyond the limits of the authority that God has given to us.  Any effort to go beyond the authority that God has given is rebellion against God and his authority.   God set the limits on Adam's authority in the Garden of Eden.  Of every tree of the Garden Adam was free to eat, except of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  Adam had no authority to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  When Adam ate of that tree he was in direct rebellion against the authority of God.   

Likewise, the authority of rulers to govern a nation does not include the authority to order others to commit murder, or to steal, or to bear false witness, etc.  Similarly, parents do not have the authority to command their children to commit sins in the eyes of God.   

God has appointed every authority that is needful for the well-being of man.  God is perfect and complete in all that he does.  There is no need for additional authorities beyond what God has appointed.   

Furthermore, societies may allow some things to be done, yet that does not grant an individual the authority to do it even if a society allows it.  An example of this is abortion.  While a nation may allow for abortions of unborn children, yet God has not given anyone the authority to murder unborn children.  Therefore, any mother who purposely causes an abortion (other than when her own life is threatened by the unborn baby) is guilty of rebellion against God and of murder.  Likewise, the person who performs the abortion is also guilty of assisting in murder.  (We are not talking about abortions that happen by nature and not caused by the individual.  This is not murder.) 

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers."  Since God has appointed the true authorities that are over us, we are to be subject to those authorities.  Failure to submit ourselves to those authorities is also rebellion against God.  If the authority of the nation, or state, or community says that you are not to spit on a sidewalk and you spit on a sidewalk, then you are guilty of breaking a lawful authority of God.  Likewise, if the speed limit is 60 mph and we go 70 mph then we are violating the law and come under the penalty of the speed limit law.  We are to be subject to the laws of the nation, state, and community in which we live so long as those laws do not violate the laws of God.   

An example of lawful resistance to a unlawful governmental law is set forth for us in Acts 5:27-29: "And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."  The high priest and the Sanhedrin council had no authority to command the apostles not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.  Thus, the apostles had every right to resist the false authority of the Sanhedrin council.   

Verses 2-5  "Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake." 

"Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation."  The "power" is not identified for us but is used in a generic way.  The principle applies to all lawful powers.  If a child resists the authority of its parents, it will receive condemnation for its actions of resistance.  Punishment will be meted out to the child.  The worker at a factory who resists the orders of his supervisor will receive reprimand from the supervisor and if he continues to resist, then he may lose his job.  A person who violates a traffic law and is cited by a police officer will have to pay the fine for his violation.   

Likewise, a soldier who disobeys a direct order will pay a heavy penalty for his disobedience.  A church member who is guilty of one of the six things listed in 1 Cor. chapter 5: "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat" will find himself out of fellowship with the church.   

Moreover, when we resist the teachings of God's word, we will receive chastisement from the Lord.  The scriptures plainly teach that whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth. 

"For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil."  Those in authority are not a terror to good works.  A parent should not scold a child who does what he is told to do.  A police officer should not cite a person for obeying the traffic laws.  A supervisor should not warn an employee who is doing his job correctly.  The church will not withdraw fellowship from a member who is living uprightly.  Likewise, the Lord blesses those who are living godly lives.  

Correction, condemnation, chastisement, punishment is applied to the purveyor of evil works not to the doers of good. 

"Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:"  There is no reason for us to be afraid of a lawful authority when we do good.  The lawful authorities will praise us when we do good.  The Lord praises his children when they do good: Matt. 25:20 "And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." 

Good parents praise their children when they do good.  Likewise, good supervisors praise their employees when they do good.  

"But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."  This statement is true whether it be a child being punished by its parents, a man being punished by the civil authorities, a church member losing fellowship with the church, a child of God being punished by the Lord.  The authorities established by God do not bear the sword in vain.  They are ministers of God, revengers to execute wrath upon them that do evil.  We should fear the powers that are ordained of God and do what is right and not evil.

"Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake."  Our motivation to do good should not just be fear of the wrath that will come upon us if we do evil.  We should also do good because our conscience convicts us out of love to do good.