How do we know that God's authority should be obeyed?

God's authority is a significant theme throughout Scripture, emphasizing the need for believers to submit to various forms of authority as part of their faith journey. Paul’s letter to the Romans (Romans 13:1-5) outlines that all authority is established by God, and thus to resist authority is to resist God's ordinance. This authority is not only limited to parents or political leaders but extends to church leadership, where elders are instructed to lead through the Word of God (Hebrews 13:7).

Moreover, obedience to authority is an expression of trust in God’s sovereignty. Even in cases where authority figures act unjustly, as seen with rulers such as Nebuchadnezzar, believers are called to submit unless doing so directly opposes God's commands (Acts 5:29). This contextual understanding of authority reaffirms that obedience is not just about compliance but a deeper act of faith that acknowledges God’s ultimate rule over human governance.