Paul is guiding the believers living in Rome to live pure. He tells them to follow rules and honor the authority that God has allowed. This is in the context of Jews living under heavy-handed and debauched Roman rulers. Paul reassures them that all authority is subject to God himself. He tells them to pay their tax, revenue, respect and honor to whom it’s owed. 

In fact, we should owe nothing but love. Paul explains that all the commandments—don’t cheat, murder, steal or covet—all fall under the larger rule of “love your neighbor as yourself.” Love is the ultimate fulfillment of the Biblical law, not carved into stone, but written in our hearts.

He tells the readers to wake up, the time of change is coming. They are to cast off darkness, sensuality, orgies and drunkenness, jealousy and quarrels. Instead, put on the armor of light and make no provision for flesh to gratify its desires. A clean life protects us from darkness that would overwhelm us.