“Say to God, ‘How awesome are your works! Through the greatness of your power your enemies shall submit themselves to you.” Psalm 66:3
“If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.”
There is no fear in love … it is cast out.
Fear: anxiety, worry, concern, apprehension.
Inferiority brings one into a state of being unfruitful.
What are words? They are thoughts.
What are tongues? Speaking mysteries to God.
Interpretation of tongues is knowledge from Heaven from His Spirit.
NO weapon formed against my spirit, soul, body, finances, or social life will proper.
I’m here to dominate through Jesus. Your word in me does the work!
I’m in a place of rest. I am yoked to Jesus. Faith brings rest.
Grace: God’s favor and empowerment … through faith in Him.
I am fertile ground. I’m a doer of God’s Word.
Day Five
Take every thought captive: Do you line up with the Word of God? Yes? You can stay. NO? Out you go!!!
Use your God blessed imagination.
I am free of anything negative.
I sleep soundly.
Prayer: There’s a fire in my bones and a two-edged sword coming out of my mouth.
The devil beat Jesus and I was healed by His stripes… Isaiah 53:4-5
Provision was made for me before I was born.
He has given His angels charge over me.
“Bless the LORD, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word!” Psalm 103:20
I keep the angels busy. Be speaking throughout the day.
The Centurion said, “Only speak the word and my servant will be healed.” Matthew 8:8
“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” Mark 11:23
Great expectation brings forth great results.
Nothing comes to him who does not forgive.
I am above only and not beneath. Deuteronomy 28:13
I am seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. I have been made alive, quickened, with Christ. I pray from my heavenly seat in Christ. Ephesians 2:6
I am in Him, He is in me.
I run and not grow weary. I am strong in the LORD. I have His anointing.
I have Abraham’s blessing. I am prosperous.
Now thanks be to God who always leads me to triumph through faith in Jesus my LORD!
Christ in me is the hope of glory.
“And take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer…”
Ephesians 6:17-18
THE SWORD!
When you believe in God’s Holy Word and you speak it over yourself in faith, that Word becomes quickened, made alive. It penetrates, even separating the soul and the spirit. (Hebrews 4:12) When Abram and Sarai were unable to have a child, God changed their names to Abraham and Sarah…Abraham meaning Father of Many Nations.
What God spoke to Abraham brought faith which produced the desired end result: Isaac!
Over the years I have developed these positive confessions which are based on scripture.
The renewing of the mind to what God says is not a one time event but an on-going life long exercise that will produce much fruit.
That pleases your loving Father.
Not producing the results you desire? Feeling unproductive and fruitless? Study God’s Word; get it in your heart and in your mouth. Walk by faith and love and you will see results.
Abram went from being barren to being fruitful by God changing his name.
God has changed your name too, hasn’t He … Christian?
Know who you are … from the Word of God!
I don’t need “Herd immunity” I am not cattle I AM A SON OF GOD!!!
Posted on March 3, 2022 by Paul Ellis // 8 Comments
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Read the New Testament and you might come away with the idea that there is more than one gospel.
The very first words of the New Testament in the King James Bible are, “The Gospel According to Matthew.” Read on and you will also find the gospels according to Mark, Luke, and John.
In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we find Jesus preaching the gospel of the kingdom, while Mark refers to the gospel of Jesus Christ and the gospel of God.
The word gospel does not appear in John’s Gospel, but in Acts and all the letters that follow, the gospel is mentioned plenty of times with different labels:
the gospel of God (Mark 1:14, Rom 1:1, 15:16, 2 Cor. 11:7, 1 Th. 2:2, 8, 9, 1 Pet. 4:17)
the gospel of the blessed God (1 Tim. 1:11)
the gospel of his Son (Rom 1:9)
the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 4:23, 9:35, 24:14, Luke 16:16)
the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4)
the gospel of your salvation (Eph. 1:13)
the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:15)
the glorious gospel of the blessed God (1 Tim 1:11)
the eternal gospel (Rev. 14:6)
These are not different gospels but different labels for the one and only gospel, namely the gospel of grace.
When Paul refers to the gospel of grace in Acts 20:24, he means the same thing as when he and others refer to the gospel of God or the gospel of peace or the gospel of your salvation. All of these gospels reveal the One who is called Grace, who was given to us out of the fullness of the Father’s grace, and through whom we have received grace upon grace.
This is all pretty obvious, right? Only many don’t see it.
They see Jesus preaching one gospel and Paul preaching another. Or they see discord among the apostles. “Paul preached salvation by faith; James added works.” Or they see different gospels for different dispensations; a gospel for then, another one for now.
But if this were true, how would you know which gospel to believe? People would say things like, “I follow Paul.” “I follow Peter.” “Well I follow Jesus!”
Paul said if anyone preached a gospel different to the one he preached, let them be cursed (Gal. 1:9). So if Jesus preached a different gospel, Paul was cursing the Lord and the Bible can’t be trusted.
And if you believe there are different gospels, then you will have a divided heart. You will be forever wondering if you have picked the right one.
DID JESUS AND PAUL PREACH THE SAME GOSPEL?
Did Paul preach a different gospel? Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom while Paul went around preaching the kingdom of God (Acts 20:25). Looks like the same gospel to me.
“But Jesus emphasized the kingdom, while Paul emphasized grace.” These are not different emphases but different ways of saying the same thing. When we preach the kingdom, we are revealing a King whose name is Grace. Grace is the language, the culture, and the economy of the kingdom.
When Jesus says seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, he is saying “seek me and my righteousness.” Where do we find his righteousness? In the gospel of grace!
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last. (Romans 1:17)
In many of his letters, Paul preached the gospel of Christ. On other occasions he preached the gospel of God. These are different labels for the gospel of grace because it is the grace of God revealed in Christ that makes the good news good news.
DID PAUL AND PETER PREACH THE SAME GOSPEL?
I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised… (Galatians 2:7)
Paul and Peter preached the same gospel to different audiences. Peter preached to the Jews (but not always), while Paul preached to the Gentiles (but not always). But they both preached the same gospel.
Paul is known to us as the apostle of grace, but Peter was an apostle of grace too. Peter preached about the God of all grace revealing his grace through a Savior (1 Pet. 1:10, 5:10).
It was Peter who encouraged us to be good stewards of the manifold grace of God and stand firm in the true grace of God (1 Pet. 4:10, 5:12).
And it was Peter who prayed that grace would be multiplied to us as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus (2 Pet. 1:2, 3:18).
There is no question that Peter understood grace as well as Paul, but what about the odd man out? What about James?
DID PAUL AND JAMES PREACH THE SAME GOSPEL?
Many dismiss James as unacquainted with grace. A young Martin Luther even referred to James’ letter as an epistle of straw.
But James was an apostle of grace who understood the grace message as well as Paul. Like Peter, James preached to the Jews. His letter was written to religious people who believed in God and were diligent in their observance of the law.
The religious Jews were doing plenty of works, but their works were dead works and their faith was a dead faith (Jas. 2:17). They believed in God, but their faith was not accompanied by the “work” of believing in the one he sent (Jas. 2:14).
The apostles and epistle writers did not preach different gospels. They all proclaimed the grace of God and justification by faith in his Son.
Don’t be misled by the different labels. There aren’t different gospels for different folks or different times.
Just as there is one Lord and one faith, there is only one gospel – the gospel of grace.
Posted on janvier 7, 2016 by Paul Ellis // 55 Comments
Certains chrétiens comprennent leur union avec le Seigneur mais seulement à moitié.
” Bien sûr, Dieu est avec nous, mais parfois il ne l’est pas. Il vient et il s’en va. “
Il est vrai que dans l’Ancien Testament, le Saint-Esprit venait sur certaines personnes à certains moments, mais c’était à l’époque et c’est maintenant.
Jésus a dit que le Saint-Esprit demeure avec nous et fait sa maison avec nous (Jean 14:16-17).
Par maison, il veut dire foyer. Vous n’êtes pas une chambre de motel pour le Seigneur. Vous êtes un temple du Saint-Esprit qui marche, qui parle, qui vit et qui respire. Il ne va nulle part.
“Voulez-vous dire que le Saint-Esprit est avec moi même lorsque je pèche ?”
Oui ! L’amour du Christ pour vous et son union avec vous sont plus forts que n’importe quel péché.
Sous l’ancienne alliance, le péché était votre voie rapide vers la désunion. Si vous péchiez, vous risquiez d’être exclu du peuple de Dieu.
Jésus a dit : “Si ta main ou ton œil te font pécher, débarrasse-t’en” (Matthieu 5:29-30). Pourquoi Jésus a-t-il prêché l’auto-amputation à ceux qui étaient nés sous la loi ? Parce que sous cette alliance, il était logique de parler de l’élimination des parties du corps qui pouvaient contaminer l’ensemble.
Dieu merci, l’ancienne alliance a disparu ! Nous ne sommes pas sous la loi mais sous la grâce, et c’est une bonne nouvelle pour les membres du corps du Christ.
Union_Wiersbe
Lorsque nous péchons, Jésus ne nous coupe pas, nous restons membres de son corps. Cela change totalement notre façon de voir le péché. Sous l’ancienne alliance, nous étions retenus de pécher par la terreur mortelle, mais dans la nouvelle, nous sommes retenus par l’amour.
Vais-je donc prendre les membres du Christ et les unir à une prostituée ? Jamais ! (1 Co 6, 15b)
Regardez l’avertissement de Paul concernant les prostituées. Derrière l’avertissement – ne le faites pas – il y a une affirmation surprenante et rassurante de l’union. Paul dit qu’il est possible, bien que déconseillé, d’unir les membres du corps du Christ avec des prostituées.
Le voyez-vous ?
Les mariages terrestres peuvent se briser et échouer, mais votre union avec le Christ est incassable.
Le péché ne peut la briser.
La dépendance ne peut pas la briser.
Les décisions les plus stupides que vous puissiez prendre ne peuvent pas la briser.
Cela ne doit pas être pris comme un défi pour voir ce que vous pouvez faire, mais comme une déclaration stupéfiante de l’engagement absolu du Christ à vous aimer et à rester avec vous quoi qu’il arrive.
C’est ce qui nous change – non pas la faible influence de la règle, mais la passion implacable et déterminée de son amour.
L’amour de Dieu est la plus grande force de l’univers. Le péché fléchit devant lui. Lorsque vous rencontrez l’amour inébranlable et sans fin de Christ, cela vous change.
Vous ne voulez plus pécher.
Les plaisirs passagers de ce monde perdent leur attrait parce que vous avez trouvé un amour qui est plus vrai et meilleur de loin.
Posted on mai 11, 2017 by Paul Ellis // 74 Comments
Dans ce monde d’anxiété et de peur, il est radical de proclamer la sécurité éternelle du croyant.
Un avec le Seigneur, votre avenir est le même que le sien. Personne ne peut vous arracher de sa main, rien ne peut vous séparer de son amour.
Pourtant, chaque fois que je dis des choses comme ça, quelqu’un pointe du doigt 2 Pierre 2, comme si ce seul chapitre pouvait annuler les nombreuses promesses de Dieu et rendre l’œuvre salvatrice du Christ sans effet.
“Pierre parle de chrétiens qui ont abandonné le Seigneur et ont été condamnés”, disent-ils. “Autant pour une fois sauvé, toujours sauvé”.
Aargh. Vous m’avez eu. Ce seul verset défait toute la Bible.
Sheesh.
Il ne se passe pas un mois sans que j’aie l’occasion de parler de 2 Pierre 2. Est-ce que 2 Pierre 2 dit que vous pouvez perdre votre salut ? Non ! Dans ce chapitre, Pierre met en garde contre les faux enseignants qui renient le Seigneur et enseignent l’hérésie. Il ne fait PAS référence aux chrétiens. Ces hérétiques sont des esclaves de la dépravation (v. 19) qui ne cessent de pécher (v. 14). Ce ne sont pas des saints mais des bêtes brutes qui sont condamnées à périr (v. 12).
Mais ces pécheurs étaient-ils autrefois des saints ? Étaient-ils des chrétiens qui se sont égarés et sont tombés hors de portée de la grâce ?
C’est une question importante, car s’ils ont été sauvés une fois, alors vous pouvez perdre votre salut. Tout comme ces faux enseignants étaient voués à une “destruction rapide”, vous pouvez vous aussi vous diriger vers l’enfer si vous ne prenez pas garde.
PIERRE PARLE-T-IL DES CHRÉTIENS RÉCALCITRANTS ?
Selon presque tous les commentaires que j’ai lus, la réponse est oui. “Il s’agissait de chrétiens authentiques qui ont tourné le dos à Dieu et qui recevront maintenant un châtiment pire que celui qui n’a jamais rencontré Jésus.”
Oh jour heureux.
Même certains enseignants de la grâce sont convaincus que Pierre décrit d’anciens chrétiens qui sont maintenant damnés. Mais ces personnes ont-elles jamais été sauvées ? A première vue, l’évidence semble assez claire, car Pierre dit que ces faux enseignants…
– ont quitté le droit chemin et se sont égarés (v. 15)
– ont échappé aux souillures du monde pour s’y laisser à nouveau prendre (v. 20)
– ont connu le Seigneur et Sauveur Jésus-Christ (v. 20) et la voie de la justice (v. 21)
– sont retournés dans la boue comme un porc (v. 22).
Voilà, c’est tout. Fermez vos Bibles et occupez-vous à préparer votre salut, car si vous ne restez pas sur le bon chemin, vous êtes condamnés. Comme ces gars-là. “Les ténèbres les plus noires leur sont réservées” (v. 17), et vous aussi si vous ne faites pas attention.
Et pourtant, ne trouvez-vous pas intéressant que Pierre ne dise jamais : “Soyez avertis, chers amis, ce qui leur est arrivé pourrait vous arriver” ?
Il ne le dit jamais parce que cela ne peut pas arriver. L’idée même que nos péchés puissent survivre à la grâce de Dieu est absurde.
Je l’ai déjà dit et je le répète : Vous pouvez faire naufrage dans votre foi et vous égarer, mais votre Père céleste ne vous abandonnera jamais ni ne vous délaissera. Ce que le Seigneur commence, il le termine.
ALORS COMMENT LIRE 2 PETER 2 ?
La clé pour déverrouiller ce passage est Balaam :
Ils (les faux enseignants) ont quitté le droit chemin et se sont égarés pour suivre la voie de Balaam, fils de Bézer, qui aimait le salaire de la méchanceté. (2 Pierre 2:15)
Vous vous souvenez peut-être que le prophète Balaam avait été recruté par le roi de Moab pour maudire les enfants d’Israël (Nombres 22-24). Mais après avoir rencontré le Seigneur à trois reprises – l’une des rencontres les plus célèbres ayant impliqué un âne parlant et un ange – Balaam a fait volte-face et a béni les enfants d’Israël à la place.
Un homme intelligent, ce Balaam.
Le roi moabite était furieux que Balaam n’ait pas fait ce qu’il demandait. Alors Balaam, réalisant qu’il allait être renvoyé chez lui les mains vides, a enseigné au roi comment vaincre Israël (Ap 2,14).
Pour faire court, les hommes d’Israël ont été séduits par des femmes moabites et se sont détournés du Seigneur (Nb 25, 1-3). Ils étaient aux portes de la Terre promise, mais ils ont failli ne jamais y entrer, tout cela à cause de l’avide Balaam.
Un homme pas si malin que ça, ce Balaam.
Les Israélites ont fini par se repentir et ont poursuivi leur route vers Canaan. En chemin, ils ont tué le faux prophète Balaam qui leur avait fait tant de mal (Nb 31, .
Bye bye, Balaam.
Lorsque Pierre dit : “Ces faux docteurs sont comme Balaam”, il veut dire qu’ils sont du mauvais côté de Dieu. “En pervertissant l’évangile, ils essaient de maudire ce que Dieu a béni. Et comme Balaam, ils connaîtront une mauvaise fin.”
Avec cette clé en main, nous pouvons maintenant déverrouiller les versets difficiles de 2 Pierre 2.
QUI SONT LES ADEPTES DE BALAAM ?
Verset 15 : Ils ont abandonné le droit chemin et se sont égarés, suivant la voie de Balaam qui aimait le salaire de l’iniquité…
Pierre ne décrit pas des chrétiens mais des personnes qui ont connu la voie à suivre – comme Balaam – et l’ont rejetée. Balaam a eu une rencontre personnelle avec le Seigneur. Il a entendu Dieu parler, mais lorsque l’argent était sur la table, Balaam a fait le mauvais choix. Il s’est opposé à Dieu, tout comme le font les faux enseignants lorsqu’ils pervertissent l’évangile.
Verset 20 : Car si, après avoir échappé aux souillures du monde par la connaissance du Seigneur et Sauveur Jésus-Christ, ils s’y laissent de nouveau entraîner et sont vaincus, cette dernière condition leur est devenue pire que la première.
Balaam a d’abord tenu tête au roi de Moab, mais il ne s’est jamais aligné sur le Seigneur. Ce qui était étrange. Si les Israélites étaient aussi bénis qu’il le disait, pourquoi ne pas les rejoindre ? Pourquoi rester avec le roi maudit de Moab ?
Le prophète était comme ces Hébreux qui ont échappé aux souillures de l’Égypte mais ne sont pas entrés dans la Terre promise. Ils sont sortis mais ne sont jamais entrés. Ils sont morts dans le désert à cause de leur incrédulité.
Verset 21 : Car il vaut mieux pour eux ne pas avoir connu la voie de la justice, que, l’ayant connue, de se détourner du saint commandement qui leur a été transmis.
Celui qui rejette le chemin de la justice (l’évangile) est plus malheureux que celui qui ne l’a pas entendu parce qu’il a endurci son cœur à ce qui pouvait le sauver. Il a refusé le saint commandement du Seigneur de “se repentir et de croire à la bonne nouvelle” (voir 1 Jean 3:23).
J’espère que vous pouvez voir qu’un disciple de Balaam n’est pas un disciple de Jésus. C’est quelqu’un qui a entendu et rejeté l’évangile. Ils ont eu une rencontre avec le Seigneur mais ont tourné le dos. Ils ont goûté au pain de vie et l’ont recraché. Ils n’ont pas répondu par la foi à la grâce de Dieu.
Verset 22 : Il leur est arrivé ce que dit le vrai proverbe : “Le chien retourne à son vomi” et “La truie, après avoir été lavée, retourne se vautrer dans la boue”.
Un chrétien n’est pas un chien ou un porc ! Une truie lavée reste une truie, mais un chrétien est une toute nouvelle création.
Si vous ne connaissez pas votre union avec Christ, vous pouvez tomber dans le mensonge qui dit que vous pouvez perdre votre salut. Vous pouvez même penser que Pierre décrit des chrétiens condamnés.
One with the Lord, your future is the same as his. No one can snatch you from his hand; nothing can separate you from his love.
Yet every time I say stuff like this, someone will point to 2 Peter 2 as though this one chapter could undo the many promises of God and make Christ’s saving work of no effect.
“Peter writes about Christians who forsook the Lord and were condemned,” they say. “So much for once saved, always saved.”
Aargh. You got me. That one verse undoes the whole Bible.
Sheesh.
Hardly a month goes by when I don’t have occasion to talk about 2 Peter 2. Does 2 Peter 2 say you can lose your salvation? No! In this chapter, Peter warns about false teachers who deny the Lord and teach heresy. He is NOT referring to Christians. These heretics are slaves of depravity (v.19) who never stop sinning (v.14). They are not saints but brute beasts who are condemned to perish (v.12).
But were these sinners once saints? Were they Christians who lost the way, and fell beyond the reach of grace?
This is an important question, because if they were once saved, then you can lose your salvation. Just as these false teachers were doomed to reap “swift destruction,” you too could be headed for hell – if you don’t take care.
IS PETER TALKING ABOUT BACKSLIDDEN CHRISTIANS?
According to nearly every commentary I have read, the answer is yes. “These were genuine Christians who turned their back on God and will now get a worse punishment than the one who never met Jesus.”
Oh happy day.
Even certain grace teachers are convinced that Peter is describing former Christians who are now damned. But were these people ever saved? At first glance, the evidence seems clear enough, for Peter says these false teachers…
– have left the right way and gone astray (v.15) – have escaped the defilements of the world only to become entangled again (v.20) – once knew the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (v.20) and the way of righteousness (v.21) – have returned to the muck like a pig (v.22)
So there you have it. Close your Bibles and get busy working out your salvation because if you don’t stay on the right way you’re doomed. Like these guys. “Blackest darkness is reserved for them” (v.17), and you too if you’re not careful.
And yet, don’t you find it interesting that Peter never says, “Be warned, dear friends, what happened to them could happen to you”?
He never says it because it CANNOT happen. The very idea that our sins could outlast God’s grace is absurd.
They (the false teachers) have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. (2 Peter 2:15)
You may recall that Balaam the prophet was recruited by the king of Moab to curse the children of Israel (Numbers 22-24). But after encountering the Lord three times – one encounter famously involved a talking donkey and an angel – Balaam did a volte-face and blessed the children of Israel instead.
Smart man, that Balaam.
The Moabite king was furious that Balaam had not done what he asked. So Balaam, realizing he was about to be sent home empty-handed, taught the king how to defeat Israel (Rev 2:14).
Long story short, the men of Israel were seduced by Moabite women and turned away from the Lord (Num 25:1-3). They were on the doorstep of the Promised Land yet they almost never entered, all because of greedy Balaam.
Not so smart man, that Balaam.
The Israelites eventually repented and pressed on to Canaan. On the way they killed the false prophet Balaam who had done them so much harm (Num 31:8).
Bye bye, Balaam.
When Peter says, “These false teachers are just like Balaam,” he’s saying they are on the wrong side of God. “By perverting the gospel, they are trying to curse what God has blessed. And like Balaam, they will come to a bad end.”
With this key in hand, we can now unlock the difficult verses of 2 Peter 2.
WHO ARE THE FOLLOWERS OF BALAAM?
Verse 15: They have forsaken the right way, and gone astray, following the way of Balaam who loved the wages of unrighteousness…
Peter is not describing Christians but people who have known the way to go – as Balaam did – and rejected it. Balaam had a personal encounter with the Lord. He heard God speak, ut when the money was on the table, Balaam made the wrong choice. He opposed God just as false teachers do whenever they pervert the gospel.
Verse 20: For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
Balaam initially stood up to the king of Moab, yet he never aligned himself with the Lord. Which was strange. If the Israelites were as blessed as he said, why not join them? Why stay with the cursed king of Moab?
The prophet was like those Hebrews who escaped the defilements of Egypt but did not enter the Promised Land. They came out but never went in. They died in the wilderness on account of unbelief.
Verse 21: For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
The one who rejects the way of righteousness (the gospel) is worse off than the one who has not heard it because he has hardened his heart to that which could save him. He has refused the Lord’s holy command to “repent and believe the good news” (see 1 John 3:23).
I hope you can see that a follower of Balaam is not a follower of Jesus. It is someone who has heard and rejected the gospel. They’ve had an encounter with the Lord but turned their back. They’ve tasted the bread of life and spat it out. They have not responded with faith to the grace of God.
Verse 22: It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”
A Christian is not a dog or a pig! A washed sow remains a sow, but a Christian is a brand new creation.
If you don’t know about your union with Christ, you may fall for the lie that says you can lose your salvation. You may even think that Peter is describing condemned Christians.
Would your Jesus kill little children because their parents sinned? Would your Jesus change salvation by faith back to salvation by works? Would your Jesus direct his disciples to rule with an “iron rod” instead of with love and forgiveness? Would your Jesusvomit you (and me) out of the Kingdom of God for being only a little warm and not red hot in our faith walk? And then not tells how he measures faith temperatures? Would your Jesus sendyou to hell for not believing every word of the Book of Revelation, and not tell you which is the unchangeable version of the hundreds of changed translations? And revoke his promise to never leave us and to be with us forever? Would your Jesus tell youhe is coming soon and then not come? Would Jesus change his appearance into that of a demonso it is so frightening to look at him that you will faint? Would Jesus give us the unbelievable images of chapter 9, and then tell us we have to accept them as the literal truth or be deprived of eternal life? Are we expected to believe chapter 28, verses 18 & 19 change all of Jesus’ promises of the New Testament? Revelation-101.org investigates the Book of Revelation and compares it to the Gospels and Epistles. It is to aid Christians in putting aside unnecessary end time speculations about rapture, the Anti-Christ, and Armageddon. This should help all to concentrate on taking up the cross daily and strive to be disciples of Jesus.This webpage analyses “Revelation” in two parts. First it gives some history of this controversial apocalypse and next it details its constant doctrinal conflicts with our Gospel, especially how “Revelation” is in total conflict with the Gospel of John.Careful reading of “Revelation” shows it disputes all twenty-six books preceding it. That being the case, “Revelation” teaches opinions contrary to those of Jesus and his Apostles. Isn’t that heresy and blasphemy?Heresy is defined as: “An opinion or doctrine that is at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine, esp. of a church or religious system,” and, “the maintaining of such an opinion or doctrine.”Strangely, “Revelation’s” description of Jesus and its record of Jesus’ words are greatly different than what is found in the prior twenty-six books of the New Testament. Those contradictions cause the Book of Revelation to be accused of being heretical. Is the Book of Revelation heretical? What are these contradictions that cause it to be charged as being a book of heresy?We should remember that “Revelation” was always doubted in Eastern Christianity and not generally accepted into the New Testament until AD 508. Some ancient Christian branches still do not include it in their Bibles. So, we know discussion and criticism of “Revelation” is not new and is not a disrespectful activity.It is generally believed John of Patmos recorded his hallucination around AD 90-95. The Apostles John and Paul believed the authentic scriptures were completed during their life times. John (8:31,32; 17:20) and Paul (Eph. 3:20) wrote those opinions at least thirty years before John of Patmos wrote. Based on this alone, “Revelation” is post Apostolic literature. Obviously it was not written by the Apostle John because of its death curse at chapter 22:18,19. John wrote of God’s never ending love and did not put such an abomination in his Gospel or his letters.Eusebius in his detailed history of the Christian Church (c. AD 324; see his comments on “Revelation” at Eusebius 3.25) listed uncertain books of the New Testament and included “Revelation” as one of those. So “Revelation” was doubted in the church very early.In the reformation times, Martin Luther included “Revelation” in his list of doubtful scriptures along James, Jude, 2nd Peter, 2nd, and 3rd John. Jerome translated the New Testament into a Latin Bible (Vulgate) c. AD 388, and included the Book of Revelation in it. Its acceptance by the Roman Church does nothing to change the uncertainty about it expressed in the early Eastern church and the later Protestant reformation. Eusebius’ (a Roman Catholic) history is sixty-five years earlier than Jerome’s Vulgate, and it is also accepted by the Roman Catholic Church.In modern times, computer analysis of “Revelation’s” style and content prove it has a different author than John’s Gospel. Without knowledge of this history or our using computer analysis, simple observation shows “Revelation” differs from the Gospel accounts.Let us ask, can we show anything in John of Patmos’ (John Patmos) apocalypse that is contrary to Jesus Christ’s Gospel?The answer is that almost everything in John Patmos’ hallucination opposes our Gospel Jesus Christ’s personality, words, ways, and teachings.All one must do is give a little attention to the words that John of Patmos wrote in the Book of Revelation!The Greek literary styles of John Patmos and John Apostle were examined in very early Christianity to prove these are two different writers. Eighteen hundred years ago, Dionysius (Bishop of the Patriarchy of Alexandria) stated that “Revelation” was not written by the same person who wrote John’s Gospel and Letters, (Eusebius’ History of the Church, 7.25).His opinion came from his comparing their two styles and found John Patmos’ Greek to be entirely different from John Apostle and any other New Testament writer. John Patmos’ Greek is unrefined and contains many grammatical mistakes.We do not need to be Greek scholars to look at the text of the Gospel and letters of Apostle John to see that John Patmos contradicts John Apostle, and his Gospel, at every turn.Here are the contradictions:John Patmos’ “Revelation” is a hallucination he received while in a trance. It is a detailed prediction of the future. We can begin by wondering why. . . . .Why does this book violate Jesus’ direct instructions to live a day at a time and not be concerned about the future (Mt. 6:25-34 esp. 34)?We can also wonder about John Patmos’ extensive memory of things “seen” in his hallucination while he was unconscious – in a trance – “ in the Spirit,” lying “as if dead.”He has “remembered” all the eyes, horns, wings, lamp stands, animals, smells, spirits, and sights in great detail, and he has given a verbatim report of all conversations. There is no explanation of his unusual photographic recall.Yet John Patmos tells us we must accept his memory, exactly as written or be eternally punished (22:18,19) – be cast out of the book of life! That means: You will be sent to hell for that “sin”![Do YOU actually believe that? If so, explain why.]At the beginning, John Patmos tells there are seven spirits before Jesus’ throne. Jesus only told us of one – the Holy Spirit. Then Jesus says he is “the Alpha and Omega.” This statement is new to the Bible, something Jesus never said before, and also is not needed by John the Apostle. John the Apostle, in his Gospel, already taught us, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was made man. (John 1:1-14) Certainly John the Apostle doesn’t need any additional explanation about Jesus’ nature. If he does, then John’s Gospel would be incomplete as written.One also can wonder if John the Apostle would faint (1:17-19) upon seeing Jesus. He had been with Jesus throughout his ministry and after the Resurrection. Jesus showed John his wounds and cooked him breakfast after coming back to life. Why would John the Apostle be frightened by seeing Jesus again? Why tell John what he has done (1:18) when John the Apostle has already written this in his Gospel?Does the strange description of Jesus (Rev. 1: 12-16) match up with the Jesus of the Gospels? Does that match YOUR opinion of your humble and humane Jesus?To those seven churches, not to the whole body of Christ – the whole Church – “Revelation’s” Jesus says he is coming “soon” (1:1-3), the time is “near.” John Patmos expected Jesus to return in the flesh – fully human once again. This promise is repeated in this book and finally stated at 22:20.[Soon: “Within a short period after this or that time, event, etc.; before long, in the near future; at an early date; promptly or quickly; readily or willingly; in a short period of time; before the time specified is much advanced; immediately; at once; forthwith; sooner instead of later.”][Near: “Close to a point not far away; close at hand; within a short distance; close in relation; close by; short or direct; almost; nearly; not distant; lesser in distance; close in time; near at hand.”]John Patmos predictions are addressed only to the seven churches in Asia, and not to the whole church, the Church Universal – the whole body of Christ. So, why are these verses universalized and assumed to apply to the whole church and why do individual Christians assume they apply to themselves? Have you done that? If so, why?The predicted event of Jesus’ bodily return did not happen to those seven churches soon, or in the near time, or at all. This is a false prophecy.At best this is a false prophecy. At worst, it is appears to be an out and out lie. Gospel Jesus Christ does not lie because he is the Truth. Neither is he mistaken. How can we excuse this conflict?Jesus’ second coming in the flesh happened after the resurrection. Does that need to be done again? His subsequent comings are said to be in the Spirit, in the “clouds” as Spirit rather than flesh. This is because his Kingdom – the Kingdom of Heaven – is not of this world.He must reappear in the Spirit to be omnipresent – in all places at all times. To reappear in the flesh would limit him to one place at a time and require a “pope mobile.” All true Christians know Jesus is with them everywhere they go, and at all times. He promised, ” I will never leave you not forsake you.(Christians who wish to see Jesus can see him at any time in the spirit. It is only in this manner Jesus can be omnipresent and put himself in the presence of every person at any time. Jesus has returned and is with YOU always.)Group judgment, good and bad, on seven churches listed (1:11) – is on the whole fellowship. Members are judged collectively, by association, and not as individuals. Here is “guilt by association” and not as individual children of God. (Contrary to Mt.18: 1-14, esp. 10.)Group judgment starts with Ephesus, at Revelation 2: 1. Patmos’ Jesus says salvation of the whole Ephesus group depends on them loving him more (2:4). Here again “Revelation” contradicts Apostle John’s Gospel that teaches salvation depends only on belief in Jesus (John 11: 25,26).Smyrna (2:9) must remain faithful to death to deserve salvation. Thus, salvation of members in this group cannot be assured until its death (of all members or one or two?) according to John Patmos’ Jesus. John the Apostle’s Gospel Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, thus he shall die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11: 25,26). There is no revocation of Jesus Christ’ salvation in the Gospels. Pergamum (2: 12) is in Satan’s territory. It held fast and did not deny Jesus during persecutions. But Patmos’ Jesus rebukes them for eating food sacrificed to idols (2: 14). Here Patmos’ Jesus contradicts Paul who said this is permitted (1 Cor. 8). Jesus Christ himself said what we eat can neither contaminate nor improve our hearts (souls) in Matthew (Mt. 15: 17,18; Mk. 7: 18,19) . The discussion on eating food sacrificed to idols came not from Jesus Christ but from the first conference in Jerusalem, (Acts 15: 20, 29; 21: 25). Patmos’ Jesus will punish for this “affront.” Compare John Patmos with the Gospel Jesus (Luke 9: 51-55). Jesus came to save lives, not to destroy them. God’s love wills that all people saved. John the Apostle knows this and wrote it in his Gospel, (3: 16-20). Thyatira (2: 18) has love, patience, faith, service and patient endurance. But Patmos’ Jesus says that is not enough. They have a bad woman in their midst who causing immoral acts and the eating of food that has been sacrificed to Idols. Patmos’ Jesus will kill any children born from adultery with her (2: 22,23).Will the Gospel Jesus kill innocent children because of the sins of their parents? John the Apostle’s Gospel Jesus Christ is a man of love who teaches love, forgiveness, and protection of little children.Patmos’ Jesus will reward those who avoid this Jezebel and will turn them into hard and mean rulers (2: 24-28) who will rule with “rods of Iron!” Does this sound like the meek, gentle, loving, and forgiving Jesus of the Gospels? Did the Apostles “rule with rods of iron”?`Sardis (3: 1) is judged by Patmos’ Jesus as being dead for lacking works. If their works do not improve, Patmos’ Jesus will come undetected and save only those in Sardis who have good works. Contradicting Gospel Jesus, Patmos’ salvation is by works and not by faith. Also, Patmos’ Jesus revokes Gospel Jesus Christ’s promise to never leave us, and to be with us until the end of time. (Mt. 28: 20b) Philadelphia (3: 7) has done everything right according to Patmos’ Jesus. They have endured patiently. If they will just keep on enduring, they will receive their reward. Reward here is based on continuous enduring rather than faith. It is only these who continue to endure that Patmos’ Jesus will save. Those who cannot handle persecutions are condemned and outside the blessings. John the Apostle’s Jesus is entirely different. The Gospel’s Jesus Christ said, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him who he has sent. “ (John 6:29) Laodice (3: 14) is neither hot nor cold so Patmos’ Jesus will vomit the lukewarm Christians out of his mouth – expel them from the body of Christ (3: 15,16) – in other words, send them to hell. Jesus Christ in John the Apostle’s Gospel will “draw all men unto him,” even “lukewarm” Christians (John 12: 30-32). Patmos’ Jesus qualifies who he will bless by their works with their endurance being the measure by which they are judged worthy to be saved and remain saved. John Patmos’ salvation by works is opposite of Jesus Christ’s Gospel of Grace taught in John the Apostle’s fourth Gospel. Why this change? C contradicting the Gospel of Jesus Christ, John Patmos, in Revelation, always puts works as the basis of your salvation . Patmos’ contradiction of Jesus’ Gospel and final sacrifice for you and me is specifically stated in “Revelation” at 20: 12,13. The Gospel Jesus saves us by his death and resurrection (Mt. 27: 51-54). Through Jesus Christ, we can be saved by God’s freely given grace, and afterwards se can do the works of God by the Spirit he puts in us. We are not saved because of our works but only because God draws us to him. (John 6:65) Christians can know they will never die and will be with Jesus forever in eternity when they are born again. John Patmos’ Jesus salvation by works takes away this “blessed assurance.” The result of “Revelation’s” doctrines is that no one can know their status with God until they are raised from the dead and judged (20: 12,13).John Patmos’ Jesus is that of the Old Testament God, condemning, holding grudges, ruling with an “iron rod,” and viciously punishing. It is obvious “Revelation’s” Jesus is not like, or a reflection of, the loving Abba Heavenly Father of John the Apostle’s Jesus Christ.Apparently John Patmos is a saved Christian. That is why he can say some good things about Jesus. Equally obvious is he is a person who is different from John the Apostle. Patmos appears to be a converted Jew who still thinks in Old Testament images. This causes the contradictions listed and examined here. (Also see the essay on “Book of Revelation” in the Jewish Encyclopedia.)Without much study and analysis, we know that the Gospel Jesus does not kill innocent children.We know the true Jesus Christ saves us by his work on Earth because we are all sinners and cannot save ourselves by our own efforts – by our works. We know our Heavenly Father is a loving father and not a cruel God planning to punish the World he sent Jesus to save. We know it is God’s will for everyone in the world will hear the Gospel in an intelligent fashion so they can choose Jesus. (Mt. 28:19)Christians know they are not going to live eternally in Hell if they do not accept every word in Patmos’ “Revelation.” (22: 18,19).Which translation, of the hundreds circulating, would be the only correct, unchangeable one?Believing John Patmos’ “Revelation” is not a condition of pleasing God, according to Jesus. That extravagant threat has absolutely no New Testament precedence. This threat of revoking your salvation was made after Jesus ascended. It was not part of his earthly example or the Gospel instructions he left for us.Patmos’ extravagant threat completely contradicts our Gospel’s Jesus Christ who said he came to save, not destroy (Luke 9: 51-56), and promised to remain with us always (Mt. 28: 20).Considering “Revelation’s” contradictions of the other twenty-six New Testament books, is it correct to say it is blasphemy and is heretical when you measure against those books of traditional Christianity? You can decide this for yourself!Some questions remain. First, can any careful Christian take “Revelation” seriously after reading it? Next, why did God allow it into the New Testament canon? We can only guess those answers.It might be Christians feel obligated to accept it because it is in the New Testament. Believing the Bible to be the inspired word of God, many do not dare analyze its contents as has been done in this essay. Few read it critically.But how can anyone take “Revelation” seriously? It makes no sense and there is NO common agreement about its meaning. After almost two thousand years, no two people have ever agreed on what it means! How can it be useful if it is not understood and only brings disputing and division?Reading John Patmos’ “Revelation” can be a history lesson that shows us the type of person that was contesting with Paul about the nature of the Gospel. John Patmos appears to be like the people of the “Party of James,” the “Circumcision Party,” who wanted the Jewish traditions continued in the Body of Christ and harassed Paul.We have read of Jesus’ words, works and ways in twenty-six New Testament books before coming to the Book of Revelation.“Revelation” is our “final examination!” It is our test to see if we can “hear our Master’s voice.”“Revelation” is given to us as an example of a false prophet and a false Christ for our own protection!We ought to know enough about Jesus and Christianity when we reach “Revelation,” to realize it contradicts the rest of the New Testament.If we cannot easily see that, we fail our final exam and need to repeat the Jesus curriculum starting over from Matthew 1:1.Here in “Revelation” we actually see and hear a false prophet describing a false Christ.We have compared John Patmos and his Jesus to the Gospel Jesus. Now we know the difference. Recognition of the false prophets and false Christs will be easier next time we see one. Deception becomes more difficult.Learning to “hear our Master’s voice” and passing this “final exam” enables us to recognize and avoid false teachers, false prophets and false Christs when we next see and hear them – in print, in person, and on TV and Radio.False Prophets and false Teachers always add something more (a work, an add-on) that we must do or believe, to the simple, free, and loving grace given by our Abba Father through the true Gospel Jesus.Looking at Patmos’ beliefs can explain Paul’s peevishness against such beliefs that caused him to finally say to them, “Trouble me no more” (Galatians 6:17).We understand Paul’s frustration and want to say the same about “Revelation.” The time, money, and energy spent on disputes arising from debates about it is regrettable.We should say, “Trouble me no more about these useless, invented, and wrong, end time predictions!”The ancient argument about “works” (James’ Letter) versus “faith” alone (Paul) is explained in Paul’s letters, (Romans 10, esp. 10:4). Standard Christian theology is we are saved by faith and not by works. Works do proceed from faith but are not the requirement for our salvation. Good works can only come after salvation when directed by the Lord.The hallmark of all religious systems is their invented requirements of various works, including practicing required rituals, liturgies, and believing invented doctrines.“Revelation” diverts our time and attention from studying Jesus. Debating it saps the energy we need to spend disciplining to Jesus instead of egotistically displaying our doubtful opinions. Those debates divide Christians and bring dissention instead of harmony.Disputing about “Revelation’s” meaning greatly pleases Satan. This controversy keeps our eyes off Jesus and on busily contesting with each other!
Why would facebook consider this spam or hurtful?? too much truth??
No one can serve two masters. AND NO IM NOT TALKING ABOUT SEX BUT MURDER. Who is you Jesus? Who is your savior?
Romans 13 is the absolute favorite chapter of the Bible for all rich and powerful empires since the 4th century. It is the ‘gotcha’ proof-text for ensuring that its citizens obey the authority of their masters. From kings to presidents, soldiers to police officers, every power-hungry statist loves Romans 13—and with good reason. Romans 13 plainly states that anyone who has governmental authority has been given that power by God himself, and everyone should obey them because of this. That’s what it says. Or does it?
ROMANS 13
¹ 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.
² Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
³ 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,
⁴ 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.
⁵ Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. ⁷ 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
On the surface, this passage seems to make a few claims that fascist dictators dream about at night. Everyone should obey the government? God chooses government leaders? God approves of the government’s use of violence? Christians can or should work in government? These claims are in fact, myths. Romans 13 doesn’t undo the rest of Scripture.
MYTH #1 – EVERYONE SHOULD OBEY THE GOVERNMENT
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.
Romans 13:1
The New Testament is filled with examples of Godly people who do not obey the government. The first, and perhaps most important example, is Joseph and Mary. The parents of Jesus intentionally disobeyed King Herod the Great when they escaped to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-14). King Herod’s governmental decree was that Roman police kill all baby boys, but Joseph and Mary disobeyed. The very fact that Jesus lived past two years old is a testament to the virtue of disobeying governmental power!.
Paul himself, the author of the letter to the Romans, disobeyed the government on numerous occasions. The governor of Damascus sought to arrest Paul so that he might be executed. Paul disobeyed the authority of government and escaped through a window in the city’s walls (Acts 9:23-25). He even later cites this event to demonstrate his unwavering commitment to Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:30-33). He also used his Roman citizenship to defend himself when beaten.
Ever since Paul started following the way of Jesus, he spent his days in rebellion against governments. He never disassociated himself from these actions; instead, he boasts about their consequences as proof of his commitment to Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:22-25). Paul went to prison at least three times because he disobeyed the government. Finally, like Jesus before him, he was executed by the government for his disobedience. If Paul actually meant to teach that followers of Jesus should obey the government, he was a major hypocrite.
So what is going on here? “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities” sounds pretty clear. First, let’s examine the word ‘subject.’ In the original Greek, Paul uses the word ‘hypotassō,’ which means “submission involving the recognition of an ordered structure.”1 The same word is used in verses that say wives should ‘submit’ to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22; Colossians 3:18; Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 3:1). Paul could have used the word ‘hypakouō’ which means ‘obey,’ but he doesn’t. He uses ‘hypotassō.’ This difference in words was enough for Paul not to mean ‘obey’ when he said that every person (himself included) should be ‘hypotassō’ to the governing authorities because he obviously didn’t obey them.2 Paul could have used the word ‘obey,’ but he didn’t.
The only reason Christians ever ‘obey’ worldly governments is just out of coincidence that doing so coincides with obeying Jesus. Anytime obeying Jesus means disobeying the state, Christians should do so without hesitation but should do so with the wisdom and knowledge that persecution, arrest, or execution may follow (Matthew 5:10-12, 10:16-18; John 15:19-20; 1 Peter 4:12-14; Revelation 2:10-11). Be wise as a snake but harmless and helpful as a dove.
Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”
Acts 5:29
MYTH #2 – GOD CHOOSES GOVERNMENT LEADERS
For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Romans 13:1
Some other translations, such as the NIV, say, “there is no authority except that which God has established.” Whether it be the English word ‘instituted’ or ‘established,’ the actual word in Greek is ‘tassō,’ which means to “arrange, put in place.”3 Theologian John W. Yoder compares God’s work here of ‘tassō’ to that of a librarian: “The librarian does not make the books, does not write them, does not necessarily approve of them, but simply puts them in order.”4 This is a helpful illustration that assists us in making sense of history. During the time that Romans was written, the emperor of Rome was Nero, a desperately wicked ruler who fed Christians to wild animals as entertainment. God need not approve or agree with government leaders in order to tassō them.
Paul also makes the claim that no authority exists except that which comes from God. This is consistent with the claims of the rest of Scripture. The Old Testament says that Yahweh is the chief creator God that delegates some of his authority to the lesser gods (Psalm 82:1 ESV, 95:3, 136:2; Deuteronomy 10:17). Yahweh even gave these gods (who were formerly on his ‘divine counsel’) nations to rule (Deuteronomy 32:8-9 ESV). These gods rebelled, much like humans, and defined good and evil for themselves.5 This is why all over the New Testament we are told that it is ultimately Satan and his demons that rule over the nations of the world as their gods (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11; Ephesians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19).
Authority came from Yahweh but is being abused by the lesser gods of the nations. These gods give their authority to those who worship them, which is how emperors, kings, and presidents receive their power (Luke 4:5-8). For Paul, earthly authorities and evil spiritual authorities cannot be separated; they are interconnected.6 It is upon this worldview that Romans 13 was written.
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities [exousia].
Romans 13:1
Our struggle is… against the authorities [exousia]…
Ephesians 6:12
Government leaders are inherently a rejection of God (1 Samuel 8:5-7). Ultimately, all earthly rulers and state authorities are the consequence of departing from God and disobeying his ways.
7 God allows government leaders to have their power, but he sent his Son to actively work against them (Colossians 2:15). In the end, Jesus will destroy rulers in government because they are his enemies (1 Corinthians 15:24-25). So naturally, Paul’s statement doesn’t in any way imply that the state’s actions are willed or approved by God. Perhaps more so than any book in the Bible, Revelation illustrates God’s hatred for empire.
They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval… they have rejected me as their king.
Hosea 8:4, 1 Samuel 8:7
MYTH #3 – GOD APPROVES OF THE GOVERNMENT’S USE OF VIOLENCE
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason.
Romans 13:3-4
Right away, anyone can see that at face value, what Paul says here isn’t always true. Do governments only punish people who do wrong? Do governments never punish people who do what is right? The Gospel accounts, the book of Acts, and even Paul’s life stand in opposition to these claims. Jesus and most of his disciples were murdered by the government when they were doing what was right (proclaiming the Gospel of Christ’s Kingdom).
God only has one nation—the Kingdom of Christ. Satan rules all other nations. It doesn’t even make sense to claim that Satan’s nations only punish wrongdoers. So then what is Paul saying? One truth that can be drawn from this passage is this: even if Christians die by the hands of the state, at least their martyrdom will magnify God’s glory, just like Jesus’ death did. No Christian should ‘fear’ the evil authority of the state.
Satan holds the power of death and executes that evil with the power of the sword. But Jesus told us they cannot touch our eternal life! The author of Hebrews says that Jesus is breaking their power and setting his children free (Hebrews 2:14-15). We were once held in slavery by our fear of death, but no longer. We need not fear nations who wield the sword to deal death because we are promised resurrection into new life. We follow after a messiah that willingly laid down his life for his enemies out of love—an action we are called to imitate. Forgive not kill.
Most commenters agree that Paul is merely describing how worldly governments ought to function in the meantime before God brings them to nothing, not how they do function (1 Corinthians 2:6).8 Paul knows firsthand by his own experiences and his people’s history that rulers do not always reward good and punish evil. Unfortunately, throughout history, many liberal interpreters have used this passage to justify the actions of many evil rulers. It was used in Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 40s to support Hitler, and it is often used today in America to support the United States’ foreign policies.
With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.
Revelation 18:21
MYTH #4 – CHRISTIANS CAN/SHOULD WORK IN GOVERNMENT
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.
Romans 13:3-4
This passage is often used to support the idea that Christians can or sometimes even should work in some governmental capacity. The thought is that if the government doesn’t bear the sword in vain, is a servant of God, and seems to carry out justice, then Christians should be involved. Romans 13 is used to support Christians working in government, serving in the military, and policing the streets. Ironically, Romans 13 stands in harmony with the rest of the New Testament’s teachings in that it prohibits Christians from doing any of these things.
“Bearing the sword,” whether in vain or not, is something that Jesus forbids. The only time in all of Scripture where a follower of Jesus attempts to use a sword, he gets rebuked (Matthew 26:52). This, of course, is because Jesus taught his followers never to use violence but instead to love and bless their enemies. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, continues this teaching. Directly before Romans chapter 13 is chapter 12, where Christian living is addressed.
Romans 12:1-2 tells us to worship God and not be tempted to conform to the culture of the worldly nations we live in. Romans 12:3-8 tells us that within the body of Jesus, we all have specific gifts for lifting up the Church. Romans 12:9-13 tells us the importance of love and caring for other people. Romans 12:14-16 tells us to bless and love those who persecute us. Romans 12:17-21 tells us never to repay evil, never to take revenge, to feed our enemies, and to overcome evil with good. (the original letter didn’t have chapter markers) Romans 13:1-7 tells us to not be in violent rebellion against our enemy—the state. Romans 13:8-10 wraps up by telling us that only love fulfills the law.
Romans 12 and 13 take the reader on a progression of living rightly from within Church community, to the local community, to how we live in relation to those who persecute us, to how we live in relation to our enemies. Romans 13 describes our enemies, not permitted occupations. This is grammatically proven by the pronouns that Paul uses. In Romans 12, Paul constantly addresses ‘you’ (Romans 12:14-21 ESV). While in Romans 13, Paul uses the pronouns ‘he’ and ‘his’ (Romans 13:3-4 ESV). The first part of Romans 13 isn’t talking about Christians in authority; it is talking about Caesar and his appointed rulers.
Paul believed that Jesus will return to destroy everyone in governments (1 Corinthians 15:24-25 NLT). Paul’s first-century context couldn’t imagine Christians taking part in the Roman government. It wouldn’t make any sense then, and it doesn’t make any sense now. Working in government doesn’t exempt a follower of Jesus from the clear command to love one’s enemies. A person carrying a sword (or a gun) faces an unfortunate choice: love their enemies (as commanded by Christ) or kill them (as commanded by Caesar). Christians should never work for governments.
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.”
Romans 12:19-20
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.
Romans 13:4
AN ALTERNATE INTERPRETATION
No matter which way you slice it, Romans 13 is tricky. It doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the New Testament’s teachings at first glance. Perhaps Romans 13 is so tricky because of Paul’s situation. Paul was writing to a church deep in the heart of the world’s most evil empire to date. Christians were a persecuted minority known for treasonous sedition. His letters were not secret and would have been subject to inspection by Roman government soldiers (Galatians 2:4-5). For this reason, the letter could have been cleverly written so as to appear compliant with the Roman government but also so a truly knowledgable Christian would have no doubt as to what it actually meant. So here below is a possible alternative interpretation.
WHICH AUTHORITIES IS PAUL REFERRING TO?
The early Church understood that Jesus was King and Caesar was not. Caesar claimed a false authority by the power of the sword—deception, terror, and murder. Caesar claimed for himself what God the Father gave to his Son: all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). Caesar was not a valid authority. So what if Paul didn’t mean Caesar when he said, “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.”? Instead, what if he meant the only valid authority, which is Jesus and his body? After all, the correct and only path to full Kingship for Jesus was through the cross, not through the sword. So Caesar’s authority, bought with the blood of the sword, was invalidated by Jesus’ example. According to Paul, Jesus is “the blessed and only Ruler” (1 Timothy 6:15, 1:17; Acts 17:6-7; James 4:12). God’s words to Hosea seem to validate this, “They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval.” (Hosea 8:4). Romans 13 begins to make more sense if understood in this light.
A TERROR FOR THOSE WHO DO RIGHT?
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.
Romans 13:3
God’s true and valid rulers are truly not a terror to those who do right. But does Paul actually think that Caesar is not a terror to those who do right? Not at all.
We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Corinthians 2:6-8
Paul clearly thinks that governments are a terror to those who do right, saying, “Remember… my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal… In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 2:8-9, 3:12). The rulers of Rome were certainly a terror for Paul who was doing right. So if Paul is referring to Jesus in Romans 13:3 then he indeed holds no terror for those who do right.
WHAT ABOUT THE RULERS WHO DO “NOT BEAR THE SWORD IN VAIN”?
We know from Jesus that anyone who wields actual swords does indeed do so in vain (Matthew 26:52, Revelation 13:10 NLV), so Paul could likely be speaking metaphorically. Several places in the New Testament refer to Jesus’s words of truth as a metaphorical sword (Ephesians 6:17, Matthew 10:34; Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 1:16; 19:15, 21). If Jesus is in view as the valid authority, then his sword would be the truth.
WHAT ABOUT PAUL TELLING US TO PAY TAXES?
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. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Romans 13:7-10
To whom are taxes and customs owed? Paul previously was arrested for practicing non-Roman customs (Acts 16:20-22). Does Paul believe that Christians owe Rome the practicing of their customs? No, of course not. Does Paul think that Christians owe Caesar taxes? Also no. You can notice that Paul, just like Jesus, never actually tells his readers to pay taxes. Tax collectors were hated because the Jews understood that taxation was theft—or extortion more precisely.
Governments demand money from people without their consent and will use violence and/or murder if anyone refuses to pay. By the very definition used to arrest any normal person for committing this action, taxation is theft. Stealing is outlawed because it is wrong. “You shall not steal” (Romans 13:9). So governments do to people what they don’t allow their subjects to do to them. This violates what Paul continues on to say is the summary of the whole law: “love your neighbor as yourself.” So to whom are taxes owed? Paul answers his own question, “owe no one anything except to love each other” (Romans 13:8 ESV).
THE ENEMIES OF GOD
Romans 13 doesn’t teach that we should obey governments. We obey God, not men. God doesn’t choose who is in government, he merely arranges them the best he is able while maintaining our free will. God doesn’t approve of any violence done by any person, whether they are his children or not. And since government leaders are given their authority directly from the devil, of course, Romans 13 doesn’t give Christians permission to ever be a part of any government.
Jesus didn’t consider human rulers to be true rulers and authorities (Mark 10:42-45). He considers them to be his enemies, which he will destroy (1 Corinthians 15:24-25 NLT).9 He rebukes their supposed ‘authority,’ and so should we.
So are you going be conformed to the world or stand for truth?
Rejecting the lies of empire.
Jesus and his disciples had a lot to say about how Christians should treat other people. He even went as far as telling his followers that they must love their enemies if they want to be considered a child of God. This is a radically difficult and counter-cultural command that has far-reaching implications.
If Jesus commanded people to love every person, including enemies, then that rules out going to war against them. The early Church understood Christ’s command this way. They forbid service in the military because it would require killing enemies instead of loving them. It only took 300 years after the time of Jesus for humankind to invent a theology to get around this command. Ever since then, Christians have been killing their enemies instead of loving them. This has been justified for many reasons over the centuries.
Today in America, the justification for ignoring Christ’s command to love our enemies is the excuse that soldiers have fought and died for the very freedom that allows us to worship God. Therefore, the logic is that it is a necessary exception to following Jesus because it is what allows us to follow Jesus. While this certainly wasn’t the mindset of the early Church and those closest to Jesus, it has become the narrative of the day.
There is just one problem.
DYING FOR FREEDOM?
There is a story that the empire of America echos every chance it gets: that U.S. soldiers who have died in America’s foreign wars and foreign interventions have done so in defense of our rights and freedoms. It is a message that can be heard at sporting events, memorial services, airports, churches, and everywhere else that anyone will listen.
There is one major thing wrong, however. It’s a lie. None of those soldiers died protecting our rights and freedoms. That’s because our rights and freedoms were never being threatened by the enemy forces that killed those soldiers. To many, this sounds like a bold claim. Prove it, right? Let’s take a look at every major military conflict that the U.S. has been in, starting from the most recent (at the time of this writing) to the oldest.
SYRIA
The Syrian government has never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who has died in Syria was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.
PAKISTAN
The Pakistan government has never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who has died in Pakistan was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.
LIBYA
The Libyan government has never invaded the United States and tried to take away our freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who has died in Libya was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.
NIGER
The Niger government has never invaded the United States and tried to take away our freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who has died in Niger was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.
SOMALIA
The Somali government has never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who has died in Somalia was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.
IRAQ
The Iraq government has never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who has died in Iraq was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.
AFGHANISTAN
The Afghan government never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who has died in Afghanistan was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms. Even al-Qaeda never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Its terrorist attacks were retaliation for U.S. interventionism in the Middle East.
PANAMA
The Panama government never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who died in Panama was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.
GRENADA
The Grenada government never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who died in Grenada was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.
VIETNAM
The North Vietnam government never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who died in Vietnam was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.
KOREA
The North Korean government never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who died in Korea was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.
WORLD WAR II
The Japanese government never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who died in the Pacific theater in World War II was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms. The Japanese attack on U.S. Naval forces on Hawaii was intended solely to prevent the U.S. Navy from interfering with Japanese attempts to acquire oil in the Dutch East Indies in response to President Roosevelt’s oil embargo, whose aim was to provoke the Japanese into attacking the United States so that the U.S. could get into the European part of war.
The German government never invaded the United States and try to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who died in the European theater in World War II was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms. Germany wasn’t even able to cross the English Channel to invade England, much less the Atlantic Ocean to invade the United States. In fact, the last thing that Germany wanted was war with the United States, as reflected by Germany’s refusal to react to President Roosevelt’s repeated provocations to get Germany to attack the United States. Germany only declared war on the United States (to fulfill its treaty obligations) after FDR successfully provoked the Japanese into attacking the U.S. Navy fleet at Pearl Harbor, in hopes that this would provide a back door to entry into the war in Europe.
WORLD WAR I
The German government never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any U.S. soldier who died in World War I was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms, especially given the ridiculous aims of U.S. intervention into the war: to “end all wars” and to “make the world safe for democracy,” a word that isn’t even in the U.S. Constitution. In fact, it is perversely ironic that it was U.S. interventionism into the conflict that contributed to the rise of Nazi Germany and World War II.
THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
The Spanish government never invaded the United States and tried to take away our rights and freedoms. Therefore, any soldier who died in the Spanish-American War was not killed protecting our rights and freedoms.
In the World War, we used propaganda to make the boys accept conscription. They were made to feel ashamed if they didn’t join the army. So vicious was this war propaganda that even God was brought into it. With few exceptions our clergymen joined in the clamor to kill, kill, kill. To kill the Germans. God is on our side… it is His will that the Germans be killed. And in Germany, the good pastors called upon the Germans to kill the allies… to please the same God. That was a part of the general propaganda, built up to make people war conscious and murder conscious.
Beautiful ideals were painted for our boys who were sent out to die. This was the “war to end all wars.” This was the “war to make the world safe for democracy.” No one mentioned to them, as they marched away, that their going and their dying would mean huge war profits.
—Smedley Butler, at the time the most decorated Marine in U.S. history.1
Never Ending War
WHY LIE?
So, why the lie? Why keep saying that U.S. soldiers have died protecting our rights and freedoms? Perhaps the truth is too embarrassing and too shameful, especially when one is an ardent supporter of all or some of these foreign wars and interventions. It’s easier to salve one’s conscience by simply buying into the lie. But more importantly, the lie is necessary for the empire to continue to survive. This is why keeping up the lie becomes “a matter of national security.”
After World War II the war machine never turned back off. An entire industry that profited from war was built and was never torn back down. In his farewell address, President Eisenhower warned the American people: “Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. …we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions… we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”
Since that time, the American economy has transformed around profiting from war and the spoils they bring. Today, war is the largest industry in America and we are the world’s most prolific purveyor of weapons. It is ironic that in Eisenhower’s warning, he used the imagery of makers of plowshares making swords. The prophet Isaiah prophesied a time when God’s people would beat their swords into plowshares, weapons transformed into instruments of agriculture, and there would be no more war (Isaiah 2:4). Scripture identifies this prophesied time as the arrival of Jesus Christ. With the coming of Jesus, war has been abolished as his followers now work for peace instead of war.
Isaiah prophesied the work of Christ and his peace. Eisenhower prophesied the work of anti-christ and its war.
THE LIES WORK
The lie that America fights for freedom is a lie that is repeated endlessly from grade school and onward in attempts to indoctrinate. In fact, the indoctrination is so perfect that it actually doesn’t matter what the troops are doing overseas. Whatever they are doing is automatically considered to be “defending our freedom.”
Consider a hypothetical. Suppose there is some country thousands of miles away that is minding its own business. There are no attacks on the United States or even threats to attack the United States. The only problem is that the regime is not sufficiently submissive to the U.S. government. The U.S. government decides to invade the country and install a pro-U.S. regime. The troops are sent into battle. Some are killed. Countless more people are killed on the other side.
There is no doubt that millions of Americans will automatically conclude that those U.S. troops killed and died “defending our freedom,” notwithstanding the fact that our freedom was never at risk. Remember: that hypothetical country never attacked the United States or even threatened to do so. Yet, many Americans will nonetheless honor their brave and courageous soldiers who died or lost arms or legs while “defending our freedom.” It is how the indoctrinated mind works.
But, how can we be so certain that that’s the way many Americans would react to that hypothetical situation?
Because that’s what happened with Iraq, a country whose government never attacked the United States or even threatened to do so. Thus, not one single U.S. soldier died in Iraq “defending our freedom” because our freedom was never threatened by Iraq.
REJECT THE LIE
Over 120 countries have freedom of religion and none of them have soldiers fighting all over the world to maintain it. The majority of countries have freedom of speech. And, for all the military bases that the U.S. has (it has around 800) in over 70 countries, America still isn’t the freest country in the world.2 America is outranked by 16 other countries for having the most freedom.3
If you invade another country, you aren’t defending your country — you are attacking people who are defending their country from you.
As Sun Tzu, a Chinese general and author of The Art of War, once wrote, “all warfare is based on deception.” Satan is the great deceiver who comes to kill, steal, and destroy (Revelation 12:9, John 10:10). The more power that a worldly nation acquires, the more it operates according to the power structures of Satan, which are inverse to the power structure of Jesus. Romans rallied around their troops “for the glory of Rome.” That worked for them. For America, troops are honored because “they defend our freedoms.” It’s the same old lies with a fresh coat of paint.
Nations of the world, which are controlled and ruled by Satan will always use lies to further death (1 John 5:19). Jesus offers another way.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
For many, the phrase “for God and country” stirs up feelings of patriotism and pride. The phrase evokes an idea that a cause is both for the good of the country and also aligns with God’s will. Many soldiers hold the phrase dear to their hearts as it is personal reassurance that they fight for a noble cause. After all, the government “does not bear the sword in vain, it is God’s agents of wrath.”
This quote from Romans 13 has been used throughout the centuries to justify various nation’s use of violence. Is there Biblical support for a Christian to participate?
Let’s take a look at the passage in question:
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. 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.
Romans 13:1-4
In America, the line of thinking often is: “You have a duty to participate in the government and defend your country because God is over it, and God says to submit to the government.” So when America goes off to war, it is not “waging war for no reason,” America is “God’s wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” American Christians like the idea that the United States was set up as a “servant of God.”
EVERY NATION UNDER GOD
This interpretation of Romans 13 would logically indicate that God also set up every other nation as an “agent of wrath” that “does not bear the sword for no reason.” After all, Paul says that “there is no authority except that which God has established.” So that means that North Korea’s government was established by God. That means that everyone who died at the hands of Stalin in Russia was “resisting against the authority that God had appointed.” It means that everyone who was killed by the Nazi’s Third Reich was justifiably killed because “rulers hold no terror for those who do right, only for those who do wrong.” Paul makes some pretty terrifying claims at first glance.
The idea that “God is on our side” or Gott mit uns as Hitler would say! It has been an absolute favorite ploy of nearly every national leader throughout recent history. It is a mentality that has worked wonders in the United States in getting Christians to sign up for military service. It worked very well in Nazi Germany as well. The majority of Nazi soldiers were Bible-believing Christians. Each and every one of them wore the words “Gott Mit Uns [God With Us]” on their belt buckles. They believed it. We believe it. But is it true?
Did you ever see the Nazi “God With Us” Belt? Hope we won’t see you at the “Nuremberg trials”.n You were just follow whose orders?
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.
Romans 13:1
The Greek word that Paul uses that we translate into ‘established,’ is ‘tasso.’ The word can mean ‘to establish,’ or ‘to file,’ or ‘to order something,’ and sometimes is translated as ‘orchestrate.’ There are many scholars who argue that Paul, thankfully, isn’t saying here that the way governments are is the way God established them, because then you’d have to conclude that God set up Nazi Germany. Rather, what he’s saying, is that God will work with the governments, evil or good, to create some kind of order. Whether he likes them or not, he’ll use them according to the kind of government they are.
Remember, Scripture claims that Satan rules over the nations. But God is a redemptive God, he can use the most evil schemes of oppressive government, turning them on their heads to advance his Kingdom. While God works with the governments he finds, it doesn’t mean that God approves of every government’s every action. Empires are a major enemy of God. Yet God is their friend.
‘Is an authority which persecutes the children of God, which attacks the faith and which undermines our religion, from God? We shall answer this briefly. Nobody will deny that our senses—sight, sound and thought—are given to us by God. But although we get them from God, what we do with them is up to us.… God’s judgment against the authorities will be just, if they have used the powers they have received according to their own ungodliness and not according to the law of God.’
– Origen of Alexandria (3rd century scholar)
CHRISTIANS WITH A SWORD?
The most important question is whether or not Romans 13 allows for followers of Jesus Christ to participate in “bearing the sword.” Context is key when it comes to Romans 13. We aren’t left to wonder if Christians are to be a part of the role of governments that Paul describes. Just one paragraph earlier in the scripture Paul explains the role of a Christian in relation to government, law-keeping, and military:
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Live in harmony with one another. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. Live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:14-21
In the original text, there were no chapter markers, those were added later. Paul explains the role of the Church (12:14-21) and then immediately explains the role of the State (13:1-4). Paul is of course very familiar with Christ’s command to “love your enemies.” Paul repeats many of Christ’s teachings when he says things like “bless those who persecute you, do not repay anyone evil for evil, live at peace with everyone, do not take revenge, feed your enemy.”
How can a Christian love their enemies and work in government or the military and be responsible for killing their enemies? Obviously they can’t. Paul knew this too. That is why in Romans 12, Paul is clearly speaking directly to the believers in Rome using the pronoun “you.” But when Paul talks about Caesar in Romans 13, the pronoun changes to “he” or “his.” (seriously, crack open your Bible and read it again)
Romans 13 isn’t about you. Romans 12 is about you!
Being a Christian means being a citizen of the Kingdom of God. We aren’t citizens of America, or Germany, or any kingdom of the world. We have our own government, we have our own army.
The main reason Paul addresses what he does in Romans 13, is to speak into the desire to revolt against Rome. There was a constant temptation to be drawn into violent revolutionary movements. Paul is telling the church in Rome to resist that urge and to follow the way of Jesus instead of the way of the sword.
SWEARING OFF EKDIKEO
Paul, known for carefully crafted word-play and intentional literary structure, uses a clever word illustration when he goes on to explain the role of governments.
In Romans 12 and 13, Paul uses the words ‘revenge,’ ‘avenger,’ and ‘vengeance.’ In the original Greek, Paul uses a single root-word for all three, the word ‘ekdikeo.’ He says “[Christians], do not take revenge (ekdikeo) for ‘vengeance (ekdikos) is mine,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19) Paul then goes on to say that “government is a servant of God, an avenger (ekdikos) who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:4).
Scripture says here that Christians shouldn’t act out ekdikeo. Why? Because ekdikeo is for God to handle. How? God uses governments to act out ekdikeo. The governments— bearers of the sword— are agents of God’s ekdikeo. They are not held to the same high standard that Christians are held to. Governments do ekdikeo, Christians don’t.
Any role that requires us to aggress in order to achieve justice is not the role of the Church, it is the role of the State.
How can Christians “love their enemy,” “not take revenge,” “never repay evil for evil,” “feed their enemies,” and “live at peace with everyone” if they are they are also a “servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath”? Paul is making the claim that they can’t.
If Christians take the commands of Jesus seriously, Christians should make pretty lousy soldiers. Instead of dropping bombs, they would be saying prayers. Instead of throwing hand-grenades, they would be sending blessings. Instead of firing bullets, they would be serving meals. God has a radical calling for followers of Jesus.
Sword with Bible
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO
Paul gives us a clear guide on the differences between the State and the Church in Romans 12:9-13:7.
THE STATE
Uses “the sword”
Takes “vengeance” on God’s behalf
Represents God’s wrath & justice
Maintains social order
Demands taxes & obedience
THE CHURCH.
Rejects “the sword”
Leaves “vengeance” to God
Represents God’s infinite compassion
Spreads radical love for all
Offers taxes & submission
It should come as no surprise that Paul would claim that “the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world” (2 Corinthians 10:4). Christians have a different role to play in shaping the world. Our weapons aren’t swords or guns, arrows or bullets. And that makes sense since our true enemies are not physical, they are spiritual (Ephesians 6:12).
Jesus knew that his followers shouldn’t be warriors. The apostles knew it. Paul knew it too. Most surprisingly though, a Roman Emperor knew it as well.
The early church, up until Christianity was co-oped by empire in AD313, without exception, did not allow those in the military or government to be baptized. Those that were baptized were forbidden from killing. After Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of Rome, all that changed. Now soldiers were required to be baptized Christians and Romans 13 was used to justify killing in the name of Jesus.
Despite perverting the Christian religion, it seems Emperor Constantine knew he shouldn’t be baptized while living the life he was. Constantine waited until he was on his death bed to be baptized. Following his baptism, Constantine refused to wear the imperial purple and died wearing a white baptismal robe. It seems he knew he couldn’t live out Romans 13 and Romans 12.
WHEN YOU PICK UP A SWORD, YOU PUT DOWN THE CROSS
The late theologian, John Howard Yoder, explains John 15:13: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”: Jesus said that about himself. Many Western war monuments to the dead have that verse on them, as though what a dead soldier went out to do was to lay down his life for his friends. That is not what he went out to do. He went out to kill, and hoped to come home. He went out to lay down somebody else’s life.”
So that is the truth about laying down your life and not being conformed to the world
“While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,
Damascus. The Damascus Road conversion of Saul is one of the most dramatic scenes in the Bible and the story is told no less than three times (Acts 9:3-6, 22:6-11, 26:13-18).
Acts 26:13
at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining allaround me and those who were journeying with me.
Brighter than the sun. This was not a metaphorical light but a light bright enough to blind Saul (Acts 22:11). What exactly did Saul see?
Although we can’t prove it, it’s possible that Saul was blinded by the face of Jesus. On a couple of occasions in scripture, Jesus shone like the sun. “He was transfigured before them; and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as light” (Matt 17:2, see also Rev. 1:16). Barnabas told the disciples that Saul “had seen the Lord on the road” (Acts 9:27).
Acts 26:14
“And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
Hebrew dialect. Some Bible translations have the Lord speaking the common language of Aramaic, but the original word here means Hebrew (Hebrais). (Aramaic is not a Hebrew dialect but a separate language.) The Lord spoke to Saul in his native tongue and in the language of the Hebrew Bible. He did not speak to him in Greek.
Acts 26:18
to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
(a) Turn from darkness to light. In the new covenant, repentance is often described as a return or turning to God (see entry for Acts 26:20).
(b) Receive forgiveness. Forgiveness is a gift to receive, not a wage to be earned.
(c) Forgiveness of sins. All your sins – past, present, and future – were dealt with on the cross (Heb. 9:26). In Christ, you have the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:14). In him, you are completely and eternally forgiven according to the riches of his grace (Eph. 1:7).
On the night he rose from the dead, Jesus instructed his disciples to preach the good news of the complete forgiveness or remission of all sins (see entry for Luke 24:47). After the cross, the apostles described forgiveness in the past tense and as a gift to receive (see entry for Acts 13:38).
Christians are holy because Jesus makes them so (Heb. 10:10, 14). Collectively Christians are known as a holy priesthood and a holy nation (1 Pet. 2:5, 9). The church is both God’s holy temple (1 Cor. 3:16-17, Eph. 2:21), and the Lord’s radiant and holy bride (Eph. 5:27).
(e) Sanctified. To be sanctified is to be made holy or whole and in Christ you are completely complete (Col. 2:10). Jesus is the Holy One (Mark 8:38), and “if the root is holy, so are the branches” (Rom. 11:16). Christians are holy branches connected to the Holy Vine. See entry for Holiness.
(f) Sanctified by faith. All of God’s blessings, including forgiveness, salvation, righteousness and sanctification, come to us freely by grace and are received by faith. Faith does not compel God to forgive us or sanctify us. But faith is the conduit through which grace flows. See entry for Eph. 2:8.
Acts 26:20
but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.
Many scriptures in the Old Testament link repentance with turning from sin (e.g., 2 Chr. 7:14). In the old covenant, God’s blessings were conditional on you humbling, praying, seeking, and turning. But in the new covenant, all of God’s blessings are poured out on us of the riches of his grace (Eph. 1:3, 7, 2:7).
Because of the change in covenants, it is a mistake to define repentance as turning from sin. Preach “turn from sin or you’re not saved” and you are preaching pure law. You are prescribing sin-rejection as a means for salvation. This false gospel leaves sinners worse off because it empowers the sin that enslaves them while scorning the grace that might otherwise save them (1 Cor. 15:56).
In the old covenant, repentance implied a turning from, as in turn from sin. But in the new, repentance means a turning to, as in turn to God (Acts 20:21). Turning from versus turning to may seem like splitting hairs, but it’s the difference between life and death. Someone who turns to God automatically turns from sin and dead works, but someone who turns from sin does not automatically turn to God. Consider the religious Pharisees. They turned from sin on a daily basis yet they did not recognize the Grace of God even as he came and stood among them.
(b) Performing deeds appropriate to repentance. Just as faith without works is dead, repentance without works is dead.
Faith and repentance are two sides of the same coin. They are both nouns that are evidenced by verbs – the things we do. So what are the deeds which are appropriate to repentance? The New Testament lists hundreds of imperative statements but the chief of all is to believe in Jesus. Believing in Jesus is both the will, the work and the commandment of God (John 6:29, 40, 1 John 3:23). See entry for Jas. 2:14.
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