RE: This Is NOT That - A Comment On Romans 13

[ironshield]

Commentary on Romans 13 by the founding fathers of these United States:

when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government

The King of England ruled under "the Divine Right of Kings", meaning his claim to authority was "established by God" and believed to be "what God instituted", language from Romans 13. But when the colonists rightfully threw off such a tyrannical government as is their duty, they did what is right, because rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. It is also their duty to establish ministers ordained of God for good, and revengers upon those who do evil.

Romans 13:9 describes the fulfilling of the Law of God, the attributes of a minister ordained of God for good - yet tyrants commit adultery, they murder, they steal, they bear false witness, they covet. And by doing these in the Name of the LORD, they blaspheme the Name of the LORD. If we are to sanctify the Name of the LORD, we will fear Him who can destroy body and soul in Gehenna and not fear the kings of the earth. We will (as Paul says) "render therefore to all their dues", we will render "fear to whom fear is due and honour to whom honour is due." Ministers ordained of God (as Paul says) are due these wages, because they fulfill the Law of God, but wicked tyrants who blaspheme the Name of the Most High God are also due their wages, the wrath of God stored up for them.

Do not rebel against the LORD
nor fear the people of the earth
for they are bread for us
their defense is departed from them
And the LORD is with us, do not fear them!

Comments

[creatr]

Hey Brother,

Thanks for reading my stuff so often and taking the time to comment. You've reminded me today of this scripture:

"Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever."
- 1 John 2:15-17

Jesus is destroying the tyrants as we speak; I can only wish that more in the church would open their eyes and recognize that, rather than participating in and perpetuating the evil...

Blessings!

- @creatr

😄😇😉

[ironshield]

Much appreciated, I checked out some links of previous articles you have written and thoroughly enjoyed them, especially your conversation with your friend over Chinese food.

Our family is currently reading the book of Daniel, and we are coming to realize the theme of the book: that the Most High alone has the authority to set up and take down kings and kingdoms - and His servants (often heathen) are His tool to do this. But how much more then His believing servants!

In Daniel's day, God set up kings, but now with Yeshua at the right hand of the Father, currently wielding ALL authority on earth and in Heaven (only regarding the throne is God Higher), He would have to delegate power to kings for them to hold legitimate power. We have to ask then, do our current "kings" display the fingerprint of the King of kings? Are they subject to their governing authority which is from God? Do they bear the fruit of righteousness as ministers ordained by God?

A transfer of ownership will happen at the seventh (last) trump.

“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.”

And the resurrected saints will be the ministers ordained by God.

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years

Good and faithful servants will have authority (exousia) over cities.

And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

[creatr]

Hey Brother @ironshield ,

My apologies for having somehow overlooked answering this message of yours for over a week now... All too many distractions!

I really appreciate that you've read more of my Kingdom collection, and thank you for specifically mentioning my "lunch with a friend" episode. 😆

"In Daniel's day, God set up kings, but now with Yeshua at the right hand of the Father, currently wielding ALL authority on earth and in Heaven ... He would have to delegate power to kings for them to hold legitimate power."

Exactly!

I see in Scripture no delegation of that power to the nation-states of the world. However, just as it was in Daniel's day, I do believe God still sets up and takes down kings. Here's the thing:

Then, as now, God's expression of His sovereignty in doing so does not equate to his approval of the behavior of those governments. And, sadly, my observation is that not one ersatz "ruler" in any of the nation states is ruling in the name of and according to the law of Christ.

*"Good and faithful servants will have authority (exousia) over cities."

Here, our eschatology differs. Ephesians chapter one teaches me that God has already delegated that authority to his ecclesia. It's only a poorly developed systematic theology that has driven bad translations of Scripture that have hidden this truth from our eyes.

Thanks again for your engagement!🙏😀