Separation

“An unjust man is an abomination to the just; and he that is upright in the way is abomination of the wicked.” — Proverbs 29:27

“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.” — Acts 9:1-2

Here lies the trouble with Dominionism and theonomic reconstruction: It supposes that the church militant should “Christianize” the world by any and all means at our disposal (for Christ, of course).

They forget that the testimony of scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, is that it is only a remnant on earth that is elect at any given time. The “establishment” religion will only ever persecute the people of God because false religion wants to claim that salvation is of "the Church," or salvation is of the will of man, when salvation is of the Lord [1].

By refusing to bow the knee to Christ as Lord of all and the only rightful head of the church, pretenders to the throne of grace will of necessity despise the true people of God who their indict false doctrine by the truth of scripture.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness[2]?

Separation of church and state is for the protection of the true people of God. It ought not to be that the Sauls of the world can go to a Bishop who can go to the civil magistrate and have people arrested over issues of conscience. “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil[3].” The civil magistrate can judge only according to the will of God on matters pertaining to the second table of the law, but God judges the heart, which is bound by both the first and second tables of the law.

Separation of church and state does not mean that the state is not accountable to God's unchanging moral law. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods[4]… If the government is abusing its authority, God Himself is the judge, and His wrath is revealed against all unrighteousness,[5]according to His perfect standard of justice, with no respect of persons[6].

But how great the Father’s love for us, that a man breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the people of God can be so completely transformed by the Holy Spirit!

Marvel not, my brethren, if world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. — 1st John 3:13-14

Scriptures:

[1] Jonah 2:9, Ps 3:8 [2] 2nd Cor 6:14 [3] Rom 13:4 [4] Ps 82:1 [5] Rom 1:18 [6] Rom 2:11

His Sheep

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me…” — John 10:27

Image Credit: Tim Marshall via Unsplash cc

“For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous…” — Psalm 1:6

We do not have God’s omniscience, to know the identity of the elect. We see only the outward person in this moment in time. Appearances can be deceiving. But salvation is not so much about where we began but where we finish.

“Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Paul writes these things in the past tense, even our glorification. It is so certain that he can say it as if it has already happened. For the elect, our latter end is always better than our beginning. We were conceived in sin,[1] and are by nature children of wrath like everyone else,[2] but somehow, some way, at His appointed time he sends us His Spirit to convince us of our sin guilt and need for Christ and he providentially works everything in our lives together to bring us to repentance.

We do not know who is being saved at any given time, so our job is to go and preach the gospel to every creature,[3] knowing that His word never returns void.[4] But Christ does know who his sheep are, and his death and resurrection does not make salvation “possible” for whoever would just “make a decision” for Christ and “allow” Him to save them. No, it makes salvation guaranteed for every one of His sheep, from the least of us to the greatest.

The Lord knows the travelers on the narrow way[5], and he will shepherd[6] them through it.

Selah.

Scripture References: [1] Ps 51:5 [2] Eph 2:3 [3] Mark 16:15 [4] Isaiah 55:11 [5] Matthew 7:14 [6] Ezk 34:11, John 10:11

It is Expedient for You that I Go Away

"So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider."

— Isaiah 52:15

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"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."

— John 16:7

I never get over the fact that the Lord tells us that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the anointing that abides[1] within all the elect, is actually better for us than travelling alongside the beloved Savior in the flesh. Indeed, we see in the gospels that the apostles understood little of what they were hearing and seeing Jesus do in his earthly ministry. They argued with one another, rebuked children, and failed to cast out devils that were plaguing the Lord’s people. But after Pentecost they received power and wisdom to walk in Jesus’ ways. Yet Peter tells the distressed and scattered saints in his second epistle that they have obtained “like precious faith[2]” as he has.

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.”

That knowledge of him, is given to us in the Bible and made real to us in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. The Lord says that “he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you[3]. He [the Spirit] will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself…He shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.[4]”

Beloveds, do not neglect this great gift of the Holy Spirit. Ask, and receive. Seek, and find. Knock and it shall be opened to you.[5]

Selah.

Scripture References; [1] 1st John 2:27 [2] 2nd Peter 1:1 [3] John 14:26 [4] John 16:13-15 [5] Matthew 7:7