“For none of us lives unto himself, and no man dies unto himself. For
whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die
unto the Lord; whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s…
For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is
written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and
every tongue shall confess to God. So, then, every one of us shall
give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:7-8, 10-2)
Recognize that this Scripture has application to all actions of national and local governments, to the public and private school systems of a society, to science and industry, to the arts, the realm of economics, of medicine, of entertainment, conduct in warfare, and what all else man may involve himself in. In truth, there is no area of public and private life that is free from the jurisdiction of the Lord.
This is God’s universe. He watches over everything that transpires on this planet. He created man. Every person is precious to Him. He is personally committed to win man over to Himself and to provide for the needs of all who look to Him and rely on His help. He never purposed that any man fend for himself in order to make it in life. But He gave to man the freedom of choice and will not rescind that freedom.
He has extended to mankind the opportunity to be His children and to live with Him forever. How then could He not be interested in all that takes place on earth? The truth is He loves all men. He sent His Son to Calvary to purchase man’s redemption. He has assigned a host of angels to serve Him in His rescue of man. He is, indeed, vitally interested in what happens to every person that is conceived on this planet.
God, being a holy God, requires that all who will live in His presence must themselves be holy. That He is perfect in His love, perfect in His grace and mercy, and perfect in His justice means that this is a moral universe that operates under fixed laws of God.
Sin cannot dwell in God’s presence. All rebellion against God’s rule and every act of sin must be accounted for and must be dealt with in perfect justice. Consequently, God will punish those who choose to continue to defy Him, reject His commandments, and live wickedly before Him. Those who come to Him for mercy will receive mercy. Those who reject His offer of mercy and deliverance from the power of sin and death will receive that which they have chosen. They have cast their lot with the lost who are dammed for eternity. The Lord is to return to this earth to reign over this planet for a thousand year period, after which there will a resurrection of the wicked to a final sentencing for the sins they have committed and their refusal to repent of their living in rejection of His rule over them. Following a final judgment of all the wicked dead, they are to be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone to suffer everlasting punishment for their wicked attitude and behavior towards Him. The reason for this harsh punishment lies in their rejection of God’s offer of mercy and forgiveness, culminating in the rejection of the blood sacrifice of the Son of God. The refusal of sinners to turn from their rebellion, receive God’s offer of salvation, and to be reconciled to Him is a capital offense of eternal consequences. To reject the Savior God sent is to reject God’s will for one’s life and to choose eternal damnation.
What the above Scripture declares is that God is sovereign over all and holds all accountable for their every transgression of His commandments. In no area is man immune from personal accountability to God’s laws and rule. Therefore, in regard to every action undertaken by any man, whether in regard to a government, corporation, the business community or an industrial enterprise, some social or cultural arrangement, whether individually and collectively, no matter what the situation, all actions of everyone is under the jurisdiction of the sovereign God; and all will face the inquisition of the Holy One of the universe.
Dean Halverson wrote: “God has a zero tolerance for sin.” God cannot allow any sin, no matter how small, to go unpunished. The sooner man learns to respect this truth and to orient his entire conduct to please the sovereign Lord, the better it will be for him. While God rewards the obedient, it is not because man might earn God’s commendation. It is because God has declared that He will reward those who seek to please Him.
“The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment
of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous
altogether…Moreover, by them is thy servant warned; and in keeping of
them there is great reward.” (Psalms 19:8,9,11)
No aspect of society or social order will escape God’s judgment fire. Therefore, an accounting is going to be required regarding all aspects of the life of man—public and private, and of nations in both their national and international conduct and in every aspect of their inner workings. The men and women who run government and organizations, etc. will have to give an account as to why they did the things they did. A strict accounting for every deed will be required. Any thing that is considered as wood, hay, and stubble (as worthless in God’s sight) will be burned up in the judgment fire. Those that lived to self-will and resisted the rule of God over their lives will find their lot to be in the “lake of fire burning with brimstone.” (See Revelations 19:20; 20:10,14,15: 21:8.)
“…all things were created by Him, and for Him; And He is before all
things, and by Him all things hold their assigned place.”
(Colossians 1:16b-17)
It needs to be understood by all that those who push for or support a separation of church and state, who rule God out of the classroom, and promote the lie that it is evil that the Ten Commandments be held up as the foundation stone of morality in a society do so because of a rejection of God’s rule over them. Hostility to the teaching of spiritual and moral truths of God reflects hatred of God and of His will for man.
What manner of man a person chooses to be in life will be seen in whether or not he seeks his own aggrandizement, in whether he resists or supports the promulgation of Biblical truth, and whether or not he submits to the Lordship of Jesus. The judgment of God will make plain to all observers why they resisted the light that did shine unto them. It will surely be seen that the wicked resisted hearing of God’s ways for man because they did not wish to obey Him.
Paul, in his letter to the Romans, makes the point that the wicked “suppress the truth in unrighteousness,” and we add, because they want to be their own god. This is the true motive behind the hostile actions of men who lobby specifically against the teachings of the Christian Bible and the Lordship of Jesus Christ being the guiding influence of government and education and all other aspects of public life. Evildoers are against religion (specifically Christianity) because “they [do] not like to retain God in their knowledge.” (Quotes are from Romans l:18 & 28.)
To maintain that the Word of God does not have a valid claim to direct all elements of society as to how men are to live is to manifest a distorted view of truth and justice. It is to put in place of truth the lie of the enemy that the community of the learned has the intelligence to decide what is best for man. It is intentional that the wicked, when in power, devise laws to hinder the dissemination of spiritual truth and pervert truth and justice. They do this as a means of silencing the convicting work of the Holy Spirit on their consciences and in their hope of escapinf accountability for their unrighteous behavior.
The Triune God (One God in three Persons) rules in the universe. The Word of God stands over everything. No law of God may be defied without an eventual calling to account for every infraction or transgression of it. The enemy seeks to dissuade as many as he might from accepting this truth. Moreover, God is absolutely just and will require an exact accounting by His enemies regarding every misdeed ever committed against His rule of love. The only exception to this is in regard to those evil deeds that were done by man which by confession, repentance, and faith have been placed under the blood of Jesus. These will not even be remembered against those who committed them. As for all others, every unrepentant individual, who reached the age of accountability and died in his sins, will be required to give an accounting for all the evil deeds he did while in his body.
For a government or an institution to refuse to recognize the authority of the Word of God and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ over both the functioning and the accountability of all officials of government, and for individuals of any social institution or endeavor of business to do the same, is to show open contempt for the Word of God and God’s ownership of all, to further entrench society in sin, and to enhance the prospect of the destruction of that society. The Almighty God is not to be trifled with!
“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all nations that forget God.”
(Psalm 9:17)
All nations that forget God and all individuals that remain rebels against the Lord and the Word of God shall be cast into hell. God’s Word stands over every aspect of human existence. It is the standard by which the actions of men and nations are judged.
We are endeavoring to show how important it is for all to understand that men and women are not free to do as they please, with no consequences for their actions.
•
Every act of defiance against God will receive a just hearing before
the Almighty!
Man has been given a free will, the freedom of choice, but that does not free him from accountability as to the choices he makes, what he says, and what he does. Those who love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ have nothing to fear. Not so all others!
“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day
of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no
fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment.
He that is fearful is not made perfect in love. We love Him because He
first loved us.” (1 John 4:17-9)“For God has not given us (those who love Him) a spirit of fear, but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”(2 Timothy 1:7)
God’s children have no reason to fear the day of judgment, for they know that their sins were carried by the Savior, upon Himself, on Calvary, and they have committed their lives to live to do His will. God’s love walks arm in arm with His children, even as it ever abides in His Son.
“If God be for us, who can be against us?…Who shall lay any thing to
the charge of God’s elect? God is the One Who justifies. Who is he that
condemns? Christ Jesus is the One Who died, yea rather, Who was raised
[from the dead], Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also makes intercession for us? What shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril,
or sword?” (Romans 8:31b, 33-35)“Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His
commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon the earth; the generation
of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
and his righteousness endures forever…the righteous shall be in
everlasting remembrance.” (Psalms 112:1-3,6b)
The sinning of the rejecters of God’s mercy, freely offered in Christ Jesus, and of His sovereignty over their lives will bring them into ruin.
“Salvation is far from the wicked, for they seek not thy statutes.”
(Psalm 119:155)“The hope of the righteous shall be gladness, but the expectation of the
wicked shall perish.” (Proverbs 10:28)“There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” (Isaiah 57:21)
Observe that peace cannot be experienced by any who oppose God’s ways for man. Therefore, those nations and individuals that propose (put forth a plan or intention) to bring peace in the world by a cooperative effort through the political, economic, and military means of an international community (that resists the ownership of the sovereign God and the Lordship of Jesus Christ), are doomed to failure in their quest.
•
World peace between men and nations will never be achieved, or
experienced, apart from submission to the Savior!
This is a profound truth. Peace is only possible in the lives of those who accept the Deity and the Lordship of the One who bought peace for man through His own blood sacrifice—and this can only be realized through faith in the Savior and obedience to Him.
Jesus has been appointed heir of all things in the heavens and in the earth. He is Lord over everything. The Scriptures declared the Lordship of the Savior. Jesus Himself told His disciples of the extent of His authority.
“And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All authority is given unto
Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18)
Jesus has a right to take control over both the heavenly and the earthly realms. Any put down of His name or His authority means that those responsible are defying the sovereign Lord of the universe and face dire consequences if they do not cease in their opposition to His rule.
•
Those who resist or deny the Lordship of Jesus Christ are unfit
to rule.
Those who say there must or should be a separation of church and state are “blind leaders of the blind.” In their disobedience and rejection of Jesus they show that they are wicked persons, are not able to judge justly, and are unfit to rule. Their depravity of spirit disqualifies them for positions of spiritual and moral leadership. Even in the economic realm they are not to be trusted, for they are corrupt within, and “a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit” (Matthew 7:18). Instead of sowing to righteousness, they treasure up wrath unto the day of wrath.
“But in accordance with your hardness and impenitent (unrepentant)
heart you are (only) treasuring up unto yourself wrath against the
day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, Who
will render to every man according to his deeds.” (Romans 2:5-6)
By presuming to have superior knowledge to that of God and to display hatred towards His rule by promoting policies and programs and espousing ideas that are against what is righteous and best for a nation, men add to the weight of the condemnation they shall experience when judgment comes upon their nation—and especially so on the Great Day of the judging of the wicked for the abominations they committed against the Lord of all creation. Those who acted as leaders in the rebellion against truth will receive a severer judgment.
“Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive
greater judgment.” (James 3:1)
Those who hold public office, whether in business or government, leadership roles in the church or in a false religion, teachers in any discipline, any who hold positions of authority over others will be looked at more closely and shall suffer severer punishment for the evil they committed when the Righteous Judge calls them to account.
A person’s spiritual condition and posture in life can easily be recognized in his willingness to acknowledge the Deity and Lordship of Jesus—in regard to everything.
“Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess
also before My Father, Who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me
before men, him will I also deny before My Father, Who is in heaven.”
(Matthew 10:32-33)
It is a clear sign of rejection of the Lordship of Jesus Christ for a nation to depart from the use the Word of God (the Christian Bible) as the foundation of its system of laws and in its declaration of what is proper moral conduct for its people. Every aspect of life is under the scrutiny of God. No area of life is immune from answerability to Him. The Ten Commandments, which are the basic laws of God, lay down God’s requirements for a godly society.
•
God’s law establishes the basis for man to function in society, and
to gain His approval and blessings upon that society.
What needs to be understood is that the foundation of all law is religion—religion being defined as that set of principles and beliefs that form the transcendent goal or purpose of society, or in other words, that platform of beliefs and objectives which serve as the foundation of the ultimate concerns in a society. The purpose of law is to govern man in society, so that the aims of that society may be established and promulgated. For laws to be meaningful they must define what that society considers is acceptable behavior and what is not, and what punishment will be meted out for those citizens and foreigners who violate the basic rules of society. This is why it is a deceptive tactic of politicians to argue for the separation of church and state. What they are doing is working to eliminate a religious system that is distasteful to them and necessarily replace it with a religious system to their own liking.
• Since all laws are religious in origin, then some religious preference must prevail. If Christianity is not the religion of a nation, then some other religious perspective will dominate.
Where the government of a nation or a state endeavors to dictate its will to the people, the religion of that nation or state is that of humanism, and government becomes the god of the nation. When the laws of a nation have their source in man’s intellect or reason, then man’s reason is the god of that society. This again is humanism since it stresses self-realization through reason. Under such rule, Satan is provided with a strong means of working to enslave people in religious deception; and unless there is a change in the religion of the nation, and it can only be to that religion which incorporates the Lordship of Jesus Christ as Son of God and the only Savior of men, that nation will move in the direction of greater moral and spiritual decay—and you may be sure that God’s wrath will come upon that society or nation. Regardless of what approach a society takes in the development of its system of laws, the law of God remains the measuring stick by which men and nations will be judged.
Think not that I have come to de story the law, or the prophets; I am
come not to destroy, but to fulfill, for truly I say unto you, till heaven
and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall pass from the law
till all be fulfilled. Whosoever, therefore, shall break one of these
least commandments, and shall teach men so….For I say unto you that
except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes
and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
(Matthew 5:17-19a,20)
Only that nation which accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as the true Head of the nation, and which gives priority to obeying His commandments can prosper spiritually and enjoy true freedom. Those nations that are mired in humanism are doomed to decay and eventual ruin; for their allegiance is to the god of this world, and he purposes to destroy those who serve him. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit working in a nation of people who are committed to serving the Lord, as well as in the life of the individual that clings to Him, to defeat the designs of the enemy of man’s soul. Any nation that rejects God and relies solely on the ability, the ingenuity, of man to keep it strong and safe is no match for this powerful adversary, and sooner or later it will taste of bitter defeat.
……to
be continued
