Tuesday, April 26, 2022

πŸ’₯ Sedition, justice, retaliation: What the NT Bible shows us


Sedition is listed in the Bible as one of the works of the flesh of man and is therefore "evil" in the sight of God according to scripture.

Galatians 5:19-21   Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The dictionary defines "sedition" as follows:

Seditions:  Conduct or speech inciting others to rise up against or rebel against a country or ruler or monarch; incitement to riot; inflaming to rebellion against laws of nations; 

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Were there any evil kings or rulers shown us in the days of Jesus, Peter, Paul in the NT Bible?

Yes.

Matthew 14

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.

9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

What did Jesus do when HE heard of this evil which had been done by the king Herod?

Matthew 14:12-13  And his (John's) disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. 13 When Jesus heard of it, HE departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed HIM on foot out of the cities.

Jesus did not demand justice on this earth for John the Baptist.  Justice and judgment comes from God.

Jesus did not provoke men against the evil king Herod.

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When the subject of taxes came to Jesus' attention, we read the following.

Matthew 17

24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

25 He saith, Yes. 

And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

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John 18:36  Jesus says:  MY kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

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Even slavery is not viewed in the Bible as it is by the flesh of man.

I Corinthians 7

20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

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We learn to set our affection on things above ... not on things on this earth.

Where we once fought for what was rightfully ours, now we commit ourselves to God and trust in HIM, knowing our kingdom is not of this world.

We know God will remove us in the end and take us to the new heaven and new earth which has been created by God for HIS people, the "new" Jerusalem.

This present earth will never be righteous.  We wait for that new Jerusalem, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

We will not have these fleshly bodies but will have spiritual bodies which are not subject to fleshly pain, sorrow, emotions.

In the meantime, we keep the flesh crucified with Christ that we may serve God by HIS Spirit and that causes us to react very differently to the way of the flesh.

Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:

For our kingdom is not of this world and we know everything we see with our natural eyes will be destroyed in the end of this world as God destroys this present heaven and earth.

2 Peter 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

We learn to put our trust in God who judges justly.

Romans 12

19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

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Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  


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