Planned Destruction of Civilisation

[Esaias]

What does it mean to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness?

What is His righteousness?

My tongue shall speak of thy word:
For all thy commandments are righteousness. Psalm 119:172

The commandments of God are righteousness. They detail and demonstrate what God's righteousness looks like. To seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness means to make our number one priority the Dominion and Rule of God, according to and as explained by His commandments. It means our object in life is to "fear God and keep His commandments" (Eccl 12:13), and we are to desire and work towards seeing the dominion of God over all things. We are told to pray "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." We are instructed to be praying for and working for the Will of God to be done in the earth, as it is done in heaven. The goal we're supposed to be aiming at is God's Rule extending throughout the earth. His will being done in the earth looks like His commandments being obeyed sincerely, out of love to our Father.

This is not legalism, or "justification by works", or "going back under the law", but rather it is establishing the law BY FAITH (Romans 3:31). Having been pardoned of our transgressions, and receiving empowerment by the Holy Ghost, we are to be living life in accordance with the commandments of God (1 John 2:1-5). We have not been saved so that we may continue living in violation of His Will as expressed by His Word. Rather, we have been saved so that He can live out His ways through us.

The commandments of God, as expressed throughout the Word (from Genesis to Revelation), cover every aspect of life. Every aspect of our life is to thus be regulated by the Word. Every aspect of our life will be regulated by something, it might as well be by the Word.

[Esaias]

Last sentence of second paragraph above should read "...out of LOVE to our Father", not "live". Caught it too late to edit.

[Michael The Disciple]

Esaias,

I agree with what you are teaching here. Very few Churches have this kind of vision. Yet I dont see how ALSO teaching what the Bible DOES say about having an endtime mindset is wrong.

Remember the New Testament was given to conquered people, living under nations with no Constitution and no democracy. They had no freedom to attend civic meetings and spread the gospel.

They DID embrace the law of Christ and put him above all else. The Apostles seemed to have taught them to live in full obedience to Christ and submit (when possible) to the kings and governers of their lands.

They were to live as the children of light in a dark world who had a desire and love for the coming of Jesus again to bring their "full" salvation.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Last sentence of second paragraph above should read "...out of LOVE to our Father", not "live". Caught it too late to edit.

You mentioned a very powerful point to another poster in the Matthew 28:19 thread. It was concerning the love for a wife. Let me give my opinion on that post. A man gets news that his wife committed adultery. Instead of guilty until proven innocent, his love for his wife inpowers him to do everything to find the truth. We are in love with Jesus Christ, not a doctrine, not an organization, church fellowship, or group. We love Him because He loved us first. Our love for Him is to please Him, even if it costs us everything we own. People at times may think our love is too excessive, and precise that we aren't being given the same amount of love as we are giving out. But we know our love for Jesus Christ can never be enough, because we understand what He does for us on the daily. Follow me as I follow Christ, the apostle told his church family. Jesus sets the example of righteousness. No matter what goes on in this amazingly crippled world in which we live. We must hold on to the works which are created through Jesus Christ's Grace towards us. We can do all things through Christ who makes us strong.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

The Apostles seemed to have taught them to live in full obedience to Christ and submit (when possible) to the kings and governers of their lands.

It says when possible?

Proverbs 8:15, Proverbs 24:21, Daniel 2:21,
Daniel 4:17, John 19:11, Romans 13:1, 1 Timothy 2:2, Titus 3:1, and 1 Peter 2:13. Where is your stipulation? Where does it say submit if possible? You are therefore making that submission debatable? Where we are given a choice? Yet, Daniel tells a dictator (Nebuchadnezzar) live forever king. If they didn't worship the idols that the king set up, they were more than willing to take the consequences which would speedily follow.

[derAlte]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

You mentioned a very powerful point to another poster in the Matthew 28:19 thread. It was concerning the love for a wife. Let me give my opinion on that post. A man gets news that his wife committed adultery. Instead of guilty until proven innocent, his love for his wife inpowers him to do everything to find the truth. We are in love with Jesus Christ, not a doctrine, not an organization, church fellowship, or group. We love Him because He loved us first. Our love for Him is to please Him, even if it costs us everything we own. People at times may think our love is too excessive, and precise that we aren't being given the same amount of love as we are giving out. But we know our love for Jesus Christ can never be enough, because we understand what He does for us on the daily. Follow me as I follow Christ, the apostle told his church family. Jesus sets the example of righteousness. No matter what goes on in this amazingly crippled world in which we live. We must hold on to the works which are created through Jesus Christ's Grace towards us. We can do all things through Christ who makes us strong.

Well put, Sir!

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

It says when possible?

Proverbs 8:15, Proverbs 24:21, Daniel 2:21,
Daniel 4:17, John 19:11, Romans 13:1, 1 Timothy 2:2, Titus 3:1, and 1 Peter 2:13. Where is your stipulation? Where does it say submit if possible? You are therefore making that submission debatable? Where we are given a choice? Yet, Daniel tells a dictator (Nebuchadnezzar) live forever king. If they didn't worship the idols that the king set up, they were more than willing to take the consequences which would speedily follow.

Are you saying one should sin if the state tells them to?

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Are you saying one should sin if the state tells them to?

Do you ever deal with what is posted to you?
Or do you simply make it a practice to skim my post.
Read what I posted and deal with its content.
Thank you.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Do you ever deal with what is posted to you?
Or do you simply make it a practice to skim my post.
Read what I posted and deal with its content.
Thank you.

I said the Apostles taught to obey Jesus and when possible to obey the state. You seem to be grasping to find something, anything to disagree with.

[Ehud]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

I said the Apostles taught to obey Jesus and when possible to obey the state. You seem to be grasping to find something, anything to disagree with.

I doubt his issue is reading comprehension, but rather how you have phrased your position. I don't think you would get any argument about not bowing to idols if the state said to do so, but your wording implies the apostles taught some watered down version of obeying civil authorities. I, too, can think of no place this occurred and would love to see an example because I have no doubt I could be missing something.

Sometimes we take for granted that we are 'obviously not talking about that' -- whatever that may be -- but to those skimming and reviewing your post, I can see how one could misunderstand what you have said. "And when possible" could mean many different things to many different people.