Thursday, August 13, 2020

World Community

 What should be the attitude of those who believe and follow Jesus Christ toward the world community?

God so loved the people of the world that He gave His one and only Son to die on the Cross as a sacrifice sufficient to pay the price for the sins of the world community.  But that forgiveness is appropriated individually by faith, not by merit, but by obedient faith in what God has revealed, and what He is doing.

Therefore I must recognize the value of all people, and work to lead them to the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. 

As Jesus told His disciples, 

The Great Commission

Matt 28:16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The modern movement to deny revealed moral values while accepting everyone on the basis of human feelings misses the mark. Jesus Christ never taught the acceptance of sin, but rather told people to stop sinning. And the transforming power of the new birth by faith gives the believer resurrection power. We are given God's Spirit and raised to walk in newness of life.

In that new life, we are instructed to walk with Jesus, and to make a distinction between ourselves and the world community of unbelievers. 

Therefore believers are not called to develop a secular humanist world movement based upon human values and human feelings. Such a movement (that encourages rejection of moral values taught in the Bible) belongs to this world which is passing away.  My citizenship is in the Heavenly Kingdom, with eternal life in glory.

There is conflict between the two movements, between the forces of this world and the Eternal Kingdom.  Therefore the believers in Jesus are instructed to put on the whole armor of God, and to fight the Good Fight. 

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Yes, we are called to repent, to change our minds about how we live. We are to give up self will as our master, and to submit our minds and hearts to Jesus Christ, and to His teaching and leading in the Kingdom of Heaven. As Apostle Paul taught King Agrippa, 

Acts 26:19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 

Yes, believers must not participate in the works of darkness promoted by the secular humanist agnostic atheistic world community.  This community spirit leads to destruction.  Giving approval to satanic practices brings harm to society.  Marriage was given for one man to one woman for the purpose of producing children who can become children of God.  The family is the foundation of society.  World movements that destroy the family are not from God. 

Christ Our Advocate

1 John 2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

The New Commandment

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because[a] the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him[b] there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

12 I am writing to you, little children,
    because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
    because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
    because you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers,
    because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
    because you are strong,
    and the word of God abides in you,
    and you have overcome the evil one.

Do Not Love the World

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[c]—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

"Abides forever"!  What a blessed promise.  Human revolutions do not produce eternal value.  God has given us eternal value in Himself, through Jesus Christ, for whosoever will.


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