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Part Six of Seven
by
A. T. Jones
(All emphasis added)
Chapters Eleven - Fourteen
The powers that be
In the 13th and 14th chapters of Romans is one of the many strong treatises that there are in the Bible upon the total separation of religion and state - the separation between that which is due to God and that which is due to Caesar.
First is a recognition of the right of the state to be, and to require subjection and tribute. "Let every soul be subject to the higher powers". "The powers that be are ordained of God". [Romans 13:1]. "For this cause pay ye tribute also". Verse 6. "Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour".Verse 7.
Next is marked the sphere of men's relation to the state:
"Owe no man anything, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this,
Thou shalt not commit adultery,
Thou shalt not kill,
Thou shalt not steal,
Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Thou shalt not covet:
And if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself". . Romans 13:8-9.
Now everybody knows, and Paul knew as well as anybody ever knew, that there ARE other commandments, other commandments of the very law from which he quoted these. There is the commandment,
"Thou shalt have no other gods before Me".
[and]
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image .. thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep My commandments".
[and]
"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain".
[and]
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work ... for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it". Exodus 20.
With these commandments standing as a part, and, indeed, the FIRST part, of the very law which he was citing, why did he leave these entirely out and say, "IF there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself"?
Why? For the simple reason he was writing of men's relationship and responsibility to the powers that be - the state - and he was laying down the principle that when men have recognised the right of the state to be, have paid the required tribute, and have fulfilled all obligations to their neighbours, there is nothing more for them to render to the state. There is no other commandment in that sphere, and therefore no other duty to be performed towards the powers that be.
This is made certain by the next verse: "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law", which shows conclusively that it is only the relation of man with man - of man to his neighbour - that is considered in the passage under consideration. The passage is simply an enlargement, an exposition, indeed, of the principle announced by Jesus, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's". When men have recognised the authority of the state, have paid their tribute, and work no ill to their fellow men, the only relationship or obligation after that is to God. The only commandments outside of the sphere [of discussion] are those that mark men's duty towards God.
The Scripture distinctly sets the limit of jurisdiction, or requirements of the state, at recognition of the right to be, tribute, and the relationship of man to man in working no ill to his neighbour. Beyond this the state has no right to go. Outside of this there is nothing for any man to render to the powers that be.
But the word of the LORD does not stop here: it positively prohibits the powers that be from touching the relationship or obligation of man to God. "Every one of us shall give an account of HIMSELF to God". Romans 14:12. And that the emphasis is upon the word "himself" and not upon the word "account" is certain from the context of the whole chapter. It is not that "every one of us shall give an ACCOUNT of himself to God", nor is it, "every one of us shall give an account of himself TO GOD". That is all true enough, but that is not the thought expressed in the text.
The one thought particularly expressed is that "every one of us shall give an account OF HIMSELF to God". And thus, by the word of God, all the powers that be, all men, and all combinations of men, are positively prohibited from touching, in any way, any man's relationship to God. That rests with [the] man alone. And for his responsibility there, he is to give account HIMSELF to God.
Again: "One man esteemeth one day above another; another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the LORD. And he that regardeth not the day, to the LORD he doth not regard it". Romans 14:5-6. The matter of the observance of a day, the duty to esteem one day above another, is not comprehended in that part of the law which relates to neighbours. Nor is it comprised in the duties designated as marking the sphere of the powers that be. It is in that part of the law which, by the words, "If there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself", [therefore it] is definitely excluded from all cognisance of the powers that be.
The observance of a day, the duty to esteem one day above another, is due solely to God. For "he that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the LORD", not to men. [Verse 6]. It is comprehended in that part of the law which details man's relationship to God alone, and concerning which, to God alone every one is to give account HIMSELF. Therefore the powers that be, all men, and all combinations of men, are definitely commanded by the LORD to let man alone in the matter of the observance of a day. On that subject all are commanded to "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind", and this because THAT is an obligation due solely to God, and "every one of us shall give account of himself to God".
How different are the ways of professed Christians today from the Christianity of the New Testament! The vast mass of professed Christians today, in hunting for another commandment in the sphere of the powers that be, would inevitably write it thus:
If there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt do no work on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday.
But the Christianity of the New Testament, in defining the sphere of the powers that be, says, "If there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself", and then as to the observance of a day, commands the powers that be, and all men, and combinations of men:
"Let every man be fully persuaded IN HIS OWN MIND. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the LORD. And he that regardeth not the day, to the LORD he doth not regard it".
And,
"Every one of us shall give an account OF HIMSELF unto God. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant?" Romans 14:4.
The day to be esteemed above others is the Sabbath of the LORD. "Render therefore ... TO GOD the things that are God's", and any man that does not esteem THAT day above others, who does not regard it unto the LORD, but ESTEEMS EVERY DAY ALIKE, is responsible to God alone, and must render account of it HIMSELF to God, and not to man. While the thing that he does is wrong, it is a kind of wrong for which he is responsible to God, and not to the powers that be.
And this also, conclusively shows that any movement on the part of the powers that be, or of men, or combinations of men through the powers that be, to require the observance of a day, or to cause men to esteem one day above another, is a plain joining together of what is God's and what is Caesar's; it is a positive union of religion and the state.
It is written, "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder". [Mark 10:9]. And by the same token it can be authoratively written, "What God has put asunder, let no man, nor any combination of men, join together!"
Again, this treatise in Romans 13 and 14, on the separation of religion and the state, the separation of what is due to God and what is due to the powers that be, closes with the mighty sentence, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin". 14:23. Whatsoever IS of the word of God is of faith, for faith comes by the word of God, and "without faith it is impossible to please Him".
Religion is due solely to God. It is the duty we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it. Therefore, for the powers to be, or any men that be by the powers that be, to require anything that is due to God, is only to subvert faith and require men to sin. For the powers that be, or any man through the powers that be, to require of any man anything that is due to God, is, in the very act, to unite religion and the state. And as thus to require of men anything that which is due to God is to subvert faith and to require men to sin, it is certain that any connection between religion and the state is sin. And, therefore, the greatest example of it that has ever been in the world is aptly and justly designated as "The man of sin". 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
And since to "love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbour as thyself" - the keeping of the first two of all the commandments - is complete separation from sin, this brings us again to the truth with which we began - that the [very] first two of all the commandments, and the keeping of them - are the basis and the surety of the universal and eternal truth of the separation of religion and the state.
Christian patriotism
What is Christian patriotism in itself?
Patriotism is love of country. And the country the love of which is patriotism, is the country of one's birth, or of one's adoption by naturalization. Christian patriotism, then, being Christian love of country, can be nothing else than the Christian's love of the country of his Christian birth.
But the Christian birth is the "new" birth: It is the being "born again", which is being "born from above". [John 3].
And this "above", the place from which the Christian is born, is heaven. Heaven, then is the Christian's country. And even so saith the Scripture: "If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise". Galatians 3:29. And to Abraham it was said, "Get thee out of thy country ... into the land that I will show thee". "He ... obeyed", and thenceforth he and all his, "confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly, therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He hath prepared for them a city". Hebrews 11:13-16.
Patriotism, then, being the love of one's country, and the "heavenly country" being the Christian country, Christian patriotism is nothing else than love of the heavenly country.
True patriotism is the love of one's country above all other countries: so much so that the true patriot willingly lays down his life for his country. Christian patriotism, then, is the love of the heavenly country above all other countries; so much so that the true Christian will willingly lay down his life for that country. True patriotism is the spirit that, originating in love of country, prompts obedience to its laws; to the support and defence of its existence, rights and institutions; and to the promotion of its welfare. The Christian's country being ONLY the heavenly country, Christian patriotism is nothing else than the spirit that prompts obedience to ITS laws; to the support and defence of its existence, rights and institutions; and to the promotion of its welfare.
The spirit that, as to the Christian, originates in the love of the Christian's country, is none other than the Holy Spirit. For without being "born again", there can be no Christian; and there being no Christian, there can be no love of the Christian country, no Christian patriotism. Being "born again" is to be "born of the Spirit". Therefore, without the Holy Spirit's creating of the new creature and the new life, there can be no Christian patriotism.
Are you a Christian patriot?
Do you love the Christian country above all other countries? Have you the Spirit that prompts to obedience to the laws of that country, above all other laws; that supports and defends its existence, rights and institutions above and against those of all other countries?
But may not Christian patriotism, this support and defence of the rights and institutions of the Christian's country, involve fighting?
It not only may, but it certainly does!
Read: "Fight the GOOD FIGHT of faith".
"The weapons of our warfare ARE NOT CARNAL", yet they are "mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity EVERY THOUGHT to the obedience of Christ". 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.
"Wherefore take UNTO YOU the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and... having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;... and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints". Ephesians 6:13-18.
Are you a Christian patriot?
Christian naturalization
Patriotism is not only the love of the country of one's birth, but also the love of the country of one's naturalization.
Christian patriotism, therefore, is not only love of the country of one's Christian birth, but also of one's Christian naturalization.
Naturalization is that procedure through which persons born in another country - aliens, foreigners - become citizens of a certain country of their choice. Is there, then, anything in Christian experience that corresponds to naturalization? Is there such a thing as Christian naturalization? Read Ephesians 2:11:-
"Wherefore remember, that ye being in times past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands: that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world".
Aliens become citizens of a government by naturalization. And then in the act of being naturalized they take the oath of allegiance to the new government, the new sovereign. Here are the specifications, copied from a gentleman's certificate of naturalization. You and I were aliens [but now] we have become naturalized into the commonwealth of Israel, the kingdom of God. And now, what is involved? Read:
"This is to certify, etc. that J....B.... on being admitted to citizenship by this court, took the oath to support the constitution of the United States of America, and that he then did absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whatsoever and particularly to the emperor of Germany, etc...etc".
If he were a British subject, it would read, "...and particularly to the Queen of Great Britain and Empress of India".
How much did he have to renounce? "ALL allegiance and fidelity to EVERY foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty WHATSOEVER". And what in particular? And particularly to the emperor of Germany. And how fully and for how long? "Absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity". Thus he is to turn his back "absolutely" upon all his former "allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whatsoever". That is in general, and in particular, to the one to whom he was particularly subject.
That is, in earthly governments, the way aliens are naturalized.
How is it with us, who [also] were "aliens"? "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints (not fellow-citizens with the sinners, but with the saints! Deuteronomy 33:2; Jude 14), and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone". Ephesians 2:19-20. Thank the LORD!
That certificate of naturalization declares that, whatsoever the man may be, on being admitted to citizenship ... he did absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to the sovereignty to which he [had] formerly been particularly subject. In becoming a citizen of the commonwealth of Israel, a fellow-citizen with the saints, did you "absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whatsoever", and particularly to the one "to which you were formerly subject", as every alien must do to become a citizen of an earthly government? If not, then do you not count citizenship in the commonwealth of Israel, fellow-citizenship with the saints, of as much value as any alien must count citizenship in an earthly government? Do you count fellow-citizenship with the saints of as much value as an alien counts fellow-citizenship with sinners?
In truth, and in fact, IS citizenship in the commonwealth of Israel, IS citizenship with the saints, of as much value as is citizenship in an earthly government, as is fellow-citizenship with sinners? If citizenship in heaven, if citizenship in the commonwealth of Israel, if fellow-citizenship with the saints, if to be of the house-hold of God, IS INDEED as valuable as is citizenship in an earthly government, then in order to be truly a citizen of the commonwealth of Israel, just as certainly as to be a citizen of an earthly government, it is required that every one shall "absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance to every foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to the one whom, when an alien, he is subject [to], which is ‘the prince of this world’." [John 16:11].
And if this is not done, what then? If all allegiance to every prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whatsoever, other than that of the commonwealth of Israel, other than that of heaven, other than that of the saints, other than that of the house-hold of God, is not absolutely and forever renounced and abjured, then there is certainly attempted a divided allegiance.
But will a divided allegiance answer?
Will a divided allegiance be accepted?
Will any EARTHLY government accept a divided allegiance? If any alien asking to become a citizen of an earthly government should refuse to make that renunciation, full and complete, as it is; if he should ask to have that renunciation divided, that he might retain and show SOME fidelity, only a little, to some foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereign; would he be accepted? Everybody knows that he would not, for even a moment! How then, can it be supposed that such reserve, such divided, allegiance, could be accepted in any one asking to be a citizen of the commonwealth of Israel?
It is not enough, however, to inquire whether a divided allegiance will be accepted. The true question is, can there really be such a thing as a divided allegiance? And the true answer is, NO. For it is written, "No man CAN serve two masters". [Matthew 6:24]. It is therefore certain that no alien, seeking to be a citizen of the commonwealth of Israel, can ever expect to carry with him any SHADOW of allegiance to anything IN this world or OF this world. It is written, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him". 1 John 2:15.
Princes, potentates, states, and sovereigns are only of this world. To retain allegiance or fidelity to any of these is to retain allegiance and fidelity to the things that are only of this world, and so to the world itself.
Christian citizenship is citizenship in heaven, for "our citizenship is in heaven". Philippians 3:20. Another translation reads: "For our country (the state to which we belong, of which we by faith are citizens) is in the heavens". Alford. Another, an interlinear [or] word for word, translation gives it; "For of us the commonwealth in the heavens exists". Christian citizenship is citizenship in the commonwealth of Israel for we are no more "aliens from the commonwealth of Israel", no more "strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the house-hold of God". Ephesians 2:12-13; 18-19.
Christian patriotism is love of one's citizenship. And true citizenship is the absolute and everlasting renunciation and abjuration of all allegiance and fidelity to every other prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whatsoever.
Is yours a true Christian citizenship?
Are you a Christian patriot?
oooOooo
Paul, Daniel, Joseph
Paul's use of Roman citizenship, in which he was born, does not in any sense conflict with the principles of this chapter. For it is to be observed that after he became a Christian, Paul never made any use whatsoever of that citizenship, nor even mentioned it, EXCEPT when a prisoner in the hands of the Roman power.
So certainly is this so, that he allowed himself to be three times beaten with rods, once to be stoned and dragged out of the city of Lystra, and left for dead, besides many other indignities that could not lawfully be put upon a Roman citizen. And yet nowhere in it all did he so much as mention his Roman citizenship. But when he was in the hands of the Roman officers and authorities and they would beat him, as at Jerusalem (Acts 22:25), he said, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?" Or when, held by Caesar's power at Caesar's judgment seat, it was proposed to subject him to the judgment of the Jews, and this to please the Jews who were clamouring for his life, he said, "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged ... no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar". Acts 25:8-11. Or when he and Silas had been unlawfully beaten and put into prison and in the stocks, and the magistrates sent word to let them go, he returned answer to them, "They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? Nay, verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out". Acts 16:35-37.
Seeing then, that he never made use nor any mention at all of his Roman citizenship except when he was a prisoner, and then only to insist that the authorities should proceed according to the law WHICH BOUND THEM, and to the strict observance of which it was perfectly proper that he should hold them [for their own safety], it is evident that what little reference he did make to that citizenship does not conflict with the principles inculcated in his writings, as well as throughout the whole Bible, that the Christian citizenship is heavenly and not earthly.
Nor does the conduct of either Daniel in Babylon or Joseph in Egypt conflict with the principles here developed from the Scriptures. Daniel was a captive, and therefore in the condition of a slave in Babylon. And, though placed in high position and given great responsibility, he was not in any sense a citizen of the kingdom or commonwealth of Babylon, or of Medo-Persia. His patriotism was not in any sense love of the country of Babylon, or of Medo-Persia, but only of Jerusalem, the city of God, and the LORD's holy mountain. Witness his deep anxiety to know when the time would expire and the desolations of Jerusalem be accomplished. Witness his wonderful prayer that God would cause His face to shine upon His sanctuary, and bring His people once more to their beloved Zion. Daniel 9. And witness, "his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem", and his prayers there "three times a day". Daniel 6:10. Witness his loyalty to the law and government of God, against those of Babylon and Medo-Persia. He was a servant of the kings of Babylon and Medo-Persia; a highly honoured servant, it is true, yet always a servant; and even when he was in his most exalted position, he was still referred to as "that Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah".
He served the kings when he was a captive, as he and all his people were commanded by the LORD to do, Jeremiah 29:1-14; but through it all he was one of those who mournfully chanted:
"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept,
When we remembered Zion.
Upon the willows in the midst thereof we hanged up our harps.
For there, they that led us captive required of us songs,
And they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying,
Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth,
If I remember thee not; If I prefer not Jerusalem
Above my chief joy". Psalm 137:1-6 RV.
It was, in principle, the same with Joseph. Originally, in Egypt, Joseph was a bought-and-sold slave. And though from prison exalted to the place next to the throne, he was ever only a servant of the king of Egypt, and was never a citizen of Egypt. His patriotism was not love of the country of Egypt, but of the country promised to his fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Witness the impressive fact that he would not allow so much as that even his bones should [remain] buried in Egypt; and his dying and solemn admonition, accepted on oath by his brethren, which was faithfully observed and fulfilled a hundred and forty-four years afterwards. "I die; and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which He sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence". Genesis 50:14-15 [24-25]; Exodus 13:19; Joshua 24:32.
Thus Daniel and Joseph, both being originally slaves in the respective countries of their captivity, their standing and relationship even in the exalted places to which in the providence of God they were brought, were far different from what these would have been had they been citizens of the respective countries where they were. And what they would have done had the providence of God brought them through such changes as would have given them the standing and relationships of citizens indeed of the countries where they were, what then they would have done, we know perfectly from what was actually done by Moses, the great exemplar of their era, and the proto-type of the great Exemplar of our era and of all eras.
Moses was in very deed a citizen of Egypt. He was of the royal family, and indisputable heir to the throne. The responsibilities, with the honours, of Egyptian citizenship were upon him, in the fullest sense of the word. But he absolutely and forever renounced and abjured that citizenship, for naturalization with the saints. He left it all, to go with the people of God. "The reproach of Christ", and even "affliction with the people of God" were to him of far more worth than were all the honours and treasures that attached to Egyptian citizenship.
This being what Moses, the great exemplar of that era did, and Daniel and Joseph being of the same spirit and character, we know by it precisely what they would have done had they in their respective places been citizens instead of slaves. But, being only servants of the kings where they were, they, like all God-fearing men, were respectful, obedient, and faithful to their "masters according to the flesh". Ephesians 6:5.
The land of our fathers
Patriotism is the love of one's country - the country of one's birth because it is the land of his fathers.
Christian patriotism, then, is the love of the country of the Christian's birth, because it is the land of his Christian fathers.
The country of the Christian's birth is the heavenly country because the Christian is born only "from above". The heavenly country then, is the land of the Christian's fathers. People are Christian only because they are Christ's people. "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise". Galatians 3:29.
And the country of our father Abraham was "an heavenly" country only. Abraham was once a Gentile; was of the nations: but he was "born again", was born "from above". He was once an alien, but he was naturalized into the kingdom of God, and became a fellow-citizen with the saints.
In becoming naturalized into the kingdom of God; on being admitted into the heavenly citizenship, Abraham was required to get out of his [former] country. Genesis 12:1. This requirement he at once accepted, and he "there did absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whatsoever". He obeyed and went out, "not knowing whither he went", only knowing that he went with God, which was enough for him. And so he became the "father of all them that believe". Romans 4:11.
When God called Abraham out of that country He also called him into another country, a better, even a heavenly. Ever after that day, Abraham looked to that country. That is Abraham's country. Wherever he was in THIS world, he was in a "strange country". And in the "strange country" he dwelt "in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God". Hebrews 11:8-10.
And "THESE ALL died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city". Hebrews 11:13-16.
We are "all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ". "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise".
As Abraham is the father of all them that believe, and as that heavenly country is the Christian country; as Christian patriotism is the love of the Christian's country, the country of the Christian fathers; and as THAT country also is the Christian's country, is the country of the Christian's fathers: so Christian patriotism is love of the country of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and CHRIST - the heavenly country, "the world" of the new earth, the country which God gave in faithful promise to our fathers.
Are you, now, a true Christian patriot? Is that truly your country? Do YOU love that country above all other countries that ever be named or thought of?
And what a country! The "wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD"; with only "joy and gladness... found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody". Isaiah 51:3. A country where the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days. And where even the moon shall be confounded and the sun ashamed in the presence of the glorious LORD who reigns in Mt. Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His ancients gloriously. Isaiah 30:26; 24:23.
A country whose capital city is built all of gold and precious stones and pearls, every several gate of one pearl; a city that has no need of the sun nor the moon to shine in it, because the glory of God lightens it, and the LAMB is the light thereof. And the nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it; and the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day; for there shall be no night there. Revelation 21:10-25. A country in which the inhabitants shall never say, "I am sick", for the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity. Isaiah 33:24. A country where the people shall be all righteous. Isaiah 60:21. And where the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. Where the eyes of the blind are opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; where the lame man shall leap as the hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing. Where in the wilderness waters break out, and streams in the desert. Where the ransomed of the LORD shall come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads. And where they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah 35:1-10.
A country so quiet and so secure that the people can dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. Where the people and the very places round about shall be a blessing; and where there shall be showers of blessings. Ezekiel 34:25-26. A country where the very land itself shall rejoice even with joy and singing. Where for very joy the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12.
A country in which the tabernacle of God shall be with men, and "He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away". Revelation 21:3-4. A country where we shall ever feel the freshness of the morning, and shall ever be far from its close.
That is the Christian's country.
That is the country of our Christian fathers - of Abraham our father; [of] Jesus Christ, the last Adam, and so, the "everlasting Father"; and of God, the universal Father, "our Father which is in heaven".
Christian patriotism is love of THAT country!
Who would not be a Christian patriot?
On to Part Seven - Chapters 15-16
To Ancient SDA's ............ To "What's New?"
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