Well, it's about time for me to say what I actually believe, huh?
a. Humanity has surrendered themselves to be ruled by powers instead of God himself, and God rules through the powers who rule through governments, corporations, institutions and families.
When Adam ate of the tree, he surrendered himself to the power of death, to be ruled by it instead of God (Genesis 2-3; Romans 5:14, 17). All nations are given over to powers in heaven (Deuteronomy 32:8). Israel gave themselves over to other gods, and so to be enslaved by their nations (Judges 2:11-19). Gentiles surrendered themselves over to other gods, to worship them, and so to be enslaved (Romans 1:18-32). The Jews surrendered themselves over to the Law, but because they could not consistently obey it, they were enslaved by it (Romans 3:9-21).
It is not just that humanity has sinned, but that we have allowed ourselves—by our own choice—to be enslaved to oppressors, to sinners, to haters of God in either words or deeds, and so we participate in their deeds. We are a part of a system of oppression, and we participate in it willingly, because we know of no other way to live. Sometimes this system of oppressions calls itself by the name of “law”, sometimes by the name of “religion”, sometimes by the name of “government.” Today, systems of oppression might call themselves “capitalism”, “the military complex”, “employment” or “political parties”.
b. These powers rule the world through the rule of judgment—that every sin deserves a just punishment.
The law of the powers is that the end of sin is death (Romans 3:23). Anyone who disobeys the law is cursed (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-28; Galatians 3:10); Before anyone dies, they are enslaved to sin (Romans 6).
Because we are under oppressors’ power, we find ourselves subjected to their rules. God wants to show us mercy, but we have chosen to put ourselves under the unmerciful. These powers represent God and so they destroy us in God’s name, but this is not God’s plan for us. He wants us to live under mercy, not judgment. We are enslaved by sin, Satan declares that we should die for our sin. Just like Jephthah’s daughter (Judges 11:30-40), as long as we remain in a system of judgment—that wrongs done against society must be punished by death— in all justice, we must agree with that decree against us.
c. Jesus died to prove the injustice of these powers because they are just as willing to punish the innocent as well as the guilty.
God declared that any power—spiritual or earthly—that oppresses the poor, especially the innocent, will be destroyed by Him (Psalm 82; Exodus 22:21-28; Deuteronomy 19:10). Jesus died to prove the elders and priests to be unjust, disobedient rulers of God’s people, and so the target of God’s just judgement (Mark 12:1-12); Jesus died to defeat the powers who ruled over us due to our sin (Colossians 2:12-15); Jesus’ death takes away the power of the devil over the enslaved (Hebrews 2:14-15); Martyrs’ deaths defeats Satan (Revelation 12:9-11). All of these oppressive powers are proven guilty because of their willingness to destroy God’s chosen, innocent, poor Son.
d. Given the proof of the injustice of these powers, God sets aside the powers as rulers over people and vindicates Jesus through raising him from the dead and establishes Jesus as ruler of the world at the right hand of God.
God sets aside unjust rulers and replaces them with the lowly and poor (I Samuel 2:8-10; Luke 1:52-53; Psalm 37:9-11; Luke 6:20-26; Luke 14:7-11). Jesus is the lamb who was slain is worthy to take on all earthly power (Revelation 5:1-10); The one who innocently died God established to rule (Isaiah 52:12-53:14); Jesus humiliated himself as lower than anyone, and so was raised over all (Phil. 2:6-11); Jesus established forgiveness of sins and so rules next to God (Hebrews 1:3-4); God raises one on the third day to indicate vindication (Hosea 6:2).
e. Those who accept Jesus as their king are allowed to live under the rule of Jesus, being pardoned for what they did under oppression, in the utopia of God with God’s spirit.
Believe in Jesus the Lord Messiah and you will be delivered from oppression and slavery (Acts 15:19; John 17:3; 20:31; Acts 2:36; 16:31; Romans 3:22; 5:1; 10:9; Galatians 2:16). Baptism is the sign of commitment to Jesus as Messiah for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 10:48; Romans 6:3-7) God calls us into a fellowship through Messiah Jesus (I Corinthians 1:9). Believe in the gospel and be ready for God’s kingdom (Mark 1:15).
If we give fealty (faith) to Jesus as our Lord, then we enter God’s kingdom. Baptism is the sign of this fealty, passing through Jesus’ death so we can receive His life. To be a part of Jesus’ kingdom is to be set free from all other oppressors—sin, death, Satan, governments and evil authorities.
f. The law of Jesus gives grace to everyone who repents, no matter how many times they repent.
God rule forgives those who confess and repent under His rule. (Psalm 32, 51; Ezekiel 18; Luke 15; Luke 17:3-4; Matthew 18:15-30; Luke 13:1-5; Acts 2:38; I John 1:9.) Under Jesus’ law, the repentant are forgiven, no matter how many times they sin (Matthew 18:15-22; Luke 17:3-5). Everyone who shows mercy to others will receive mercy from God (Matthew 5:7; Matthew 18:23-35; Mark 11:25-26). Those who love all, not judging others will be the object of God’s love and not judgment, for they will be as God is (Luke 6:27-36).
To be a part of Jesus’ kingdom is to live in God’s grace. This is grace both received and given in equal measures.
g. Those who live God’s life and suffer for it under the powers are set up by God to take the ruling place of the powers.
Those who humble themselves will be raised and those who exalt themselves will be humbled. (Matthew 18:4; 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14) We are to continually live out Jesus’ death in our lives by displaying His humility. (I Peter 2:21-24; Philippians 2:3-11; Ephesians 5:25-30; Colossians 1:24) Even as God raised Jesus from the dead, so we will risen if we are united in Jesus’ death through baptism and suffering (Romans 6:3-11; Romans 8:16-18). The one who suffers unjustly for God will be raised from the dead and experiences God’s utopia (Psalm 22; 37; Matthew 5:3-12; Luke 6:20-23; Romans 5:3-5, 8:17).
To have faith is not simply a one time belief, but it is a lifestyle of following Jesus, choosing humility and suffering, all for the cause of being merciful to others. If we live the kind of life Jesus had, as well as embracing His Lordship, we will receive eternal freedom and joy.
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