Joshua and Judges: The allotment of the land, part 46 - Predestination

Title: Joshua and Judges: The allotment of the land, part 46 - Predestination - Liberty of God's glory.

Announcementsopening prayer:

1Co 9:19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more.

1Co 9:20 And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, though not being myself under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law;

1Co 9:21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law.

1Co 9:22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.

Became (as far as a good conscience would allow):

Jew: complied with customs and rites.

Without law: the customs and rites of the pagans and did not impose Jewish morality.

Weak: did not point out weakness, did not condemn.

Why make an issue out of erroneous habits, dress, rituals, food, customs, etc. that are adopted by Jews, pagans, and the weak of mind and faith? To become as one of them is to not criticize or judge them. The Jews in a synagogue would not know that Paul had stopped living under the Mosaic law until after he had preached the gospel extensively. It's not the law that is at issue but Christ. Only after the veil over the law is removed in Christ can the Jew see the law in its proper place. The pagans would not know that Paul possessed a superior morality until after he had preached the gospel fully and then only if they had gotten the chance to know him. He wouldn't have acted immorally at all, but would have not made an issue or judged them for their immorality. The weak would not really see how strong Paul was until they had fully heard the gospel of Christ. Paul wouldn't have acted weak, but wouldn't have pointed out their weakness in thinking since the issue is not weakness, for we were all weak, but Christ and only in Him can one be made strong.

We can point out the errors in the way of the unbeliever, which drives them away, or we can point out Christ who draws them near.

Paul would not have entered into sin in order to be like a pagan. He didn't make an issue of their own sin except that it was paid for by Christ. Paul wouldn't have sacrificed an animal in a Levitical offering in order to be like a Jew, but he would have pointed out that they no longer were to do such things now that Christ was the Lamb of God come to take away the sins of the world. He wouldn't have become weak, but would have shared how all are weak and only Christ is strong.

1Co 9:23 And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

The gospel is viewed as a living person, which it is, with which the believer may fellowship. As Christ is my Brother, Husband, Lord, Master, and Best Friend, so is the gospel. With such a deep and personal relationship with the gospel, I would have no trouble telling anyone about it, anywhere and in any situation.

So again:

It may look like we're slaves but that is only the outward appearance of the liberty of service.

Christian liberty is the freedom to endure ill treatment. It is not choosing to disobey authority unless the authority is commanding sin.

1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,

1Pe 2:14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.

1Pe 2:15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.

1Pe 2:16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil [rejecting authority], but use it as bondslaves of God.

1Pe 2:17 Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

During the American War of Independence there was a real struggle in the hearts of many Christians in deciding whether or not to join the rebels against the ruling British. Some returned to England and others remained in the colonies and continued to support London, but Christian conduct is not defined by this once in the history of the world event. Plus, it wasn't the church vs. England, but the Americas vs. England. In the minds of many, what Britain was doing in the colonies was illegal according to natural law, but if a Christian chose not to fight in this particular conflict due to his own conviction from the word of God (and not because he is a pacifist), he had every right to and also had the right not to be judged.

Could anyone in that situation point to the scripture and give a concrete answer one way or the other without the slightest doubt?

Should a Christian join a political organization? This has to be determined on a case by case basis by the believer himself. He must simply and humbly ask himself: Will his actions cause sin or condone sin? Will it cause him to disobey established authority? (remember, in our nation there is not a king so dissent is not against the law) Will his actions hinder the gospel? The Christian must make those decisions and sincerely, in other words, does he value the political organization more than Christ. Nothing must exceed Christ, not love of country or even children. If he does decide it is appropriate to join and it turns out it wasn't then according to scripture, "if in anything you have a different attitude (contrary to God's will) God will reveal that also to you."

The believer following Christ will find his earthly freedoms and rights striped from him [by government or individuals] in an attempt by the KOD to hinder his gospel.

If I endure ill treatment in order to bring the good news of light and life to another, expecting nothing in return, it is unmistakable that it is a gift and that it is an important gift. It is like a person who braves land and sea, storm and peril, dangers all around in order to bring you a message. Would you not listen? Wouldn't you think it important? And when you heard that it was to give you life, set you free from sin and death unto eternal life, you would know it to be important.

The true witness stands out in great contrast to the false teachers who promise all kinds of freedoms that are not freedoms. They do this to receive something, usually recognition and wealth.

There will always be false teachers spewing destructive lies, of which is a promise of freedom in performing sin; instead it is slavery.

2Pe 2:18 For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,

2Pe 2:19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

If what the man is overcome by is Christ, that Christ is his master, then he is free in Him.