Angelic Conflict part 265: The Unfair Cosmos – Tit 3:5-7; Rom 12:1-2; Luk 11:20-28; Mar 9:17-29; Mat 15:21-28; Joh 14:5-12; 16:5-7.Title: Angelic Conflict part 265: The Unfair Cosmos – Tit 3:5-7; Rom 12:1-2; Luk 11:20-28; Mar 9:17-29; Mat 15:21-28; Joh 14:5-12; 16:5-7.
True freedom is in the soul and not in the body and so freedom comes from faith in Christ and His word.
Therefore, then as now, true freedom from the tyranny of the kingdom of satan comes only through faith in Christ for salvation and is experienced in time through faith in His word. Only in these is there any separation or sanctification from the system of the cosmos ruled by satan and the KOD. Hence, we are not commanded to cast out demons or heal the sick because these are not the ultimate and true freedoms. These were revelations of power over the KOD when Christ brought the kingdom of God to earth and when the apostles established the foundation of the Church.
The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a radical rebel group trying to impose sharia law in Syria, has reportedly forced Christians in a Syrian city this week to begin paying a protection tax – in gold – and is limiting the practice of the Christian faith. ISIL said that in exchange for the payments and curbing of the public display of Christianity, which were detailed in a signed document – the rebel group would protect Christians in the city of Raqqa as long as they accept the second class “dhimmi” status specified in Islam. Reuters reported that the Islamist militants said that Christians would no longer be allowed to renovate churches, display religious symbols outside churches, pray in public, ring church bells, sell wine to Muslims or drink wine in public. Christians would now also be prohibited from owning weapons. “The document, dated Sunday and disseminated through Islamist Twitter accounts, states that the Christian community in the province of Raqqa, captured last March by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), was recently given three options: to convert to Islam; to remain Christian but pledge submission to Islam; or to ‘face the sword. They opted for the second of those choices, known as dhimmitude,” the Times of Israel reported Thursday. Every Christian man was now to “pay a tax of up to 17 grams of gold, a levy that was common in Muslim states centuries ago,” Reuters reported, adding, “The concept of dhimma, governing non-Muslims living under Islamic rule, dates back to the early Islamic era in the seventh century, but was largely abolished during the Ottoman reforms of the mid-19th century.” Reuters characterized the development as “the most extensive restrictions yet on Christians” in Syria. Other restrictions reported by the Times of Israel included the prohibition on reading scripture “indoors loud enough for Muslims standing outside to hear,” allowing any Christian who wants to convert to Islam to do so, and to not say anything offensive about Muslims. “If they adhere to these conditions, they will be close to God and receive the protection of Mohammed his prophet … none of their religious rights will be detracted nor will a priest or monk be wronged,” the document stated. “But if they disobey any of the conditions, they are no longer protected and ISIS can treat them in a hostile and warlike fashion.”
Once Christ was enthroned at the right hand of God and the Church was established, the power of the kingdom of God was given in a greater way through Christ's word and His Holy Spirit.
Joh 14:5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?"
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
Joh 14:7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him."
Joh 14:8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."
Joh 14:9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Joh 14:10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.
Joh 14:11 "Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me; otherwise believe on account of the works themselves.
He is asking them to believe Him at His word, but if not, He reminds them of the miracles that He performed that revealed His power over all aspects of God's opposition.
Joh 14:12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.
"the works that I do shall he do also" - CA believers will display power over all divine opposition, but spiritually, not physically or visibly.
This is the age of invisible heroes. Through doctrine the CA believer displays his power, deliverance, and authority over spiritual death, satan and the KOD, the world system, and the flesh. This is a great part of his witness of Christ through the power that Christ keeps pouring into him through the Holy Spirit and the word of God.
The phrase "greater works" have always been troubling to many, but looked at through the phrase, "because I go to the Father," is revealing since He said to the disciples...
Joh 16:5 "But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?'
Joh 16:6 "But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.
Joh 16:7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
God the Holy Spirit gave gifts to men and these gifts were given for the witness of Christ in this world. The word greater is used since the results of their witness would be greater. This is easy to understand if we recognize that the power of our witness comes from Christ and works through us. He gave the mystery doctrine, the completed revelation of His word in the canon of scripture.
The results of the witness of the body of Christ are greater, but Christ is still the source while the Church is His instrument.
Rev 4:10-11 and will cast their crowns [of victory] before the throne, saying, "Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power"
At first glance it seems to say that we do greater stuff than He did, but any believer would see the problem with that. He works through us greater works in the Church, yes greater in quantity but also greater in result. We do nothing. He uses us and flows through us. We are simply instruments in the hands of the Potter.
"greater works" - CA believers will set people free from all divine opposition spiritually, permanently, eternally.
Those set free by faith in Christ's word and works remained imprisoned in Hades in Paradise until after the resurrection. When He went to the Father the HS was given to believers and the Church was born. Now, the work of the church in Christ's gospel and the display of their own spiritual power of the fruit of the Spirit, in other words, the witness of the lips and of the life, are setting people free spiritually. At the moment anyone believes in Christ through the witness of Him by a member of the Church, he is immediately entered into union with Christ and will go directly to heaven, face to face with the Lord, when they die physically.
And the kingdom of darkness attempts to prevail against the gospel:
Mat 16:18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.
Just as humans are unfair, unjust, cruel, and tyrants to one another so it is in the spirit world. Fallen angels victimize fallen mankind, whether it was demon possession in Christ's time or demon influence in our time.
We see Christ angry at the Pharisees but it is never suggested that they are demon possessed, but of their father the devil, desiring to do the things of their father. Not in any instance is Christ angry at those he released from demons.
In every case Christ's consternation is pointed at the demons and not the persons.
We can say for sure is that the human world and the spirit world are unfair, and will continue to be so until Christ returns to rule it all.
Just as evil adults can and do sometimes victimize children against their will and God’s will, just as rapists victimize women against their will and against God’s will, and just as despotic political powers victimize their subjects against their will and against God’s will, so demonic spirits can apparently sometimes victimize people against their will – and against God’s will. As we have already seen, the biblical assumption is that the realm of fallen and elect angels is not all that different from the physical realm. One is simply a continuation of the other. This means that life on all levels can be and often is unfair and it is in constant conflict.
Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war
God has given us surpassing power to overcome the unfairness of the angelic world and the human world and that power has its source in Christ.
However, the Church has been far too silent on this subject, and who do you think benefits the most from that?
Following Augustine, and after him the central tendency of the classical-philosophical theistic tradition, we are often inclined to postulate a secret blueprint behind everything, making everything, good or evil, somehow an extension of God’s good will. We marginalize what bothers our false assumptions by calling God’s will a mystery, and although sometimes it is, too often, to rationalize away the reality of evil, we use that dismissal too often.
If the evil in this world, the lack of justice in this world were a part of God’s will then why would He say that He hates it?
He permits sin and evil and displays His power over them, which power, through mercy and grace, He has given to every believer.
Deu 12:31 "You shall not behave thus toward the Lord your God, for every abominable act which the Lord hates they have done for their gods; for they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.
Deu 16:22 Neither shall you set up for yourself a sacred pillar which the Lord your God hates.
Psa 5:5-6 The boastful shall not stand before Thine eyes; Thou dost hate all who do iniquity. Thou dost destroy those who speak falsehood; The Lord abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.
Psa 26:5 [David speaking] I hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked.
Pro 8:13 "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way, And the perverted mouth, I hate.
Isa 61:8 For I, the Lord, love justice, I hate robbery in the burnt offering; And I will faithfully give them their recompense, And I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Rev 2:6 'Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I [JC] also hate.
The spirit world is characterized by warfare, and the earth is part of its battleground. Hence people, even the helpless, will sometimes be casualties of war.
As we shall develop more fully, the ultimate reason why Jesus became a man, carried out his ministry, died a God-forsaken death on the cross, and rose again from the dead was to destroy the devil and place under His foot all His cosmic enemies.
1Jo 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
1Jo 3:8the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Heb 2:14 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
1Co 15:27 For He has put all things in subjection under His feet.
1Co 15:54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
1Co 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
The incarnation, then, was an ultimate act of war!\
Far from teaching any sort of pious resignation, Jesus’ whole being, His very God-man identity, was God’s ultimate revolt against the devil’s tyranny.
He didn’t teach us to look for the hand of God in evil, but to resist evil and to overcome evil with good.
Rom 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
1Jo 2:14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
Therefore evil and good are dialectic opposites and from two completely different sources. Many like dualism for this reason, but this is not true dualism. The evil is not co-omnipotent with the good. The good from the essence of God far surpasses the power of evil. However, evil is very real and very destructive, and so it does possess a certain power.
Power = the amount of work done per unit of time.
The hand of God is in good. And if our soul is filled with His good, His good word and good Spirit, a residence of the kingdom of heaven then we will discern the hand or will of God in our own lives and know that He has not part in evil. All evil will be judged and destroyed in the future. |