"And they began to accuse Him, saying, 'We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.'" (Luke 23:2)
"....perverting the nation." This is the conclusion to which The United States of America came in 1962 and 1963 when it decided to eliminate the Prayer and Words of Jesus from it's school system. And it has just gotten worse. I give you the 2016 election season.
"....perverting the nation," was code for, "He doesn't allow us to be in charge." As for the, "taxes," he did not oppose this. But the real opposition came with, "....saying that He Himself is Christ, a King," viz., Lord/King of The Kingdom of God/Heaven.
For those who believe that religion and politics should be separate, I say, Read your Bible. Jesus is Savior and Lord. The title, "Lord," means ruler, or as the Interlinear says, "a person exercising absolute ownership." There is no aspect of a culture nor a person's life over which Jesus does not have absolute Lordship. The close of the Age will bring the full manifestation of this. You cannot separate, "Lord and Savior," though modern Christendom has for the most part tried to. They have "chopped up" the John 3 passage to acceptance of, "born again," but the rejection of, "see the Kingdom of God." The majority of those involved in the Charismatic Renewal were a prime example of this. It was and is an attempt to popularize the Scriptures.
What dominated the trials of Jesus before the Jewish leadership and the Roman Government was, "He said He is the King of the Jews." There is never a reference to, "Savior," in any of the four Gospel accounts of the trials of Jesus. To the Romans, "savior" was just a religious matter. "The King of the Jews," however, was quite another matter. The main threat to Judaism and the Roman Empire was the issue of who was in control. Of course, "For this reason the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." Now the foundation of Satan's destruction is the Blood of Jesus, His Death and Resurrection. And, yes, while this does include the forgiveness of sins, it also equally includes, "that He might destroy the," reign of Satan. "Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them...and teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you...." This is, "The King...," speaking.
Father, in Jesus Name, may I never separate, "Lord and Savior." Amen.
"....perverting the nation." This is the conclusion to which The United States of America came in 1962 and 1963 when it decided to eliminate the Prayer and Words of Jesus from it's school system. And it has just gotten worse. I give you the 2016 election season.
"....perverting the nation," was code for, "He doesn't allow us to be in charge." As for the, "taxes," he did not oppose this. But the real opposition came with, "....saying that He Himself is Christ, a King," viz., Lord/King of The Kingdom of God/Heaven.
For those who believe that religion and politics should be separate, I say, Read your Bible. Jesus is Savior and Lord. The title, "Lord," means ruler, or as the Interlinear says, "a person exercising absolute ownership." There is no aspect of a culture nor a person's life over which Jesus does not have absolute Lordship. The close of the Age will bring the full manifestation of this. You cannot separate, "Lord and Savior," though modern Christendom has for the most part tried to. They have "chopped up" the John 3 passage to acceptance of, "born again," but the rejection of, "see the Kingdom of God." The majority of those involved in the Charismatic Renewal were a prime example of this. It was and is an attempt to popularize the Scriptures.
What dominated the trials of Jesus before the Jewish leadership and the Roman Government was, "He said He is the King of the Jews." There is never a reference to, "Savior," in any of the four Gospel accounts of the trials of Jesus. To the Romans, "savior" was just a religious matter. "The King of the Jews," however, was quite another matter. The main threat to Judaism and the Roman Empire was the issue of who was in control. Of course, "For this reason the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." Now the foundation of Satan's destruction is the Blood of Jesus, His Death and Resurrection. And, yes, while this does include the forgiveness of sins, it also equally includes, "that He might destroy the," reign of Satan. "Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them...and teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you...." This is, "The King...," speaking.
Father, in Jesus Name, may I never separate, "Lord and Savior." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
