Justice
Each country has the authority to set its own laws. As citizens of a country we have the privilege to enjoy the rights these laws give us, but also the obligation to fulfill the responsibilities imposed on us. This includes submitting to its justice system, like it or not.
The kingdom of heaven also gives its citizens rights and responsibilities. Yes! There are responsibilities that are in no way in conflict with salvation by grace. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). Faith does not simply mean to understand that salvation is obtained only through Jesus, but also means accepting to submit to his teachings as the laws of the kingdom. Only then we can become citizens of the kingdom of heaven, and enjoy the benefits that citizenship offers.
But the righteousness based on faith says… “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. – Romans 10:6-10
Now, we know that the justice of God’s kingdom has many conflicts with the justice of the kingdoms of the world. If the Bible teaches that we must submit to the authorities, what do we do when there is conflict? Let’s put things into perspective. We will only be citizens of our country for the length of our lives, but citizenship in the kingdom of God (if we are interested) lasts for eternity.
Lord help us to keep our faith alive, by which we receive the gift of salvation that rescued us from the state of sin and condemnation, and gave us entrance to your eternal kingdom.
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