XPost: alt.bible   
   From: usenet@christrose.news   
      
   John the Baptist did not tell soldiers to abandon their posts but to act   
   justly and be content with their wages (Luke 3:14). Cornelius, the Roman   
   centurion, was a soldier when God called him and poured out the Holy   
   Spirit upon him (Acts 10:1–48). Neither Peter nor the Holy Spirit   
   demanded he resign. When the Philippian jailer believed, Paul did not   
   tell him to leave his government position (Acts 16:27–34). The Bible   
   consistently shows men serving lawfully in positions of authority while   
   fearing God.   
      
   The Old Testament honors men of war who acted in faith—Abraham (Genesis   
   14:14–20), Joshua (Joshua 6:1–5), and David (1 Samuel 17:45–50)—because   
   they trusted God while defending righteousness. The New Testament   
   affirms that civil government “does not bear the sword in vain” but is   
   “the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the   
   wrongdoer” (Romans 13:4, ESV). This validates the just exercise of force   
   under rightful authority, not private vengeance.   
      
   Jesus’ command to “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39) addresses   
   personal retaliation, not the moral right of governments to restrain   
   evil. God Himself instituted human government after the flood, giving   
   man authority to execute justice (Genesis 9:6). Refusal to acknowledge   
   that authority as legitimate undermines the order God established.   
   Christians must obey God rather than men when governments command sin   
   (Acts 5:29), but obedience to just laws or national defense is not sin   
   in itself.   
      
   Christ will indeed bring final judgment at His coming (Revelation   
   19:11–16). But until then, He calls believers to live peaceably, honor   
   rightful authority, and do good (Romans 12:18; 13:1–7). Refusing all   
   civil or military duty is not holiness—it is a confusion of Christ’s   
   spiritual kingdom with human government. The Christian’s ultimate   
   loyalty belongs to Christ, but that loyalty does not cancel his earthly   
   responsibilities.   
      
   --   
   Have you heard the good news Christ died for our sins (†), and God   
   raised Him from the dead?   
      
   That Christ died for our sins shows we're sinners who deserve the death   
   penalty. That God raised Him from the dead shows Christ's death   
   satisfied God's righteous demands against our sin (Romans 3:25; 1 John   
   2:1-2). This means God can now remain just, while forgiving you of your   
   sins, and saving you from eternal damnation.   
      
   On the basis of Christ's death and resurrection for our sins, call on   
   the name of the Lord to save you: "For 'everyone who calls on the name   
   of the Lord will be saved'" (Romans 10:13, ESV).   
      
   https://christrose.news/salvation   
      
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)